Havana in 3 Days — 3-Day Guide

Havana in 3 days: the city where 1959 is not history but the present tense — where the cars are from 1957, the bars are Hemingway's, and the sunset on the Malecón is still the same as it ever was.

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📋 General guide ⭐ Highlights

Day 1 — La Habana Vieja & Hemingway's Haunts

Day 2 — Vedado, Revolution Square & Tropicana

Day 3 — Hemingway Museum & Salsa Night

📋 General 3-day guide ⭐ Highlights

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Language	Spanish. English is understood at hotels, tourist restaurants, and by many younger Cubans who learned it independently. In state-run shops, local paladares, and on the streets, Spanish is necessary. Cuban Spanish is fast and drops syllables — even fluent Spanish speakers need time to adjust.
Currency	Cuban Peso (CUP). Since 2021, Cuba has a single currency (the dual-currency CUC was eliminated). €1 ≈ CUP 100–120 at official exchange. Cash is essential — no US or European cards work reliably in Cuba. Bring euros or Canadian dollars in cash to exchange at CADECA exchange houses (not hotels, which charge higher rates). Budget $50–80 USD equivalent/day.
Transport	Almendrones (1950s American cars serving as shared taxis on fixed routes, 10–20 CUP/ride — you flag them down, tell the driver your destination, and they fill up the car en route). Official yellow taxis (metered, $5–15 for cross-city). Coco-taxis (yellow egg-shaped 3-wheelers, tourist-priced). Bicitaxis (bicycle rickshaws) for short distances. Viazul bus for Viñales ($12). Shared taxis (almendrones) for Viñales ($25).
Best time	November–April (dry season, comfortable 24–28°C, lower humidity, clear skies — the best light for photography is October–December when the winter light is golden). May–October: the hurricane season with heavy rain and humidity, but fewer tourists and lower prices. July–August: peak hurricane risk.
Getting in	José Martí International Airport (HAV): Havana terminal 3 for international flights. Official taxi to Old Havana: $25–30 (agree the price before getting in, or ask at the official taxi stand). No Uber, no cards in most taxis. EU citizens can enter Cuba without a visa but need a tourist card ($25 at the airline or online). US citizens: still require special authorisation categories.
Tipping	Cuba runs on tips — CUC is functionally now CUP at 1:1 since 2021, but tipping in hard currency (€1–2) has outsized value for local workers. Tip musicians, bartenders, tour guides ($2–5), restaurant servers (10%), your casa particular host ($5–10/night). Tropicana: $5–10/person for the performers. Hemingway-site guides: $5.
Safety	Havana is genuinely safe for tourists compared to most Caribbean capitals — violent crime against tourists is rare and actively discouraged by the government. The main risks: jineteros (hustlers who offer unofficial guide services, private taxis, and other 'opportunities', usually harmless but persistent), pickpocketing in crowded areas, and getting overcharged in state-run restaurants (check the menu prices before ordering). Night-time walking in Old Havana is safe.
Budget tips	Finca Vigía: $6. El Capitolio: $3. Malecón rum: $4. Paladar lunch: $12–20. El Floridita daiquiri: $9. La Bodeguita mojito: $8. FAC entrance: $2. Casa de la Música: $10. Tropicana: $90. Budget $60–100/day including accommodation in a casa particular.