5-Day Havana Itinerary

This 5-day Havana Itinerary is perfect for exploring Havana’s old town, shops, and sites. Be sure to read the Cuba guide for tips on money and how to get your visa.

When to Visit Havana

Now is the best time to visit Havana before the old-timey feel leaves the city. Really, the sooner the better.

To experience the best weather, visit Havana between November and April, when the weather is warm and the city experiences minimal rainfall. The rest of the year is the rainy season. When we visited in early May there was no rain, though temperatures started to climb to over 80°F/27°C during the heat of the day. Bring a hat and sunscreen!

Where to Stay

You should stay in an Airbnb while visiting Cuba. It’s one way to support locals directly and the hosts have excellent suggestions (and are so nice!). You’ll likely pay the host in cash when you arrive, as we did. As we were traveling with friends, we stayed in a 2 bedroom for 4 nights and paid $100 per person. Our Airbnb was around the Revolution Museum and I LOVED it.

Try to find a 2^nd or 3^rd story unit with a balcony on a tiny road to experience the magic of the bread and fruit sellers putting goods into baskets that women pull up (instead of walking up and down). It’s amazing.  We stayed at this Airbnb. Check it out and look around to see what else sparks your interest in the area.

5-day Havana Itinerary

Here is our 5-day Havana Itinerary based on our trip, with some modifications on what I would do differently.

Note that most museums are closed on Mondays and several were closed in May 2024 for “renovations.” Renovations seem to be a regular and long process in Cuba. Mix and match the below days accordingly.

Day 1: Arrive and Explore

Afternoon

Ask your Airbnb host in advance to pick you up at the airport. Ours charged $20 one way to take us to the accommodation in Havana. We also exchanged $200 into local Cuban pesos. If you haven’t read my Cuba guide yet, then I’ll reiterate that you should not exchange more than $100 and instead bring lots of $1s, $5s, $10s, and $20s as everyone wants dollars.

The first impressions of Havana in the old town are memorable.

Our host offered us a local drink, Canchanchara, when we arrived. Besides the well-known mojito, the Canchanchara is a classic Cuban drink made of a rum, lime, and honey. It was Wilhelm’s favorite drink this trip—he ordered it everywhere!

Lunch

Freshen up for the start of your Havana Itinerary and then head out for lunch. I liked Uranga’s Colecciones on the balcony. I had a fresh fish dish prepared over coals and Wilhelm had a lobster dish (for just $6!). The street has several restaurants, including Antojos which surprisingly had a lot of people outside. I couldn’t tell if this was a place that was actually popular or somewhere tour guides dropped off their groups for lunch. 

Walking Tour

If the Museo de la Revolución is open, visit it. It was closed for renovations during our stay, unfortunately. If not, you can still go to the Granma Memorial (200 CUP), which is a memorial with the boat Fidel Castro used to transport fighters from Mexico to Cuba. There are also old cars and military equipment.

It was hard to get a good pic of the Granma Ship but it’s behind the glass.

Continue to the old Bacardi Headquarters.

Then, get drinks at the famous La Floridita, where Ernest Hemingway used to be a regular. You can see his bust on the bar counter. There was live music when we visited.

Stop at the Capitol building.

Get a coffee (the cortados are the best!) at El Dandy to beat your jetlag. This cafe/restaurant/bar was my favorite all-day dining and drinking spot during our 5-day Havana Itinerary. We returned for more coffee and breakfast later on too.

Shop at Clandestina for products made from recycled items and at Zulu for unique leather goods.

Evening

Make your way towards evening drinks by first stopping at the Plaza de San Francisco de Asís. Here, you can also see El Caballero de Paris, a statue of José María López Lledín, a Spanish vagabond who used to wander the streets of Havana engaging in conversation with tourists and locals.

Visit Bahia Rooftop for drinks and tapas overlooking the water.

Evening music starts closer to 9pm. Bide your time by walking in and out of any open shops, like the Librería Venecia.

Get a drink at La Lluvia de Oro and watch the band play after 9pm.

Day 2: Fusterlandia and Jazz

Morning

Start Day 2 of this Havana Itinerary by getting breakfast at Color Cafe. We actually ate at La Caribeña and while the fresh juices were amazing, the breakfast selections were not that great. I’ve never been served hard toast but I’m sure that’s how it was supposed to be…

The orange smoothie is from a fruit called Mamey which is the national fruit of Cuba. It’s hard to describe but tastes like a firm papaya with a hint of marzipan. It’s amazing!

