If you are going on a Cuba cruise, you are likely to stop in Havana. Havana is the capital city of Cuba. It has a population of 2.1 million people. The city consists of three main areas, Old Havana, Vedado, and newer suburban districts. Havana has had a complicated history. The best way to learn and experience the Cuban culture is to take tours and learn from the locals. Below are the tours we recommend. However, there are different tour options depending on your interests including Hemingway’s Havana or Jewish Havana.
Day 1 – Havana Walking and Classic Car Tour
On the first day we decided to get an overview of the city. We began with a walking tour of Old Havana. We visited Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza Vieja, Hotel Raquel, Plaza de Armas, Museum of the Revolution, La Bodeguita del Medio, and Plaza de la Catedral. Havana is in a transitional stage at the moment. There are still crumbling colonial mansions but there are clear signs of renovation and restoration.
After a walking tour we enjoyed a three course lunch in a Paladar (a local restaurant). The food was delicious. We enjoyed frozen mojitas, lamb or pork, black beans and rice, plantains, and flan.
In the afternoon, we had a classic car tour to visit the areas around Old Havana. It was so much fun driving around the city in a classic car. There were so many classic cars in Havana. In the car, we visited Plaza de la Revolucion, Colon Cemetery, Christ of Havana, and the fort.
Since we were in port overnight, we had the opportunity to see Havana at night. There are several options such as enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, visiting the Tropicana cabaret, or a panoramic city tour by night. We did a panoramic city tour as we love cocktails and it was an opportunity to visit some bars.
Day 2 – Havana Cigars, Coffee, and Rum
On day 2, we visited a cigar factory and wandered through the floors learning about cigars and how to roll them. We could not take any photos in the factory as it is government owned. After the factory we went to a cigar lounge to learn how to light and smoke a cigar. We also learned about Cuba’s famous rum and coffee.
Are you ready to plan a trip to Havana? We’re here to help. Our preferred tour vendors provide the best possible experiences in Cuba. Please contact us to start planning!