Havana grabs you on the first stroll. Music, classic cars, and the sea in one walkable city. Old Havana by day, the Malecón and live music by night is the way to go.
November to April is the sweet spot for Havana with sunny days, lower humidity, and comfortable evenings, and we at VamosCaribe recommend January to March for headline events like the Havana Jazz Festival and the Habano cigar festival though rates run higher.
Havana’s districts each offer a different pace and feel. Pick your base by how you like to explore, then use taxis or walk the Malecón to reach the rest. Below are our top recommendations.
Cobbled streets, landmark plazas, museums, and classic cars. Restored colonial buildings house heritage hotels and characterful casas particulares.
Old Havana, Cuba
Wide avenues, parks, and much of the city’s dining and nightlife. Larger hotels and modern boutique properties line quiet streets.
Vedado, Havana
Between Old Havana and Vedado with markets, local life, and easy Malecón access. Great value guesthouses and small hotels.
Centro, Havana
Crime rate is low in Havana’s main tourist areas and violent incidents are rare. Pickpocketing can occur in crowded streets at night, so keep valuables light and use licensed taxis after dark. While power cuts and patchy internet do happen, most visitors find Havana friendly and easy to explore.
Police presence is strong across the city.
Walk Old Havana’s plazas, loop the city in a classic car past El Capitolio, catch sunset on the Malecón, then end with live music in Vedado or Fábrica de Arte Cubano.
Start in Plaza de la Catedral and Plaza Vieja, then wander Calle Obispo for shops, cafés, and street music. A guided walk adds context at El Capitolio and the Museo de la Revolución. Plan extra time for photo stops at every corner.
Hire a convertible by the hour and loop the Prado, El Capitolio, Vedado, and Plaza de la Revolución. Agree the price and route before you go. We at VamosCaribe suggest late afternoon for softer light and cooler air.
Vintage Cars
Eight kilometers of sea wall where locals gather, waves splash, and classic cars roll by. Cross the harbor for views from El Morro and La Cabaña, and catch the 9 pm cannon ceremony.
Bring cash for snacks and a taxi back.
From son trios in Old Havana to jazz in Vedado, the city plays every night. Book Fábrica de Arte Cubano for galleries, bands, and DJs in one spot, or try Casa de la Música for salsa.
Arrive early on weekends.
Street Music, Havana
Havana comes alive after dark with live music, cocktail bars, salsa clubs, and sea views along the Malecón. Pick an area, then use taxis between spots.
Havana is the capital of Cuba on the island’s northwest coast, facing the Florida Straits. It curves around a natural harbor, with Old Havana at its mouth and the Malecón running west toward Vedado and Miramar. José Martí International Airport sits about 20 kilometers southwest.
1950s American classic cars still cruise daily as taxis and family cars.
Camila Cabello was born in Cojímar just east of central Havana.
The Malecón is an eight kilometer seaside promenade loved at sunset.
The Fate of the Furious opened with a street race shot in Havana.
Ernest Hemingway wrote parts of "The Old Man and the Sea" when living in Havana.
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