Top Things to Do in Havana
20 must-see attractions and experiences
Havana is a city that exists in a time warp of extraordinary beauty—a large, crumbling, endlessly charismatic capital where colonial plazas echo with live son music, 1950s Chevrolets cruise the Malecón at sunset, and the aroma of hand-rolled cigars drifts from every other doorway. Founded by the Spanish in 1519, Havana spent centuries as the jewel of the Caribbean, and its architectural legacy—Baroque cathedrals, Art Deco theaters, neoclassical palaces—remains staggeringly intact despite decades of benign neglect. Beyond the postcard clichés, Havana reveals itself as a city of layered complexity. Old Havana's UNESCO World Heritage plazas anchor a walkable historic core packed with museums, galleries, and intimate paladares serving creative Cuban cuisine. But the city's soul extends further—to the seafront Malecón where families and lovers gather at dusk, to the artistic explosion of Fusterlandia in the Jaimanitas neighborhood, and to the rum-soaked literary haunts where Hemingway and Graham Greene found inspiration. Havana demands slow exploration and rewards it generously.
Don't Miss These
Our top picks for visitors to Havana
La Bodeguita Del Medio
Notable AttractionsThe legendary bar-restaurant that clwants to have invented the mojito, famously patronized by Ernest Hemingway and virtually every visiting celebrity since the 1940s. The walls are covered floor-to-ceiling with graffiti and signatures from decades of visitors.
4JRX+847, Empedrado, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Central Park
Natural WondersA beautifully shaded plaza at the heart of Havana surrounded by grand hotels and the National Capitol building. The park is famous for its heated daily baseball debates—known as 'la esquina caliente'—where passionate fans argue about the sport with theatrical intensity.
267 Agramonte, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
National Capitol of Cuba
Urban ExplorationA colossal neoclassical building modeled after the U.S. Capitol and the Panthéon in Paris, completed in 1929 and recently restored to its original grandeur. The interior features the third-largest indoor statue in the world and a 24-carat diamond embedded in the floor marking kilometer zero for Cuba's road network.
66 Cienfuegos, La Habana 10200, Cuba ·View on Map
Old Town Square
Notable AttractionsThe oldest of Havana's four main colonial plazas, dating to the early 16th century and surrounded by beautifully restored Baroque and neoclassical buildings. The square hosts an artisan market, outdoor cafes, and occasionally live music performances.
4MP2+C22 pollo Jul, San Ignacio, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Fort Of San Carlos Of The Cabin
Notable AttractionsA massive 18th-century Spanish fortress perched on the eastern bluff of Havana harbor, offering commanding views of the Old Havana skyline. The fort hosts the nightly cañonazo ceremony, a cannon-firing tradition that dates back to colonial times when it signaled the closing of the harbor gates.
4MW2+R5R, Havana, Cuba ·View on Map
Castle of the Three Kings of Morro
Notable AttractionsThe well-known lighthouse fortress guarding the entrance to Havana harbor since 1589, its distinctive silhouette recognized as the lasting symbol of the city. The castle offers panoramic harbor views and a small museum chronicling Havana's maritime defenses.
5J2V+34X, Havana, Cuba ·View on Map
Cuban Art Factory
Notable AttractionsHavana's most exciting contemporary cultural space, housed in a former cooking oil factory and featuring multiple floors of art galleries, live music stages, film screenings, and bars. The Factory has become the epicenter of Cuba's contemporary creative explosion.
4HGR+X2X, Calle 26, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Almacenes San José Mercado Artesanal
Notable AttractionsA massive waterfront artisan market housed in a restored 19th-century warehouse along the harbor. Hundreds of vendors sell handmade crafts, paintings, woodwork, and Cuban memorabilia, making it the best single-stop souvenir shopping experience in Havana.
110 Leonor Pérez, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Saint Francis of Assisi Plaza
Notable AttractionsAn elegant colonial square anchored by the beautifully restored Basilica Menor de San Francisco de Asís, which now is a concert hall well-known for its exceptional acoustics. The plaza's cobblestones and surrounding colonial facades transport visitors back to the 18th century.
4MP2+XHP, Havana, Cuba ·View on Map
Fusterlandia
Museums & GalleriesAn entire neighborhood in Jaimanitas transformed into a kaleidoscopic mosaic wonderland by artist José Fuster, often called Cuba's Gaudí. Houses, bus stops, benches, and even the local doctor's office are covered in lively tile mosaics inspired by Picasso, Gaudí, and Cuban folk art.
3GQ8+WPQ, Havana, Cuba ·View on Map
Notable Attractions
Colonial fortresses, literary landmarks, and lively cultural spaces form the backbone of Havana's appeal, each one steeped in centuries of Caribbean history and revolution-era mystique.
