On your way to Cuba or thinking of a trip to Cuba? We’ve put together this list of the 10 best things to do while you’re there!
Whether you don’t have lots of time on your holiday or you want to make sure you tick the main things to do off your list, you’ve clicked on the right article!
Havana is popular among tourists and rightly so since it’s the capital and there are lots of touristy things to do.
Not to worry though, because in this article we’ll cover not only things to do and see in Havana but also things you can do in other parts of Cuba for a full Cuban experience.
Now let’s delve into the top 10 things you must do while in Cuba!
If you’re going to Cuba, you’ve got to see Havana – Cuba’s capital, especially Old Havana!
Stroll around and explore the streets to experience the culture and get to know the history, as well as admire the architectural beauty.
Old Havana is one of the World’s Heritage Sites as noted by UNESCO. You’ll get to see baroque houses, urban canals, historical buildings, and neoclassical buildings – some of which date as far back as the 17th or 18th century.
Here’s what to see and do in Havana, Cuba:
Weather-wise it’s best to visit Cuba during the dry season which is from November to April.
Topes de Collantes National Park is a nature reserve well worth seeing – it’s a great way to get away from the city and immerse yourself in nature!
To put it simply – hike, swim in pools of waterfalls, and explore caves! It’s an ideal spot for hiking and walking lovers. The beautiful hiking trails lead to stunning rivers, waterfalls in which you can swim and caves you can explore.
Within Topes National Park there are smaller parks that all have their own trails. These include:
It’s located in the Escambray Mountains, approximately 15km from Trinidad.
From January to May since it’s the best tourist season. Otherwise, you may encounter inclement weather.
Trinidad is a city filled with beautiful buildings, cobblestone streets, and unsurprisingly lots of history.
After Cuba’s capital city Havana, Trinidad is one of Cuba’s greatest gems. So this should certainly be on your list as one of the cities to see on your getaway to Cuba.
You can see Trinidad on foot or rent a bike to cover more of the city in less time.
Places to see in the city include:
For more perspective on Cuban’s way of life, you’ve got to go on the backstreets. The best backstreets are from Calle Amarguar up to Plaza de las Cruces. Here you’ll often see the locals, children playing football, and people playing dominoes on fold-out tables.
In the centre of Cuba, Sancti Spiritus province. Approximately a four-hour drive by car from Havana.
If you’re staying in Havana and want to get to Trinidad, you can do so by bus, but note that there is no direct bus so it’ll take longer than if you’re going by car.
If you want to catch good weather and avoid the wet season, November through April are great months.
One of the fun things to do in Cuba is to spend a night at Disco Ayala. It’s a place where both tourists and locals love to spend their weekends, enjoying a mix of music.
Is it actually a disco in a cave? Yes! It’s a disco that was built in a cave. This is a unique experience that should certainly be on your must-do list while you’re in Cuba!
Not big into dancing? It’s still worth a visit! As well as dancing the night away, you can catch one of the various live shows, where acrobats and fire dancers perform among stalagmites, stalactites and huge video screens.
It’s located in Las Cuevas, Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus.
This place is known to be busy but of course, it’s the busiest during the tourist season which is from January to March. So it really depends when you are visiting and if you don’t mind a crowd.
The entry fee is five CUC which includes a drink.
It’s open every day of the week:
Monday to Saturday – 11pm to 3am
Sunday – 11pm to 12am
Up in the mountains, you’ll find the picturesque sight of Valle de Vinales. You’ll find tobacco, fruit, vegetables and coffee growing within these valleys.
You can choose to hike around here or you can rent a bike.
It’s another World Heritage Site which you can visit, hike and best of all have a fresh coffee and a cigar. It’s a special place to visit since most Cuban cigars come from the tobacco grown here!
There are different farms you can visit to experience the growing of cigars, but most offer a similar experience so don’t worry about which one you go to!
To visit these farms you can go on a group tour.
