Things to do in Havana

Why go to Havana

• Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

  A UNESCO World Heritage labyrinth of baroque cathedrals, cobblestone plazas, and pastel-painted mansions frozen in the 1950s.

• El Malecón

  Havana's iconic 8-km seafront esplanade where locals gather at sunset for rum, music, and the most cinematic city views in the Caribbean.

• Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución)

  Housed in the former Presidential Palace, it traces Cuba's history with dramatic artifacts including Che Guevara's gear and the Granma yacht.

• El Floridita & La Bodeguita del Medio

  Hemingway's legendary haunts where the daiquiri and mojito were supposedly perfected, history you can drink.

• Callejón de Hamel

  A vividly muraled alleyway that explodes with Afro-Cuban rumba performances every Sunday, a raw and electrifying cultural spectacle.

Good to know in Havana

• Transit: Shared 'almendrones' (vintage collective taxis) run fixed routes for $0.25-0.50 per ride, hold out your hand on major avenues and shout your destination; avoid tourist taxis which charge 10-20x more.
• Tipping: Tipping is genuinely important in Cuba, musicians, casa hosts, and restaurant staff depend on it; budget $1-2 per meal and $1 per performer as a baseline.
• Tap water: Do NOT drink tap water in Havana; buy bottled water ($0.50-1 at government stores called TRD or Panamericana) or carry a filtered bottle.
• Free-entry days: The Museo de Bellas Artes offers free entry on Sundays, and many neighborhood casas de la cultura host free performances open to the public throughout the week.

Trip essentials