Havana holidays

Cuba’s historic seaport is a mash-up of old and new, where crumbling mansions give way to trendy cocktail bars and boutique hotels. The best holidays in Havana dive into the city’s diversity. Wander the Spanish Colonial capital past Art Deco theatres and cigar lounges, or grab a spot under a swaying palm for a sunset mojito on a white-sand beach.

Havana holiday highlights

Havana
Havana
@brendanvanson.http://www.brendansadventures.com

Top-down history

This city is as famous for its cabaret shows as for its revolutionary monuments. Discover 1930s glamour at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba and feel the 1950s-casino vibes at the Habana Riviera. And if you’re a gearhead, start searching holiday deals to Havana now. The city is a living museum of classic automobiles.

Street scenes

For cheap holidays to Havana, get ready to spend time enjoying the social hubs along Havana’s seawall. Set between crashing waves and grand old buildings, the Malecon attracts couples, street musicians and vendors selling fresh sugar cane juice, popcorn and peanuts. Join groups of locals at sunset to see why this esplanade is featured across Cuba’s art scene.

Beach escapes

Pack your beach gear, and hop on a bus from Parque Central to soak up the Cuban sun. Playas del Este is a string of white-sand beaches dotted with palm trees. Snorkel the reefs just offshore at Playa Bacuranao, or ride the wind with kite surfers. Playa Santa Maria del Mar is the trendy spot to hire sunbeds and sip drinks at beachfront bars.

Havana: Know before you go

Language

Spanish

Currency

Cuban peso ($)

Time zone

UTC-5 (CST (Cuba)) and UTC-4 (CDT (Cuba))

High season

December – March

Low season

August – September

Find the best time to go to Havana

Weather in Havana

May – October: The rainy season in Cuba welcomes hotter temperatures, cloudy days and high humidity. Downpours tend to happen in the afternoons, so plan your outdoor activities in the mornings. Hurricanes are most likely between June and November. Be sure to check forecasts if you’re travelling during those months.

November – April: Winter and spring are the best times to be in the tropics. This is Havana’s dry season. You’ll experience mostly pleasant conditions, with warm, sunny days and low humidity — perfect for seeing the sights or hitting the beach. The water is at its coldest in February, but at about 25°C, it’s still comfortable for swimming.

Events in Havana

International Jazz Plaza Festival (January to February): For over 40 years, this festival has hosted some of the greatest names in jazz, from Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Haden to Chucho Valdés.

Havana Book Fair (February): Half a million book lovers attend this Spanish-language publishing festival. The event is held over ten days at the Morro-Cabaña Military Historical Site.

Carnival (July to August): Watch as the Malecon thrums to a salsa beat while costumed revellers parade through town, leaving the streets covered in glitter and feathers.

Havana Biennial (varies) The city transforms into an art hub with galleries, cultural centres and open spaces showcasing some of the best contemporary artists from Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond.

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The best neighbourhoods in Havana

La Habana Vieja (Old Havana)

Spanish Colonial architecture and cobblestone plazas characterise the oldest part of the city. This is one of the best areas to stay in Havana for those who love history and art. You’ll see kids playing football in narrow lanes and washing hanging from the balconies of crumbling mansions. Visit Castillo de la Real Fuerza and the famous Cuban Art Factory when you’re not people-watching from restaurants in Plaza Vieja.

Good for: History, galleries, restaurants

Centro Habana

Centrally located between Old Havana and Verdado, this is where to stay in Havana if you want to be away from the typical tourist track. Bargain hotels abound, and the street scenes are second to none. Wander past old men playing dominoes and vendors selling bread and fruit. At El Barrio Chino (Chinatown), you’ll find traditional restaurants and a temple.

Good for: Hotels, street food, Chinatown

Plaza de la Revolucion

The Cuban struggle for independence is celebrated in Plaza de la Revolucion, with monuments of Che Guevara and Jose Marti. The surrounding neighbourhood of Vedado was Havana’s 1950s nightlife hotspot. It still holds the crown for flamboyant cabaret shows and sunset drinks at iconic bars. Take a spooky stroll around the elaborate memorials at the Cristobal Colon Cemetery.

Good for: Monuments, dining, nightlife

Things to do in Havana

Havana
Havana

Family friendly things to do

There are countless things to do with family in Havana. A fun way to see the sights and get to the beaches is aboard the hop-on hop-off Habana Bus Tour. Eat churros and watch street performers in Old Havana’s plazas. Puppets and kids’ theatre shows await at El Arca Teatro Museo de Titeres.

