Shopping · Havana · Cuba
Shopping in Havana
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nigel Pacquette, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Shopping in Havana is about art, music, cigars and rum rather than brands. Buy cigars only from official shops, and keep receipts for art and other purchases. Best souvenirs: Cigars, Aged rum and Cuban music.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Cigars
Where to shop
Calle Obispo
Old Havana's main pedestrian street with bookshops, galleries and souvenir stalls.
Plaza de Armas
Second-hand book and poster stalls under the trees.
Old Havana galleries
Artists' studios and galleries along Calle Obispo, Calle Mercaderes and around Plaza Vieja.
Markets
Almacenes San José Artisans' Market
A large craft market in a converted harbour warehouse with paintings, woodwork, leather goods and souvenirs.
What to buy
Cigars
Hand-rolled cigars from official tobacco shops, with the government seal and receipt; avoid street offers.
Aged rum
Cuban rums aged for several years, sold in official shops and at the Havana Club museum.
Cuban music
CDs and recordings of son, salsa and rumba, often sold by the bands themselves.
Original art
Paintings and prints from studios in Old Havana; ask about export paperwork for larger works.
Guayabera shirts
The pleated, light cotton shirt worn across the Caribbean.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Historic site · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
Plaza de Armas
Havana's oldest square is shaded by palms and ringed by second-hand book stalls.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Shopping
Street · Centro Habana
Callejón de Hamel
A short alley covered in murals, sculptures and Afro-Cuban religious symbols created by artist Salvador González Escalona.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Tostones, Café cubano, Mojito and Daiquirí. Restaurants and street stalls throughout the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Centro Habana | $ | Dense residential blocks between Old Havana and Vedado, with the Malecón on one side |
| Vedado | $$ | Leafy 20th-century district of mansions, hotels, Coppelia and music clubs |
| Miramar | $$$ | Embassy district of large villas along Quinta Avenida |
| Cojímar | $ | Small fishing village east of the harbour tunnel linked to Hemingway |
| Playas del Este | $$ | Strip of white-sand beaches 20–30 km east of the city |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CUP. Tipping is customary and important to people's incomes: about 10% in restaurants (check if service is already added), small tips for musicians, guides, drivers and bathroom attendants, and something for casa hosts for exceptional help.
- Cash is used for most transactions and card acceptance is limited; check current guidance on currency and exchange before travelling, as arrangements change often.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in September; the busiest months are December.
- February: International Book Fair at La Cabaña (usually February)
- February: Habanos Festival — cigar festival (usually late February or March)
- December: International Festival of New Latin American Cinema (usually December)
- December: Havana International Jazz Festival (usually December or January)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Havana?
Cigars, Aged rum, Cuban music and Original art.
+Where is the best shopping in Havana?
Calle Obispo: Old Havana's main pedestrian street with bookshops, galleries and souvenir stalls.
+What are the best markets in Havana?
Almacenes San José Artisans' Market.