Things to do in Havana, Cuba

Things to Do in Havana, Cuba

Cuba, Havana / By

You must have heard Camila Cabello’s iconic song, Havana. It is dedicated to her hometown in Cuba. Havana is the capital and largest city in the country. It is primarily known for its centuries-long history, impressive neo-classic architecture, gigantic monuments and statues, rich culture, and delicious cuisine. In addition, it is an ideal destination for solo and female travelers.

There are many things to do in Havana, Cuba. One day, you can explore the city in classic American cars; the next, you can walk through the cobblestone streets and take pictures. The town houses many art galleries, museums, castles, restaurants, and cafes designed for visitors. While visiting tourist attractions is nothing new, we recommend fun activities in the city. They are different and offer you a unique travel perspective.

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Table Of Contents
  1. Go For Classic Car Tours
  2. Watch Havana Cannon Firing Ceremony
  3. Attend The Legendary Buena Vista Social Club
  4. See What The Fuss Is All About Cabaret Parisien Show
  5. Watch Captivating Cabaret Performances At Tropicana Cabaret
  6. Explore Colon Cemetery
  7. Bike Around Old Havana
  8. Partake In Havana Salsa Class
  9. Stuff Your Belly In Food Tour
  10. Explore Havana's Best Pubs And Bars
  11. Learn About Havana's Rum And Cigars
Explore Havana Tours, Tickets, and Activities
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Go For Classic Car Tours

Havana Cars
Explore Havana in a classic, vintage car.
  • Duration: 2 hours onwards
  • Price: $25-30

We are starting our list with classic car tours in Havana. This is the most to-do thing in the city, as residents still drive old cars from the 1950s. While the reason for that is Cuba’s lack of ability to import new models, let’s focus on the positive side. These Vintage cars work brilliantly and are a sight for sore eyes. You can drive these colorful vehicles to explore major attractions in the city.

You can ride a classic 1950s American automobile through the streets of Havana. It will take you through Revolution Square, Malecon, 5th Avenue in Miramar, and Pinar Del Rio. Furthermore, these classic car tours are customizable and cater to guests’ requirements. They can choose their location and pick-up time. Prices for rental cars usually are around $25-30 per hour.

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Watch Havana Cannon Firing Ceremony

Havana Cannon Firing
Find out why the Havana Cannon Firing Ceremony is important among locals.
  • Address: 25 Vía Monumental, La Habana, Cuba; Google Map
  • Duration: 4-5 hours
  • Price Range: $39.30~

Have you ever heard of the Havana Cannon-Firing Ceremony? This traditional practice began at the end of the 17th Century when bloodthirsty pirate sieges plagued Havana. To protect itself from that, they surrounded their territory with a wall whose doors opened at 4:30 in the morning and closed at nine at night. They regularly fired a cannon from a ship to announce the closing of the fort.

This ceremony has continued to this day. Every night at 9 PM, a cannon fires a shot from the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, known locally as La Cabaña, to inform residents of the closure of the city gates. Guards dress as soldiers of the 18th century and protect the canon. This cannon-firing ceremony has become a tourist activity and invites many visitors daily. You will learn about Cuban history and see the importance of this ceremony among locals.

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Attend The Legendary Buena Vista Social Club

Buena Vista Social Club
Spend a lively evening at Buena Vista Social Club.
(Source: Buena Vista Social Club Facebook)

Cuban music is known worldwide for its catchy beats, genre mixing, and captivating performances. Buena Vista Social Club is a renowned Cuban musical ensemble that made Afro-Cuban music genres like son, danzon, and bolero famous worldwide. They have sold over eight million albums and remain as popular as in the 1990s.

Although the musical ensemble’s six original members have passed away, their music lives on. You can catch the tribute concert to the group at Legendarios del Guajirito, Cuba. Imagine an evening full of live salsa, rumba, guaguanco, and bolero performances with fine dining. You can also order a cocktail or beverage of your choice. It will be a fun-filled musical evening that you will never forget.

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See What The Fuss Is All About Cabaret Parisien Show

Parisien Cabaret Havana
Watch beautiful Cabaret Parisien performances.
(Source: Cabaret Parisien Facebook)
  • Address: 4JV9+9HP, Calle O, La Habana, Cuba; Google Map
  • Opening Hours: 9 PM – 2 AM
  • Price: $45

Havana’s nightclubs are unlike any you have ever seen. Some clubs, like Cabaret Parisien, host unforgettable shows beyond mere dancing and music; they reflect Cuba’s culture, history, and people through performances. These Habana de Fiesta shows are hosted at Hotel Nacional de Cuba from 9 PM to 2 AM every day except Wednesday.

Visitors must be 18 or older to watch the show. They must dress formally and pay extra if they want to film the performance. In addition to watching captivating shows, guests can enjoy a full-course dinner and drinks. They will dine in Havana’s historic venue and enjoy a vibrant and extravagant musical night. Although it is pricey, the experience will be worth every penny.

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Watch Captivating Cabaret Performances At Tropicana Cabaret

Tropicana Cabaret
Vibe with dancers at Tropicana Cabaret.
(Source: Tropicana Cabaret Facebook)

To experience Havana’s vibrant nightlife scene, you must visit Tropicana Cabaret. It is an outdoor venue with mesmerizing cabaret shows, dancing, music, and drinking. In addition, it ranks among the top Cuban nightclubs and has been in the business since 1939. Visitors must dress formally, and no shorts are allowed.

