Havana Bucket List: 40 Things to Do In Cuba’s Capital

Havana (also known as Habana) is a blend of the old and new, where vintage cars and crumbling Spanish colonial architecture mix with kitschy galleries and a booming nightlife. Cuba’s capital city is meant to be explored and there are plenty of fun things to do in Havana and cool places to visit.

Every nook and cranny of Havana offers something new.

Though there are still some light restrictions for Americans traveling to Cuba, when you make it there you will find it filled with character, culture and friendly people with incredible things to see, do and eat!

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Havana Bucket List: 16 Things to Do & Places to Visit In Cuba’s Capital

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WHAT TO SEE + DO

1. ✧ Shop the San Jose Market

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2. ✧ Get the View at Havana’s Camera Obscura

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3. ✦ Spend an Evening at Fabrica de Arte Cubano

Fabrica de Arte Cubano (the Cuban Art Factory) is a cutting edge hotspot where sophisticated gallery rooms cohabitate with multimedia performance spaces. The large warehouse space that used to be a former cooking oil plant, now has been transformed into the hippest place in town where live events happen (like tango classes and symphony performances) while interesting art expos line the white walls.

Make sure to order the oversized house mojito (a jumbo 40 ouncer for $10!). It was the best mojito I had in Havana, yep I’m gonna say it – even better than the most famous place to drink this classic beverage, Hotel Nacional.

They are only open Thursday thru Sunday (from 8pm-3am), so plan your itinerary accordingly, because this is the one of the not to miss places to visit!!! Also, right next door is El Cocinero, a great place for dinner before or after your Fabrica de Arte Cubano visit.

Read More > Havana’s Hippest Art Factory: Fabrica de Arte Cubano

4. ✧ Browse the book market at Plaza de Armas

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5. ✧ Attend the Ballet at the Gran Teatro de La Habana

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6. ✦ Ride in a Vintage Convertible

It would almost be a sin to leave Havana without taking a ride in a snazzy classic convertible-it’s the top thing to do. Havana is essentially a living museum for classic cars after American cars were imported into Cuba for about 50 years in the early 20th century. If I had the money,

We took a Vintage Classic Car Tour for $50 per person, and it included an hour ride in one of these babies. Otherwise, there are a dozen drivers with their beautiful cars in front of Hotel Inglaterra at Parque Central ready to take you wherever you want to go. The cost can range from $25 CUC to $50 CUC per hour depending on the tourist season and your destination. But, always try to negotiate!

Book a Tour > Havana: 2-Hour Classic American Car Tour
Read More > An American in Havana: What You Need to Know

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7. ✧ Have a Peek Inside Catedral de San Cristobal

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8. ✧ Take a Cocotaxi

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9. ✦ Smoke a Cuban Cigar

Cuban cigars are known to be one of the finest in the world. From east to west they are prized and the reason being is that Cuba has excellent conditions for growing tobacco and most importantly they have centuries of experience.

You can get cigars throughout Havana, but there’s a decent selection at Partagas Cigar Factory right behind the Capitol building. Though the “factory” part has moved to a different location, you can still buy your Cuban and then head to their VIP room to smoke it. Or grab a cigar and a mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio, just like Hemingway did.

If you’re not into smoking cigars, you can at least take a photo of the Cuban women around the old town who will pretend to smoke a cigar for about $1 CUC.

Read > Buying Cuban Cigars in Havana

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10. ✧ Relax on the Beach-Playas del Este

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11. ✧ Explore the Old Mansions in Vedado

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12. ✦ Explore Old Havana

La Habana Vieja or Old Havana, an UNESCO World Heritage site, is the historic center of Cuba’s capital city.

It is the heart of Havana-the #1 Place to Visit.

You can easily spend hours aimlessly strolling through the narrow streets taking in the colors and history attached to them. There are countless historic colonial buildings, cutting-edge galleries, restaurants, shops and lovely plazas to explore. This is also where you will find many of Hemingway’s famous stops.

When I first arrived, I took the Old Havana Walking Tour in order to catch my bearings, but then just happily roamed on my own.

Read > Old Town Walking Tour in Havana
Book a Tour > Discover Old Havana: Small Group City Walking Tour
Read > 10 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

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13. ✧ Stroll Paseo del Prado

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14. ✧ Visit the Four Plazas of the Revolucion

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15. ✦ Marvel at Fusterlandia

About a half hour west from central Havana, Cuban artist José Fuster created a masterpiece of mosaic tilework in his home and the surrounding neighborhood – Fusterlandia. It is street art unlike any I have ever seen. His home is decked out in a rainbow of bright colored tiles, that has spilled over to the surrounding houses as well.

It’s free to get into Casa de Fuster located in the district of Jaimanitas, but you will need to choose a way to visit there. The easiest and quickest way is to take a yellow taxi or vintage car, which will cost around 20 CUC. Or if you are more adventurous (and want to save lots of money!) attempt to navigate the local bus system. The MetroBus map can get confusing, but a ride will cost only about 1 CUP. You can take the P1 or P4 to get to the Playa stop. From here it’s about a 30 minute walk along Avenida Quinta or it’s possible to catch a local bus at Playa to take you to Jaimanitas (ask the bus drivers).

