Havana city: a guide to visiting the Cuban capital

It all started back in 1515, when Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar established Havana as the main port for Spain’s New World colonies. But it became a victim of its own success, and Havana was frequently targeted by pirates and buccaneers. In response, the Spanish government built fortifications around the city, and it began to flourish. Soon Havana’s climate and commercial prosperity brought traders and travellers from every corner of the globe, who invested in the attractive, eclectic buildings which draw tourists to this day.

Things to do in Havana

Whether you’re visiting old rum distilleries or strolling on ocean boulevards, you’ll soon fall in love Havana’s exuberance and charm. Here’s a list of things you should try to see, do and experience during your time in Cuba’s capital.

Museum of Revolucion, Havana

Rum and revolution - explore Havana’s history in museums

Havana has some excellent museums, including the powerhouse Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes which has everything from Cuban pop art to work by Wifredo Lam, said to be ‘the Picasso of Cuban art’. Other museums devoted to Cuban culture and history include the Havana Club Rum Museum where you can learn all about Cuba’s national drink and the Hemmingway Museum (which is actually the house where the author lived and worked). If you’re interested in Cuba’s recent history, don’t miss the Che Guevara Museum and the Museum de la Revolución which displays photographs, weapons, flags and other exhibits from the 1950s uprising.

Square in Havana’s Old Town

Walk the streets of Old Havana on a guided tour

UNESCO-listed Old Havana is said to have undergone one of the most successful restoration projects in America. This is where the city started, and its exquisite plazas, cobbled streets and grandiose palaces are some of the most beautiful (and photographed) in all Latin America. The area is crammed with history, museums and art galleries, many graced with Havana’s signature arcades, colonnades and pastel facades. A walking tour is the best way to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of Old Havana and soak up its genteel Cuban charm.

Cuba's classic cars, Havana

Admire Havana’s old American cars and automobiles

Vintage cars are part of the scenery in Cuba. A trade embargo with America means you won’t see any American vehicles under 50 years old, so classics such as Buicks, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles still rumble and roar around Havana’s streets. Just like the buildings, many of these cars are painted colours like sunshine yellow or cobalt blue, only adding to Havana’s nostalgic air. It makes the city feel at times like a living vintage car museum.

Cuban cocktails on the beach

Get a taste for Havana’s clubs, cocktails and salsa bars

Cuba’s zest for life and love of music is evident everywhere in Havana. Pubs and clubs pulsate with the sounds of rumba, salsa and Afro-Caribbean jazz, and you can drink in the very bars that gave the world cocktail classics like mojitos and daiquiris. For all-out Latin American music, glitz and glamour, book a table at Havana’s Tropicana Club. This legendary open-air venue is famous for its world-class cabaret, Cuban music and dancers dressed in wildly extravagant costumes - expect palm trees, Latin salsa and many, many sequins.

Playa Bacuranao, beach near Havana

Bliss out on Havana’s beaches

Aside from rum, cigars, lovely architecture and vintage cars, Cuba is also known for its perfect white-sand beaches lapped by clear blue seas. Even if you’re staying in the centre of Havana, there are several excellent beaches within easy reach. Playas del Este is probably the best known of all Havana’s beach areas.

Located to the west of the city, this nine-mile stretch has about seven separate beaches of various sizes including Playa Bacuranao (best beach for snorkelling), Playa Santa María del Mar (best beach for watersports) and Playa Guanabo (a popular beach with locals). All these are an easy day trip from Havana and with their tall palm trees, thatched umbrellas and relaxed beach vibe, you can experience a whole different side to Cuba less than half an hour’s drive from the city.

Malecon and Havana locals at sunset

What else to see in the Cuban capital

Once you’ve visited the museums and beaches, admired the cars and architecture and sipped a mojito or two in a bar or nightclub, what else can’t you miss in the Cuban capital? Join locals on the seafront strip known as the Malecón in the evening, and watch the sun set on Havana’s harbour and skyline. Admire the city’s wonderful murals, mosaics and street art, either on your own or on one of Havana’s increasingly popular walking tours. Catch the Cañonazo, a traditional cannon-firing ceremony held every night at 9pm on the old city ramparts. And be sure to taste traditional Cuban dishes like slow-cooked Ropa Vieja, crispy plantains and the humble ‘mixto’ sandwich, a street food staple made with Cuban bread, roasted pork, ham, pickles, cheese and mustard.

Is Havana safe for tourists?

Cuba is generally very safe for tourists and Havana is a magnet for visitors from all over the world. However it’s always wise to take precautions, just as you would at home. Be wary of pickpockets in crowded areas and use hotel safes for cash and valuables. If you are anxious about travelling independently around Havana or Cuba, an escorted tour might be the answer. Travelling in a group with all your hotels, transport and excursions pre-arranged and a tour manager to make sure everything runs smoothly, is a hassle-free way to travel without having to worry or arrange any of it yourself.

Getting to Havana from the UK

The flight time from London to Havana is approximately 9 hours 45 minutes. You will need to apply for a tourist visa before you travel, and your UK passport must be valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave Cuba.

Touring Havana

Titan’s Cuban Discovery escorted tour spends a full four nights in Havana where we include a visit to a rum factory or museum, a walking tour, the 9pm cannon ceremony and a visit to Ernest Hemingway’s home. After that we set out on a round-island tour, taking in the lush landscapes and tobacco plantations of Viñales Valley, the colonial city of Trinidad, Cienfuegos ‘the pearl of the South’ and the white sand beaches of Cayo Ensenachos where we spend two nights at an all-inclusive beachfront hotel. Ideal for first-time visitors to Cuba, you’ll get all the highlights in one 13-day trip.

Read more about Cuba and browse our range of Cuba and Worldwide escorted tours today.