Top 8 things to do while in Havana
Havana is a city like no other! When you arrive in Havana it is like going back 60 years in a time machine. Because of the communist government there, things such as cars, buildings, businesses, etc. have not evolved like in other places in the world. This makes for a one-of-a-kind type of experience that you don’t want to miss.
Top things to do in Havana
To enjoy Havana you just need to spend a day or two walking around the city and you will find all the cathedrals, old cars, and museums. There are restaurants and street food everywhere. The people are really friendly as well. By walking around the city you get to experience the amazing feeling of going back in time.
One place you need to visit is El Capitolo. The Capitol building in the center of Havana. This building is massive and really impressive. You can take pictures from outside, but if you get a chance try to get tickets to visit the inside of the building.
Another place you must go while in Havana is La Bodeguita del Medio. This restaurant bar lays claim to being the birthplace of the mojito. It is just a short walk from the center of Havana and the drinks are cheap compared to American prices, so don’t miss out.
One thing that many tourists want to do while visiting Havana is to take a ride in one of the old cars. This can be a fun experience and make for some Hawsome pictures, but just know it isn’t cheap. You will be paying between $25-$75+ USD for a ride depending on the duration of the trip, time of day, and the type of car.
One place you could take a short ride to in a vintage car is La Plaza de la Revolucion. It is a gigantic square that commemorates an earlier time period in Cuban history. You can see the monuments, take some pictures, walk around a bit, then head back to downtown Havana in your vintage car.
There are a lot of amazing things to do in Havana and we can’t list everything, but here are a few more. Take a stroll along the Malecon, which is Havana’s long roadway and seawall that stretches for about five miles. Another place we recommend is visiting Ambos Mundos. The famous author, Ernest Hemingway spent seven years of his life living at Ambos Mundos. It is a hotel but also feels like a Hemingway museum with pictures of him all over the hotel.
Best places to visit outside of Havana
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and a pretty big country with lots to see. If you have more time, then we recommend going to a few places that are not too far away from Havana.
One place is the beach town of Varadero. Although Havana is a magical place to explore, there really is no beach around the city. If you want to enjoy a nice Caribbean beach then the closest one will be Varadero. The beach there reminded us a lot of the beaches at Cancun with way less people. There are nice hotels and restaurants within a short walking distance of the beach. This is a nice place to relax for a couple of days and is only a two-hour drive or bus ride from Havana.
Another place we recommend visiting is the town of Vinales, which is located in the Pinar del Rio province of Cuba. We chose to spend our 2 year wedding anniversary here and had a great time. Vinales is packed with amazing things to do. You can go hiking in the unique Mogote hills that are dotted across the landscape, you can go horseback riding, and visit a tobacco plantation. There are many restaurants and shops as well. The pace of life is slow in Vinales, the complete opposite of Havana. It is an incredibly beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy a few days.
Our experience
We got to spend a total of eight days in Cuba and loved every second of it. We never felt unsafe and the people were really friendly. We got to talk with some locals and they shared with us their stories, which was incredible and heartbreaking at the same time. We mostly stayed in Airbnb’s and they were really cheap (around $40/night). We traveled by bus, which was also cheap. Overall, we had a great time in Cuba and we hope we can go back someday.
About Author
Jordan and Nelly
Welcome! I'm Jordan Haws(ome). Thank you for stopping by. My wife, Nelly, and I are world travelers, photographers, and travel bloggers. So far we have been to 5 continents and over 40 countries. Our goal is to travel as much as we can and inspire you to do the same.