This open-air nightclub’s famous show, Tropicana, Oh Havana, infuses Cuban rhythms with Afro-Cuban dances under the light of the stars. Afterward, it hosts an Interactive show from 11:15, which includes an interactive exchange with dances, animators, and musicians. Furthermore, Tropicana Club offers three ticket options: show, show+dinner, and special offer tickets. The latter is valid till December 31st and is available from 300 EUR.

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Explore Colon Cemetery

Havana Colon Cemetery
Pay respects to the deceased at Havana Colon Cemetery.
  • Address: 4JF2+6CV, La Habana, Cuba; Google Map
  • Opening Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
  • Entry Fee: $5

We are nearly halfway on our list of Things to do in Havana, Cuba, and it’s time for the historic Havana Colon Cemetery, aka La Necrópolis de Cristóbal Colón. Although it was named after explorer Christopher Columbus, he was not buried there. Columbus’ remains were stored in Havana before being moved to the Cathedral of Seville in Spain.

Colon Cemetery houses over 500 major mausoleums, 800,000 graves, and 1 million interments. Its Romanesque-Byzantine architecture is praiseworthy, and you will see many Greek pavilions, Gothic towers, gigantic statues, Medieval castles, and pyramids. Though it is a tourist attraction, it is a cemetery nonetheless. Hence, visitors must quietly explore the grounds and refrain from disturbing mourners.

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Bike Around Old Havana

Havana Bike
Meander your way through Havana’s alleyways on a bike.
  • Duration: 2-3.5 hours
  • Things To Do: Cycle around major tourist spots

The best way to explore Havana is by simply walking around. You can interact with locals, visit vendors and stores, stroll at your pace, and see things closely. However, if you don’t like walking, how about biking around the city? You will find many bike rentals or guided bike tours at affordable prices. If you book the latter, your guide will lead you through the must-visit places in the town.

Guided bike tours are best for first-time visitors and those who can’t navigate the streets of Havana. But if you prefer traveling solo, we recommend renting a bike, following Google Maps, and exploring the town. During your bike expedition, visit the infamous Castle of the Three Kings of Morro, Grand Theater of Havana, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, and Old Havana.

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Partake In Havana Salsa Class

Salsa Dance
Practice sizzling salsa moves with your partner.
  • Duration: 1.5-2 hours
  • Dress Code: Wear anything comfortable
  • Experience Required: Not needed

Did you know Salsa dance was developed in Havana? It combines Cuban dances, such as rumba, pachanga, and mambo. You must have seen many Salsa performances in American TV series and movies. This dance rose to fame during the 1960s and continues to be practiced wildly. Salsa is part of Cuban culture, and salsa performances are often held in Cuban salsas or casinos.

You can sign up for a quick salsa class in Havana to learn this captivating performance. You don’t need to be experienced to take the classes; even a novice can partake and learn the dance. Your instructor will pair you with a professional dancer and teach basic moves. Once you keep up with your partner, you can let go and groove to Afro-Cuban beats.

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Stuff Your Belly In Food Tour

Chicharrones
Enjoy chicharrones and other Havana delicacies on a food tour.

You shouldn’t travel on an empty stomach. Luckily, Havana houses many restaurants, cafes, bistros, and eateries to satisfy your cravings. In addition, this city’s street food is equally popular and rich in flavor. For instance, chicharrones are local favorites—pork cracklings sold in paper cones. Other famous Havana foods are Tamales, Limonada frappe, Mariquitas, Chiviricos, Ropo Vieja, and more.

You must go on a food tour in Havana even if you are not a foodie. To help you, we suggest some of the best restaurants in the city:

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Explore Havana’s Best Pubs And Bars

Mojito
Drink a refreshing glass of mojito on a sunny day in Havana.

We listed some of the popular Havana nightclubs above; now, it’s time for pubs and bars. This Cuban city offers a vibrant nightlife with lounges, clubs, discos, and bars. If clubbing is not your scene, you should visit pubs with a peaceful ambiance. These establishments sell Cuba’s most famous cocktails, such as The Mojito, El Presidente, Saoco Rum, The Cube Libre, and The Daiquiri.

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Learn About Havana’s Rum And Cigars

Cuban Cigar
Cuban cigars taste better and are of better quality than other cigars.
  • Havana Cigar Price Range: 10 CUC apiece
  • Havana Rum Price Range: $19 onwards

Cuba is infamous for its cigars, which are handmade according to the exacting standards of the Cuban Cigar Industry. They are made using the world’s highest-quality tobacco leaves and can last for years. A single Cuban cigar is made after following over 100 steps. Hence, Cuban cigars are comparatively more expensive than cigarettes. To learn more about them, you must visit cigar factories.

There, you can watch how tobacco seedlings are planted and harvested. You will also learn about different types of cigars and how to differentiate them correctly. Moreover, visitors can join cigar workshops and learn how to make cigars. Likewise, rums are another specialty of Havana. You can also book a rum factory tour and watch the rum-making process.

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Explore Havana Tours, Tickets, and Activities

In a nutshell, there is no shortage of things to do in Havana, Cuba. You will find more activities as you go along. Likewise, many must wonder how many days are needed to explore this Cuban city. It primarily depends on the traveler’s preference; still, you can see the very best of the city within three days. You can adjust your itinerary to two days or extend it to five days based on your preferences.

There are many reasons to visit Havana. First, it is safe to walk around during late hours. Cuba has one of the lowest crime rates in the Western Hemisphere. Second, Cuban people are friendly and helpful to tourists. Finally, this country is a cheap travel destination, offering affordable accommodation, transportation, and food rates.

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