Discover the vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes of Cuba with our guide on things to do in Cuba. From exploring historic sites to savoring local cuisine, this article is your key to an unforgettable Cuban experience. Welcome to the enchanting world of Cuba, where history, culture, and natural beauty converge to create a unique and unforgettable experience.
Things to Do in Cuba
In this comprehensive guide, we'll navigate through the myriad of activities that make Cuba a must-visit destination. So, fasten your seatbelt as we embark on a journey to explore the best things to do in Cuba. Embark on a journey through time as you wander the cobbled streets of Old Havana. Immerse yourself in the colonial architecture, vibrant street art, and the rhythmic beats of local music. Don't miss the iconic Plaza de la Catedral, where history comes alive, and each corner tells a story.
1. Relax at Villa Clara North Cays
Case's stunning white-sand beaches sit in isolated splendor at the end of a narrow causeway. Cayo Las Brujas is best suited for non-package visitors. Cayo Santa Maria, and its smaller part, Cayo Ensenachos, are the exclusive domain of hotel guests. Although a few commercial "villages" have been built on Cayo Santa Maria in the last few years.
The 48km drive down to the islands from just outside Caibarien is quite spectacular. The drive itself is half the fun of a visit. Darkness near land gives way to shallow turquoise around deep waters. As networks of islands increase in number and complexity, they become almost clear.
This tailor-made trip to Cuba will take you beyond the city limits of Havana, with its cigar-smoke-filled jazz bars, to discover other cities, rural villages and plants across Cuba, not to mention the beautiful Varadero beaches.
2. Enjoy the white sands of Jardines del Rey
One of Cuba's most popular resorts has miles of beaches, including one of the best in the country — Playa Pilar. It is Cuba's largest coral reef and its top kitesurfing spot. Two islands - Cayo Coco and the smaller Cayo Guillermo - have a string of all-inclusive hotels along their northern coast.
At the western end of Cayo Guillermo, the gorgeous Playa Pilar is named after Ernest Hemingway's yacht, Pilar. This beach was the author's favorite Cuban retreat. Undoubtedly, the top beach choice in Guillermo, if not the absolute case, is Playa Pilar with its pristine clean shallows and pore-cleaning sand.
3. Explore Cuban history at the Museo Presidio Modelo
Tour the isolated prison where Fidel Castro and his cohorts were held. The looming bulk of the Museo Presidio Modelo is located 2 km east of Nueva Gerona. Although this massive former prison has housed a fascinating museum for over thirty years and is now one of the island's top attractions, its forbidding atmosphere has been preserved.
Surrounded by guard towers, the classically proportioned governor's palace and a phalanx of wardens' villas mask four circular cell buildings that rise like a witches' cauldron from the center of the complex.
4. Visit La Habana Vieja — one of the best things to do in Cuba
Remarkably unmarried by modernity but famously battered by time and climate, Habana Vieja (Old Havana) remains a true vision of the past, making it a must-see destination for those looking for things to do in Cuba. Cobblestone plazas, shady streets, colonial palaces, leafy courtyards, a sixteenth-century fort and, at its core, hardly any motorized traffic make it a real living museum.
But although its central streets are teeming with visitors, Habana Vieja is no sanitized tourist attraction and the area hums with a frenetic sense of life.
5. Alejandro Robaina Tobacco Plantation for fine tobacco
As the Carretera Central moves southwest from the provincial capital, it cuts through the famous Vuelta Abajo region, one of the country's most fertile regions. Here is the source of the best tobacco in the world. There are countless vegas (tobacco plantations) in the region, but one, Alejandro Robaina, has an edge over the rest.
The owners go further than any other Vega in their efforts to attract tourists, offering engaging guided tours of the plantation, opportunities to sample produce and even meet members of the Robina family.
6. Viñales Valley for its extraordinary nature
An official national park and by far the most visited site in Pinar del Rio, the crown jewel of the province is the Valley of Vinales. With its superbly located accommodation, attractive landscape and an atmosphere of complete serenity. The valley feels very remote, with a lost-world quality. This is mainly due to the unique mogotes, rock-like mountains that look as if they have dropped from the sky to the valley floor.
The valley supports its own microclimate. From roughly June to October, it rains most afternoons, making it a good idea to complete your sightseeing in the morning. Mosquitoes are also more prevalent at this time of year and insect repellent is a must for any trip.
