Where to stay in Havana — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
Havana (La Habana) is Cuba's captivating capital, a city that feels frozen in the 1950s. Its UNESCO World Heritage old town brims with cobblestone plazas and pastel colonial facades, candy-colored classic cars rumble down every street, and the sound of salsa and rum never fades after dark. Add the Malecón, an 8-kilometer seawall promenade where the whole city gathers at sunset, and you get a place that isn't polished but pulses with raw, honest charm you won't find anywhere else.
Why stay in Havana
An open-air living museum
Habana Vieja has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, with five main plazas and rows of vividly painted baroque and neoclassical buildings you can wander for a full day.
Classic cars that actually run
Candy-colored 1950s Chevys, Buicks and Fords cruise the whole city. Riding a convertible along the Malecón is the quintessential, can't-replicate-it Havana experience.
Birthplace of the mojito & daiquiri
Legendary bars like La Bodeguita del Medio (mojito) and El Floridita (daiquiri), both Hemingway haunts, are still buzzing every single day.
Live music & nonstop salsa
From three-piece bands in restaurants to dance clubs in Vedado, Cuban music is the city's heartbeat — there's live music on any given night.
Pick an area first — where to stay in Havana
Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel
Old Havana (Habana Vieja)The UNESCO heart — walk to all five main plazas, the Cathedral and busy Calle Obispo. The best base for first-timers who want everything on foot.
Coming soonVedadoThe pre-revolution upscale district: mansions, leafy streets, and the city's best bars, clubs and boutique hotels like Paseo 206 and La Reserva. Great for nightlife.
Coming soonCentro HabanaReal, everyday Cuban life wedged between Old Havana and Vedado. Mostly affordable casas particulares (homestays) — ideal for budget travelers wanting authenticity.
Coming soonMiramarThe embassy-and-money district west of Vedado: tree-lined avenues, grand mansions and luxury hotels. Quieter and more refined than the center.
Coming soonRanked reviews — find your ideal stay in Havana
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights
Find the right Havana hotel for you
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Local dishes to try in Havana
- 1🥩
Ropa Vieja
Shredded beef stewed in a rich tomato sauce with peppers and onions — literally 'old clothes' — served with rice and black beans. Cuba's signature plate.
📍 National dish - 2🍚
Moros y Cristianos
Black beans and rice cooked together ('Moors and Christians'), the fundamental side dish that accompanies nearly every Cuban meal.
📍 Rice & black beans - 3🐖
Lechón Asado
Marinated whole roast pork with crispy skin and tender meat, served with boiled yuca in mojo sauce, rice and beans — the centerpiece of any celebration.
📍 Roast pork - 4🍌
Tostones
Green plantain slices fried, smashed flat, then fried again until crisp and salty — the go-to side, perfect with a garlic dip.
📍 Twice-fried plantains - 5🍹
Mojito & Daiquiri
The mojito (rum, mint, lime, sugar, soda) and the daiquiri (rum, lime, sugar blended with ice) — two rum classics both born right here in Havana.
📍 Rum cocktails - 6🍦
Coppelia
Havana's famous state-run ice cream park in Vedado, a beloved Cuban institution where locals line up for scoops at the giant 'ice cream cathedral.'
📍 Iconic ice cream
- 1🏛️
Old Havana (Habana Vieja)
The historic core and a UNESCO site since 1982, home to five main plazas — Plaza Vieja, Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral and more — and endless colonial architecture to explore on foot.
📍 World Heritage - 2🌊
El Malecón
Havana's iconic 8km+ waterfront wall along the bay, where locals come to flirt, fish, play music and watch the city's most spectacular sunsets.
📍 Seawall promenade - 3🏛️
El Capitolio
The grand former capitol from 1929, modeled on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with a dome reaching about 91m. The classic spot to photograph against vintage cars.
📍 Landmark building - 4⛪
Plaza de la Catedral
One of the old town's main squares, anchored by the baroque Havana Cathedral (San Cristóbal) and the Museum of Colonial Art.