Then, take a walk through the Craft Market. I was astonished at how many great items there were to buy, especially jewelry made from silverware, unique woodworking items, and all the cutesy touristy things. I took a walk-through and took a mental note of what I wanted to buy later to see if anything else was more interesting later on in our trip. In the end, I bought some of the jewelry pieces for my mom and grandma as well as some magnets.

Afternoon

Fusterlandia

Walk to La Floridita to get a taxi or Coconut tuktuk to Fusterlandia. This mosaic wonderland is a must on your Havana Itinerary. You’ll want to negotiate with the driver. We were quoted $40 but the driver agreed on $30 to take us there, wait an hour, and then drop us off in the Vedado area. It would have been better for us to use dollars rather than pesos here because the driver had to convert using a (favorable to him) black market rate.

Visit Fusterlandia: Mosaic Madness

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You should definitely have the driver wait for you as there are no taxis around Fusterlandia.

Vedado

Get dropped off around Coppelia after exploring Fusterlandia, the famous 1 CUP ice cream shop. The line is likely around an hour long so we didn’t bother waiting around but it’s a cool sight to see. Also, look out for the Cine Yara building.

Walk to Topoly for a fantastic Cuban-Iranian lunch. I got the veggie platter and it was so delish! The vibe of the restaurant was great too.

After fortifying yourself, continue to Revolution Square. Here you’ll see the famous outlines of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos, as well as the José Martí Memorial (which looks like the Eye of Sauron).

Then, walk towards Cuba Libro stopping at the Cristóbal Colón Cemetery. We only saw the outskirts of this huge cemetery, but you may want to walk inside. If so, plan your lunch accordingly and walk fast because the cemetery closes at 5pm.

Cuba Libro is a cute cafe to get an iced coffee or juice. The Jamaica (hibiscus) juice is excellent. Run by an American, there are several English books and games around to linger for a bit.

As evening falls, head to Fábrica del Arte Cubana (FAC). This warehouse features a mixed-use of music, art, and food. We were so excited to visit but it was closed for “renovations” during our Havana Itinerary. Generally, it’s open Thursday-Sunday 8pm-2am.

If FAC isn’t open, then get tapas and drinks at El Cocinero, which shares a wall with FAC. Drinks and dinner are a little pricey but the restaurant gives off a classy could-be-in-NYC vibe.

After dinner, get a taxi to La Zorra Y El Cuervo Jazz Club which opens at 10pm. There is a 500 CUP per person entry fee but your first mojito is included. Drinks get stronger once you start paying for them. The nightly El Zorro jazz caters to tourists but I think it’s worth the visit. I enjoyed the jazz and we stayed for just about an hour. The show started around 10:30pm but get there at 10pm to snag the best seats.  

The entrance is through the red telephone booth!

Day 3: Museums and Beach Day

A little note here that although we went to the beach during our own Havana Itinerary, I honestly would skip it and instead visit a couple of museums. It would be best to visit the beach on a day like Monday, when all the museums are closed rather than a weekend like we did. The beach was very windy and ridden with trash. If you’re going to be spending more time in Cuba, then the beaches 2-3 hours outside the city are said to be much more beautiful.

Morning

Start Day 3 of your Havana Itinerary by stopping by the Virgin Mary Cathedral.

And then get a juice at Cafe Bohemia on the plaza.

Head to El Dandy for breakfast. I loved the “Mexican breakfast” option and of course another cortado.

Afternoon

Museum Option

Visit some of the large museums around Havana like the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, the Natural History Museum, the Havana Castle of the Royal Force, and the Rum Museum.

Visit the large artist market to do some shopping. Unfortunately, it was closed when we walked by but it looks like it has everything!

Beach Option

Organize a taxi to take you from El Dandy to Playa Mara Azul. There are several “different” beaches along the coast but it’s easy to walk between them. I suggest getting here and then walking to the least windy and less trash-ridden part. A taxi ride should cost around $15 one way.

People sell beer, churros, tamales, and more along the beach.

One interesting experience worth noting at the beach was that when we arrived, a family of locals was kicked off the lounge chairs and umbrella that we ended up being given by one of the beach guys selling beer + lounge spots. We weren’t committed to sitting at that part of the beach but after the family moved, we felt like we had to! What we think happens is that Cubans can use beach chairs and umbrellas for free, but when a tourist pays, the tourist can take over the ‘best’ spot on the beach. Unsure if this is true or not…

Evening

Have dinner at La Guardia for a classy, romantic evening. Book online in advance on their website to guarantee yourself a spot on the balcony. The restaurant is located inside a 20th-century home which was also used as the set for “Strawberries and Chocolate,” the only Cuban Oscar-nominated film (1994).

