Travel Stories

Apr 9, 2023 • 5 min read

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.

Apr 7, 2023 • 10 min read

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.

Apr 6, 2023 • 7 min read

With so many great options just a couple of hours away, Havana is the perfect base in Cuba for day trips filled with adventure.

Mar 18, 2023 • 8 min read

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.

Jan 12, 2023 • 7 min read

Cool, crowded January or quiet but stormy September? Here are the best times to visit Cuba's capital, Havana.

Mar 12, 2022 • 7 min read

Peek inside Havana’s multifarious museums, covering big names from Napoleon to Che Guevara and Hemingway.

Feb 27, 2022 • 6 min read

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.

Feb 12, 2022 • 8 min read

The parks dotted around the Cuban capital reflect a city packed with romance and hubbub.

Jun 16, 2020 • 5 min read

For decades, Cuba's female professionals have been redefining the country's art scene and exploring new avenues for income.

May 4, 2020 • 10 min read

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…

Oct 10, 2019 • 6 min read

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…

Sep 25, 2019 • 5 min read

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…

Jun 12, 2019 • 4 min read

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…

Jun 5, 2019 • 3 min read

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…

May 29, 2019 • 4 min read

For almost six decades, the tightly state-controlled and embargoed Cuban economy meant that all businesses, from department stores to shoe-shiners, were…

Dec 17, 2018 • 2 min read

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…

Oct 11, 2018 • 4 min read

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…

Apr 10, 2018 • 4 min read

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…

Mar 26, 2018 • 3 min read

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)…

Jan 16, 2018 • 6 min read

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…

Dec 14, 2017 • 5 min read

Old Havana’s eccentric magnificence is undoubtedly photo-friendly: you don't find perfectly kept old convertibles parked next to historic baroque…

Aug 11, 2017 • 6 min read

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…