Read > MetroBus Map

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16. ✧ Take a Day Trip to Vinales

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17. ✧ See the Christ of Havana

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18. ✦ Pay Your Respects at Colon Cemetery

Cementario de Cristóbal Colón (Colon Cemetery) is not your typical cemetery, it has over 800,000 graves in its 57 hectares (about 141 acres). It is known for elaborately sculptured tombs where bishops, politicians, artists, scientists and sports figures lay. You will want to plan a little more time than you think because it is so grand and known as one of the most remarkable cemeteries in the world.

It is well worth the $5 CUC cost to get in, and a map is always available for purchase at the entrance. But, be sure to go early or on a cloudy day, there is not a lot of places to rest and it can get uncomfortably hot. The Hop On – Hop Off bus makes a stop there or any taxi driver should know where it is.

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19. ✧ Go to a baseball game at Estadio Latinoamericano

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20. ✧ See the Tropicana Show

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21. ✧ Go to the Sunday Rumba Party at Callejón de Hamel

Callejón de Hamel is a great place to go any time for its unconventional street art and funky art shops, but on Sunday afternoons the place takes it to another level with a party that immerses you deep in the culture of Havana – let’s rumba!

Around noon, Callejón comes to life with a live rumba party. Locals and tourists alike cram into the small space to watch as musicians and dancers perform.

Watch Video > Rumba at Callejón

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22. ✧ Visit Ernest Hemingway’s house, Finca Vigía

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23. ✧ See the Parisiene Dinner Show at Hotel Nacional

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24. ✧ Learn to Salsa

If you love to dance to Latin grooves then Salsa is a perfect thing to learn while in Cuba – salsa is in their blood. You can learn to light up the dance floor, burn some of those extra mojito calories and spice up the mood too.

At La Casa del Son, you can get a one on one private lesson that is perfect for the novice or someone who wants to perfect their skills. After class, take your talents to the streets and hit up one of Havana’s best Cuban dance clubs. Try your fancy footwork at Diablo Tun Tun or El Turquino.

Read > Where to Dance Salsa in Havana

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25. ✧ Visit a Cigar shop

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26. ✦ Walk the Malecón Esplanade

The Malecón esplanade is an 8 km stretch aside the Havana picturesque seaside. Many will hire a vintage car taxi to drive them the length, but you will get so much more out of walking the distance, making stops along the way. You can make an afternoon of interacting with the strolling locals, watching the fisherman, eating at one of the Paladares, marveling at the colonial architecture and so much more.

Try to time it just right so you will see the sunset while you stroll, or even better, when you reach Hotel Nacional and are sipping a mojito on their terrace that overlooks the malecón.

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27. ✧ Fish on the Malecon

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28. ✦ Ride in a Taxi Particular

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29. ✧ See the El Cañonazo de las Nueve

Fortaleza de San Carlos de La Cabaña is an impressive 18th century fortress complex along the Havana sea where the el cañonazo de las nueve (a live cannon fire) happens every evening at 9:00pm sharp. Initially this shot was to announce the opening/closing of the forts gates, but today it is just a reminder of Cuban traditions.

Make sure to plan your visit much earlier because the event starts well before the cannon fire at nine. Beforehand, traditionally uniformed soldiers march through the complex performing in an entertaining parade.

You’ll either need to take a taxi or catch the ferry to get there, but you can also get a distant glimpse while simply walking along the Malecón. Beware that it gets crowded at La Cabana and the early birds get the best viewing positions.

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30. ✧ Go to a Jazz Club

Cuba has rich rhythm and soul in their bloods, and it can be experienced from one of the many jazz clubs in Havana. Even while walking through the Old Town late at night the music and dance will be spilling into the streets. Or make a point to go to La Zorra y el Cuervo, the most famous jazz club in Havana, where every evening at 10:00pm brings a different musician.

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WHERE TO EAT + DRINK

31. ✧ Have a Cuba Libre by the Pool at El Presidente Hotel

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32. ✦ Toast Hemingway with a Daiquiri at El Floridita

El Floridita may be the most touristy bar in all of Havana (it is the quintessential thing to do in the city), but who wouldn’t want to go to the place Hemingway claimed makes the best daiquiri in the world? It’s located in the popular Old Havana, which only adds to the crowds (there’s almost always a line out the door).

When you walk in musicians play, the crowd is energetic and the bartenders have the blenders on full speed with daiquiri glasses ready to roll. Plus, you can pose with the life-sized brass Hemingway.

Don’t eat there, but it’s worth a quick cocktail stop. Make your daiquiri a double, that’s how Hemingway did it.

