For couples · Havana · Cuba
Romantic things to do in Havana
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ivan2010, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Havana's romance is in its atmosphere: sunsets on the Malecón, live bolero and son in candlelit bars, and rooftop dinners above the old town's domes and towers. Couples tend to stay in Habana Vieja (Old Havana).
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 3
- Area for couples
- Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
- Best months
- April and November
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset on the Malecón
Sit on the seawall as the sun drops into the sea and the city's lights come on.
2.Classic convertible ride
Take an open-top 1950s car along the Malecón and through Vedado's mansion-lined streets.
3.Rooftop dinner in Old Havana
Book a paladar terrace with views over the Capitolio dome and the harbour.
4.Ballet at the Gran Teatro
See the Ballet Nacional de Cuba in the gilded theatre on Parque Central.
5.Drinks at the Hotel Nacional
Sip a mojito in the hotel's sea-facing garden as evening falls.
6.Salsa night
Take a beginner's salsa class in the afternoon, then dance at a live-music venue in Vedado.
Sights couples love
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Waterfront · Centro Habana
Malecón
Walk the stretch from the Prado to the Hotel Nacional at sunset, or ride it in a classic convertible.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Couples
- After dark
- Views
- Photo spot
Experience · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
Classic car tour
Agree the route, duration and price before setting off; an hour is enough for the main circuit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Kids
Architecture · Vedado
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Order a mojito in the garden at sunset, with the Malecón curving away below.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Views
- Architecture
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and nightlife
Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
The historic core inside the line of the old city walls has the four principal plazas, the cathedral, Castillo de la Real Fuerza and dozens of restored mansions now used as museums, hotels and restaurants. Calle Obispo and Calle O'Reilly link the plazas with Parque Central and the Capitolio. Many visitors base themselves here in casas particulares or restored colonial hotels.
- Good
- Walk to most sights; Plenty of restaurants and live music; Historic hotels and casas
- Watch out
- Touts and street hustlers on the main lanes; Noisy at night; Restored streets give way to crumbling ones a block away
- Nearby
- Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, Calle Obispo, El Capitolio
Romantic day trips
- Viñales Valley (About 2 hours 30 minutes–3 hours by car) — A UNESCO-listed valley of limestone mogotes, red-earth tobacco farms and caves.
- Varadero (About 2 hours by car) — Cuba's best-known beach resort runs along a 20-km peninsula of white sand and shallow turquoise water, lined mostly with all-inclusive hotels.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Ropa vieja, Moros y cristianos and Lechón asado. Carry bottled water, especially when eating at street stalls.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Havana romantic?
Havana's romance is in its atmosphere: sunsets on the Malecón, live bolero and son in candlelit bars, and rooftop dinners above the old town's domes and towers.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Havana?
Sunset on the Malecón: Sit on the seawall as the sun drops into the sea and the city's lights come on.
+Where should couples stay in Havana?
Habana Vieja (Old Havana): Restored colonial plazas, cobbled lanes and Calle Obispo's bars and shops.