We use cookies to enhance your journey. Privacy Policy

🎒 NEW 39 Backpacker Guides Live — SE Asia, South America, Europe & more · From £12/day
← All Destinations 🎺
CaribbeanCultureHistoryMusic

Havana & Trinidad
Cuba

The world's most perfectly preserved time capsule — crumbling, musical and unforgettable.

Caribbean · Cuba

Why visit Cuba?

Cuba is the only country in the world that looks like 1958. The US embargo maintained since 1962 means the same Chevrolets and Buicks still run the streets of Havana, the same colonial architecture stands unrenovated and the same social system remains largely in place. The travel experience is unlike anything else on earth.

Havana's Malecón at sunset, the jazz clubs of Old Havana, son cubano playing in dim bars off Obispo — these experiences exist nowhere else. Trinidad, three hours east, is a UNESCO-preserved colonial city barely changed since the 18th century.

Key Info
Cuban Peso (CUP)SpanishType A/B/C/LDrive Right
Tip generously — state wages are very low, tips make a significant difference
Weather
Best: Nov–Apr
Dry Season (Nov–Apr) — comfortable temperatures, lower humidity
June–October is hurricane season with heavy rain. Prices drop significantly.
Health
⚠️Use bottled water — tap water not recommended for visitors
Hepatitis Arecommended
Transport
Taxi particularViazul busCoco-taxi
✈️ HAV José Martí International (taxi to Havana, 25 min)
Taxis particulares (private taxis) for city travel — agree price before getting in. Viazul bus for Trinidad.
Emergency
👮 Police106
🚑 Ambulance104
🔥 Fire105
Who It's Perfect For
🎵

Music & Culture Lovers

Havana is the birthplace of son cubano, salsa, bolero and mambo. The live music bars run every night and the culture is genuinely extraordinary.

📸

Photographers

The crumbling colonial grandeur of Havana, the pastel-painted streets of Trinidad, the vintage American cars and the faces of Old Havana — Cuba is one of the world's great photography destinations.

🏛️

History Seekers

The Revolution, the Bay of Pigs, the Missile Crisis, the Che Guevara story — Cuba's 20th-century history is one of the most dramatic and contested in the world.

The Highlights

Things to Do & See

01
Walk the Malecón at sunset — the 8km seawall with the crumbling city behind and the sea in front
02
Classic car tour of Havana — a 1950s American convertible through Old Havana, Revolution Square and Vedado
03
Trinidad cobblestone streets and the Valle de los Ingenios sugar plantation history
04
Son cubano live music in Old Havana — the local Casa de la Música is more authentic than the tourist bars
05
Viñales Valley tobacco country — limestone mogotes and working farms by bicycle
06
El Morro Castle at night — the 16th-century fortress and the cannon ceremony at 9pm
07
Fusterlandia in Jaimanitas — the extraordinary mosaic art installation covering an entire neighbourhood
08
Havana Biennial contemporary art — when it happens, the most significant art event in the Caribbean
Where to Stay

Base Yourself in Havana & Trinidad

🏛️

Old Havana (Habana Vieja)

Colonial architecture, music, history

The UNESCO World Heritage quarter — stay in a casa particular for the full experience.

🎭

Vedado

Local life, Art Deco, more authentic

The Art Deco residential quarter — more authentic restaurants and the extraordinary Necrópolis cemetery.

🌳

Trinidad

Colonial preservation, music, beach nearby

The perfectly preserved 18th-century colonial city — cobblestones, salsa schools and La Boca beach.

Insider Knowledge

What Most Guides Don't Tell You About Havana & Trinidad

Ready to visit Havana & Trinidad?

Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll handle every detail.

Get a Free QuoteMore Destinations
// Book Activities

Things to book ahead

Curated via GetYourGuide — we only recommend things worth your time.

Affiliate link — same price for you. Disclosure →

Cuba Backpacker Guide

Cuba Backpacker Guide — £35–£65/day

Daily budgets, hostel picks, transport tips and no-fluff advice.

Read the Guide →