35 Best things to see & do in Havana

Appreciate the tropical beauty of Havana from the comfort of an iconic, convertible classic car. A signature Havana experience.

Explore the history of Havana through its extraordinary architecture, from Spanish colonial piazzas and churches to crumbling art deco, modernist and art nouveau mansions.

A quintessential Havana experience – a sparkling, sensual and sequined music and dance show, delivering a taste of tropical exotica.

Watch the ancient artisanal craft of rolling Cuba’s world-famous cigars at one of the very few working factories in Havana that opens to the public.

Havan’s famous sea wall is a popular place for meeting locals, sipping rum and watching the sun set over Havana’s skyline.

Outstanding Cuban art can be found in Havana’s museums and galleries, and colourful art to buy and take home. Creatives, art lovers and collectors shouldn’t miss the Havana Biennial art fair.

Experience Cuba’s culinary heart with dinner at a paladar – authentic, family-owned restaurants, often in private homes, serving everything from traditional Cuban dishes to elaborate seafood dishes.

Insider tours of the studios of some of Cuba’s cutting-edge artists, led by a long-time Havana art curator.

Havana’s magical, neo-baroque Grand Theatre stages ballet and modern dance, including performances by Carlos Acosta’s troupe.

Get the low-down on the Mafia, Hollywood stars and Cold War tactics during a history tour of the famous Hotel Nacional.

Watch the locals dance the rumba at one of the city’s open-air street venues. You can even join in…

American novelist Ernest Hemingway lived at this hilltop farm just outside Havana for 20 years. His fishing boat, library, books, writing tower, clothes, pet graves and his now empty pool are preserved for fans of his life and literature.

Cuba’s most impressive museum, housed in two separate buildings almost next to each other, showcases the best of Cuban art (in one building) from the 1600s to the modern day, and international artists over 5 art-filled floors of a second building.

Spectacular limestone hills and tobacco fields set in a beautiful UNESCO-protected valley.

An insightful primer on Cuba’s sugar cane and rum-making in a grand 18th-century mansion, with gorgeous stained-glass windows. Tour highlights include the working model and train of the erstwhile Cuban Hershey sugar plantation, a whiff of the base ingredient of rum – molasses – and a tasting session in the museum bar.

A lively month-long celebration of Cuban and Latin American art that takes over Havana’s streets, drawing in art lovers and artists from around the world.

Havana’s Museo de Artes Decorativas is housed in a palatial mansion, built in the 1920s in Regency style, overflowing with 33,000 antiques from Tiffany glassware to Italian marble. The treasures belonged to Countess Maria Luisa Gomez Mena, sister to famous sugar king, Jose Gomez-Mena Vila, who lived here after it was built.

An impressive fort, which took 50 years to construct, that has become the iconic symbol of Havana. Climb the 19th-century lighthouse for a view of the entire city and Malecón.

This imposing wedding-cake mansion is the seat of the Cuban government. Stop by to see the marble 400ft Hall of the Lost Steps, the gigantic Statue of the Republic, the bronze bas-relief front doors, and the statue of the devil in a patio devoid of shade.

Dating from the 19th century, Havana’s remarkable cemetery is an architectural gem, home to marble mausoleums, winged angels, sparkling mosaics, wrought-iron motifs, Art Deco sculptures, vast government monuments and 1959 Revolution memorials.

The vast Plaza de la Revolucion is the site of May Day rallies, Papal masses, and propaganda gatherings. It’s famous for the tall memorial to José Martí, hero of Cuban independence, and the huge black iron silhouetted portraits of Che Guevara, and 1959 Revolution leader Camilo Cienfuegos pinned to government offices.

The largest collection of Napoleonic memorabilia outside of Europe (some 5,000 items) is housed in this glorious Florentine mansion. Go for the paintings, statues, prized bronze death mask, the French emperor’s bicorne hat, his pistols, and the original oil Napoleon Planning his Coronation by Jean-Georges Vibert.

History buffs will love the Museo de la Revolución that details the minutiae of Fidel Castro’s 1953-1959 rebel campaign, culminating in victorious revolution in the ornate surrounds of the old Presidential Palace. The outdoor exhibition displays weaponry, aeroplanes and the Granma yacht, which brought Castro from exile in Mexico to Cuba to relaunch the rebel campaign in 1956.

This handsome, columned former palace of the Spanish Captains-General, which dominates the Plaza de Armas, exhibits the treasures of the Spanish empire in grand Cuban baroque surrounds. Artifacts include paintings, flags, furniture, weaponry and antiques. A bathroom with marble baths shaped as shells, and the throne room are highlights.

This twin-towered 18th-century masterpiece of Cuban Baroque, with beautiful undulating facade and mismatched bell towers, dominates Old Havana’s main plaza. Peek inside: the altar is made of Carrara marble and Italian frescoes crown the altar recess.

Legendary American writer Ernest Hemingway downed a record 16 daiquiris in one sitting at this, his favourite Havana bar. The bartender mixed him a sugarless and double rum tipple and named it the Papa Doble. Come early to bag a barstool at the glamorous scarlet bar.

An exquisitely preserved mid-19th-century pharmacy with wooden interiors, marble counters, dazzling stained glass windows, art nouveau accents, and dozens of ceramic jars all beautifully labelled with the names of lotions and potions.

Fun souvenir art for tourists is available at this one-stop art and crafts market, housed in a converted warehouse on the edge of Old Havana.

This funky, Cuban-run cafe and coffee roastery in Old Havana is a popular stop. It sells arguably Havana’s best coffee, great breakfast and exceptional sourdough sandwiches including ample vegan and vegetarian options.

One of Havana’s longest established art galleries showcasing Cuban avant-garde art and international artists.

In a year-long creative project, the Jaimanitas neighbourhood has been carpeted in colourful ceramic tiles by artist Jose Fuster. Look for painted plants, birds, animals and political figures amid this extraordinary artistic project. The pièce de résistance is the artist’s own house – a fairytale adventure in brilliant colours.

The longest fort in the New World, dating from 1763, with panoramic views of Old Havana. Go at 9pm each night for the cannon guard of honour ceremony.

An emerging district of street art, galleries and festivals in Southern Old Havana. Look out for cool street art, Galería Taller Gorría, and new bars and cafés.

A respected Old Havana gallery inside a converted paper factory, exhibiting must-see exhibitions of Cuban contemporary art.

The Fábrica de Arte Cubano is a creative powerhouse of art, photography, music and dance. All the hot stuff is inside this converted peanut oil factory with food and drinks to fuel the night. Uber popular.