The 7 best free things to do in Havana
5 min read • Apr 9, 2023
Experiencing all the incredible things Havana has to offer doesn't have to empty your wallet. Here are the best free things to do in Cuba's capital city.
Travel Stories
Havana
- 20 things you need to know before you travel to Havana
10 min read • Apr 7, 2023
For all its tropical charms, Havana isn’t the world’s most straightforward city. Here's what you need to know before you come to Cuba's colorful capital.
- 6 of the best day trips from Havana
7 min read • Apr 6, 2023
With so many great options just a couple of hours away, Havana is the perfect base in Cuba for day trips filled with adventure.
- The 12 best things to do in Havana
8 min read • Mar 18, 2023
These 12 things to do in Havana prove that Cuba's colorful capital offers much more than just cocktails, classic cars and crumbling colonial buildings.
- The best times to visit Havana, Cuba
7 min read • Jan 12, 2023
Cool, crowded January or quiet but stormy September? Here are the best times to visit Cuba's capital, Havana.
- The 8 best museums in Havana for art, history and cultural icons
7 min read • Mar 12, 2022
Peek inside Havana’s multifarious museums, covering big names from Napoleon to Che Guevara and Hemingway.
- Havana's 6 best beaches are closer to the city center than you think
6 min read • Feb 27, 2022
Need a break from Havana’s urban clamor? Here are the best beaches that are just a short bus or taxi ride from Havana’s city center.
- Havana's public parks offer a taste of the real Cuba
8 min read • Feb 12, 2022
The parks dotted around the Cuban capital reflect a city packed with romance and hubbub.
- Why female Cuban professionals are leaving their careers to become artists
5 min read • Jun 16, 2020
For decades, Cuba's female professionals have been redefining the country's art scene and exploring new avenues for income.
- 5 city walking tours you can take right now on Google Maps
10 min read • May 4, 2020
It’s undeniably one of travel’s greatest pleasures; wandering the streets of a whole new city, soaking up its character and exploring its hidden wonders…
- Celebrate Havana's 500th anniversary at these renovated historic sites
6 min read • Oct 10, 2019
Cuba’s most important city turns 500 in November and the buildings and monuments that shape its city landscape are finally fully repaired and open to the…
- Havana's 500th anniversary: 8 ways to celebrate Cuba's capital
5 min read • Sep 25, 2019
After nearly four centuries of Spanish rule, over 50 years of US-backed governments and 60 years of socialism, Havana’s people (Habaneros) are still thriving…
- Yes, Americans, you can still visit Cuba
4 min read • Jun 12, 2019
In the space of three years, US-Cuban relations have gone from cagey cooperation to the tetchy squabbling of yore. On June 4, the Trump administration…
- Trump administration cruise ban: how new policy impacts travel to Cuba
3 min read • Jun 5, 2019
Travel to Cuba just got more difficult for Americans after the Trump administration announced a ban on cruise ships, private planes and boats to the…
- Shopping local in Havana: the city's best boutiques
4 min read • May 29, 2019
For almost six decades, the tightly state-controlled and embargoed Cuban economy meant that all businesses, from department stores to shoe-shiners, were…
- Celebrating the holidays in Havana
2 min read • Dec 17, 2018
In a country where Christmas was outlawed until 1998 and New Year’s Eve is more known for the Triumph of the Revolution, the holidays are a little…
- Havana nights: enjoying Cuba's capital after hours
4 min read • Oct 11, 2018
When the seemingly endless sunny days finally come to an end, locals take to the Havana streets. Nightlife in Cuba’s capital is best enjoyed under the…
- How to live like a Local in Havana
4 min read • Apr 10, 2018
Lonely Planet Local Diana Rita Cabrera was born and raised in Havana, and she’s positive she could not be happier anywhere else. The timeworn glamor of a…
- Havana shows off its sporty side
3 min read • Mar 26, 2018
It doesn’t take much time to realize that Havana has almost no tranquil open-air areas – the city vibrates with children’s improvised pelota (baseball)…
- Havana: a great art city on the rise
6 min read • Jan 16, 2018
It’s time to hail Havana as one of the world’s great art cities. The Cuban capital has never lacked artistic credentials, but a growing band of small…
- Seven selfie-worthy places in Havana
5 min read • Dec 14, 2017
Old Havana’s eccentric magnificence is undoubtedly photo-friendly: you don't find perfectly kept old convertibles parked next to historic baroque…
- Havana to Viñales: a classic Cuban road trip
6 min read • Aug 11, 2017
The Malecon comes alive at sunset. This broad ribbon of cement curves around Havana’s waterfront, and as the sun wanes, the sky turns pink and the road is…