Cuba was on our bucket list from the day we started travelling, but it took us more than four years to get there. We spent two terrific weeks on the island in late 2017, and we fell in love with Havana.
Cuba in 2026 is a very different place from the one we visited, so please read the update below before you plan anything.
Updated October 2026: before you go
- Official advice: the UK government (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Cuba because of severe shortages of fuel, electricity and water, repeated collapses of the national power grid and frequent protests. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs says avoid non-essential travel, and Australia’s Smartraveller says reconsider your need to travel. The US State Department rates Cuba Level 2 (exercise increased caution). Check the FCDO and DFA pages before you book.
- Travel insurance: many policies won’t cover you if you travel against your government’s advice. Check yours in writing before you go.
- Flights: several airlines have cut or suspended flights to Cuba in 2026, so check with your airline that your route is still running.
- Hotels: in July 2026 Cuba’s prime minister said 73% of the country’s hotels had closed. Meliá, Iberostar and Barceló have stopped running hotels in Cuba. Confirm any booking directly before you travel.
- Cards don’t work: since June 2026, Visa and Mastercard are no longer accepted in Cuba. This applies to all of them, not just cards from US banks, and includes ATMs. Bring all the cash you’ll need, in euros or US dollars, plus a buffer. Australian dollars can’t be exchanged in Cuba.
- Currency: the CUC “tourist peso” we used was abolished in 2021. The Cuban peso (CUP) is now the only legal currency, although euros and dollars are widely accepted. Declare foreign currency worth over USD 5,000 when you arrive.
- Entry (Irish, UK, Australian and EU passports): no visa, but you need a tourist card, now issued as an e-Visa through the official evisacuba.cu portal, a Cuban embassy, or your airline or travel agent. Complete the D’Viajeros arrival form within 72 hours before you land and save the QR code offline. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arrival. Bring proof of onward travel and of medical insurance, which you must show on arrival.
- Heading to the US later? Anyone who has visited Cuba since 12 January 2021 can’t use an ESTA and needs a full US visa.
For the full picture on entry rules, money, internet and getting around, read our Cuba travel tips.
We usually try to stay away from capital cities, but Havana is completely different and truly one of a kind.
Here are the things we loved most in Havana, on a budget. Prices are what we paid in 2017, in the old CUC, so treat them as a guide to what things cost then, not now.
Here’s a map of Cuba for reference:
Our 10 favourite things to do in Havana
Jump to:
- 1. Ride in a classic car
- 2. Explore Old Havana
- 3. Take in the views from a rooftop
- 4. Meet locals and travellers on the Malecón
- 5. Have a mojito at the Hotel Nacional
- 6. Ride along the seafront
- 7. Visit the National Capitol building
- 8. Have a beer at Plaza Vieja
- 9. Have lunch at La Bodeguita del Medio
- 10. Take the Havana Club rum museum tour
1. Ride in a classic car
Vintage taxis are on every corner in Havana. We took a few rides, and they’re a fun way to see the city in style.
When we visited, a sightseeing ride around Havana cost about CUC 15 to 25. The CUC no longer exists and prices have risen a lot, so agree the price (and the currency) before you get in.
2. Explore Old Havana
Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) is the historic heart of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It’s packed with historic buildings, museums, galleries, churches and lively plazas, and there’s something to see on every corner.
Don’t miss Plaza de la Catedral, the Catedral de San Cristóbal and the Palacio de los Marqueses de Aguas Claras.
Old Havana map:
3. Take in the views from a rooftop
The rooftop bar at the Parque Central hotel had some of the most amazing views we saw in Havana.
Stop for a cocktail at sunset. If you’re on a budget, take the lift to the top, snap a few pictures and head back down.
When we visited it was the Iberostar Parque Central. Iberostar pulled out of Cuba in 2026 and the hotel now trades as Hotel Parque Central, so check it’s open before you go.
4. Meet locals and travellers on the Malecón
This eight-kilometre esplanade and seawall runs from Old Havana to the residential district of Vedado.
It’s the city’s favourite meeting place for locals and visitors alike. (In case you’re wondering, “malecón” is the Spanish word for a stone-built embankment along a waterfront.)
Sharing a Havana Club rum on the Malecón at sunset is one of the most local things you can do in Havana.
5. Have a mojito at the Hotel Nacional
The iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Vedado has one of the best sea views in the city, stretching all the way to the harbour.
Come to admire the architecture, soak up the views or wander the gardens.
We spent a few afternoons here enjoying the sunshine, the views, the WiFi and a mojito. When we visited, non-guests could use the outdoor pool for a fee; ask at reception whether that’s still offered.
6. Ride along the seafront
One of our favourite ways to get from the Hotel Nacional to the centre was a little tourist train. It ran every 20 minutes along the seawall and cost 1 CUC.
We couldn’t find any sign that the train still runs. The closest thing now is the HabanaBusTour hop-on hop-off bus. Its main route runs from Parque Central past the Hotel Nacional, and a day ticket was about USD 5 in mid-2026.
7. Visit the National Capitol building
El Capitolio was the tallest building in Havana until the 1950s. It houses La Estatua de la República, said to be the third-largest indoor statue in the world.
It’s imposing up close and sits right by the Gran Teatro de La Habana. Since its restoration, visits inside are by guided tour only.
8. Have a beer at Plaza Vieja
Plaza Vieja (the Old Square) was originally called Plaza Nueva (the New Square). It was first used for military exercises and later became an open-air market.
Today it’s lined with bars, restaurants and cafés, including a microbrewery, and it’s a great place to hang out for an afternoon.
9. Have lunch at La Bodeguita del Medio
Hemingway’s La Bodeguita del Medio claims to be the birthplace of the mojito.
It’s always packed with people following in the footsteps of famous visitors, including Pablo Neruda, Brigitte Bardot, Ernest Hemingway and Salvador Allende.
The menu is classic Cuban: rice, black beans, roast pork, cassava, pork crackling and fried plantains. It’s a must for most visitors to Havana.
10. Take the Havana Club rum museum tour
Our number one in Havana goes to the Museo del Ron Havana Club (Havana Club Rum Museum).
Walk through the narrow streets of Old Havana down to Avenida del Puerto. The entrance is right across from the docks.
When we visited, the guided tour cost CUC 7. It explains the history of Cuban rum, and you get to taste it at the end! Tours are now priced in Cuban pesos, so check the price at the door.
Where we stayed
We booked our first few nights in Havana through Airbnb and got an amazing two-bedroom seafront apartment for $35 a night (in 2017). It was a casa particular: a home rented out by a local family.
Casas particulares are still the best way to stay in Cuba. With so many hotels closed and online bookings less reliable than they were, confirm everything with your host directly before you travel.
Planning a trip to Cuba?
- Our Cuba travel tips: entry rules, cash, internet, getting around and what we wish we’d known
- FCDO Cuba travel advice and Irish DFA Cuba advice: check them right before you book and again before you fly
- True Traveller: the travel insurance we use. Ask them in writing whether you’re covered for Cuba while official advice is against travel.
Steve and Sabina
Some links are affiliate links. If you use them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Posting your Cuba photos? Grab one of our 100+ Cuba captions for Instagram.