Cuba is known for its gorgeous beaches, but suppose you’re looking for an island destination that provides you with many cultural offerings, a deep history, and beautiful sights to see. In that case, Havana is the best Cuban city as this historic metropolitan area will transport you to a place that’s frozen in time. Its classic American cars and traditional Spanish architecture also bring a lot of charm to this city. With its many cultural festivals, lively music that gets you moving, and hospitable nature, you are bound to have a fulfilling yet fun and educational vacation here. Not to mention, Havana is also a great destination for slow travel and even solo female travelers. So here is an itinerary for 4 days in Havana, Cuba to make sure you see the best of this city.
When To Visit Havana, Cuba
The best time to visit Havana, Cuba is around November to March – so of course it is also high season. It’s also usually the time when a lot of tourists from cold countries are looking for a cheap tropical destination to get away from the cold so prices are always higher. The hottest months in Havana are from around June to September, so if you don’t mind the heat then you can get lower-priced tickets during that time.
I visited in the second week of December and spent about 4 days in Havana, Cuba and even then, the temperature was quite hot. I also didn’t find there to be an overwhelming number of tourists around – most of them are likely in other cities at beach resorts.
How To Get Around Havana, Cuba
The good thing about Havana is that for the most part, you can just walk everywhere. That way, you can see more of the city. There are some locations where you’ll want to take a taxi or vintage car ride, but it won’t be often. You can also opt for a bicycle taxi which may be more affordable.
Where To Stay In Havana, Cuba
Some of the best neighborhoods to stay in Havana are Old Havana, El Vedado, Miramar and Centro Habana. You can find accommodations ranging from luxury hotel stays to homey apartments. Some of the best places to stay in Havana include the famous Hotel Nacional de Cuba, the Melia and Iberostar resorts.
The majority of the time, I prefer booking with Hotels.com since they have great prices (including secret prices if you’re a member) and the ability to redeem a free night’s stay after every 10 stays. I do advise always shopping around as there are plenty of great hotels to choose from for the best prices and the type of accommodations with the amenities you prefer. Here are the Best Ways To Save Money On Hotels For Your Next Vacation.
Must-Eat Places In Havana, Cuba
Cuba’s most popular meat dishes include pork and chicken and the country’s national dish is ropa vieja which is a stewed beef dish. But they are also known for picadillo, Cuban sandwiches, medianoche, arroz con pollo, lechon asado, yuca con mojo, tostones, and lots more! Although food is a limited commodity for the locals, this is where their creativity comes in when they need to work with what they have. You can be sure to get hearty dishes filled with love wherever you go, especially at paladares which started in 1993. They are essentially Cuban homes that have been partly converted into small family-run restaurants. There are also state-run restaurants that were the norm prior to paladares and are more expensive, but usually have access to higher-priced items in other countries, like lobster, at much lower prices. Locals also eat at cafeterias and you can expect traditional Cuban food and much faster service here.
I always like checking out Tripadvisor and Time Out for their list of the best restaurants in the cities I’m visiting, and then I filter it by my preferences and they have never failed me. However, I don’t always check ahead of time for the restaurants I want to visit (I usually leave that up to my husband if I’m traveling with him) or I do my searches while I’m there. Sometimes, I just like to wing it and happen upon a restaurant if I’m feeling very hungry and just want something to eat.
I got lucky when I spent 4 days in Havana, Cuba since I saw a restaurant with a Tripadvisor sign and decided to eat there after a long day’s walk – it was Café Brown but I’m unsure if they are still open now as their last activity online seems to be around 2020. Not only is the food reasonably priced, but there’s a variety of dishes to choose from and a great bar and I kept going back. Another great restaurant I visited with a rooftop view is El Cocinero. The food here is a culinary experience and the menu adapts to different world recipes, made with distinctive Cuban ingredients. Also, one of the most famous bars in Cuba is the El Floridita Bar – it’s been around for over 200 years, the daiquiri was invented here, and you can experience Havana, Cuba the way Ernest Hemingway did.
