So you have followed through with the five steps to prepare for your trip to Cuba https://roadtosuchness.comcuba-planning-your-trip/. You followed though with your plans, arrived in Havana and have gone through Customs. Now what? First, I want to stress that doing Cuba on your own is totally possible. I have listed here the steps we followed for having a stress free visit once we settled in Havana.
Getting Around...Taxis
Taxis at the Airport
Unless someone is picking you up, the best way to get from the airport to center of Havana is by taxi. There are no Ubers, no Lyft. Our hostess from our AirBnB arranged for a taxi to come for us. (Nice!) But there were plenty of taxis outside the airport looking for your business. The one way ride will cost you 25 to 30 CUC depending on what part of the city you are going to. Agree on the cost before leaving the airport. Have questions? Try this site. You can find the information you need and more here: https://www.havana-airport.org/taxi.html
Note: There is a bus to Havana, also. Cost: Cheap. (1 CUC) They only go to one central location in Havana, La Plaza de la Revolucion. It takes 60 minutes compared to 26 in a taxi.
Taxis in Havana
All those old cars you see all over town… They are probably taxis. They are all over the place, willing to bargain for the price of your ride (and please, do bargain). If the distance was too far to walk, this was how we did all of our getting around Havana.
This was certainly the case when we left our apartment and went into the center of Havana on some mornings. We had a little bit of a morning walk to get the taxi. But the neighborhood was so beautiful it was a pleasure. Actually it was a favorite part of the day. I spent a lot of time walking through the neighborhoods by myself and it was always something I loved doing.
And these little gems below? I captured this photograph from the upper deck of a Havana Bus tour. These little cars are parked right in front of the Opera House before you enter Havana Vieja. Looks like fun! But did I ride in one? No! We decided on an impromptu ride on the bus
On our very last day in Havana we passed by a bus for the Havana Bus Tour. We’d had enough walking and hopped on. We headed up the stairs to the 2nd story where we were in for a different perspective of Havana. And a lot of waving and smiles to people at their windows checking things out.
Where to Stay
There are actually so many choices of where to stay in Havana you could exhaust yourself, throw you hands in the air and start all over. Basically you have two choices: a hotel/ bed and breakfast, or an apartment/room rental.
Neighborhoods
We stayed in an apartment rental in beautiful neighborhood, El Vedado. El Vedado is both a business center and a residential area. Much of that area is populated with beautiful old homes. It comes alive in the day with children going to school and neighbors leaving for work. In the late evenings it is peaceful again. I never felt anything but relaxed while I was there, and grateful for that. Especially so after roaming and exploring the streets of Havana all day.
In the evenings Michael would spend time with the neighbor relying on his very broken Spanish. With a glass of rum, neither seemed to mind.
Hotels
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Hotel Ambos Mundos
Hotels would start high end with Hotel Kampinski. The photograph of the swimming pool at the beginning of this post is the rooftop of the hotel. We were there waiting for sunset and because they have a great rooftop bar.
We also toured the grounds of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba because there is so much history there. It is also a good place to relax and sip on something cool daytime and evenings. Purely by accident we walked into Hotel Ambos Mundos, also pictured, when we were exploring old town. This is where Hemingway stayed before he bought his home just on the outskirts of Havana. And this is where they conserve the room where he stayed and passed his morning hours writing. His typewriter, his desk, are still there as if waiting for him to sit down and touch the keys.
Where to Eat
Breakfast
Breakfast isn’t my favorite meal of the day, but to start the day right, I don’t skip it. But in Cuba, breakfast is possibly the most important meal of the day. I had hoped that we would be picking up food and having at least milk, bread, cereal in the morning at our Air BnB. But it is hard to find food in Havana, there are no markets for non citizens as we know them. So take advantage of the breakfast that your host or hotel will offer you.
My morning meals in Havana and Vinales included an abundance of fresh fruits, fresh fruit juices, eggs, breads. And the coffee, of course! In Vinales I sat outside at a table that looked out over the tobacco fields with cows, grazing in the distance for their own breakfast. And you will often be grateful later in your busy day. You find yourself hungry but can’t find where you’d like to eat.
Restaurants we Found
Paladores
Not all restaurants are owned by citizens. So I did do my research and was happy to eat in a few privately owned spaces. Part of the money earned goes to the government. Still, it is great to eat in a palador that is full of creativity and innovation. I wish I could have visited them all. Here are a few: Jama… La Guardia…Paladar los Mercedes…El Rustica…California Cafe…5 Sentidos… O’Reilly 304
Restaurant Jama
A mention also that if you are headed for Vinales take time to find and pass a lovely evening at the restaurant at Finca Agroecologica el Paraismo. Just to sit and look out over the farm from their hilltop and to see Vinales beyond is worth the short ride there! https://roadtosuchness.comvinales-cuba-el-paraiso-restaurant/
Roof Top Bars
Roof Top Bars were such a fun thing to do. They were especially interesting to me after I learned how to make Mojitos in the cooking class I took. This way, I also got to sample other renditions.
https://www.thedriftingdrinker.com/8-must-visit-rooftop-bars-in–havana-cuba/ Try them at these venues: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski…Bar Piscina Merador at Hotel Saratoga…La Guarida Rooftop Bar…Hotel Iglaterra…Hotel Ambos Mundos…La Flauta Magica Gran Hotel Manzana
Hotel Inglaterra Rooftop Bar
Transportation Around the Island
We decided not to take a taxi on a two night, three day visit to Vinales. We opted for Viazul, Cuba’s national bus line that will take you to all major stops in Cuba. For us, it was a great decision. It was comfortable, roomy enough, the right temperature. Although it was a last minute decision for us, I would recommend going to Viazul several days before your day of travel. I read that making a reservation on line could be risky. The station is in front of the zoo. This line goes to all the major points in Cuba. Besides, it was a nice relief from all the taxis we were taking in Havana: https://www.viazul.com/
Havana Bus Tour
Michael and I looked at each other and laughed when we found our seats on the upper level of the bus. Neither of us had ever done a bus tour before. But we loved the fact that we could take photos from up high and at interesting angles. Route 1 will take you around the city to places we never would have found on foot. You can get off and back on where ever you choose. We took the whole route and back to the stop in front of Hotel Inglaterra. Later took the bus back as it passed near where we were staying. The ticket is good for the whole day. Find it here: https://traveldir.co/cuba/havana/tours/habana-bus/
It would take me forever to list all the fun and interesting things to do in Havana, a city of millions. Luckily, there is a website that will do it for us. It will keep you up to date on lots of things that are going on in Havana before you make your trip. https://www.havanainsider.com/us