Trip highlights
- 1Old Havana (Habana Vieja) walking tour
- 2Classic vintage car convertible tour
- 3Malecón seafront promenade
- 4Cigar and rum tasting
- 5Live Cuban music at a casa de la trova
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
Language preparation
15 min/day for 8 weeks ≈ 672 useful words and phrases
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Old Havana
Monday, February 15
Est. spend
$81
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at José Martí International Airport (HAV)
José Martí International Airport
Taxis connect to Old Havana in about 25-30 minutes.
Bring sufficient cash in euros or another widely accepted currency, as US-issued cards generally do not work in Cuba and ATM access can be unreliable.
☀️ Afternoon
Old Havana (Habana Vieja) walking tour
Old Havana
A UNESCO World Heritage old town packed with restored colonial plazas, including Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, and the Capitolio, alongside faded but beautiful colonial-era buildings throughout.
Old Havana's restored core contrasts sharply with crumbling buildings just blocks away — both are part of the city's distinctive character.
🌙 Evening
Dinner at a paladar (private restaurant)
Old Havana
Paladares, privately run restaurants often set in family homes, generally offer better quality and value than state-run establishments, with classic dishes like ropa vieja and moros y cristianos.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Cuban · $6
Old Havana lunch
Cuban · $10
Paladar dinner
Cuban · $20
Vintage Car Tour & Malecón
Tuesday, February 16
Est. spend
$118
per person
🌅 Morning
Classic vintage car convertible tour
Havana
Havana's fleet of beautifully restored 1950s American convertibles is one of its most iconic sights — a guided drive past major landmarks in a brightly coloured vintage car is a quintessential Havana experience.
Negotiate the price and route in advance, and choose a car with a driver who speaks your language for added context along the way.
☀️ Afternoon
Malecón seafront promenade
Malecón, Havana
Havana's famous 8km seafront boulevard, lined with crumbling but photogenic facades, where locals gather to fish, socialise, and watch waves crash against the seawall.
🌙 Evening
Cigar and rum tasting
Havana
A guided tasting pairing Cuban cigars with rum, often including an explanation of traditional hand-rolling techniques — Cuba's two most famous exports.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Cuban · $6
Malecón area lunch
Cuban · $12
Tasting and light dinner
Cuban · $20
Fusterlandia & Live Music
Wednesday, February 17
Est. spend
$86
per person
🌅 Morning
Fusterlandia
Fusterlandia, Jaimanitas
An extraordinary neighbourhood in the Jaimanitas district transformed by artist José Fuster into a sprawling mosaic art installation covering homes, walls, and rooftops — often compared to Gaudí's Park Güell.
Fuster's own house and studio within the complex are open to visitors and showcase the most elaborate mosaic work.
☀️ Afternoon
Hotel Nacional de Cuba and Vedado district
Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana
A grand historic hotel that has hosted decades of celebrities and dignitaries, with sweeping ocean-view gardens, alongside a walk through the leafy Vedado district's mid-century architecture.
The hotel's gardens and terrace bar overlooking the Malecón are open to non-guests and worth a stop for a drink.
🌙 Evening
Live music at a casa de la trova
Casa de la Trova, Havana
An intimate venue for traditional Cuban music — son, trova, and bolero performed live, often with spontaneous dancing among the audience.
🍽️ Meals
Fusterlandia area breakfast
Cuban · $6
Vedado lunch
Cuban · $10
Pre-music dinner
Cuban · $20
Final Shopping & Departure
Thursday, February 18
Est. spend
$124
per person
🌅 Morning
Plaza de Armas book market and final shopping
Plaza de Armas, Old Havana
A final morning at Havana's atmospheric secondhand book market in Plaza de Armas, alongside shopping for cigars, rum, and crafts in Old Havana's surrounding streets.
Only purchase cigars from licensed state shops with official seals — informal street sellers commonly sell counterfeit cigars to tourists.
☀️ Afternoon
Final lunch and packing
Havana
A relaxed final lunch before transferring to the airport.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to José Martí Airport
José Martí International Airport
Allow at least 3 hours before an international flight.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Cuban · $6
Old Havana lunch
Cuban · $12
Airport food
Cuban/International · $12
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
November–April (dry season) offers the most comfortable weather, avoiding both the intense summer heat and the Atlantic hurricane season (June-November).
🛂 Visas
Most visitors to Cuba require a tourist card (visa) arranged in advance through an airline or travel agency — requirements and any additional documentation vary significantly by nationality, so check current rules well ahead of travel.
💱 Currency
Cuba operates largely on a cash basis for tourists, with euros, Canadian dollars, or Cuban Pesos commonly used. US-issued credit and debit cards generally do not work in Cuba — bring sufficient cash for the full trip.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 106
ambulance: 104
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Bring sufficient cash in euros or another widely accepted non-US currency, as US-issued cards typically do not work and ATM access can be unreliable.
- Only buy cigars from licensed state shops with official seals — informal street vendors commonly sell counterfeit cigars to tourists.
- Paladares (privately run, often family-operated restaurants) generally offer noticeably better food and value than state-run restaurants.
- Internet access in Cuba is limited and often requires purchasing scratch-card Wi-Fi vouchers used in designated public hotspots — plan for limited connectivity.
- Negotiate the price and route for a vintage car tour in advance, and look for a well-maintained car with a knowledgeable driver for the best experience.
One thing worth not skipping
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