Take this tailor-made highlights tour of western Cuba to explore the main areas: from Havana over the Vinales Valley to Trinidad and Che's monument in Santa Clara. This fast-paced itinerary is packed with highlights.
7. Diving on the South Coast
Cuba is a scuba-diving paradise. Most major beach resorts, including Varadero, Cayo Coco, Santa Lucia, and Guardalavaca, have at least one dive center, with numerous others throughout the island, including several in Havana. The most reliable dive sites are usually off the south coast where the water tends to be clear away from the churning waves of the Atlantic Ocean, which affects visibility on Cuba's north coast.
Among the marine life you can expect to see in Cuban waters are nurse sharks, parrotfish, turtles, stingrays, barracuda, tarpon, moray eels, bonefish, snapper and tuna. The best time to see whale sharks, arguably the highlight of any diving trip to the island, is in November, when the fish are plentiful in the spring.
8. Hike the La Plata Mountain Trail
Bring Cuba's recent history to life with a day of mountain trekking to explore Fidel Castro's revolutionary base camp, a unique and exciting addition to your list of things to do in Cuba. The trail is well marked and you can complete the reasonably strenuous climb in about four hours return.
The headquarters spans two or three locations, the first of which is the very basic hospital that Che Guevara founded and ran. Second is the guard post, a small but worthy museum and the grave of a rebel who fell in battle.
9. Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos — for a different taste
The southern part of town, Punta Gorda, has a distinctly different flavor from the rest of Cienfuegos. The open streets and spacious bungalows – unmistakably influenced by the United States of the 1940s and 1950s – convey an image of prosperity and suburban harmony.
Aside from the Palacio de Valle, Punta Gorda has no museums and few historical monuments, but does feature the Club Cienfuegos leisure complex and boat tours from the marina.
Discover the charismatic country of Cuba. Start in the iconic city of Havana, where you'll explore the old town and enjoy our tailor-made tours to Cuba's highlights: Havana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos.
10. Travel to Santiago in July
July is the best time to visit Cuba's second city. This is when its vibrant music scene blossoms and the annual carnival brings great costumes, excitement and music to the city. The Carnival of Santiago is the origin of the festival of Extravaganza Santiago which takes place every year on July 25.
Carnival is held from July 18 to July 27 every year. The main parade takes place on the first day and minor parades on the second, third and fourth days. On the 25th, a general parade takes place from 10pm in honor of the town's patron saint; A grand parade takes place on the 26th and awards are presented on the 27th.
11. Visit Trinidad's old town — one of the best things to do in Cuba
This much-visited sixteenth-century city is lined with colonial palaces and churches, united by cobblestone streets and compact plazas. The beautiful Plaza Mayor is the heart of Trinidad's colonial old town, making it a must-see destination on their list of things to do in Cuba for a glimpse of Cuba's rich history and culture.
The imaginative Museo Romantico is an essential part of exploring Trinidad's past. With one of the country's finest and most valuable collections of colonial furniture packed into fourteen rooms, this 1808-built mansion, formerly owned by Count Brunet, is worth a visit.
12. Witness National League Baseball
Take a seat alongside the cheering crowd at one of the country's timepiece baseball stadiums. To some outsiders, the national Cuban baseball league, the Serie Nacional de Baseball, is not one of the best leagues outside of the United States to watch world-class players in action. It also represents a nostalgic version of the game, harkening back to a time when the game wasn't spoiled by celebrity and commercialism elsewhere.
13. Drive American classic cars
Ride around Havana or Varadero in one of Gran Car's 1950s classic cars, a testament to Cuban craftsmanship. Perhaps the most clichéd image of Cuba is a classic American car driving past a crumbling colonial building, and you don't have to spend much time in the country to see why this image has become so ubiquitous.
There are reportedly about 60,000 vintage American cars in Cuba. Known as Almendron, most of them are still on the street. Almost all of them were imported from factories in Detroit during the 1940s and 1950s, when the United States was Cuba's most important trading partner.
Take the family back in time: explore Havana in classic cars and on foot, take a boat tour of Cueva del Indio in Vinales, and relax on the white, sandy beaches of Cayo Levisa on this tailor-made family trip to Cuba.
14. Havana Jazz Festival - A must see
This lively festival is the perfect showcase for Cuban jazz musicians. Organized by the Cuban Institute of Music and featuring a performance by jazz legend Chucho Valdes, this event is a highlight on the international jazz calendar and a must-see for music enthusiasts looking for a unique cultural experience on their list of things to do in Cuba.
