Things to do in Cuba
Cuba's charms are not all cultural - its natural wonders have been recognised by UNESCO, including the ethereal, karst-filled valley of Vinales.![]()
One of the island’s most scenic and charming regions, you can walk, drive, cycle or ride a horse through Western Cuba's hills and farmland, stopping off for an organic juice, and learning how to roll your own cigar. The sunsets over the sugarloaf mounds, with banana leaves peeking out beneath, are just gorgeous.
The Music. The Dance. The heat. The old cars shuddering along the Malecón as the waves crash along the shore. The daiquiris, the mojitos, sipped in Hemingway’s old haunts. The cigars and colourful dresses and crumbling architecture and constant sunshine. Old Havana – Habana Vieja – is a film set, a window into the past, a sensory overload of colour and rhythm and taste, and however long you spend here, it will never quite be enough.
Aside from its visual beauty, Havana is a whole city full of poets and musicians. Theatres, book stalls, jazz concerts, poetry readings, stalls selling maracas and claves, the Casa de la Música, the National Ballet, the Theatre, art openings on every street corner, open studios along the Malecón – the art, literature and performing arts here are overwhelming.
Aside from its visual beauty, Havana is a whole city full of poets and musicians. Theatres, book stalls, jazz concerts, poetry readings, stalls selling maracas and claves, the Casa de la Música, the National Ballet, the Theatre, art openings on every street corner, open studios along the Malecón – the art, literature and performing arts here are overwhelming.
Don’t come all this way and forget you’re in the Caribbean!
Away from the sleek, characterless all-inclusive resorts of the north coast - most notably Varadero, there are fantastic tropical beaches and uninhabited islands, ringed by reefs, and with the odd beachside cafe for your fresh piña colada – or maybe just a local fisherman who’ll catch and cook your lunch over an open fire. The water is balmy year-round, and some beaches have sheltered swimming spots which are ideal for families.
Many islands can actually be reached along causeways by bus or private vehicle, making them an easy daytrip. Others have bungalow-style accommodation for longer stays, but be careful - you might just be reluctant to return to the real world afterwards.
Many islands can actually be reached along causeways by bus or private vehicle, making them an easy daytrip. Others have bungalow-style accommodation for longer stays, but be careful - you might just be reluctant to return to the real world afterwards.
Self drive Cuba family holiday
Family holiday Cuba for parents & children
From
€1450
15 days
ex flights
Cuba cultural holidays, 15 days
Fun and legal way to experience Cuba's diversity
From
US $2390 to US $2525
15 days
ex flights
Exciting Cuba family holiday, for all ages
Explore the vibrant culture of Cuba as a family
From
£1450 to £2000
15 days
ex flights
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Steamy Santiago has Cuba's hottest climate - and its hottest culture.![]()
Edgy and urban, Santiago proudly divides opinion - some revel in its fiery Afro-Cuban culture and well-worn city centre, too far from Havana for the limited wealth to filter down. Others are shocked at the hardship and hawkers - but this is Cuba, untamed for tourists. The bullet-riddled Moncada Barracks are a legacy to the revolution that never happened here, while the well-preserved Santería religion, music and dance are a legacy of the slaves that were brought here by plantation owners fleeing Haiti in the early 1800s.
My first dive in the waters of Cuba serves as a moment of truth...around me, large fish among flourishing coral, a reef more rich than any I have seen in years.![]()
- Jacques Cousteau
It may be over three decades since Jacques Cousteau set out, to explore Cuba’s stunning underwater ecosystems, but one of the most impressive things about diving in Cuba is how little these incredible reefs have changed – in contrast with the rest of the Caribbean, where over development has had devastating effects. You can dive virtually the whole way around Cuba’s 5,700km of coastline – find out more in our guide to scuba diving in Cuba.
More Cuba articles
Figure out when is the best time to go with our climate guide, weather charts and festival highlights.
Our Cuba travel guide takes you on a trip through this incredibly mythologised Caribbean island. This is Cuba.
Cuba is bigger than you think. Take a look at our map and top itineraries to help you choose a route.
The pros and cons of public and private transport, self drive options and classic cars on your Cuba holiday.
Casas particulares are the original Airbnb: homestays with Cuban families that are part of a country-wide network.
Cuba has 5,700km of coastline, so there are quiet beaches, beaches for water sports, reefs to snorkel, family-friendly facilities...
Our favourite cities include Havana, Cienfuegos and labyrinthine Camaguey, designed to confuse pirates.
Cuban food is bad, isn’t it? Not by staying in casas particulares and eating in paladares.
As with most Latin American countries, Cuba welcomes children with open arms. Read more in our guide.
A self drive holiday in Cuba offers independence, flexibility and an extra little pinch of adventure.
Catholicism under Communism is yet another tale worth hearing. Read on to learn more.
Cuba’s Revolutionary Trail traces the story of one of the 20th century’s most significant events.
Diving reveals vistas that are as beautiful as those on land: a rainbow of fish, sponges and turtles.
Travel to Cuba is still on for US citizens – find out more in this guide.
We have asked our destination experts to share their insider tips and anecdotes with us, from what to eat to what to pack.
A new constitution is slowly giving LGBTQ+ Cubans rights that have long been denied.
We've explored some of the big issues facing this little island, including US-Cuba relations.
Find all of our Cuba guides in one place for different types of holidays we offer, from scuba diving to walking.
