Havana, Cuba
Overview
Havana is one of the most singular cities in the world — a capital of 2.1 million people that has existed in a state of economic suspension for over sixty years, preserving by circumstance what other cities destroyed by development: its colonial architecture, its 1950s American cars, its street-level human scale, and a way of life built around music, conversation, and rum that has no close parallel anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. It is simultaneously a city of extraordinary beauty and considerable hardship, and understanding both is part of what makes it unlike anywhere else.
Founded in 1519 on its current location on Havana Bay, the city became the most important port in the Spanish colonial empire — the assembly point for the great treasure fleets returning to Spain, ringed with fortifications to protect the wealth passing through it. The old city that accumulated over four centuries of colonial rule is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing one of the best-preserved collections of baroque and neoclassical architecture in the Americas. The Havana that developed in the 1940s and 1950s — the hotels, the casinos, the Malecón seafront boulevard, the vintage American automobiles that still run on its streets — froze in place after the 1959 revolution and the US embargo that followed, creating the time-capsule atmosphere that draws visitors from across the world.
Cuba's tourism sector has faced significant challenges in recent years. International arrivals declined sharply in 2024 and 2025, driven by economic and energy crises on the island, including widespread power outages, limited air connectivity, and reduced visitor confidence. Cuba received 29.1 percent fewer international stopover visitors in early 2025 compared to 2024. Despite these challenges, Havana itself retains every quality that made it extraordinary — the architecture, the music, the cars, the people — and for visitors who prepare appropriately, the experience is as compelling as ever. Cuba introduced a new e-Visa system in July 2025, replacing the paper tourist card.
Havana rewards visitors who approach it with flexibility, cash, and genuine curiosity. It is not a destination for those who require predictability — power outages occur, restaurants run out of ingredients, and plans change. It is a destination for those who find value in improvisation, human connection, and a city that exists nowhere else on earth. Start planning your Havana trip at palapavibez.com for curated itineraries and the best hotel rates.
Fast Facts
Havana has a tropical climate — warm year-round with a wet season from May through October and a drier, slightly cooler winter season from November through April. The best time to visit is December through April when humidity is lower, temperatures are between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius, and tropical storms are not a concern. The wet season brings higher temperatures and afternoon thunderstorms that typically pass quickly. Hurricane season runs from June through November — Cuba has been impacted by major hurricanes in recent years and travel insurance covering weather disruption is strongly recommended for wet season visits.
Cuba uses the Cuban Peso (CUP) as its only official currency as of 2021, when the dual currency system was eliminated. American credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba due to the US embargo — US visitors must bring sufficient cash in Euros, Canadian Dollars, or British Pounds to cover the entire trip. Cash can be exchanged at CADECA exchange houses or hotels throughout Havana. European and Canadian visitors can use international bank cards at some ATMs, though availability is inconsistent. The cash-dependent nature of Cuba makes carrying adequate funds the single most important practical preparation for the trip.
Cuba introduced a new e-Visa system in July 2025, replacing the paper tourist card (tarjeta del turista) that had previously been required. All visitors now must apply online through evisacuba.cu before travel. Additionally, travelers must complete the D'Viajeros health and customs form within one week of arrival. Cuban law requires all visitors to have valid travel insurance — this is checked at the border and visitors without proof of coverage can be denied entry. Tipping is appreciated throughout Cuba — although the socialist system nominally equalizes incomes, the reality is that workers in the tourist sector depend significantly on tips from visitors.
Top Attractions
Old Havana — La Habana Vieja — is the beating historical heart of the city and one of the finest colonial city centers in the Americas. The four main plazas of the old city — Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de San Francisco de Asís — are each surrounded by buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries in varying states of restoration and picturesque decay. The Catedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana on Plaza de la Catedral, completed in 1777, is one of the finest examples of Cuban baroque architecture. The cobblestone lanes connecting the plazas, lined with colonial palazzos, art galleries, and paladares, reward extended wandering more than any single destination within them.
The Malecón is Havana's most defining public space — an eight-kilometer seafront esplanade running along the northern coast of the city from Old Havana through Centro Habana to the neighborhood of Vedado. Built between 1901 and 1952, it is simultaneously a road, a seawall, a promenade, and the city's outdoor living room. At sunset and into the evening, Habaneros of every age gather along the wall to talk, play music, fish, drink rum, and watch the light change over the Straits of Florida. Walking the Malecón at dusk is one of the defining Havana experiences and entirely free.
