Mid-Range Travel Guide: Havana

Accommodation

$40-85 per night

Private rooms in mid-range casa particulares, boutique guesthouses, colonial-style accommodations

Food & Dining

$25-50 per day

Mix of local paladares and tourist-oriented restaurants, hotel breakfasts, occasional fine dining

Transportation

$15-35 per day

Regular taxis for longer distances, vintage car tours, mix of public transport and private rides

Activities

$30-70 per day

Guided city tours, museum entries, salsa lessons, day trips to nearby attractions

Eat at local peso markets and street food stalls instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use public buses and shared colectivos instead of regular taxis (usually 70-90% savings on transport)

Stay in casa particulares rather than hotels for authentic experience at 40-60% lower cost

Buy bottled water and snacks from local peso stores rather than tourist shops (50-70% cheaper)

Book casa particulares directly with owners to avoid booking platform commissions (typically 10-20% savings)

Take advantage of free activities like walking Old Havana, visiting plazas, and enjoying street performances

Exchange money at official CADECA locations rather than informal exchanges to avoid scams and poor rates

Only eating in tourist-focused restaurants in Old Havana instead of local neighborhoods (typically 100-200% markup)

Taking regular taxis for all transportation instead of using public buses and colectivos (3-5x more expensive)

Not bringing enough cash and relying on credit cards which have limited acceptance and poor exchange rates

Booking accommodation only in central tourist zones instead of exploring residential neighborhoods with better value

Paying inflated prices for cigars and souvenirs in tourist shops instead of seeking local markets