📍 Square & cathedral - 5🏰
Museo de la Revolución
Housed in the former Presidential Palace, it tells the story of the Cuban Revolution, with relics like Che Guevara's cap and gun and the Granma yacht displayed outside.
📍 Revolution museum - 6🗿
Plaza de la Revolución
A vast civic square with the José Martí Memorial and the famous steel mural of Che Guevara on the ministry facade — one of Havana's most iconic photo stops.
📍 Revolution square - 7🎨
Fusterlandia
Artist José Fuster's explosive mosaic world in the Jaimanitas neighborhood, where houses, bus stops, fountains and benches are all tiled in joyful, dreamlike color.
📍 Mosaic art village - 8🍹
La Bodeguita & El Floridita
Havana's two legendary bars — La Bodeguita del Medio (opened 1942), the mojito's home, and El Floridita, birthplace of the daiquiri, both favorite Hemingway haunts.
📍 Hemingway bars
Things to do in Havana
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Havana — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 Havana hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 8.6LuxuryGran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana
#1 Luxury · Kempinski flagship, Old Havana
★ 8.5LuxurySO/ Paseo del Prado La Habana
#4 Design luxury · Malecón corner
★ 8.5LuxuryMystique Regis Habana by Royalton
#8 Adults-only boutique · on Paseo del Prado
โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในHavana
ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ
Iberostar Selection Parque Central
#2 location · right on Parque Central
Iberostar Selection La Habana
#7 modern tower · the tallest building in Cuba
Hotel Sevilla Habana Affiliated by Meliá
#9 Historic Moorish-Mudejar building · heart of Habana Vieja
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Compare real-time room availability for your Havana dates
🚆 Getting around Havana
José Martí Airport (HAV)
The city's main international gateway, about 30 minutes from the center. Yellow tourist taxis run roughly $25-30 (no meters — agree the fare before you get in).
Classic cars (almendrón)
Vintage 1950s cars work as shared taxis (colectivos) on set routes, or hire one for a tour at about $25-40 per hour. A convertible ride along the Malecón is the highlight.
Coco-taxi & bici-taxi
The coco-taxi is a round yellow three-wheeled scooter; the bici-taxi is a pedal trike. Both are fun ways to hop short distances around the old town.
City buses (gua gua)
Local buses cover Old Havana, Centro, Vedado and Miramar. Fares are dirt cheap but payable in CUP pesos only and buses get very crowded — for the adventurous.
Cash (USD/EUR) & MLC
Bring cash in USD or euros (most foreign cards don't work) and exchange only at official CADECA houses. Some places take MLC cards — keep enough cash on hand throughout.
Where to go next near Havana
TrinidadThe Caribbean's colonial gem — cobblestone streets, pastel houses, and live salsa every night. A practical guide to where to stay, what to see, and what to eat in Trinidad, Cuba.
See this city's guide →
VaraderoA complete Varadero, Cuba guide — where to stay along the beach, all-inclusive resorts, top attractions, real Cuban food, and how to get around.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Havana
Which neighborhood should I stay in?+
First-timers should pick Old Havana (Habana Vieja) to walk to every major sight. Choose Vedado for nightlife and boutique hotels, or Centro Habana for budget stays and authentic local life. Many travelers stay in casas particulares — homestays in Cuban families' houses — for great atmosphere and value.
What currency do I use, and can I pay by card?+
U.S. credit cards don't work and most other foreign cards are unreliable. Bring cash in USD or EUR and exchange it for Cuban pesos (CUP) at official CADECA houses only. Some hotels and shops accept MLC cards, but plan to rely on cash for the whole trip.
How much is a classic-car ride along the Malecón?+
Hiring a convertible classic car for a city tour runs about $25-40 per hour, depending on your negotiation. Cars have no meters, so always agree on the price and currency before getting in. Cruising the Malecón at sunset is the unmissable highlight.
Ready to book your Havana stay?
Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking