By air
José Martí International (HAV), ~15 km by road
North America · Cuba
Havana, Cuba
Colonial squares, seafront and vintage cars
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to April — dry and warm
Don't miss
Old Havana
The Malecón
Plaza de la Catedral
Castillo del Morro
Things to do
Walking Old Havana
A classic-car ride along the Malecón
Live son and salsa
Rum and cigar history
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: RenaatPeeters · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Light clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen
A quieter corner
Callejón de Hamel, an alley of Afro-Cuban murals and rumba in Centro Habana
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Havana?
November to April — dry and warm. What to pack: Light clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen.
How do I get to Havana?
Fly into José Martí International (HAV), ~15 km by road.
What is there to do in Havana?
Walking Old Havana, a classic-car ride along the Malecón, live son and salsa, rum and cigar history. A quieter find: Callejón de Hamel, an alley of Afro-Cuban murals and rumba in Centro Habana.
What should I eat in Havana?
Ropa vieja, black beans and rice, roast pork, fresh fruit juices and coffee.
About Havana
- Coastal
Where it is
Havana is the capital and largest city of Cuba, on the island's north-west coast around a deep harbour opening onto the Straits of Florida.
History
The Spanish founded the city at its present site in 1519, and its harbour became the gathering point for treasure fleets sailing back to Spain, guarded by great stone forts. Old Havana and its fortifications were listed as a World Heritage Site in 1982, and the city keeps a rich mix of colonial, art deco and modern buildings.
People
Havana's people, the habaneros, speak Spanish and spend evenings out on the streets and the seafront, with music, dominoes and baseball at the heart of neighbourhood life.
Known for
- The colonial streets of Old Havana
- The Malecón seafront
- Classic American cars
- Son, salsa and rumba
Did you know?
The Malecón, the seafront road and sea wall built from the early 20th century, runs for about 8 km and is the city's favourite place to stroll at dusk.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.