It consistently attracts an excellent line-up: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Haden and Max Roach have all played in the past, along with Cuban luminaries such as Bobby Carcassé, Roberto Fonseca and of course Chucho Valdes. Venues across the city include Teatro Mela, Teatro Karl Marx, Teatro Amadeo Roldán, Teatro América and Casa de la Culture de Plaza.
15. Exploring the Baracoa countryside – One of the best things to do in Cuba is hiking.
Surrounded by green hills dotted with palm and cacao trees, and surrounded by swimmable rivers, the Baracwan countryside has a lot to offer. El Yunque, a feature of the Baracoa landscape, can easily be climbed in a day. If you have a car and a little time, you can drive east along the coast and find several Cuban fishing villages, including Boca de Yumuri.
Try this moderately challenging cycling tailor-made tour through the Cuban countryside, visiting the tobacco fields of Viñales Valley and a pristine Caribbean beach at Cayo Jutias.
16. Browse Plaza de Armas book market
The colourful stalls set around this lovely Old Havana square offer a feast of fabulous vintage and pre-and-post-revolution magazines, postcards, photos, posters and vinyl, from Cuba and the US. Havana’s largest book market, which for many years dominated the Plaza de Armas, has relocated around the corner.
Among the revolutionary pamphlets, Che Guevara tomes and the occasional novels you can find vintage Cuban and US tourist brochures, postcards and lifestyle magazines. Some reflect on life before Castro. You can also find copies of rare books and all sorts of other collectors’ items — like revolutionary posters and Cuban film art. Starting prices are high – be prepared to haggle.
17. Havana's Malecón: the city's defining image
The most picturesque way to reach Vedado from Centro Habana or Habana Vieja is to stroll down the famous Malecón sea wall, which snakes west along the coastline from La Punta for about 4km. It’s the city’s defining image, and ambling along its length, drinking in the panoramic views, is an essential part of the Havana experience.
But don’t expect to stroll in solitude: the Malecón is the capital’s front room and you won’t be on it for long before someone strikes up a conversation. People head here for free entertainment, particularly at night when it fills up with guitar-strumming musicians, vendors offering cones of fresh-roasted nuts, and star-gazing couples, young and old alike.
18. Hotel Nacional
Set on a bluff above the Taganana cave and with a magnificent view of the ocean, the Hotel Nacional is a landmark. Home to a princely tiled lobby, and an elegant colonnaded veranda looking out to sea across an expanse of well-tended lawn commandeered by tame guinea fowl.
The perfect cinematic backdrop for a mojito, it was built in 1930 and quickly became a favourite with visiting luminaries. Among them are Ava Gardner, Winston Churchill, Josephine Baker and John Wayne – and more. Recently it has added the likes of Naomi Campbell and Jack Nicholson to its clientele.
19. Fábrica de Arte Cubano for arts
Few venue openings have caused the stir that this avant-garde arts-centre-cum-club has, with profiles in international papers including The New York Times and The Guardian. Housed in an old peanut oil factory in the far reaches of Vedado, and decked out with sleek lines, minimal shades and multiple rooms, Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC) follows the tried and tested route of counter-culture colonization of industrial spaces.
FAC is a unique blend of cosmopolitan culture and traditional Cuban spirit, offering a diverse array of contemporary art and live music. It is a must-see stop on any list of things to do in Cuba for those seeking an authentic experience.
20. Ecotourism in Las Terrazas, Pinar del RÃo
A wonderfully harmonious resort and small working community, Las Terrazas, 74km southwest of Havana, is one of the most important ecotourism sites in the country. About 2km beyond the tollbooth on the main access road, where you pay your entry fee unless you’re staying at the resort’s solitary hotel, there are right- and left-hand sideroads in quick succession.
The right turn leads to the Rancho Curujey visitor centre. Meanwhile, the left turn leads several hundred metres down to the village, a well-spaced complex of red-roofed bungalows and apartment blocks. They are beautifully woven into the grassy slopes of a valley, at the foot of which is a man-made lake. Below the housing, you can see the compact Las Terrazas village buildings dotted around the lake.
21. Discover the labyrinth of colonial Camaguey
The 500-year-old heart of Camagüey, the most overlooked of the country's UNESCO World Heritage sites, is a great place to explore. You'll want to explore the tangle of streets, the many churches, and the lovely squares. It's a great place to stay, with an outstanding set of boutique hotels and casas.