Callejon de Hamel
Notable AttractionsA narrow alley in Centro Habana exploding with Afro-Cuban art, murals, and sculptures dedicated to the Santería religious tradition. Every Sunday the alley hosts an exhilarating rumba performance that draws dancers and musicians from across the city.
4JQF+GV5, Havana, Cuba ·View on Map
Grand Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso
Notable AttractionsOne of the world's great opera houses, completed in 1915 in ornate Neo-Baroque style and home to the Cuban National Ballet. The theater's lavish interior features marble staircases, painted ceilings, and gilded balconies that rival any European opera house.
458 P.º de Martí, La Habana 10600, Cuba ·View on Map
Malecón de Habana
Notable AttractionsHavana's well-known 8-kilometer seafront promenade stretching from Old Havana to Vedado, serving as the city's living room where families, lovers, fishermen, and musicians gather each evening. At sunset, the crumbling colonial facades along the seawall glow in golden light as waves crash over the wall.
4JWR+8F9, Malecón, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Cristóbal Colón Cemetery
Notable AttractionsOne of the great necropolises of the Americas, containing over 500 mausoleums and chapels in an astonishing range of architectural styles from Neo-Gothic to Art Deco. The cemetery is both a sculptural open-air museum and an active pilgrimage site where devotees visit the miraculous tomb of La Milagrosa.
4JF2+6CV, Havana, Cuba ·View on Map
Torreon de la Chorrera
Notable AttractionsA small 17th-century watchtower fortress at the mouth of the Almendares River, now surrounded by a pleasant restaurant and gathering space. The tower marks the western end of the Malecón and offers peaceful river-meets-ocean views.
4HJR+P67, Havana, Cuba ·View on Map
Cubaoutings
Notable AttractionsA highly rated local tour operator offering personalized small-group and private excursions that go beyond typical tourist circuits. Their guides are known for deep cultural knowledge and access to experiences unavailable to independent travelers.
Paseo de Martí, La Habana, 10400, P.º de Martí, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Camara Oscura
Notable AttractionsA rooftop camera obscura installation atop the Gómez Vila building on Old Town Square, projecting a live 360-degree panoramic image of Havana onto a concave screen inside a darkened room. The technology dates to the Renaissance and has a uniquely meditative way to observe the city.
4MP2+H42, Mercaderes, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Museums & Galleries
From Hemingway's preserved estate to the explosive mosaic neighborhood of Fusterlandia, Havana's cultural institutions blend high art with irrepressible Cuban creativity.
Finca Vigía
Museums & GalleriesErnest Hemingway's beloved Cuban home for over 20 years, preserved exactly as he left it with his books, hunting trophies, and typewriter still in place. The hilltop estate includes his fishing boat Pilar, the tower he used as a writing studio, and the pool where Ava Gardner famously swam.
Finca Vigía Km. 12 ½, 3P93+3WX, J Sosa, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Cultural Experiences
Baroque cathedrals and Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions coexist in a city where culture is not performed for tourists but lived daily in every plaza and street corner.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
Cultural ExperiencesThe asymmetrical Baroque masterpiece that dominates the Cathedral Plaza, completed in 1777 from coral limestone that gives the facade a distinctively organic, textured appearance. The cathedral once held the remains of Christopher Columbus before they were transferred to Spain.
156 Empedrado, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Natural Wonders
Urban parks and the well-known Malecón provide green and blue spaces where Havana's lively social life develops against the Caribbean Sea.
John Lennon Park
Natural WondersA leafy neighborhood park in Vedado featuring a life-size bronze sculpture of John Lennon seated on a bench, installed by Fidel Castro in 2000. The park is a gathering spot for local musicians and a tribute to Cuba's deep love affair with The Beatles.
4JJ2+Q36, Calle 8, La Habana, Cuba ·View on Map
Planning Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
November through April offers dry, warm weather good for walking Havana's streets. December and January can be surprisingly cool in the evenings.
Booking Advice
Book casa particulares well in advance during peak season (December-March). Tours with operators like Cubaoutings should be arranged several days ahead. Most museums and landis accept walk-ins.
Save Money
Eat at local paladares (private restaurants) rather than state-run establishments for better food at lower prices. The Malecón, Fusterlandia, and colonial plazas are all free to enjoy.
Local Etiquette
Ask permission before photographing Cubans, those in traditional dress who may expect a small tip. Carry small bills for tips as change is chronically scarce. Learn a few Spanish phrases—Cubans deeply appreciate the effort.
Book Your Experiences
Guided tours, tickets, and activities in Havana