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Havana

Cuba travel guide

What to see in Havana

Old Havana, the Malecón, classic cars and music on every corner.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 4 must-see places
  • Best time: from December to May
  • Stay in Old Havana
  • Typical food: Mojito
Photo: RenaatPeeters · CC BY-SA 4.0

Havana highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Malecón

    Eight kilometres of seafront promenade; at sunset it fills with habaneros.

  2. Cathedral Square

    Old Havana’s baroque square, facing the coral-stone cathedral.

  3. Museum of the Revolution

    In the former presidential palace, with the Granma yacht in the courtyard.

  4. Fábrica de Arte

    A former cooking-oil factory turned into a venue for art, music and drinks.

Where to stay in Havana

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Old Havana · Vedado

Day trips from Havana

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Havana

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Havana are from December to May. If you can, avoid from August to October (hurricane season).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with strong warnings
  9. Sep with strong warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov with warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • from June to November

    Hurricane season

    Hurricanes can form from June to November; August, September and October are the riskiest months. There are almost always days of heavy rain and humid heat.

    What to do: Book with free cancellation, take out travel insurance that covers weather events and check the National Hurricane Center’s forecasts a few days before you go.

Typical food of Havana

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Havana from your kitchen).

Mojito
Photo: Melissa Walker Horn · FAL

Mojito

Havana’s cocktail: white rum, lime, mint, sugar and soda. They say Hemingway drank it in a bar in Old Havana.

  • Serves 1
  • 5 min

Ingredients

  • 50 ml Cuban white rum
  • 1/2 lime, cut into pieces
  • 2 teaspoons of sugar
  • 8 mint leaves
  • Soda water or sparkling water
  • Crushed ice

How to make it at home

  1. Put the sugar, lime and mint in a tall glass.
  2. Press gently so the lime releases its juice and the mint its aroma, without tearing the leaves.
  3. Fill the glass with crushed ice.
  4. Add the rum and top up with soda.
  5. Stir from the bottom up and garnish with a sprig of mint.

The trick: Mint is pressed, not pounded: if it tears, it turns bitter.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the paladar (a family-run restaurant). The dishes you can’t miss are in the Cuba guide.

  • La Guarida

    Centre · Cuban · €€

    Paladar

  • El del Frente

    Old Havana · Cuban · €€

    Rooftop

Frequently asked questions about Havana

What to see in Havana?

Malecón, Cathedral Square, Museum of the Revolution and Fábrica de Arte.

What to see in Havana in one day?

Don’t miss Malecón, Cathedral Square, Museum of the Revolution and Fábrica de Arte. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Havana?

The handiest areas to stay are Old Havana and Vedado.

What’s the best time to travel to Havana?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Havana are from December to May. If you can, avoid from August to October (hurricane season).

What day trips can you take from Havana?

Classic car and Old Havana.

What is the typical food of Havana?

Mojito. Havana’s cocktail: white rum, lime, mint, sugar and soda. They say Hemingway drank it in a bar in Old Havana.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.