FOMO is real! Do you worry about overlooking something incredible when travel planning? If so, then you’re in luck because this curated list of 100 things to do in Havana Cuba will ensure you create an unforgettable and personalized vacation. You will find landmarks, attractions, museums, outdoor activities, beaches, where to eat and shop, and where to get the perfect photos for lasting memories. Don’t skip the Plan Your Trip section for when to go, how long to stay, what to pack, how much to budget, where to stay, and how to get around. It’s all here, keep reading for 100 Things to Do in Havana Cuba.
READ Complete Cuba Travel Guide, What You Need to Know
100 Unforgettable Things to Do in Havana Cuba
Top 5 Things to Do in Havana Cuba
Take a classic 1950s convertible car tour
Wander through colorful old Havana
Spend a day enjoying the turquoise water at Playas del Este
Have a Cuban cigar at the Partagás cigar factory
Spend an evening with locals on the Malecón at sunset
Must Do Attractions and Activities in Havana Cuba
Take a classic 1950s convertible car tour
Walk through Old Havana (Habana Vieja) and explore its colorful streets
Wander the four UNESCO-listed plazas: Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, and Plaza de San Francisco
Tour El Capitolio (the National Capitol Building) for its architecture
Stand in Plaza de la Revolución and snap a photo of the Che Guevara mural
Explore Castillo del Morro and its harbor views
Visit Havana Cathedral (Catedral de San Cristóbal)
Attend a live salsa or Cuban music performance
Visit the Partagás cigar factory
Take a walking tour through Cementario de Cristobal Colon
Go to a Baseball Game at Estadio Latinoamericano
Best Museums and Cultural Stops in Havana Cuba
Learn about Cuba’s political history at the Museum of the Revolution
View Cuban masterpieces at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Visit Ernest Hemingway’s House (Finca Vigía)
Explore Callejón de Hamel for Afro-Cuban culture and art
Tour the Cuban Missile Crisis Bunker under the Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Visit Castillo de la Real Fuerza, one of the oldest forts in the Americas
Witness the nightly cannon firing at the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña
Go to Fusterlandia, a neighborhood mosaic art project created by artist José Fuster
Learn about the history of rum-making at the Museo del Ron Havana Club
Take a cigar factory tour at Partagrás
Check out the Napoleon Museum, one of the world’s largest Napoleon collections
Stop by the Casa de África Museum, which highlights Afro-Cuban heritage and traditions
Take a mob-era tour of Havana
Learn about colonial-era Havana at the Museo de la Ciudad
Outdoor Activities in Havana Cuba
Walk the full stretch of the Malecón Seawall
Watch locals socialize along the Malecón at sunset
Take a walk through the Habana Forest
Watch the Sunday afternoon rumba performers at Callejon de Hamel
See locals playing dominoes in Parque Central
Walk Paseo del Prado, once used for military parades
Bike along the Almendares River, an ‘urban jungle’
Wander through the Jardín Botánico Nacional
Where to Eat in Havana Cuba
Try ropa vieja, moros y cristianos, fried plantains, coconut ice cream, and drink Cuban coffee
Buy churros, empanadas, and croquettas from street vendors
Support locals by eating in paladars, try San Cristobal, Doña Eutemia, and Los Mercaderes
Spurge on a meal at La Guarida, a paladar in a crumbling mansion (book ahead!)
