Picture yourself cruising down the Malecón in a candy-colored vintage Chevy, the salty Caribbean breeze in your hair, while the rhythms of son cubano drift from a nearby café. This should be on your list for a day in Havana.
If Cuba’s capital is on your list, this is probably what will pop into your mind when you plan your travels. After being based in Havana for more than two years, I can tell you that you should definitely experience all that.
However, before traveling to Cuba, I urge you to extensively research all the fascinating things Havana and Cuba can offer you and look beyond the veil of the instant vibrant magic.
Cuba is a fascinating country with a complicated past and current situation, and there is a lot to take in if you are interested. It is also a wonderful destination for solo female travel (I should know, I “lived” there).
A Day In Havana: Your Perfect Havana Itinerary
Whether you’re a history buff, foodie, tourist, or culture vulture, I’ve gone ahead and created five unique itineraries for you in this article.
Each itinerary is tailored to a specific interest to match your travel style, ensuring you will have a perfect one-day stay in Havana. Check out the table of contents above to jump straight to your perfect one day in Havana itinerary!
NB: All tours in this article are suitable for American travelers and in compliance with the Cuba Restricted List and Cuba Travel Regulations.
Real Quick: Is Havana Safe?
Yes, Havana is a safe destination, including for solo female travelers. I have walked around on my own, alone as a woman, at all hours of the day (and night) with no concerning incidents.
If you are worried, you can read more about safety in Cuba and Havana for solo female travelers here.
Havana in A Day for Sightseeing Lovers
If you just want to see as many highlights of Havana as possible, the more, the merrier; here is an optimized itinerary for you.
- 9:00 AM: Start your morning at Plaza Vieja – grab a Cuban strong sweet coffee at Café El Escorial
- 09:30 Join a guided walking tour of Old Havana to learn from a local
- Plaza de Armas
- Plaza de la Catedral
- Bodeguita del Medio
- Obispo Street
- El Floridita
- Colonial history
- 11:00 am: Take a guided tour of El Capitolio, the old capitol building
- 12:00 PM: Have lunch at El Cafe in Parque Cristo
- 2:00 PM: Classic car tour along the Malecón & greater Havana
- 3:30 PM: Hail a 10 min taxi over to El Morro Castle and La Cabana fortresses
- 6:00 PM: Enjoy the beautiful sunset from Hotel Nacional’s gardens
- 8:00 PM: Dinner & drinks at the stunning La Guarida Paladar in Central Havana
- 10:00 pm: Go dancing at Casa de la Musica in Galiano Street
EpicNomadLife Tip: Wear comfy shoes and bring a water bottle or two, Cuban Pesos and foreign currency in cash, a hat, a fan, and high SPF – Havana’s sun can be fierce!
📍 Check out this top-rated private tour of Havana!
Havana in A Day for Foodies
Cuban food has had an unfairly bad rep, in my opinion; I remember being told that the food is “bland” and that I should bring my own spices before I traveled there the first time.
That was not my experience, or at least it is no longer the case. Trust me, you can have amazing food in Havana!
Cubans are big on fried food, but my favorite is the super tasty ropa vieja, which is a pork stew with veggies and lots of juicy meat.
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast at El Cafe in Old Havana – try the tropical fruit platter
- 09:30 AM: Visit the small food market on San Rafael Street, Central Havana
- 11:00 AM: Get a coffee in a ventanita while strolling Central Havana
- 12:00 PM: Street Food tour starting at Hotel Inglaterra
- 2:00 PM: Rum tasting at the Museum of Rum
- 5:00 PM: Cooking class & Cocktail Workshop
- 8:00 PM: Pub crawl starting at Malecon 663
EpicNomadLife Tip: Skip the most touristy restaurants and ask local Cubans for their favorite “paladar particular”!
Perfect Havana Day for Adventurers
- 7:00 AM: Have a different boxing class at Rafael Trejo, Old Havana
- 9:00 AM: Snorkeling tour (Saturdays & Sundays only), or;
- 10:00 AM: Motorbike sidecar tour (6h) through local neighborhoods
- 11:30 AM: Street art hunting in Callejon de Hamel
- 5:00 PM: Salsa crash course
- 6:00 PM: Local baseball game (March to July; check for winter season)
- 8:00 PM: Buena Vista Social Club experience
Warning: Havana’s adventure scene (or Havana in general) isn’t polished like Europe – that’s what makes it amazing!
Havana in A Day for History Buffs
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast and coffee at El Dandy, Parque Cristo
- 9:00 AM: Hemingways Cuba Guided Tour & Finca Vigia (up to 5h), or:
- 9AM/2:00 PM: Havana Afro-Cuban Neighborhood tour (up to 5h)
- 1:00 PM: Late lunch at historic Hotel Ambos Mundos on Obispo Street
- Alternatives:
- Morning: Revolution Museum for a deep dive
- Morning: Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
- Afternoon: Explore Old Havana, or
- Afternoon: join a FREE historical walking tour
- 9:00 PM: Cannon ceremony at La Cabaña Fortress (get there a little earlier)
- Dinner: San Cristobal in Central Havana (open to midnight; take a bici taxi)
Interesting fact: The bullet holes in the Museo de la Revolucion are real – look closely!