4 Day Itinerary To Visit The Best Places In Havana, Cuba
This historic city and character-filled cultural hub is certain to give you an adventurous 4 days in Havana, Cuba. Don’t forget to bring home some Cuban cigars, rum, and coffee! If you like, you can also take a free walking tour in Havana as well. As usual, feel free to rearrange the below itinerary as you see fit!
First Day In Havana, Cuba
1 – Fusterlandia
Time Spent – Up to 45 minutes
Interesting Facts – This colorful neighborhood was transformed by José Rodriguez Fuster from a fishing village to a work of art. He started by heavily decorating his house with mosaic and painted tiles and eventually started working on his neighbors houses as well. Tourists can meet Fuster as he works in his studio and he has won many awards for his work as well. Don’t forget to bring your camera as you’ll see some pretty cool stuff!
2 – Tropicana Club
Time Spent – 2.5 hours
Interesting Facts – This famous nightclub was opened in 1939 and is located in an open-air six-acre tropical garden. It is nicknamed ‘paradise under the stars’ and shares a unique blend of Cuban culture in an entertaining cabaret format. You can enjoy a night of song and dance with talented singers, dancers, and soloists while enjoying dinner and drinks if you choose.
3 – Miramar
Time Spent – 30 minutes or less
Interesting Facts – Miramar is actually a residential district of Havana, but it is also the safest, richest, and most modern neighborhoods as it is home to many government buildings, palaces, and embassies – hence why this is also a popular location for tourists to stay. You can see the differences quite pronounced in this area of Havana and gives you a look at mansions of Pre-Revolution Cubans. A lot of tours will take you through this area as well.
4 – Cuban Art Factory
Time Spent – 3 hours
Interesting Facts – Known locally as La Fabrica de Arte or FAC, this is one of the best artistic experiences you can find in Havana, Cuba as you can see a variety of art through their galleries, nightly performances, and more. It is also a nightclub so you can spend quite a few hours enjoying yourself here and there’s always a different event going on.
5 – Necrópolis Cristóbal Colón (Colon Cemetery)
Time Spent – 30 to 45 minutes
Interesting Facts – Founded in 1876, it was built to replace the Espada Cemetery and was named for Christopher Columbus. This cemetery is known for its many beautiful sculpted and elaborate memorials and has more than 500 mausoleums. It is one of the most important cemeteries in the world and is held as one of the most important in Latin America with its history and architecture. The most famous and most visited grave is Amelia Goyri’s, also known as the miracle grave” as she died during childbirth and was buried with her baby at her feet. To make room for other bodies, her grave was to be exhumed, but they found her with her baby in her arms and had resealed the tomb.
6 – Plaza De La Revolucion
Time Spent – 20 to 30 minutes
Interesting Facts – One of the largest public squares in the world, Plaza de la Revolucion is very important to the Cubans as this is where Fidel Castor addresses the Cubans (sometimes for many hours) and where many political rallies take place. You can also see the faces of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos loud and proud with the Cuban flag there. You can also find the José Marti Memorial, the National Library, Palace of the Revolution, and many other government buildings.
Second Day In Havana, Cuba
1 – Museo De Artes Decorativas
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – This building was designed by French architects and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and majestic sculptures. This museum has over 33,000 works of art that belonged to Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Napolean II and some oriental pieces between the 16th and 21st centuries.
Time Spent – If you’re not staying at this hotel during your 4 days in Havana, Cuba, then you might want to spend up to 3 hours here
Interesting Facts – Opened in 1930, this historic Spanish-style hotel, also declared a National Monument, stands on Taganana Hill and gives you the perfect view of the Havana Habor, el malecon (the seawall) and the city. When you go to the back of the hotel, you can also find the canons that make up the Old Santa Clara Battery which is on display and declared as part of a World Heritage Site. You can tour the hotel and enjoy some good Cuban music and have some traditional dishes here, as well as some of your favorite drinks while relaxing in a gorgeous, large courtyard.
