A weekend in Havana: 2-day itinerary

Havana rewards a slow two days rather than a checklist. The core is small: Habana Vieja's plazas, the Malecón seafront, and Vedado's wide avenues and 1950s hotels. Pick one museum, one fort and one live-music night, and leave the rest for a longer trip.

Book a casa particular or a hotel in Habana Vieja or Centro Habana so you can walk to dinner and back. Vedado suits travellers who want quieter streets and the Hotel Nacional area, at the cost of a taxi or a 30–40 minute walk to the Old Town.

If your weekend is the only Cuba you will see, add a half-day to the east for the forts and, if time allows, a beach run to the east coast. If you have three days, the extra day is better spent on a day trip than on more of the same streets.

Museum and fort opening hours change with staffing and power cuts, so treat any schedule as provisional and confirm at your hotel or casa on the morning you plan to go. Most sights in Habana Vieja are open in daylight hours and close one day a week; the pattern varies by site.

Budget in cash. Cards issued by non-Cuban banks generally do not work, and ATMs are unreliable. Change money at a bank, a cadeca or your accommodation, and keep small notes for taxis, snacks and tips. Prices for tourists are often quoted in USD or euros at casas and private restaurants.

A practical weekend budget for one person, 2026 estimate: 25–60 USD for a casa room, 15–30 USD for meals if you eat at private paladares, 10–20 USD for transport, and 10–20 USD for a museum, a fort and one music night. Hotels and state restaurants cost more.

Most visitors arrive at José Martí International Airport, about 20–30 km southwest of the centre. The drive to Habana Vieja takes 30–45 minutes in normal traffic; allow more if fuel shortages are biting. Official taxis and pre-booked transfers are the straightforward option; agree the price before you leave the terminal.

Flights from the US, Canada, Mexico, Panama and Europe serve Havana, but schedules in 2026 are thinner than usual and airlines have cut routes at short notice. Book a return flight on an airline that is still flying and keep a buffer day before any onward connection.

From the airport, some travellers use shared taxis or arrange a pickup through their casa. Public buses exist but are crowded and not aimed at arrivals with luggage. If you are coming from another Cuban city, Víazul coaches and shared taxis are the usual options; seats sell out, so reserve early.