Recommendations
Old Havana (La Habana Vieja)
Four colonial plazas, baroque cathedral, cobblestone lanes — wander freely, best explored on foot over 2+ days
The Malecón
8km seafront boulevard — visit at sunset and evening when Habaneros gather, free, one of the defining city experiences
Classic American Car Tour
1950s Chevrolets, Buicks, and Pontiacs still running — book a convertible city tour, ~$30–50 per hour
Museo de la Revolución
Former Presidential Palace — Granma yacht, comprehensive Revolution history, essential for understanding Cuba
Fábrica de Arte Cubano
Vedado — converted factory with galleries, live music, film, and food; the most exciting cultural space in Cuba
Havana Live Music
Casa de la Música — authentic son, salsa, and jazz performed as a living tradition, not tourist entertainment
El Capitolio
1929 domed capitol building modeled on the US Capitol — recently restored, houses the Cuban Academy of Sciences
Viñales Valley Day Trip
3 hours west by bus — UNESCO-listed tobacco farming valley with limestone mogotes and the finest cigars in the world
The vintage American cars of Havana are both a practical reality and a visual spectacle unlike anything outside a museum. When the US embargo prevented the importation of new vehicles after 1960, Habaneros maintained, repaired, and creatively engineered their 1950s American automobiles using Soviet parts, diesel engines, and improvisation — and those cars are still running. The classic American convertibles operating as taxi particulares — privately operated shared taxis — charge approximately $5 CUP for trips across the city. Booking a classic car tour is one of the most enjoyable and visually extraordinary ways to see the city, moving through its neighborhoods in a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air with the sea breeze and the sound of salsa from the radio.
The Museo de la Revolución in the former Presidential Palace is the largest and most comprehensive museum of the Cuban Revolution — the former seat of government where Batista fled the night of January 1, 1959, now housing the Granma yacht in a glass pavilion outside. The yacht carried Fidel Castro and 81 revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba in 1956 to launch the revolution. Inside, the museum documents the entire arc of the revolution from the Batista period through the guerrilla campaign to the present day. The experience of understanding Cuba requires understanding the revolution, regardless of political perspective, and this museum provides the most complete primary source.
Havana's live music scene operates at a different level of authenticity from anywhere else in Latin America. Son, bolero, salsa, jazz, and rumba all have deep roots in the city's culture and are performed not as tourist entertainment but as a living tradition that has never stopped evolving. The Casa de la Música in Miramar and Centro Habana host the best live performances by established musicians. The Fábrica de Arte Cubano in Vedado — a converted cooking oil factory transformed into a multi-arts space with galleries, live music, film, and food — is the finest cultural venue in Cuba for contemporary Cuban art and music.
Where to Stay
Havana accommodation divides between state-run hotels, internationally managed hotels (primarily by Iberostar, Meliá, and Kempinski), and the casas particulares — privately owned rooms and apartments that are the preferred choice for most independent travelers. Casas particulares provide a more authentic, connected experience, directly support Cuban families, and often include better quality home-cooked breakfast than hotel alternatives. For US citizens, accommodation must comply with US Treasury regulations — state-owned hotels are generally off-limits, while casas particulares and privately operated boutique hotels are permitted.
Hotel Nacional de Cuba is the most iconic hotel in Havana — a 1930 National Historic Monument on a hill above the Malecón in Vedado, where Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, Marlon Brando, and Ernest Hemingway all stayed. The hotel's Salón de la Fama displays memorabilia from its celebrity history and the terraced gardens overlooking the sea provide one of the finest sunset views in the city. The hotel is state-operated and therefore subject to US visitor restrictions — non-US visitors find it one of the most atmospherically rich hotels in the Caribbean.
Recommendations
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
1930 National Monument in Vedado — Churchill, Sinatra, Hemingway all stayed here, terraced gardens, Malecón views (state-run; US restrictions apply)
Iberostar Grand Packard
Old Havana — restored historic building, infinity pool with city views, finest service in Havana's hotel market
Iberostar Selection Parque Central
Adjacent to Parque Central — two connected buildings, rooftop pool, most convenient base for Old Havana exploring
Casas Particulares
Privately owned rooms in colonial homes — most authentic experience, directly supports Cuban families, US-compliant
Boutique Private Hotels
Small privately owned properties in Old Havana and Vedado — best quality for US visitors, book through authorized platforms
Iberostar Grand Packard in Old Havana is the finest internationally managed hotel in the city — a restored historic building on the Paseo del Prado with an infinity pool on the sixth floor overlooking Old Havana, butler service, a spa, and the most consistently praised service in the Havana hotel landscape. The Iberostar Selection Parque Central, adjacent to Parque Central and the El Capitolio, operates two connected buildings and provides the most convenient location for exploring Old Havana and Centro Habana on foot. The Iberostar Marqués de la Torre offers panoramic 360-degree city views from its rooftop terrace in the historic center.
