Top 10 things to do while in Cuba

Are you heading to Cuba or just planning a trip? We’ve put together this list of 10 things to do first while you’re there if you’re short on vacation time and want to make the most of your viewing experience.

Havana is popular with tourists, and rightly so, since it is the capital and there are many tourist attractions. In this article, we will cover not only what can be done and see in Havana, but also what is worthy of attention in other parts of Cuba, in order to get a complete impression of the paradise island.

Visit Old Havana

If you are going to Cuba, you must see Havana - the capital of Cuba, especially Old Havana. Walk and explore the streets to soak up the culture and history as well as marvel at the beauty of the architecture.

Old Havana is one of the world heritage sites marked by UNESCO. You will see baroque houses, city canals, historic buildings and neoclassical buildings, some of which date back to the 17th or 18th century.

What to visit

• Plaza Vieja - also known as the "Old Square" - is the most remarkable square in Havana in terms of architecture.
• Castillo de la Real Fuerza - also known as the "Castle of the Royal Forces", is the main attraction of Havana, which will tell about the history of the city.
• Camera Obscura is a device that allows you to see the city at 360 °. This is a great way to see Old Havana.

Best time to visit

In terms of weather, the best time to visit Cuba is during the dry season, which runs from November to April.

Hiking and swimming in Topes de Collantes National Park

The Topes de Collantes National Park is a nature reserve worth visiting. This is a great way to get away from the city and immerse yourself in nature!

Why go here

Simply put, go hiking, swim in waterfalls and explore caves. This is an ideal place for lovers of hiking and walking. Beautiful hiking trails lead to stunning rivers, waterfalls to swim in, and caves to explore.

What to visit

There are small parks within the Topes National Park, each with their own trails. These include:

• The La Batata Trail in Codina Park is a 3 km trail that will take you to a small waterfall with a swimming pool. Here you will also see caves.
• The Alfombra Magico trail, also in Codina Park, starts at what was once a coffee estate. You can eat here, but be aware that this is not the most accessible trail, you will need a 4x4 car to get here.
• The Centinelas del Río Melodioso trail in Guanajara Park is another 3 km trail that starts at a coffee plantation and then leads to the El Rocío waterfall where you can swim.
• The Caburni trail starts near Villa Caburni (hotel in Topes de Collantes). This trail will also take you to a 200 foot waterfall where you can swim.
• El Nicho Park is beautiful, and it is here that you will find the famous El Nicho Falls, in which, of course, you can swim.
• Sendero Cimarrones de Javira in El Cubano Park is a 6 km circular path that will take you to the Javira waterfall where you can swim.

Where is the Topes de Collantes National Park located?

It is located in the Escambray Mountains, about 15 km from Trinidad.

Best time to visit

From January to May as this is the best tourist season. Otherwise, you may experience inclement weather.

Go and see Trinidad

Trinidad is a city with beautiful buildings, cobbled streets and, not surprisingly, a rich history.

Why is it worth going here?

After the capital of Cuba, Havana, Trinidad is one of the biggest pearls of Cuba. Therefore, it should definitely be on your list of cities worth visiting during your trip. You can explore Trinidad on foot or rent a bike to see more of the city in less time.

What to visit in the city

• Plaza Mayor in the city center is not only the center of Trinidad, but also an important historical site of the country.
• Museo Romántico - Museum of Romance, here you will see works of art, sculptures, kitchen utensils and furniture from the 19th century.
• Museo Histórico Municipal is the city’s historical museum dedicated to the history of Trinidad and the areas that surround it.
• Church of Santa Ana - ruins of an 18th century church.
• Valley of the Sugar Mills - Learn more about Trinidad’s sugar production and admire the beautiful scenery of the valley. Please note that you can get here by train.

To get a better idea of the Cuban way of life, you need to walk through the streets. The best streets are from Calle Amarguar to Plaza de las Cruces. Here you will often see locals, children playing football and people playing dominoes on folding tables.

Where is Trinidad located?

In the center of Cuba, in the province of Sancti Spiritus. Approximately four hours by car from Havana.

If you are staying in Havana and want to get to Trinidad, you can do it by bus, but be aware that there is no direct bus, so the trip will take longer than if you were traveling by car.

Best time to visit

If you want to catch good weather and avoid the wet season, then November-April is a great choice.

Cave party at Disco Ayala

One of the fun things to do in Cuba is spend the night at Disco Ayala. This is the place where both tourists and locals like to spend their weekends enjoying the music festival.

Why is it worth going here?

Is this really a cave disco? Yes! This is a dance club that was built in a cave. This is a unique experience that should definitely be on your list of special places to visit when you are in Cuba.

Don’t like dancing? Still worth visiting this place. In addition to dancing, you can get into one of the various live shows where acrobats and fire dancers perform among stalagmites, stalactites, megawatts of light and huge video screens.

Where is Disco Ayala located?

It is located in Las Cuevas, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus.

Best time to visit

This place is known to be lively, but is certainly busiest during the tourist season, which runs from January to March. So it all depends on when you are going to visit this place and if you don’t mind being in the middle of the crowd.

Entrance fee

The entrance ticket costs 5 CUC (about 300 ₽), including a drink.

Opening hours

The restaurant is open every day, from Monday to Saturday - from 11 pm to 3 am, on Sunday - from 11 pm to 12 am.

