Havana 1-day itinerary

Start in Habana Vieja (Old Havana), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels frozen in time. Begin at Plaza de la Catedral — the Baroque cathedral dominates a cobblestone square lined with 18th-century palaces and restaurants. Walk to Plaza de Armas, the oldest square, where second-hand book vendors sell revolutionary-era posters and vintage books. Continue through Calle Obispo, the main pedestrian artery — crumbling colonial facades tower above, and every doorway reveals a barber shop, bodega, or domino game. Stop at El Floridita bar for a daiquiri ($7 USD) where Hemingway famously drank.

Negotiate a classic car tour (CUP6,000–12,000 or $25–50 USD for 1–2 hours) in a 1950s American convertible — Chevys, Buicks, and Fords in candy colours cruise the Malecon seafront boulevard. Most drivers will take you through Vedado, Havana's art deco neighbourhood with the Plaza de la Revolucion (Che Guevara's famous mural), the John Lennon statue in a small park, and the Hotel Nacional — a grand 1930s hotel with mob history and ocean terrace. For lunch, find a paladar (private restaurant) in Vedado — La Guarida (Cuba's most famous, mains $8–15 USD) occupies a crumbling mansion with rooftop views.

Walk the Malecon at sunset — Havana's 8-kilometre seafront promenade where the entire city comes to socialise. Locals sit on the sea wall with rum, guitars, and conversation as waves crash below and the sun drops behind the Hotel Nacional. It's the most cinematic moment in Cuba. For dinner, try paladar Dona Eutimia near Plaza de la Catedral (mains $6–12 USD) — their ropa vieja (shredded beef in tomato sauce) is legendary. Then head to Fabrica de Arte Cubano ($2 USD entry, opens 8pm Thursday–Sunday), a converted cooking oil factory that's now Havana's best cultural venue — live bands, DJs, art galleries, and bars across multiple floors.