A Typical Day in Havana, Cuba

Tastes and Eating

Havana is famous for its rum, revolutions, coffee, sugar, cigars, crowded narrow streets, bicycles, crowded buses, historic houses, royal palms, and vintage American cars.

As a tourist, you can enjoy Havana for almost nothing, although to see the best sites and taste the best foods you can easily find yourself paying more (i.e. a lot of money for locals).

A good option is to start your day in Havana with breakfast at Casa Antigua for a few dollars.

This includes a plate of fresh fruits with eggs, ham and bread and butter, and fresh fruit juice or coffee.

Or even try their lunch menu with the traditional Cuban dish of meat with black beans, rice, and a salad.

Enjoying the Music

Since Cubans love music, the opportunity to experience this side of Cuban culture is more than possible. You can spend the entire day listening to music free of charge at any restaurant or bar along with a mug of beer or coke.

A typical day in Havana can also include plenty of interaction with the local people and sightseeing.

Cubans are fond of chatting and love to talk to foreign visitors if they have the chance.

Giving locals little gifts and taking their photographs is a good way to interact with them.

Getting Around Havana

Getting around in Havana is not that expensive as long as visitors avoid the tourist taxis and take either the communal taxi or an interesting vehicle called a bici-taxi resembling a rickshaw.

The best way to view the hotspots is to take a guided trip in an air-conditioned car and by hiring a taxi driver for the whole day, you can get introduced to some great places to eat like the locals.

If you have an interest in the historical side of Cuba then make sure to visit La Plaza de Armas and the San Carlos de la Cabana fortress.

If you have the chance make sure to visit the spots where Hemingway used to frequent including the La Floridita bar and La Bodeguita del Medio in the early evening.

In the daytime, Havana provides some great souvenir and shopping opportunities and the main area and street ‘Calle Obispo’.

Evenings in Havana

The evenings can be a great experience in Havana, with music and dance something which Cubans do well and do with a passion, and with many of the bars, clubs, and restaurants offering you the chance to enjoy the lively rhythms of Cuba.

There are also a number of very good nightclubs which welcome tourists and locals alike and which are a wonderful way to get to know the locals.