It’s in Sierra de Los Organos mountains. It’s approximately three hours away by bus from Havana.
Visiting Valle de Vinales is best between January to April.
If you are going on a tour, there is typically a fee.
A lively spot with plenty of things to do and see! There are over 50 hotels in the area, so there is no shortage of places to stay while you’re here.
It’s one of the biggest resort destinations in the Caribbean and it’s known as one of the most renowned beaches in Cuba, so you can imagine there are plenty of things to do in Varadero, Cuba.
Water activities are plentiful here! You can do things like windsurfing, snorkeling, and diving.
There are plenty of things to see while you’re here, such as:
Of course, you can also relax at the beach in Varadero with a cocktail in the sun!
It’s located in Matanzas province in Cuba.
To catch the best weather, December to March is the best time to visit Varadero.
Did you think we were going to leave out art on this list? Of course not!
Whether you’re an art lover or just someone that appreciates art, visiting Museo National de Bellas Artes (also known as the National Museum of Fine Arts) is a must!
You’ll be brought through Cuba in art form from the 17th century to the modern day, whether that be through paintings, prints or sculptures.
You’ll also see international art, from places like Rome, Greece, Asia, Egypt and more!
It’s located in Avenida de las Misiones in Old Havana.
Note that this art museum has two buildings.
Yes, the entry fee is eight convertible pesos.
It’s closed from Monday to Wednesday. Opening times are as follows:
Thursday to Saturday – 9am to 5pm
Sunday – 10am to 2pm
Spending some time at the historical Hotel Nacional de Cuba is a must on your trip!
The hotel is a Spanish neoclassical building that looks out on Malecon harbour in Havana.
Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Ava Gardner – do any of these names sound familiar? Well, this hotel had these famous people roaming around once upon a time. So it’s certainly a place to see!
It’s also a World Heritage Site due to its history – another reason to tick it off your list.
Even if you don’t book a room, having at least dinner here can make for an interesting night and there are plenty of things to learn about its history.
The address for this hotel is Calle 21 y O, Vedado,
Plaza, La Habana, 10400, Cuba.
If you’re going to stay in a hotel room the cost differs depending on when you’re staying. During the tourist season, you may find it’s more expensive per night. Costs often vary from $100 to over $150.
Castillo de San Pedro del Moro is a fortress with a beautiful view of the coast.
Surprise, surprise… it’s also a World Heritage Site!
It’s a piece of history that came to life in the 17th century with a breathtaking view of the bay.
The museum! The castle has a museum where you’ll find out about pirate history.
It’s located in Santiago de Cuba city – the second largest city in Cuba.
To tour Castillo de San Pedro del Moro, there is usually a fee that can be anywhere from $2 to $6 CUC – it all depends on what you’d like to see.
No trip to Cuba is complete if you don’t listen and/or dance to live Cuban music!
If you’re making the trip to Santiago, this is the perfect spot for Cuban music since it’s a massive aspect of the city.
The traditional music in Santiago is called ‘Son Cubano’ – a mix between Spanish and African music.
To get the full Cuban experience and embrace the fun that comes with Cuban music!
You’ll find people playing Cuban music on street corners of Santiago, but there are also some great venues you can go to.
There’s Casa de la Trova which is the oldest club in Cuba for traditional music. Local bands often play here – so it’s a great spot for the real experience!
Another renowned venue for live Cuban music is Casa de las Tradiciones – also has local bands playing and will give you a traditional experience.
Casa de Trova is located in Bartolomé Masó Street, Santiago de Cuba, and Casa de las Tradiciones is also in Santiago de Cuba.
With this, we’ve completed the list of the 10 things you must do while in Cuba!
We hope that you found this article useful for your travels to Cuba.
You can apply for a Cuba tourist visa on your own or you can apply with an agent who will, of course, take the stress off your shoulders.
At Visa First, we increase your chances of a successful outcome so you can set out on your trip with peace of mind!
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