Enjoy dinner with a view of old town on the terrace of Cafe del Oriente Terrace
Try a Cuban hot chocolate at the Chocolate Museum
Take a cooking class or a street food tour from a local
Havana Cuba Nightlife: Pubs, Cocktails, and Nightclubs
Have a mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio
Sip a daiquiri at El Floridita and take a photo with Hemingway’s sculpture
Have a Cuba Libre by the Pool at El Presidente Hotel
Book a rum tasting or visit the Havana Club Museum
Attend the Tropicana Cabaret or Cabaret Parisien
Visit Fábrica de Arte Cubano, a trendy art gallery, live music venue, and nightclub in a renovated factory
Listen to live jazz at La Zorra y el Cuervo, One Eyed Cat, or Jazz Cafe in Vedado
Listen to Cuban music at the historic Buena Vista Social Club
Dance salsa at Casa de la Música
Check out Sloppy Joe’s Bar, a restored classic cocktail bar
Enjoy a cocktail from the rooftop of the Iberostar Parque Central hotel
Shopping in Havana Cuba
Browse the Plaza de los Artesanos flea market and the Almacenes San José Handicraft Market
Wander Calle Obispo, Havana’s main shopping street
Purchase Cuban cigars, rum, and coffee as souvenirs
Instagrammable Places in Havana Cuba: Lookouts, Viewpoints, and Selfies
Photograph classic cars, the Christ of Havana statue, colorful doors and balconies in old Havana, crumbling buildings, sunset from Castillo de la Cabaña, Callejón de Hamel murals, and the John Lennon sculpture at John Lennon Park
See embassy row, the mansion-lined 5th Avenue, and the Biltmore neighborhood, the crumbling buildings along Reina and Carlos III streets
Watch the sunset over the sea from the Malecón, Hotel Nacional Gardens or Castillo de la Cabaña Walls
Check out the harbor views from El Morro Lighthouse and the ocean views from Hotel Nacional gardens
See the rooftop views from Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, Iberostar Selection Parque Central Hotel, Royalton Habana Paseo del Prado, Hotel Ambos Mundos or Jesús María 20
View the Capitol Building from the Saratoga Hotel’s or Central Park Hotel’s roof terrace
Day Trips from Havana Cuba
Take a day trip to the tobacco fields in Viñales Valley
Enjoy a beach day at Playas del Este, Jibacoa Beach, Cayo Jutías, or Varadero Beach
Hike the Soroa Waterfalls, known as Cuba’s rainbow waterfalls
Learn about Afro-Cuban heritage in Matanzas
Take a scenic Hershey Train Ride to a former sugar mill
Book a 2-day tour to Trinidad & Cienfuegos with a stop at the Bay of Pigs
Special Events in Havana Cuba
Havana Jazz Festival (January)
Havana Carnival (July/August)
Habano Cigar Festival (February/March)
Beware of local scammers claiming there is a one-day cigar/salsa festival and asking you to follow them.
Check the Havana Board of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening this weekend.
Plan Your Trip to Havana Cuba
Are there any romantic things to do in Havana?
Yes. Consider taking a sunset stroll along the Malecón or watching the sunset from a rooftop bar, having dinner by candlelight at a paladar, taking a ride in a vintage car, dancing salsa in the streets, or catching a cabaret show at the Tropicana.
What are some things to do in Havana with young children?
Going for a ride in a vintage car, visiting the Havana zoo, taking a ride on the Hershey train, and enjoying ice cream at Coppelia are a few of the best things to do with young children in Havana Cuba.
What are some things to do in Havana with young adults?
Young adults may enjoy seeing the show at Tropicana Club, riding in a vintage convertible, exploring Fábrica de Arte Cubano, taking a beginner’s salsa class, or hanging out at the Malecón at sunset.
What are the popular neighborhoods to explore in Havana?
Old Havana is popular for its colonial buildings, El Capitolio is known for its architecture, Vedado is more modern and full of nightlife, the Malecón is in Centro Habana, Miramar is upscale with large homes and embassies, and Jaimanitas is home to the Fusterlandia open-air art project.
Bookmark and Pin 100 Things to Do in Havana Cuba, a Bucket List City
My Favorite Booking Resources
- Discover Cars Search, compare and save on car rentals.
- Trainline Explore effortlessly by train and bus.
- Booking.com Search Booking.com to find the perfect property.
- Hostelworld Hostelworld has great inexpensive options.
- Get Your Guide Don’t chance it, the best attractions sell out.
- Tiqets Get your tickets now, relax when you arrive.
- Big Bus Tours Hop-on Hop-off at all the iconic landmarks.
- Go City Card Save up to 50% on attractions, tours and activities.
- Welcome Pickups Airport and port transfers.
- Visitors Coverage Pick the right travel insurance for you.
- Use code SAVE10 to pick up a travel guide from Lonely Planet to browse on the plane.
- Shop my Amazon travel essentials and have them delivered to your home.
Enjoy your time out of the office!