3 – El Malecón
Time Spent – At least 30 minutes (you can walk along the seawall towards your intended destinations as it spans 5 miles)
Interesting Facts – The famous malecón of Havana is a popular place for the locals to hang out or meet up, but it also has a perfect view of the sea on one side, and the ability to see the classic cars cruising in front of Hotel Nacional De Cuba. It’s also pretty picturesque during sunrise and sunset.
4 – Chinatown
Time Spent – 45 minutes
Interesting Facts – Just over 2% of the Cuban population is of Chinese descendants and Havana’s Chinatown is one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in Latin America. However, it is not thriving like other Chinatowns in terms of activity, but it is a reminder of the Chinese immigration to Cuba in 1837 when they were brought to work in the sugar fields.
5 – Iglesia Nuestra Senora De La Caridad
Time Spent – 15 minutes
Interesting Facts – The interior of this Catholic church is pretty magnificent and I happened upon this church when walking through the city and although I couldn’t find much history on this place, I would visit it quickly just because it is one of the fewer nice churches here. The area is surrounded by vendors that sell religious accessors and flowers to make it easy for churchgoers to make offerings to the patron saint of Cuba.
Third Day In Havana, Cuba
On the third day of your 4 days in Havana, Cuba you’ll be traveling across Tunel de la Habana to see more of the history that includes forts, castles, and other museums as well as enjoy some time at the beaches that are closest to Havana. I always like to wake up early to get the most out of my day so you can actually pack quite a bit into this day’s itinerary.
1 – Castillo De San Salvador De La Punta
Time Spent – 20 to 30 minutes
Interesting Facts – This fortress took 11 years to build and was completed in 1600. It was built under the supervision of an Italian military engineer who was also responsible for its sister fortress. And since the two forts are so close to each other, you can even hear voices travel across when it is calm out. During attacks, a heavy chain was placed between the two forts in the 17th century to provide more protection.
2 – Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro
Time Spent – 45 minutes to 1 hour
Interesting Facts – Also known as Castle of the Three Magi Kings of Morro, it is a fortress that guards the entrance of the Havana Harbor from pirates and invaders. It was completed in 1589 and was a strategic military defense and can be seen from miles away. It was under both Spain and the British’s control at some point. This fortress is actually part of Old Havana’s World Heritage Site.
3 – Fort of San Carlos of the Cabin
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – Also known as La Cabaña, this 18th-century fortress is the third largest in the Americas and also part of Old Havana’s World Heritage Site. It was once used as a prison by Fidel Castro’s government and has now become a museum to explore the Cuban through this significant structure.
4 – Cannon Shot Cemetery
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – At 8:30 to 9 PM at night, you can experience the re-enactment of a 400+ years old ceremony that was used to close Havana’s city walls back in the day. You can also spend time visiting the museums and eating here too if you’d like.
5 – Military Historical Museum
Time Spent – 30 to 45 minutes
Interesting Facts – This outdoor exhibition and collection of military weapons used during the Bay of Pigs invasion and Cold War are shown at this museum along with an assortment of military equipment during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
6 – Christ Of Havana
Time Spent – Up to 25 minutes
Interesting Facts – This sculpture standing about 66 feet represents Jesus of Nazareth on a hilltop overlooking the bay in Havana, Cuba and was created in 1953 by the Cuban sculptor Jilma Madera. It is made out of white Carrara marble (the same material as many of the monuments in the Necrópolis Cristóbal Colón Cemetery) which was imported from Italy after being blessed by Pope Pius XII.
7 – La Cabana De Che Guevara
Time Spent – 45 minutes
Interesting Facts – For those really interested in history or a fan of Che Guevara, you can learn about his life as an Argentinian Marxist revolutionary and his part in making the history of Cuba. This was Che’s family home after the revolution and you can even see some of his personal belongings.
8 – Beach Time!