The staircase leading up to the restaurant is dreamy!

I got the lobster and Wilhelm got the fish. We shared starters and sides as well (as the dishes don’t come with any starches). I loved the yuca side dish.

This fancy dining experience will set you back around $110 for 2 people. Dishes are priced around $30. For drinks, appetizers and dessert to share you should plan to bring dollars to pay to make your life (and the Cuban pesos exchange rate) easier on you.

This is $220 worth of pesos!

Be sure to visit the bar at the top of the venue for even better views.

After dinner, visit Maximo for drinks. The vibe here feels authentic. There is a mix of tourists and locals enjoying the DJ and chatting around. I loved the Michelada (spicy tomato juice and beer) and Wilhelm got the Canchanchara.

The Michelada came in a skull cup!

Day 4: Explore Havana

Morning

If your Airbnb host provides breakfast, today is a great day to support them. We had a feast of fries, egg sandwiches, and even pizza!

Wander towards the Alexander von Humboldt park. I love the book “The Invention of Nature,” which details the explorer’s journey around the world, so this was fun to stumble upon for me.

Visit the Beyond Roots shop which features jewelry, clothes, and shoes made from Cubans of African descent. I bought some gorgeous earrings here (that I sadly lost by the end of the day). The shop is on the second floor, up the stairs. You’ll see a sign in the window above.

Walk towards Restaurante Yarini Habana, although it won’t be open yet, there are some interesting murals around.

Afternoon

Visit the Museum of the Orishas for a unique look into Afro-Cuban culture. Orishas are spirits/deities of the Yoruba religion of West Africa. The museum has statues and an explanation of the different deities. What will really set your visit apart will be if you can get a conversation with the museum director. He came up to us while we were looking around and explained more (in slow Spanish so we could understand) about the culture and practices surrounding the Orishas.

Spend the rest of the afternoon checking out all the different shops. I liked Matty and Piscolabis.

Part of the charm of old town Havana is stumbling into these cute shops!

I also liked peaking into the smaller, touristy shops.

Get drinks at El del Frente. Head all the way up to the top for the rooftop patio. This was seriously the best Bloody Mary ever!  The tacos and fries were also delicious.

Delish fish tacos and incredible bloody marys…

Casa Blanca

Stop at whatever galleries catch your eye like Forma on the way to the ferry terminal for sunset views across the river at Casa Blanca. Ask the attendants when the next (and the last) boat is to Casa Blanca. We waited about 15 minutes before the ferry arrived. It took under 10 minutes to make the crossing. The boat ride should be about 10 pesos.

Head up the hill toward the Christ of Havana. There is a little bar/cafe at the top. The road is an easy climb.

And then continue on the La Cabaña de Che Guevara. We luckily arrived right before closing time (6pm)and the attendant let us in. We wandered the rooms which had English and Spanish posters with Che’s biography. Be sure to go up to the rooftop.

Then, walk towards the Fort of San Carlos of the Cabin. There are some military sites along the way you can stop at. If you want to stay until 9pm, you can witness the nightly cannon go off. You’ll need to arrange a taxi for your return back to the old town. El Cañonazo is the closest restaurant where you can hang out until then.

Evening

Get the boat back and have dinner at Paco’s Mar.

Stop at the Capitol building to admire it in the evening.

Day 5: Galleries and Departure

If you have a morning flight, try to fit these activities in on Day 3 and Day 4 of your Havana Itinerary instead. We managed to fit everything below between 8am-1:30pm!

Morning-Afternoon

Get breakfast at Lo De Monik, Jacqueline Fumero Cafe, or El Cafe. El Cafe is highly rated on a bunch of different sites but when I walked it was full and the menu was mostly American pancakes.

We ate at Jacqueline Fumero Cafe because I liked the vibe of sitting outside with a coffee by a church square.

Final Museums

Start off your exploration by visiting the Museum of the City for some historical artifacts, including Cuba’s first flag! The museum looks larger than it is because many sections are closed off.

Check out the square that’s across from the museum.

Stop at the Museo Casa de México Benito Juárez for interesting paintings, sculptures, and pottery by Mexican artists.

Take a tour of Casa Guayasamín, the home of the Ecuadorian artist Guayasamín who was close friends with Fidel Casto. In fact, he was the only artist Castro sat for a portrait with and you can see that and other portraits gifted to Castro at his home.