For the most authentic Havana experience, casas particulares in Old Havana, Centro Habana, and Vedado range from basic rooms to beautifully restored colonial apartments with high ceilings, original tile floors, and family-cooked breakfast. Booking through platforms accessible to your country (Cuban operators are not accessible through standard US booking platforms) in advance is essential, as the best casas fill up. Many of the finest are family-run operations in genuinely historic buildings.
Food & Drink
Havana's food scene has undergone a genuine transformation over the past decade driven entirely by the paladar — privately owned restaurants that operate outside the state restaurant system. Before the economic reforms that gradually permitted private enterprise, dining in Havana meant uninspired state restaurant food. Today, the city's paladares range from simple neighborhood spots serving classic Cuban food to genuinely ambitious restaurants producing some of the most creative cuisine in the Caribbean. The growth of the private restaurant sector represents one of the most visible changes to everyday life in Havana.
La Guarida is the most celebrated paladar in Havana — housed in a crumbling baroque mansion in Centro Habana that served as the set for the Oscar-nominated film Fresa y Chocolate, with a rooftop bar overlooking the city and a dining room of peeling grandeur that has attracted celebrities, diplomats, and food travelers from across the world since the 1990s. The food is creative Cuban-fusion; the atmosphere is irreplaceable. San Cristóbal Paladar in Centro Habana, decorated with an extraordinary collection of Cuban memorabilia accumulated by owner Carlos Cristóbal Márquez, has served as a meeting point for Cuban and international cultural figures and was visited by President Obama during his 2016 historic visit to Cuba.
Recommendations
La Guarida
Centro Habana — baroque mansion setting, rooftop bar, Cuba's most celebrated private restaurant since the 1990s
San Cristóbal Paladar
Centro Habana — Obama's 2016 visit cemented its legend, Cuban memorabilia collection, warm neighborhood atmosphere
El Floridita
Old Havana — birthplace of the daiquiri, Hemingway's bar stool preserved in bronze, essential cocktail pilgrimage stop
La Bodeguita del Medio
Old Havana — Hemingway's mojito bar, walls covered in visitor signatures, most famous bar in the Caribbean
Ropa Vieja
Cuba's most beloved dish — slow-cooked shredded beef in tomato sauce, served with black beans, rice, and plantains
Casa Particular Breakfast
Home-cooked eggs, tropical fruit, café cubano — the finest and most authentic breakfast experience in Havana
Cuban cocktail culture is one of the great contributions to global bartending. The mojito — white rum, lime juice, mint, sugar, and soda water — was created in Havana and is served everywhere from La Bodeguita del Medio in Old Havana (where Hemingway's handwritten declaration 'Mi mojito en La Bodeguita' is displayed on the wall) to every neighborhood bar in the city. The daiquiri — rum, lime juice, and sugar — was refined at El Floridita in Old Havana, where Hemingway drank the Hemingway Special (double rum, no sugar, grapefruit juice instead of lime) and his bar stool is still reserved with a bronze statue. Both bars are tourist-heavy but historically essential.
Cuban food in its traditional form centers on ropa vieja — slow-cooked shredded beef in tomato sauce, one of the most satisfying dishes in Caribbean cooking — alongside black beans, white rice, and plantains in both sweet (maduros) and savory (tostones) forms. The traditional Cuban breakfast — eggs, toast, café cubano (intensely sweet espresso), and fresh tropical fruit — is best experienced at a casa particular where the host family cooks using their own garden produce and family recipes. Street food is limited compared to other Caribbean capitals but worth seeking out: the Cuban sandwich (pan con lechón), churros with hot chocolate, and fresh coconut water from street vendors are the most essential.