Try a Cuban cigar at Valle de Vinales

In the mountains is the picturesque town of Valle de Vinales. These valleys grow tobacco, fruits, vegetables and coffee. You can go here on foot or rent a bike.

Why is it worth going here?

This is another World Heritage site that you can visit, walk, or best of all, have a fresh coffee and smoke a cigar. This is a special place as most Cuban cigars are made from locally grown tobacco. And by the way, the BlockVape company delivers electronic cigarettes with the taste of Cuban tobacco far from Cuba, but a real Cuban cigar is certainly worth trying at least once in a lifetime.

What to visit here

There are various farms that you can visit to see how Cuban cigars are made, these farms are not much different from each other, so don’t worry about which one you go to. In addition to the possibilities of a private tour, there are also group tours.

Where is Valle de Vinales

It is located in the Sierra de Los Organos mountains. It’s about a three hour bus ride from Havana.

Best time to visit

Valle de Vinales is best visited between January and April.

Is there a fee?

If you go on a tour, then, as a rule, it is paid.

Spend time in Varadero

It’s a lively place with lots to do and see. With over 50 hotels in the area, there is no shortage of places to stay.

Why is it worth going here?

This is one of the largest resort destinations in the Caribbean and one of the most famous beaches in Cuba, so you can imagine that there is definitely something to do in Varadero. Water activities are in abundance here. You can go windsurfing, snorkeling and diving.

What else is worth visiting in Varadero

During your stay here you will be able to see many attractions such as:

• Cueva de Ambrosio is a cave about two million years old with drawings from the pre-Columbian era.
• Cueva de Musulmanes or Cave of Muslims is another very interesting cave worth visiting.
• Cueva de Saturno or Cave of Saturn - there is a small lake in which you can swim. Here you will see stalagmites and stalactites.
• Josone Park - This is a neoclassical mansion with a swimming pool, restaurants, a river and beautiful gardens.
• The street markets of Varadero are a great place to shop for souvenirs.

Of course, you can also relax on Varadero beach with a cocktail in the sun!

Where is Varadero located?

It is located in the province of Matanzas in Cuba.

Best time to visit

To catch the best weather, the best time to visit Varadero is from December to March.

National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes)

Did you think we’d leave art out of this list? Of course not. If you are an art lover or just appreciate it, then visiting the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo National de Bellas Artes, also known as the National Museum of Fine Arts) is a must.

Why you should go here

You will see Cuba in the form of art from the 17th century to the present day, whether it be paintings, engravings or sculptures. You will also see international art from countries such as Rome, Greece, Asia, Egypt and more.

Where is Museo National de Bellas Artes or National Museum of Fine Arts located?

It is located on Avenida de las Misiones in Old Havana. Note that this art museum has two buildings.

How much is the entrance ticket?

The entrance fee is eight convertible pesos.

Opening hours

The museum is closed from Monday to Wednesday. The hours of operation are as follows:

• Thursday - Saturday - 9 am to 5 pm
• Sunday - 10 am to 2 pm

Visit or stay at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Spending some time at the historic Hotel Nacional de Cuba is a must for your trip. The hotel is a Spanish neoclassical building overlooking the Malecon in Havana.

Why is it worth going here?

Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Ava Gardner - do you recognize these names? So, these celebrities once lived in this hotel. So there is something to see here. In addition, thanks to its history, it is included in the World Heritage List - another reason not to cross it off your list.

Even if you do not book a room, at least having dinner here, you can spend an interesting evening and learn a lot of interesting things about its history.

Where is Hotel Nacional de Cuba located?

Hotel address: Calle 21 y O, Vedado, Plaza, La Habana, 10400, Cuba.

Is there an entrance fee?

If you are going to stay in a hotel room, the cost differs depending on the length of your stay. During the tourist season, you may find that a night in a hotel is more expensive. The cost varies from $100 to $150 per day.

Excursion to the 17th century in the castle of San Pedro de la Roca (Castillo del Moro)

Castillo del Moro (Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, or Castillo del Moro) is a fortress with a beautiful view of the coast. Surprise, surprise… it’s also a World Heritage Site.

Why go here?

It is a piece of history, a living 17th century town with a breathtaking view of the bay.

What is there to pay attention to?

Museum! The castle has a museum where you will learn about the history of pirates.

Where is this castle located?

It is located in the city of Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city in Cuba.

What’s the cover charge?

The tour is usually paid and can range from $2 to $6 CUC (approximately 120-360 ₽) - it all depends on what you want to see.

End your trip to Cuba by dancing to live Cuban music

No trip to Cuba is complete without listening and dancing to live Cuban music. If you are heading to Santiago then this is the perfect place for Cuban music as it is one of the main aspects of this city.

The traditional musical style in Santiago is called "Son Cubano" - a mixture of Spanish and African music.

Why is it worth going here?

To fully experience the Cuban atmosphere and enjoy the fun that Cuban music brings.

What should I visit?

You will find people playing Cuban music on the streets of Santiago, but there are also some great places you can go to.

For example, this is Casa de la Trova , the oldest traditional music club in Cuba. Local bands often play here, so it’s a great place for a real experience.

Another famous place for live Cuban music is Casa de las Tradiciones , where local bands also perform and where you can enjoy traditional music.

Where are these places?

Casa de Trova is located on Bartolome Maso Street, Santiago de Cuba, while Casa de las Tradiciones is also in Santiago de Cuba.

Well, that’s all, we hope that this article was useful for planning your trip to Cuba.