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Cuba travel tips & articles

  • Coasts and islands (19)
  • Heritage and history (14)
  • Art and culture (13)
  • Food and drink (9)
Article

Havana nights: enjoying Cuba's capital after hours

When the seemingly endless sunny days finally come to an end, locals take to the Havana streets...

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 moonlight, where cocktails include plenty of ice and fruity flavors with mint leaves. The Havana nightlife scene is filled with salsa dancing, cocktails and delicious tapas © Diana Rita Cabrera / Lonely Planet Hitting the right note   It won’t be hard to find the heartbeat of the Cuban people...
Article

Cuba on a budget: 7 free things to do in Havana

Emptied your pockets on world-class habanos cigars and Cuban añejo rum? Don't fret, Cuba's capital city can still be your oyster...

Emptied your pockets on world-class habanos cigars and Cuban añejo rum? Don't fret, Cuba's capital city can still be your oyster. From stunning views to small, leafy gardens hidden in plain sight and underground bunkers dating back to the cold war, these seven options will make going gratis (free) in Havana a breeze. The Estatua de Cristo (Christ of Havana) park offers some of the best views of the city © Florian Augustin / Lonely Planet 1...
Article

Yes, Americans, you can still visit Cuba

Last year was a record year for Cuba’s tourist industry, with an estimated 4.7 million travelers rolling into the Caribbean’s largest nation for a potent dose of rum, revolution and beaches...

Last year was a record year for Cuba’s tourist industry, with an estimated 4.7 million travelers rolling into the Caribbean’s largest nation for a potent dose of rum, revolution and beaches. The boom was fueled, in part, by a big increase in US visitors taking advantage of the looser travel laws introduced by the Obama administration in 2014...
Article

Caribbean travel update: which islands are ready for tourists post-hurricanes

Nearly eight months after hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria hit, the rebuilding process continues for many northern Caribbean countries. Some, like Turks and Caicos, Dominica and the U.S...

Nearly eight months after hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria hit, the rebuilding process continues for many northern Caribbean countries. Some, like Turks and Caicos, Dominica and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have been able to quickly pick up the pieces, while other countries, like Barbuda, have struggled to gain traction. In this Caribbean hurricane update, we take a look at how recovery efforts have been shaping up island-by-island...
Article

Day trips from Havana

While Havana – with its grandiose architecture and vibrant culture – continues to be the number one attraction for travelers to Cuba, taking a break from the city buzz will refresh your batteries and give you a broade...

While Havana – with its grandiose architecture and vibrant culture – continues to be the number one attraction for travelers to Cuba, taking a break from the city buzz will refresh your batteries and give you a broader scope of Cuba’s authentic experiences. Let the sea breeze pamper your senses in Playas del Este or indulge your ecological side in Las Terrazas and Soroa – with options less than an hour away from the Capitolio, Havana is the perfect base for a trip filled with adventure...
Article

How to live like a Local in Havana

Lonely Planet Local Diana Rita Cabrera was born and raised in Havana, and she’s positive she could not be happier anywhere else...

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 five-centuries-old city keeps her rooted to the colonial palaces and cobbled streets, the ever-present music, the friendliness of habaneros (Cubans)… and the refreshing cocktails...
Article

Havana shows off its sporty side

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) championships, world-class boxing matches in roofless gyms and po...

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) championships, world-class boxing matches in roofless gyms and popular marathons for locals and foreigners of all ages. Whether you want to watch or partake, here's the lowdown of the most popular sporting activities in Havana. Baseball is Cuba's passion...
Article

Seven selfie-worthy places in Havana

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

Old Havana’s eccentric magnificence is undoubtedly photo-friendly: you don't find perfectly kept old convertibles parked next to historic baroque buildings just anywhere. While the whole city is a visual treat, there are some picturesque landmarks that should definitely be in your smartphone’s gallery once you head home. Here is a selection of postcard-perfect plazas and places, and ideas for activities nearby once you've snapped that perfect shot...
Article

Caribbean travel after Irma and Maria: essential information

As one of the most active and impactful hurricane seasons in recent memory slowly subsides, much of the northern Caribbean is picking up the pieces left by hurricanes Irma and Maria...