At first sight, Camagüey is a wonderful place to negotiate, with a seemingly incomprehensible maze of streets built in a futile attempt to distract marauding pirates. Wandering aimlessly along narrow cobbled streets lined with delicate balustrades and rococo balconies is one of the joys of travel. Round corners towards handsome parks and crumbling churches occur.
22. Visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum, Santa Clara
Che Guevara Mausoleum is a memorial in Santa Clara that houses the remains of revolutionary leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara. It was built in 1997 on the 30th anniversary of Guevara's death. The mausoleum is a simple concrete structure containing a bronze bust of Guevara, as well as an eternal flame that burns in his memory.
The remains of Guevara and his comrades killed in Bolivia in 1967 were exhumed and brought to Santa Clara in 1997, where they were interred in a mausoleum.
23. Abandoned refinery in Valle de los Ingenios, Trinidad
The Valle de los Ingenios is a broad, open valley flanking the eastern slopes of the Sierra del Escambre. It was once the most productive agricultural area in Cuba. In its heyday, it was dotted with dozens of sugar estates and refineries on which Trinidad built its wealth in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Today only one working refinery remains. However, remnants and ruins of the manor houses and mills that occupied the estate remain dotted across the valley. The most intact example is Manaca-Iznaga - although San Isidro de los Destiladeros is also worth a visit.
24. Relaxing on Cayo Coco Beach - One of the best things to do in Cuba
With 22 km of creamy-white sand and cerulean waters, Cayo Coco has some of the best beaches in Cuba, hands down, and effortlessly draws vacationers to its shores. The best beaches are clustered on the northern coast, dominated by all-inclusive hotels whose tendrils are gradually spreading across the rest of the northern coastline.
Cayo Coco's big three beaches, all-inclusive and bustling with activity, hug the narrow eastern peninsula jutting out from the Cay's north shore. For a pocket of tranquility, escape the main beach and go to Playa Los Flamencos. The beach offers 3 km of fine sand and clear water where tangerine colored starfish swim in the shallows. There is also good snorkeling in the sea.
Arrive in Havana and make your way across the island with stops in Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Cayo Coco, Camagüey and Santiago before returning to Havana for the full Cuba - sights of nature, heritage and revolution.
If you're inspired by Cuba and its attractions, read our guide to the best things to do in Puerto Rico. Also, Cuba is one of the best places for a family vacation. In our guide to the best places to visit with kids, you'll find other interesting family-friendly destinations.
If you prefer to plan and book your trip to Cuba without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to ensure that your trip is exactly what you dreamed of.
Ready to travel to Cuba? Check out the rough guide to Cuba. If you're traveling to Cuba further, read more about the best time to go and the best places to visit in Cuba. Use the Cuba Rough Guide and itineraries from our local travel experts for inspiration. Get a little more hands-on, getting there, getting around the country and where to stay when you get there.
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Things to Do in Cuba: FAQs
Q: Is it safe to travel to Cuba?
Absolutely! Cuba is generally considered a safe destination for travelers. Exercise normal precautions, be aware of your surroundings, and follow local advice to ensure a trouble-free visit.
Q: What's the best time to visit Cuba?
The best time to visit Cuba is from November to April when the weather is dry and temperatures are comfortable. However, each season has its charm, so plan according to your preferences.
Q: Can I use US dollars in Cuba?
While US dollars are accepted, it's recommended to exchange them for Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) to avoid additional fees. Most transactions are in CUC.
Q: Are credit cards widely accepted in Cuba?
Credit cards are not widely accepted, so it's advisable to carry cash. Some tourist areas may accept cards, but it's best to be prepared with cash.
Q: What cultural etiquette should I be aware of in Cuba?
Respect is key in Cuban culture. Greet people with a friendly "Hola," and it's customary to engage in small talk before getting down to business. Politeness goes a long way in Cuba.
Q: Are there restrictions on internet access in Cuba?
Yes, internet access is limited in Cuba. Wi-Fi is available in certain areas, and you can purchase internet cards for access. It's advisable to check with locals for the latest information.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cuba is a captivating destination that seamlessly blends history, culture, and natural beauty. From the vibrant streets of Old Havana to the serene landscapes of Viñales, every corner of Cuba tells a unique story. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or an adventure seeker, Cuba has something for everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready for an extraordinary journey filled with the best things to do in Cuba.
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