Getting There
José Martí International Airport (HAV) serves Havana approximately 15 kilometers southwest of the city center. The airport receives flights from Canada, Europe, Latin America, and limited US connections. Major carriers serving Havana include Cubana de Aviación (Cuba's state airline), Air Canada, Air Transat, Iberia, Air France, Copa Airlines, and Aeromexico. The flight market to Cuba has been significantly reduced in recent years as Cuba's economic challenges have deterred airlines from maintaining routes.
For US citizens, travel to Cuba is legal under specific Treasury Department authorized categories — tourism per se is not a permitted category. The twelve legal categories include family visits, journalistic activity, professional research, educational activities, humanitarian projects, religious activities, and support for the Cuban people. The 'support for the Cuban people' category is the most commonly used by independent travelers and requires a full itinerary of activities that involve direct interaction with Cuban citizens — staying at casas particulares, eating at paladares, and engaging with cultural and educational institutions rather than state entities. US travelers must maintain records of their activities for five years after travel. Direct flights from the US to Havana operate from Miami, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and other cities on American, JetBlue, and Southwest — confirm current route availability as service has fluctuated.
From the airport to the city, official taxis are metered and cost approximately $25 to $35 CUC equivalent to most central Havana neighborhoods. Classic American car taxis also wait outside arrivals and can negotiate a flat rate. The journey takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Public buses do not connect the airport to the city center in a practical way for most visitors.
Within Havana, the classic American car taxi particulares are both the most practical and the most pleasurable way to move around the city — they operate on shared or private routes and cost approximately $5 CUP for most cross-city journeys. Coco-taxis (yellow fiberglass three-wheelers) and bicitaxis (cycle rickshaws) operate in Old Havana at lower prices. Walking is the best way to explore Old Havana, Vedado, and Miramar's main streets.
Practical Info
Cash is the single most critical practical preparation for Havana. US credit and debit cards do not function anywhere in Cuba due to the sanctions regime. European and Canadian cards work at some ATMs but availability is unpredictable and machines frequently run out of notes. The only reliable strategy is to bring all cash needed for the entire trip — in Euros or Canadian Dollars, which exchange well at CADECA exchange offices or hotel desks. Budget generously and bring more than you think you need. Running out of cash in Havana with no functioning cards is a serious practical problem with no easy solution.
Power outages (apagones) are a reality of life in Havana and have been particularly frequent since 2022 as Cuba's energy infrastructure has faced severe strain. Outages can last several hours and affect everything from air conditioning to elevator service to restaurant operations. Ask your hotel or casa particular host about the local outage schedule — electricity is managed in rolling cuts across neighborhoods, so patterns can be partially predicted. Bring a portable power bank for phone charging during outages and install your eSIM data plan before arriving to maintain connectivity during WiFi outages.
Recommendations
Cash is Mandatory
US cards don't work anywhere in Cuba — bring all cash in Euros or Canadian Dollars, bring more than you think you need
e-Visa Required
Apply at evisacuba.cu before travel — passport details, accommodation address, payment required
Travel Insurance Mandatory
Cuban law requires proof of valid travel insurance at the border — obtain before departure
Power Outages
Apagones are frequent — bring a power bank, ask hosts about local outage schedules, install eSIM data before arrival
US Travelers — Authorized Categories
Tourism per se is not permitted — use 'support for Cuban people' category, stay in casas particulares, eat at paladares
WiFi Reality
WiFi is patchy — ETECSA cards available at hotels and parks, eSIMs from GigSky or Kolet recommended for data
Cigars
Cuba produces the world's finest cigars — buy only from official Casa del Habano stores to guarantee authenticity
The e-Visa system introduced in July 2025 requires all visitors to apply online at evisacuba.cu before travel. The application requires passport details, travel dates, accommodation address, and payment. Proof of valid travel insurance meeting Cuban requirements must be provided at the border. US travelers must additionally maintain documentation of their authorized travel category activities for five years. The D'Viajeros health and customs form must be completed within one week of arrival. Arrive at the airport with all documentation printed or accessible offline as connectivity on arrival may be unreliable.
Havana is generally safe for tourists, particularly in the tourist zones of Old Havana, Vedado, and Miramar. The primary safety concern is petty theft — avoid displaying expensive cameras, phones, or jewelry in crowded areas, and be aware around the Malecón after dark. Do not exchange money with street changers offering unofficial rates — CADECA offices provide the official rate and are entirely reliable. The Cuban people are extraordinarily warm toward visitors from virtually every country, and genuine human connection with locals is one of the most rewarding aspects of any Havana visit.