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33. ✦ Have an Authentic Cuban Meal

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34. ✦ Eat at a Paladar

A paladar is a privately owned restaurant, typically located in a converted home and run by a family. It is one of the best ways to enjoy the Cuban culture and cuisine. Many times you won’t even realize you are dining in paladar because they look just like a regular restaurant!

There are so many delicious ones to choose from, but I do have a few favorites where both the food and ambiance were on point. The very trendy O’Reilly 304 in Old Havana was a treat of Latin influenced foods and cocktails. For something more traditional, the nearby Nao Bar served up mouthwatering Cuban dishes. Cafe Laurent is located on the top floor of a Vedado apartment complex (we even saw tenants taking out their trash on our way up!), but don’t let that discourage you. This paladar served up one of the best shredded pork dishes in Cuba with a chic ambiance. The crème de la crème of paladares is the famous La Guarida (see #14)

Read > The New Way to Eat Cuba
Read > Top 10 Paladares in Havana

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35. ✧ Eat Street Food

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36. ✦ Dine at the Famous La Guarida

La Guarida is arguably the most famous paladar (and one of the priciest) in all of Havana. Located on the third floor in an apartment, the memorable experience starts on the ground floor where a wall with the Cuban flag leads you up a dilapidated staircase. The second level is fit for the scene of a movie with its naturally faux finished walls and rustic stone columns. When you finally arrive to the restaurant the food does not disappoint, neither does the ambiance.

Dinner for two (two entrees, one app, three glasses of wine) cost us $68. Even though it was the most expensive meal we had in Cuba, the same one would have cost us at least double in northern California.

Reservations are highly recommended, which you can make online, but be aware that due to limited internet access it may take a while to get a response.

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37. ✧ Eat a Cubano Sandwich

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38. ✦ Drink a Mojito on the Hotel Nacional’s Terrace

While walking along the Malecón, it’ll be hard to miss the iconic Hotel Nacional. The large historic hotel is perched on a hill giving it a view of the sea, harbor and old cars driving by. This is one of the reasons that their stunning garden terrace is so popular.

Another is their mojitos.

The mojito is their specialty drink and almost every outdoor table will have one on it. Even though I said that the mojitos at Fabrica de Arte Cubano (see #1) were better, the terrace at Hotel Nacional more than makes up for it.

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39. ✦ Eat Mariquitas

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WHERE TO SLEEP

40. ✦ Sleep in a Cuban’s Home

There are only a handful of hotels in Havana and they are mostly owned by the government, so are very expensive (typically $300+ per night). It is more common for visitors to stay in a Cuban’s private home (casa particular) or B&B, which is way more economical and a local experience. Head over to Airbnb because this is where you can easily find a room in a cute house for under $50 per night.

I stayed at the lovely Mi Case Tu Casa, which was a little pricier at $125 per night. But, it had excellent reviews, breakfast was included and there was internet access. Plus, its location was right across the street from the larger Hotel Presidente, where the hop on hop off bus stopped, there were always taxis available, we could exchange money and listen to music on the patio. It was a lovely stay and I would highly recommend it!

Related: Where to Stay in Havana: 12 Best Airbnb Rentals in Cuba’s Capital City

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Essential Tips for Visiting Havana Getting There: The José Martí International Airport is Cuba’s principal airport, and most airlines will fly into it. You can easily check for the best fare deals at Skyscanner, which also has the option to choose ‘cheapest month’ as the departure to find the lowest priced dates to fly to your destination. From the airport to the city center, take a taxi for around $20-30 (USD). You can also pick up a rental car from one of the car rental agencies available at the Arrivals area. Where to Stay in Havana: Hotels are hard to come by in Havana, and they tend to be expensive since they are government owned. It is more common for visitors to find accommodations on Airbnb. The Bayview Penthouse (moderate) is an apartment located in Old Havana and is within walking distance to the best attractions. For a less expensive option in Old Havana, try the Melvis House. Or Relax in Front of the Sea at this luxurious Airbnb. For more Airbnb options in Havana, here is a list of the 12 Best Airbnb Rentals. Or head over to Airbnb to browse the many lodging options Havana has to offer. Getting Around: Driving in Havana can be a bit of a challenge and parking fees can be expensive, but if you choose to rent a car, check out some of the car rental agencies at the José Martí International Airport. If you are not renting a car, you can rent a bike, or hire a Bici-Taxi. Best Tours in Havana: You can find some of the top tours at Get Your Guide or Viator, and here are some of the top ones: 2-Hour Classic American Car Tour with a CocktailWelcome to Havana: Private Tour with a LocalA Day Tour from Havana to Sunny Viñales Insurance: It’s always a good idea to travel fully insured so you are protected in case of trip cancellations or medical emergencies. You can check out pricing at Travelex Insurance. Universal Adapter: Your American plugged equipment will need an adapter. I use the Celtic Universal Adapter, which has brought me around the world with no problems.

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Helpful Resources
StreetSmart Map of Havana
Book a Tour: Havana: 2-Hour Classic American Car Tour
Book a Tour: Discover Old Havana: Small Group City Walking Tour