Top things to do in Havana
Habana Vieja is built around four colonial squares, and walking between them is the essential first day in the city: Plaza de la Catedral, framed by the baroque cathedral; Plaza Vieja, ringed by restored arcaded mansions; Plaza de Armas, the old seat of Spanish power; and Plaza de San Francisco, down by the harbor. From there, the domed El Capitolio and the tree-lined Paseo del Prado connect the old town to Centro Habana.
Ride in a 1950s convertible along the Malecón, the seawall that runs for kilometers between Habana Vieja and Vedado, ideally at sunset when locals gather to fish, talk and watch the waves crash over the wall. Save an evening for live son cubano and a glass of rum, and swing by the Afro-Cuban murals of Callejón de Hamel — plus the bars Hemingway frequented, La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita, for a mojito or daiquiri with a side of literary history.
Neighborhoods and where to eat
Habana Vieja is the restored, UNESCO-listed core — arcaded plazas, colonial mansions turned museums and the busiest tourist streets. Centro Habana, just west of the old town, is grittier and more residential, home to the historic Barrio Chino (Chinatown). Further out, Vedado trades cobblestones for wide 20th-century avenues, university buildings and the grand Hotel Nacional overlooking the sea.
Cuba's best cooking now happens in paladares, privately run restaurants that fill the gaps state kitchens leave behind — look for ropa vieja (shredded beef), moros y cristianos (rice and black beans) and fresh seafood. For dessert, join the line at Coppelia, the Vedado ice cream institution, and end the night with a mojito, a Cuba libre or a glass of añejo rum.
Getting around and best time to visit
Habana Vieja is compact and largely pedestrian, so most sightseeing happens on foot; for longer hops, hop in an almendrón (a shared classic-car taxi that runs fixed routes for a few pesos) or a three-wheeled cocotaxi. Foreign cards rarely work in Cuba, so bring cash — euros and dollars are the easiest to exchange at official CADECA offices or hotel desks.
The best months to visit are November through April, the dry season, when temperatures are warm but manageable and humidity drops. June through November is Caribbean hurricane season, with August to October the highest risk; December to March is also the busiest and priciest stretch, so book tours and accommodation ahead if you're travelling then.
