If you read my other Cuba Itinerary and you follow me on Instagram, you'll know I've been to Cuba 5 times already.
It's one of my favourite places to visit for so many reasons. On one of our trips to Varadero, Cuba in August (before the pandemic) we spent 2 days in Havana.
Havana is so rich, there is so much history and culture. I love walking the streets in old Havana. The good thing about Cuba and even in Havana, no one bothers you or harasses you. It's very safe & relaxing.
If you're planning a day trip to Havana or staying overnight, these activities & restaurants are a must!
WHERE TO STAY
I absolutely love Kempinski hotels! It's a luxury 5-star hotel chain around the world and I've stayed in their hotel in Jordan on the Dead Sea before so when I found out they opened one in Old Havana (Havana Vieja), we had to stop by.
The cheapest room will cost just over $500 USD/night but if you want a truly beautiful experience and to spoil your partner, this is where you need to stay. The service and the food here is phenomenal and you will not regret it.
My favourite part has to be the beautiful rooftop bar and pool with a perfect view of Old Havana! We had lunch and drinks here twice and the second time we spent the whole day by the pool swimming and having drinks.
If you decide not to spend the night, you can still spend the day swimming and having drinks on their rooftop for a fee of $60 USD/person as a day pass. You get a locker, towels and will have access to the change room and showers. You can order drinks and food but that is extra. The $60 fee allows you to have access to the pool.
ACTIVITIES
You cannot come to Havana and not see the famous Tropicana Cabaret Show! This show started in 1939 and lots of famous people performed here and came to watch the show.
We came here as part of a tour from our hotel but you can come on your own and reserve in advance. You have the option of watching just the show and having drinks or booking the dinner and show.
It will be a late-night, that's why we decided to go with the tour because we didn't want to pay for a cab or have to rent a car and drive back at 2am. So, yes we got back to our hotel around 2-2:30am.
The cheapest ticket is $80 USD/person. Check out
their website for info.
Walk The Streets Of Havana (Alone or Guided Tour)
Enjoy a scenic walk through the streets of Havana, stop at a restaurant or cafe and enjoy this beautiful city. Take lots of photos, do some shopping.
A guided tour is a good idea if this is your first time, that way you get to learn about the city and not get lost.
Visit El Capitolio (National Capitol Building)
I'm not sure you can go inside. We just took pictures outside but an important site in Havana for sure.
See The Revolution Square (Plaza de la Revolución)
As you're driving into Havana, this will be your first stop.
This is one of the largest public squares in the world and was a place where a lot of famous speeches were made & important political gatherings held.
You'll see the famous faces of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Fidel Castoro & Camilo Cienfuegos on the buildings and the José Martí statue and National Library and the National Theater of Cuba.
There is a row of old 50s cabs lined up so you can rent one of those or just take pictures.
WHERE TO EAT/DRINK
La Bodegita Del Medio & Floridita
When we went there it was packed full of tourists! We literally walked in, walked to back and left because good luck getting a table or anything. December 2020 Havana has finally opened up to tourists so if you go during this corona time you might get lucky to get a table and enjoy drinks and not have a ton of people in here.
Jesus Maria 20
This is a beautiful rooftop bar in Havana. They have DJs & live music with an exquisite array of food and drinks! This is another place with some of the best food in Havana. Check out their Instagram page.
It's a very artsy kind of place that has is hip & vibrant. Great for a night out!
El Cocinero Habana
Another beautiful, vibrant rooftop lounge & bar in Havana. The food, drink & service is amazing. You can make reservations online, and note they don't accept credit cards, only cash.
PS: I have a video on Everything You Need To Know Before Traveling To Cuba that answers a lot of questions especially if you've never been to Cuba, so feel free to go check that out.
PSS: If you want to see a short video from our trip to Havana, check out my Havana vlog.
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