Senior travel: Havana
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 69 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Plaza ViejaStep-free: yes · about 50 minLevel paved square with cobbled approaches; some arcades have steps.
- Hotel Nacional de CubaStep-free: yes · about 60 minGround-level lobby and terrace; gentle paths in the garden.
- Malecón sea wall and La PuntaStep-free: yes · about 75 minA wide, level promenade with some steps and broken sections; the wall edge has no rail in places.
- Havana CathedralStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 25 minSteps at the doors and a cobbled square; the tower has a narrow stair and no lift.
- El CapitolioStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 60 minGrand entrance steps; ask about a side entrance or lift for the upper halls.
- Museo de la RevoluciónStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 90 minGrand staircase; ask about lift access to the upper floors.
- Necrópolis Cristóbal ColónStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 90 minPaved avenues, but distances are long and the surface is uneven in places.
- Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Cuban ArtStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 100 minOlder building: ask staff about ramps and lifts.
Getting around in Havana
Havana is hard going on wheels. Pavements are broken or cobbled, buildings are old with steps and few lifts, and taxis are the reliable step-free option.
- Pavements:
- Broken, cobbled and narrow in Habana Vieja; smoother on some main roads.
- Getting around:
- Taxis and hired cars; buses and shared taxis are not step-free.
- Hotels and casas:
- A few hotels have lifts and adapted rooms; casas often have stairs: ask in writing.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets are rare outside hotels.
Stairs at the hotel areas
- Habana Vieja casa particular: 1 flights up, 0 down, 50 m walk from the stop
- Vedado casa or hotel: 1 flights up, 0 down, 20 m walk from the stop
Medicines and health on the ground
- Travel insurance · on arrival: Medical cover valid in Cuba; US insurers are generally not accepted, but US airfares include a Cuban policy (check).
- Mosquito-borne disease:
- Dengue and other viruses occur: use repellent, wear long sleeves at dusk and sleep with AC or screens.
- Heat:
- Shade, water and rest in the afternoon; sunscreen and a hat.
- Food and water:
- Bottled water; eat hot, freshly cooked food; skip ice if unsure.
- Medicines:
- Bring enough of your own medicines and basic first-aid supplies: pharmacies are often short.
- Insurance:
- Travel medical insurance is required for entry and may be checked.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.