Explore the Casa Africa. It was interesting to see how many different country’s artifacts are in Cuba!

Tip for small museums and galleries: instead of paying entry fees, you may be taken on a tour of the galleries and asked for a “tip.” This was fine by us and we gave around 500 CUP/ $3. Some people asked “just one dollar,” but we didn’t have small change in dollars. In all cases, the museum or gallery attended provided good information (in Spanish only) about the art and artifacts on display.

Galleries and Shops

Wander galleries such as The Art’s Cove.

A must-visit on your Havana Itinerary is artist Juan Lazaro Gutierrez Momblas. His works are amazing and have bike themes. We bought two paintings! We happened upon his studio because I wanted to take a picture of this cute entry.

Get in touch with Juan on WhatsApp at +53 53861328 and visit his studio on Calle Cuarteles,4b, near the corner of Calle Curates and Calle Aguiar.

Finally, head back to the souvenir market in old town for last-minute shopping and to use any remaining pesos!

Stop at a cafe to get some take-away lunch. We got sandwiches at Color Cafe near our Airbnb. The cafe is also home to a local designer.

Then, head out to your flight. We prearranged our ride with our Airbnb host.

Havana is Changing

Havana, and Cuba more generally, seems to be changing rapidly—not only can people own private property and travel freely but that feeling of “stepping back in time” is leaving the city. I have so many thoughts about this.

Havana was nothing like I expected; besides the old cars and occasional dilapidated buildings, I honestly would have thought I was in any other Latin American city. There are bars and restaurants with everything from sushi to burgers to lobster, markets with unique locally made (and quality) handicrafts and souvenirs, and coconuts sold on the street. The city is also investing a lot into repairing the old town, giving it back some of its “Jewel of the Spanish Crown” vibe.

Sure, there are still the classic cars that are essential to your Havana Itinerary, but it feels more like a tourist trap ride than the only available transportation option that I expected. I saw plenty of newer vehicles and even a Mercedes taxi.

The old-timey cars may start to feel like a tourist gimmick soon. Although there were a lot around, there were also plenty of “normal” looking cars.

I also thought that people were going to be more “depressed” than I encountered. Not only were people openly criticizing (and supporting) the government, but there were lots of tiny shops all around the city. I was not expecting to buy any souvenirs because I assumed people were not allowed to make their own money… but there were excellent artworks, woodwork, and jewelry for sale at markets around the city.

Although I only walked into one grocery store that targeted expats, there were tons of Italian and Spanish imported goods (definitely expensive for the average Cuban but not impossible to find anything non-Cuban as I expected). I’ve visited much poorer cities, especially with much less tourist infrastructure than Havana.

I also read online from other blogs that people were asking for “gifts” of toilet paper, soap, shampoo, tampons, and more on the streets. I was wondering if I should purchase some pads and soaps but in the end chose not to bring anything. We weren’t asked for any gifts during our 5 days in Havana.

Some shadows of communism were evident during our stay. On Sunday, there was a long line at the bakery for (free? subsidized?) bread. Though there are no longer two currency systems, the black market vs the official exchange rate between dollars and pesos gives a feeling of lingering economic disparity. There is an ice cream shop run by the government that has a 1-hour long line with ice cream for just 1 CUP.

Many of the museums we visited also doubled as classrooms

My rant is, of course, from my own touristy experience, having only seen Havana and mostly been in the touristy old part of town.

Tips for Getting Around Havana

The touristy part of Havana is easy to walk around. We used taxis just a couple of times during our stay. Although we felt safe, even walking at night in the old town, we did witness a local have her phone stolen near the capitol building so, as always, be aware of your surroundings.

Bikes

There are bike cabs. Locals also use them. They are slow but the guys will likely say yes to wherever you wanna go.

Coconut Tuktuk

These are (were?) cabs just meant for tourists. They are good for getting around the city but are mostly in the old town area. We used the coconut tuktuk to get to Fusterlandia. It took longer than a taxi but was a fun experience.

It was worth riding in just to take this picture!

Classic Cars

Classic cars are the most expensive transportation option but also fun! We only took one because it was the only option in the evening.

Taxis

You can walk along the main road of wherever you are and wait for a taxi. We usually waited no more than 5 min. Discuss the price beforehand in dollars or CUP. We experienced rides between neighborhoods to be $10 but this could change anytime. To organize a ride in advance, we used this business on WhatsApp (text in Spanish): Naila Legión De Taxis Cuba +53 5 8684610.

I hope you enjoyed my Havana Itinerary! As Havana is changing rapidly, let me know if you have any updates.