Havana is one of those cities that is a bit more special and fascinating than other cities, because it will feel like you’ve traveled back in time. The colors, the music, the cars from the 30s, 40s and 50s. It has everything to make you fall in love. 

Cuba can be a difficult country for first timers and slightly different compared to other countries, because of the double currency, no reliable internet connection and a lot of false information online. 

However, once you get through this you will see that Cuba has a rich and visible history with endless music and people dancing on the streets while having the best mojitos ever. And don’t forget about the wide variety of natural beauty the country has to offer, from turquoise beaches, breath taking mountains and beautiful waterfalls. 

This makes Cuba easily one of the best countries I have ever been to and definitely will go back to. 

Havana is the capital of Cuba and a memorable city full of endless colors. This city will have you in awe from the moment you arrive. Therefore, to make your trip a bit easier, I wrote about 10 amazing things you can do in Havana

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1. Ride around Havana in a vintage car

This is one of the first things everyone wants to do when they arrive in Havana. There are a lot of options to see the city while enjoying your time in a vintage car. The best option is to hire a driver for a few hours who can drive you around the city. These drivers are easy to find on the main square.

If you are lucky, your taxi driver will pick you up from the airport in vintage car. The scenery from the airport to your accommodation is already so different from what you have seen before. No advertising, no commercials, but plenty of billboards with Che Guevara’s face.

Don’t forget to bargain the price of the car. Normally I would never recommend this, but Havana is just one of these cities where they try to rip tourist off with crazy prices. 

2. Learn about the history of Havana

Havana has a really fascinating history that seems to be unaffected by time. To know more about this history the best thing to do is to take a free walking tour. You will walk around Havana’s historical center while you get some history about the colonial times, it’s independence, revolution and the uncertain present they are living in.

This is one of the most interesting walking tours I’ve ever done. I highly recommend doing this tour when you arrive. Besides the history of Cuba and Havana, you will also learn a lot about the way people live and how the news that we know gives out false information about the country and its leaders. 

3. Stay at a casa particular

Casa particulars are people’s home who have a spare room that they rent out. In Cuba this is a whole different experience than the Airbnb’s experiences that we get all over the world. The family will always make sure that you have everything that you need, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes they will charge you a bit extra for this, but this is still very cheap compared to when you go out for food in a restaurant. 

Most families will take you in like you are family and not only invite you into their home, but also into their life. They will show you everything about their culture and the way they live. This is why I highly recommend staying at a casa particular. You will get a different experience than you normally do.

I know Havana has a few hotels like Art Boutique Havana or Hotel Grand Aston La Habana. If you want comfort or Wi-Fi or whatever, this will probably fit your needs better. But the experience is so different when you are staying with a family. Another great option are guest houses like La Villa Teresa. It’s the comfort of a hotel, but more cozy and personal.

Most casa particulars are on Airbnb’s, but there are also a few Facebook groups where you can find recommendations from fellow travelers who had a great experience.

4. Walk around in old Havana

Old Havana (Havana Vieja) is the historic center of Havana and is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. This part of Havana is the stereotypical Cuba you are thinking of – colorful streets, historical buildings, and vintage cars. There is so much to see and do in Old Havana, you could easily spend a few days to explore this area.

A free walking tour is a great start and will make you more curious about Havana and Cuba in general. The tour will bring you to highlights like Havana’s four plaza’s, Castillo de la Real Fuerza, El Capitolio and Museo de la Revolución. After the tour you will have many highlights to choose from where you can wander off yourself.

5. Have the best daiquiris at Hemingway’s favorite Bar, El Floridita

El Floridita originally opened in 1817 and was named La Piña de Plata (the silver pineapple). It was just a simple bodega in Havana where you could buy all kinds of cheap stuff. Already then, the place was popular and was visited by soldiers, artists and writers.

In 1910 two Catalan brothers turned the bodega into a modern establishment and gave it the America name La Florida. This name was ignored by locals who quickly started calling it El Floridita.

The brothers hired Constante Ribalaigua who after a time bought the bar and created the daiquiri as we know today. It took him 20 years to perfect the drink and not a long time before Ernest Hemingway discovered El Floridita and came in was a regular to enjoy the drink. This iconic hotspot is always packed and will give you the ultimate Cuban vibes that you always see in movies. 