As one of the most active and impactful hurricane seasons in recent memory slowly subsides, much of the northern Caribbean is picking up the pieces left by hurricanes Irma and Maria. But this region is no stranger to such events, and many communities are already beginning to rebuild...
Article

Havana to Viñales: a classic Cuban road trip

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 washed in coppery gold light...

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 washed in coppery gold light. Orderly rows of fishermen perch on the sea wall, chatting as they cast their lines and hoping for a haul of bonito tuna or red snapper. Locals sit in pairs, laughing and occasionally canoodling, while the sea breeze brings with it the sound of a three-piece jazz ensemble that’s just started up along the way...
Article

Havana: a great art city on the rise

It’s time to hail Havana as one of the world’s great art cities...

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 private galleries, fresh interest in outlandish street art and the emergence of the extraordinary art collectives has sparked a creative renaissance that has truly put the city on the map. A man walks past a mural in Centro Habana © Wellsie82 / Getty Images Artistic roots Havana’s artistic roots go deep...
Article

US-Cuba travel: what you need to know about Trump's new policies

US- Cuba relations have rarely been straightforward. The path to improvement is often a case of two steps forward, one step back...

US- Cuba relations have rarely been straightforward. The path to improvement is often a case of two steps forward, one step back. After several years of rapprochement, new travel regulations announced by the Trump administration on June 16, 2017, appear to have stymied some of the progress. But what do the changes really mean for US travelers? Here are some questions and answers to help clear the fog...
Article

Behind Cuba's curtain: backstage Havana

Havana’s heartbeat is the pounding of drums. Infectious rumba and salsa music are ever-present, along with the everyday sounds: cries of peanut hawkers – ‘Mani, mani!’ – and the rattle of handcarts over cobbles...

Havana’s heartbeat is the pounding of drums. Infectious rumba and salsa music are ever-present, along with the everyday sounds: cries of peanut hawkers – ‘Mani, mani!’ – and the rattle of handcarts over cobbles. Ladies shout to their neighbours as they hang out washing in colourful lines like bunting, dogs yip from balconies, and the tinny noise of a televised baseball game spills from a window where a man stands shaving his chin with a cut-throat razor...
Article

Casas and Cadillacs: how tourism works in a changing Cuba

On my last day in Cuba, I stood on the impressive staircase at the University of Havana taking in my final views of an island I’d waited years to visit...

On my last day in Cuba, I stood on the impressive staircase at the University of Havana taking in my final views of an island I’d waited years to visit. By this point, I had walked along Havana’s famous Malecón, shared a bench with a bronze John Lennon, taken a ride across the country in '52 Bel Air, celebrated Jose Martí’s birthday, followed a trail of mojito stands to a disco in a cave, learned salsa on a rooftop, and bought a bottle of (what turned out to be fake) rum...
Article

Shopping local in Havana: the city's best boutiques

For decades, the tightly state-controlled Cuban economy meant that all businesses, from department stores to shoe-shiners, were in the hands of the state...

For decades, the tightly state-controlled Cuban economy meant that all businesses, from department stores to shoe-shiners, were in the hands of the state. Today, though, Havana is slowly evolving; new economic rules on private ownership are allowing ordinary Cubans to open their own stores and businesses. Under the changes, artists of all kinds have started to showcase and sell their work in galleries which double as private shops...
Article

First time Cuba: things to know before you go

Rum, revolutionaries and retro cars – Cuba has a back-in-time appeal. Though a trip to Cuba seems undoubtedly exciting, you'll need to understand how the island works to get the best out of your visit...

Rum, revolutionaries and retro cars – Cuba has a back-in-time appeal. Though a trip to Cuba seems undoubtedly exciting, you'll need to understand how the island works to get the best out of your visit. From visa rules to dual currencies, Cuba can be confusing for first timers. Avoid costly pitfalls and prepare properly with our practical guide...
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