Time Spent – At least 3 hours
Now there are few different beaches to choose from that are within the same vicinity of each other, but I’ll call out two: Playa Buracanao and Beach Santa Maria Del Mar. Playa Buracanao is the closest one to Havana and Beach Santa Maria Del Mar is the nicest and most beautiful and beach in Havana and this is the one I visited. You can participate in many different water sports including snorkeling and scuba diving. I suggest you visit the Beach Santa Maria Del Mar if you’re spending less than 4 days in Havana, Cuba. I actually took a taxi from Hotel Nacional to get to the beach as there are a lot of them easily available there.
Fourth Day In Havana, Cuba
On your last day of your 4 days in Havana, Cuba, you’ll be spending it in one of the more popular areas of this beautiful city: Old Havana, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architecture here is also reminiscent of that in Spain.
1 – Museo de la Revolucion
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – Located in Old Havana, after the Cuban Revolution, the Presidential Palace of all Cuban presidents had become a museum. You can find a large collection of items from the Cuban Revolution which makes this museum the most important in all of Cuba.
2 – Plaza de la Catedral
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Interesting Facts – One of the main squares in Old Havana, it is very well-preserved from the Cuban Baroque times as all the buildings date back to the 18th century.
3 – Obispo
Time Spent – 2 to 3 hours
Interesting Facts – One of the most famous streets of Old Havana is Obispo Street and it has been given different names a total of 47 times. There are many places of interest along this street including museums and many bookstores. This street has no cars so it is perfect for walking as you can see many street performers, visit small shops and boutiques, or have a bite at a restaurant.
4 – Plaza de San Francisco de Asis
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – This plaza is one of the oldest squares in Havana as it was founded in 1628. You can find the Fuente de los Leones here and there was a market that was held here in the past but because of noise complaints from monks nearby, it was moved to the Plaza Vieja.
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – Cuba is famous for their Havana Club rum and it gets quite expensive in other countries. This museum exhibits rum-making with a tasting room and liquor shop. Tours run every 15 minutes in multiple languages and you can learn about the history of Cuban rum-making here. At the end of your tour, you can also enjoy the 7-year-old Havana Club rum.
6 – Plaza Vieja
Time Spent – 1.5 hours
Interesting Facts – The historic heart of Havana, this site was famous for the many bullfights, executions, and even fiestas that could easily be witnessed by the wealthier Cubans who could look on from their balconies. This is Havana’s most eclectic square and was even used for military exercises and now as an open-air marketplace. Oh, how things have changed!
7 – Capitolio Nacional de Cuba
Time Spent – 30 minutes to 1 hour (depending on if you get a tour)
Interesting Facts – This capitol building of Cuba has stood tall since its completion in1929. They also house the world’s third-largest indoor statue. This building was actually partly under construction when I visited. Although some compare it to the one in the US, it is not a replica and is actually larger than the one in Washington, D.C. It is also directly opposite the most colorful buildings and vintage cars in Havana and makes for a perfect picture-taking location!
8 – Grand Theater Of Havana
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Interesting Facts – Home to the National Cuban Ballet, it was designed by a Belgian architect and was opened in 1915. You can be lucky to catch a show if you happen to arrive during their every 2-year performance. This theater has multiple theatres, a concert hall, a video screening room, art galleries, rehearsal halls, and more. There is also a group of four sculpture in white marble which represents charity, education, music, and theater. If you don’t visit the inside, the exterior is still really beautiful to look at or take photos of.
9 – Parque Central (Central Park)
Time Spent – 45 minutes
Interesting Facts – A well-frequented site in Havana is Parque Central and has gardens that surround José Marti’s (Cuban nationalist among many other things) statue. There are 28 royal palms that signifies his birthday and 8 coffin-shaped stonework that represents the medical students shot by the Spanish Government during the Ten Years’ War. These days, you can enjoy a nice walk in the park and enjoy the island heat and sunshine while sipping on Cuban coffee on the last of your 4 days in beautiful Havana, Cuba.
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