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Havana in A Day for Culture Enthusiasts
- 10:00 AM: Visit Callejón de Hamel on Sundays, on other days;
- 10:00 AM: Santeria: Yoruba Religion tour
- 13:00 PM: Join a music class and learn about the son
- 4:00 PM: Visit an Art Workshop
- 6:00 PM: Ballet Nacional de Cuba (if performing), or
- 8:00 PM: Tropicana Cabaret classical dance show
- 10:00 PM: Late-night salsa at Salsa Habana
Remember: Respect local customs. The Cuban people is not conservative in any way, but they do appreciate you respecting their religious traditions and showing interest in them as well.
Also read: Fascinating Afro-Cuban Religion Tour Havana From A Local
10 Top-Rated Popular Havana Tours
- Classic Car City Tour (3 hours)
- Old Havana Walking Tour
- Havana Food & Culture Tour
- Tropicana Cabaret Show
- Viñales Day Trip
- Cuban Cooking Workshop
- Ernest Hemingway Trail Tour
- Havana by Night Tour
- Rum & Cuban Cigars Experience
- Photography Tour of Hidden Havana
Explore A Day In Havana On Your Own
The city of Havana can be a bit complicated for a foreigner to navigate.
Public transport is practically non-existent for foreigners (long lines and a complicated system), and Cuban Spanish is really fast and full of slang.
To get the best experience, I always recommend joining a walking tour of Old Havana and one of the Classic Cars tours to get the history and an overview of the city.
If you are not into tours at all, you can, of course, explore on your own, walking, taking a bici taxi for shorter distances, or hailing a cab and negotiating a price. Taxi services in Havana are not super organized, but they are easy to get in the daytime.
Here is the list of things you should try to visit in Havana!
- Walk around Old and Central Havana on foot
- Visit the historical Hotel Nacional in El Vedado
- Have tapas in El Dandy on the corner of Parque Cristo
- Visit the Museo de la Revolucion
- Have fresh juice in El Cafe Old Havana
- Visit Museo de Bellas Artes
- Buy a coffee in a small ventanita in Central Havana
- Take a tour with one of the Classic American vintage cars
- …that will also stop at Plaza de la Revolucion, the Revolution Square
- Chill on El Malecon early evening at sunset
- Have late-night drinks at the rooftop terrace of La Guarda in Central Havana
- Hail a bici taxi for transport up to 5-6 blocks
- Dance salsa to live music in Casa de la Musica
- Visit one of the many rooftop bars
- And consider a dance lesson in Casona del Son in Old Havana
- PS: Old Havana and its fortifications are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Best Areas to Stay in Havana
The different city districts in Havana are..well, different. Old Havana, La Habana Vieja, is rugged, beautiful, noisy, and quite touristy in the high seasons with a lot of people and tourists.
Central Havana has narrower streets and more run-down buildings and is more authentic as this area attracts fewer tourists and lots of locals live here.
The Vedado has an uptown vibe, and Miramar is for the rich, famous, and influential. And foreigners.
Old Havana (Habana Vieja)
Perfect for first-timers! You’re in the heart of everything, within walking distance of major sights. Expect charm, noise, and lots of tourist action.
There are details to admire in almost every corner, although sometimes you have to look a little hard as decay is very present in parts of the old city.
Despite all that, La Habana Vieja is my favorite part of town, and that is where I stayed.
- Luxury stay: check out Manzana Kempinski or Iberostar (American travelers can not stay in governmentally-owned hotels in Cuba)
- Casa Particulares: Hostal Balcones Muralla
Also read: Best Casa Particulares in Havana Cuba
Central Havana
You don’t really find any hotels in Central Havana apart from right next to the Malecon, but you do find a lot of casas.
Centro Habana is the home of thousands of Cubans. The streets are narrower, and houses more run down than in Old Havana, and this part of the city feels more like the real Havana, more authentic. Also, there are less tourists here.
- Luxury stay: Royalton on the corner by the Malecon
- Casa Particular: Boutique Havana
El Vedado
El Vedado is a more high-end part of Havana; it is more modern and has a mix of newer and older buildings.
Hotel Nacional de Cuba is here, as well as the famous Cine Yara cinema, some shopping options, and lots of gorgeous mansions-turned-casas.
Luxury stay: Hotel Nacional (venerable, not modern)
Casa Particular: La Alameda Boutique Hotel
Miramar Havana
Upscale, quiet, and diplomatic area. Perfect if you want pools and luxury, but you’ll need taxis to reach attractions.
Luxury stay: VOYA Boutique Hotel
Casa Particular: Havana Dream
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Wrap-Up A Day In Havana Only!
If I have done my job right, you now have five great itineraries to choose from that will fit your interests perfectly.
Although Fidel Castro (or any Castro) is no longer in charge, the soul of the Cuban revolution is still very much present in Havana and Cuba, for better or worse.
You are, of course, at liberty to mix and match from these if you are multi-passionate and want to have a little from each world.
If you somehow do not see exactly what you are looking for, you can contact me for a quote on a personal, tailored itinerary for your stay in Havana!
After “living” there (you can not “move” to Cuba, so technically, I stayed there for long periods of time), I have lots of advice and suggestions and can help you create exactly the stay you want.
And yes, you can travel to Cuba from the United States despite sanctions.
Also, would love your feedback! Have you been to Havana? Did I miss anything that should not be forgotten? Let me know in the comments below!
Related blog posts:
43 Best Things To Do In Havana Solo By A Local