Shopping

If you love cigars and rum, shopping in Havana is for you. The city’s artisans stock galleries full of unique treasures, while street markets sell handmade jewellery. Find leather wallets and shoes at Obispo Street Craft Market. Can’t resist touristy trinkets such as Che Guevara magnets? Old Havana is your go-to area for souvenirs.

Take in the culture

Set aside a good chunk of time to wander through galleries and museums in Havana. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is home to ‘La Gitana Tropical’ by Victor Manuel, often referred to as Cuba’s ‘Mona Lisa’. The opulent rooms and visual archives on display at Museo de la Revolucion are as impressive as the former presidential palace they’re housed in.

Nightlife

Are you up for a basement salsa club or a rooftop bar for city views with Cuba libre cocktails? Nightlife in Havana centres around Vedado and Miramar, and you can stroll between venues in these neighbourhoods. Admire the Cuban National Ballet at Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso, and have your own 1950s heyday at the Tropicana nightclub.

Places to eat

In a city of fascinating contrasts, Havana’s food scene doesn’t disappoint. Settle into welcoming, family-run ‘paladares’ for slow-cooked ‘ropa vieja’ (shredded beef). Trendy gastropubs serve Caribbean flavours and cosy cafes please with international favourites. Reservations are a must to dine at La Guarida amid decor from the movie ‘Strawberry and Chocolate’.

Free things to do

Keep your travel budget in check by including some of the free things to do in Havana. There’s no cost to visit museums including the Museo del Chocolate and Museo de Bomberos (Firefighters Museum). Capture epic views at the Estatua de Cristo park. Strolling along the lively Malecon doesn’t cost a thing and never gets old.

Plan your holiday to Havana

Budget

From baseball games on a budget to breezy days at the beach, there are endless ways to enjoy a cheap holiday in Havana. An inexpensive meal can be found for as little as five Cuban pesos ($). A ‘cortadito’ (a popular Cuban coffee drink) or a bottle of local beer costs around $2. Expect to shell out about $5 for a short taxi ride.

Day trips from Havana

Take a bus to lush Viñales to ride on horseback among towering limestone rock formations. Over an hour southwest of the city is the small town of Soroa, whose famed garden houses 700 species of orchid. Just outside of Old Havana, you’ll findthe laid-back fishing town of Cojímar, one of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite haunts.

Getting around Havana

The best way to get around Havana is on foot, especially if you’re exploring Old Havana, Vedado or the Malecon. Tourist buses depart regularly from Parque Central to Centro Habana, Miramar and the beaches. Head to official taxi ranks for convenience, or join locals on metro buses for budget rides. If you’re willing to splurge, it’s hard to resist a bright pink vintage car with a guide as your driver.

FAQs about Havana holidays

You'll be using the Cuban peso (CUP) for payments while on your trip to Havana. Pay with a credit or debit card whenever possible, but keep some cash with you for places where card payments aren't an option.
Havana is generally safe and set up for tourists to discover in comfort. Just be aware of pickpockets and common scams by street hustlers attempting to sell items or services.
July is the warmest month in Havana, with temperatures hitting highs of 35ºC (95ºF).
You'll hear Spanish spoken most often around here. Brush up on a few local expressions during your city break in Havana and you'll fit in perfectly.
January brings the coolest conditions. Organise your Havana holiday then and you can expect lows of 17ºC (63ºF).
Hit the beaches with sunny skies from November to March, which is Havana’s high season. June is the start of hurricane season, though big storms are rare, and you’ll save money on holiday deals to Havana at this time of year. It’s worth planning your trip around festivals, including the Havana International Jazz Festival in January.
Whether you're a must-see-it-all traveller or a go-with-the-flow explorer, the cost of your city break in Havana will depend on how you want to spend your time. You'll want to factor in everything from meals to entry fees, along with your Havana flights and hotels.
It’s possible to discover Havana’s main attractions in two or three days. However, we think a week or more is better, so you can sink into the cultural experience and learn a bit of salsa and Spanish.
The wettest month is June, which receives an average rainfall of 16 cm. But don't let a drizzly day ruin your Havana trip — there's still plenty to do indoors like indulging in retail therapy, visiting museums, or hanging out in cafes.
You won't have to look far for awesome things to do in Havana. From Old Havana to Malecon and more, this city has all the makings of a great escape.

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