Things to Do in Havana
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Havana, Cuba, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Havana. Faded pastel buildings, vintage cars everywhere, genuinely feels frozen in a particular decade, a city where decades of trade restrictions accidentally preserved an entire fleet of 1950s American cars through sheer local mechanical ingenuity. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Havana: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the walk. Five main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Havana's Vintage Cars
Havana's streets are famous worldwide for a large number of vintage cars from the 1950s American era, still driven daily, a side effect of decades of trade restrictions, kept running through sheer local mechanical ingenuity, genuinely one of the most visually distinctive things about the city, brightly painted Chevrolets and Buicks doubling as both daily transport and, increasingly, tourist taxis.
A classic car tour, riding in one of these vehicles along the Malecon seafront, is a genuinely popular, worthwhile way to see the city, worth negotiating a fair price and choosing a car in good condition rather than just the flashiest colour.
Best time Late afternoon into sunset along the Malecon
Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
Havana's old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known as Habana Vieja, cobblestone plazas and colonial buildings dating back to Spanish rule, genuinely one of the best-preserved colonial centres in the Caribbean, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, and Plaza de Armas each offering a slightly different slice of this history.
Restoration efforts over recent decades have brought much of the area back to properly vivid colour and condition, worth a slow, unhurried wander through the plazas and side streets rather than rushing between fixed stops.
Best time Morning or evening, avoiding the midday heat
Address Habana Vieja
Hemingway's Havana
Havana was a favourite haunt of American novelist Ernest Hemingway, who wrote much of his later work there, his old bar stools and favourite drinks are still pointed out to visitors today, El Floridita (credited with the daiquiri) and La Bodeguita del Medio (associated with the mojito) both genuinely claim Hemingway as a regular, worth visiting for the history even if the crowds and prices reflect their fame.
Finca Vigia, his former home outside the city, is now a museum preserved largely as he left it, worth the trip for genuine Hemingway enthusiasts, a more personal, less crowded alternative to the bars.
Getting there Finca Vigia about 30 minutes from central Havana
The Malecon
Havana's long seafront promenade, waves crashing against the seawall, genuinely one of the best free things to do here, particularly at sunset when locals gather to fish, chat, and watch the light change over the water.
It's a proper local institution, worth an evening walk simply to see how the city actually socialises, considerably more relaxed and genuine than the busier tourist areas of Habana Vieja.
Best time Sunset
Address The Malecon, Havana
Cuban Cigars & Rum
Cuba's cigar and rum traditions are world-renowned, and Havana offers factory tours (where available) and tastings covering both, worth seeking out an official, reputable source rather than street vendors, counterfeit cigars are genuinely common and sold aggressively to tourists in the busier areas.
The Museo del Ron (Rum Museum) covers the history and production of Cuban rum with a tasting included, a good, informative way to engage with the tradition properly.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–5pm
Address Avenida del Puerto, Havana
Best time to visit Havana
November through April is the dry season and genuinely the most comfortable window, cooler and drier than the rest of the year for the amount of walking this list involves.
Hurricane season runs roughly June through November, worth checking forecasts closely if travelling during these months, and note that Cuba's currency and payment systems can be properly complex for visitors, worth researching current arrangements (cash requirements, card acceptance) before you travel.
Getting around Havana
Habana Vieja and the Malecon are widely walkable. Classic car taxis and regular taxis cover longer distances; agree a price upfront in either case, as meters aren't standard practice.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Havana worth visiting?
- Yes, genuinely unlike anywhere else, the vintage cars, colonial Habana Vieja, and Hemingway's old haunts together give it a character that feels, as the name of this guide suggests, frozen in a specific decade.
- How many days do you need in Havana?
- Three days covers Habana Vieja, the Malecon, and a classic car tour comfortably.
- Is Havana expensive?
- Moderate, and currency arrangements can be genuinely complex for visitors, worth researching current cash and card requirements ahead of your trip rather than assuming standard international card acceptance.
- What is Havana famous for?
- Its fleet of vintage 1950s American cars still driven daily, the UNESCO-listed colonial old town Habana Vieja, and its associations with Ernest Hemingway, who wrote much of his later work there.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