6. Visit the Arts Factory

Fábrica de Arte Cubano is a former cooking oil plant that turned into one of the most popular places in Havana. This place promotes local artists, performers, filmmakers, photographers and writers and is the place to be if you want to enjoy good music, drink delicious mojitos and dance until the am. 

Not really a music or party lover? Don’t worry, there is plenty of other things to do that will make your experience just as exciting. 

The huge factory will surprise you with different rooms that each offer different surprises as soon as you walk in. All these rooms are connected by a hallway that is filled with beautiful Cuban art pieces, like paintings, sculptures and architectural projects. 

The factory is open from Thursday to Sunday from 8 pm until 3 am and will be packed by 11 pm, so make sure you will be there on time to avoid the long lines. 

7. Visit Museo de la Revolución and learn everything about the Cuban revolution.

The Museo de la Revolución of Havana is built between 1913 and 1920 and is hosted in the old Presidential Palace. This palace was used by several presidents of Cuba and is turned into of the most interesting museums of Cuba. If you are interested in the history of Cuba, this museum is a must-visit place.

The museum exhibits collections of photographs, documents, weapons and other objects related to the revolutionary fighting against Batista, and the history of Cuba. You can also find different exhibitions about the assault of Moncada in 1953, and about the life of Che Guevara.

8. Visit the Necrópolis Cristobal Colón cemetery

Havana’s main cemetery is one the largest cemeteries in Latin America and also – next to Père Lachaise in Paris and Recoleta in Buenos Aires – the most impressive one I have ever visited. It’s like walking through an outdoor museum. 

Necrópolis is not just enormous in size but also grandiose and beautiful in style. It’s filled with many important characters from Cuba’s absorbing history and makes you even more curious when visiting. 

We visited the cemetery by ourselves, but you can also book a tour to that gives your more history about the cemetery and the important characters that are buried there. 

There are a few interesting memorials that are very populair which you should look for when you are visiting by yourself:

• The “Miraculous Woman” – Amelia Goyri
• The Spiritual Medium – Leocadia Pérez Herrero
• The parents of José Martí, and his mentor
• The Chess Player – José Raúl Capablanca
• The Firefighters Monument
  
  

9. Walk along El Malécon and catch sunset.

El Malécon is a 8-kilometer long spectacular photo stop for beautiful sunrise or sunset views of the Havana skyline and Morro Castle. El Malécon took 50 years to build, so it really feels like taking a stroll through time. 

This is one of the favorite meeting points for all the folk singers, writers, fishermen and lovers in the city. Which makes it a great place to meet local people. Just walk around and take in the beauty of the city. 

However, if you don’t feel like walking, just hop in one of the classic cars that you can rent (with a driver) for a few hours. It’s a great way to drive and see El Malécon.

10. Try local food

You can not leave Cuba without trying the local food. The country has a few dishes that are populair and very tasteful and worth a try. 

• Ropa vieja
  
  This is Cuba’s national dish. It’s slow cooked shredded beef in tomato sauce. 

• Picadillo a la Habanera
  
  This picadillo is a spicy melange of ground beef, olives, raisins and full of flavor and spices that’s gives you a asubtly sweet flavor. 

• Ajiacao
  
  This amazing stew is also a famous dish in Colombia. The stew contains various meats, vegetables, corn and flavorings.

• Mojo Criollo 
  
  Mojo criollo is a popular sauce prepared with the meat of choice, typically made with garlic, oil and sour orange juice.

• Chiviricos
  
  This is fried dough and a populair streetfood. It’s nice for a snack. 

These are only 5 famous local dishes. I highly recommend to ask for more recommendations in restaurants or on the streets when you like to try out new foods.

In conclusion, Havana is a beautiful, diverse city which I highly recommend visiting. If you don’t have the time to travel all around Cuba, Havana should be on top of your list to visit in the few days that you have. The country hasn’t been run over by tourism yet, but it’s getting there compared to 10 years ago. So, if you can, visit Cuba now.

Interested in traveling around the Caribbean? In addition, I wrote a few blogs about several islands in the Caribbean that you can find here.