Havana Cuba Travel Guide: Music, Rum, Architecture & What to Know Before You Go

Havana is one of the world’s most unique cities — a frozen-in-time capital of faded colonial grandeur, 1950s American cars, extraordinary music, and a population navigating a deeply complex political and economic reality. It rewards travellers who approach it with curiosity and respect.

Getting There & Practicalities

Access to Cuba varies significantly depending on your nationality and departure country. US citizens face particular restrictions but can travel legally under certain categories. Cash is essential — US bank cards don’t work and ATM availability is unreliable. Bring enough CUP (Cuban pesos) for your stay. The dual currency system has been simplified but the economy remains volatile.

Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, and the Malecón seafront promenade are the essential starting points. The architecture is genuinely breathtaking — a UNESCO World Heritage site of colonial buildings in various states of restoration and decay. Walk without a destination.

Music

Havana’s live music scene is extraordinary. Casa de la Trova and smaller casas de la cultura in the neighbourhoods offer authentic son, bolero, and jazz nights. The tourist-facing La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita (both linked to Hemingway) are overpriced but worth a brief visit. Fabrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) is the city’s best contemporary arts and music venue.

Neighbourhoods

Vedado is the mid-20th century neighbourhood of the revolution-era elite — tree-lined streets, crumbling modernist architecture, and the Colon Cemetery (one of the world’s most remarkable). Centro Habana is raw, local, and real.

Community Tips

The Havana community on Parada has up-to-date practical information from travellers navigating current conditions — cash access, which casas particulares (private homestays) are excellent, and the current live music scene.