Where to stay · Havana · Cuba
Where to stay in Havana
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Андрей Бобровский, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Habana Vieja (Old Havana). Restored colonial plazas, cobbled lanes and Calle Obispo's bars and shops. Best alternatives — families: Miramar; budget: Centro Habana.
Key facts
- First visit
- Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
- Families
- Miramar
- Budget
- Centro Habana
- Nightlife
- Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Habana Vieja (Old Havana) | Restored colonial plazas, cobbled lanes and Calle Obispo's bars and shops |
| Families | Miramar | Embassy district of large villas along Quinta Avenida |
| Couples | Habana Vieja (Old Havana) | Restored colonial plazas, cobbled lanes and Calle Obispo's bars and shops |
| Budget | Centro Habana | Dense residential blocks between Old Havana and Vedado, with the Malecón on one side |
| Luxury | Miramar | Embassy district of large villas along Quinta Avenida |
| Nightlife | Habana Vieja (Old Havana) | Restored colonial plazas, cobbled lanes and Calle Obispo's bars and shops |
| Food lovers | Vedado | Leafy 20th-century district of mansions, hotels, Coppelia and music clubs |
| Solo travellers | Centro Habana | Dense residential blocks between Old Havana and Vedado, with the Malecón on one side |
| Quiet stays | Miramar | Embassy district of large villas along Quinta Avenida |
| Beach | Playas del Este | Strip of white-sand beaches 20–30 km east of the city |
Havana neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and nightlife
Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
The historic core inside the line of the old city walls has the four principal plazas, the cathedral, Castillo de la Real Fuerza and dozens of restored mansions now used as museums, hotels and restaurants. Calle Obispo and Calle O'Reilly link the plazas with Parque Central and the Capitolio. Many visitors base themselves here in casas particulares or restored colonial hotels.
- Good
- Walk to most sights; Plenty of restaurants and live music; Historic hotels and casas
- Watch out
- Touts and street hustlers on the main lanes; Noisy at night; Restored streets give way to crumbling ones a block away
- Nearby
- Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, Calle Obispo, El Capitolio
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and culture
Centro Habana
Centro Habana is where much of the city actually lives: crowded streets of faded 19th- and early-20th-century buildings, small markets, Barrio Chino (Chinatown) and the stretch of the Malecón most popular at sunset. Casas particulares here are good value and walking distance from both Old Havana and the Paseo del Prado.
- Good
- Everyday Havana life; Good-value casas; Walk to Old Havana and the Malecón
- Watch out
- Run-down buildings and uneven pavements; Fewer restaurants; Can feel chaotic at first
- Nearby
- Malecón, Paseo del Prado, Callejón de Hamel, Barrio Chino
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, couples and first-timers
Vedado
Laid out in a grid from the late 19th century, Vedado has tree-lined avenues, eclectic mansions, the University of Havana and landmark hotels such as the Hotel Nacional and the Habana Libre. La Rampa (Calle 23) is its main artery, and the district has many of the city's best paladares, jazz clubs and the Fábrica de Arte Cubano. It is a short taxi ride from Old Havana.
- Good
- Calmer, greener streets; Many good paladares and clubs; Spacious casas in old mansions
- Watch out
- Taxi or long walk to Old Havana; Spread out
- Nearby
- Hotel Nacional, Coppelia, Plaza de la Revolución, University of Havana
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, luxury and families
Miramar
West of the Almendares River, Miramar is a district of grand villas, embassies and business hotels along the broad Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue). It is quieter and greener than the centre, with some upscale paladares and the National Aquarium, but far from the historic sights.
- Good
- Quiet and spacious; Upscale paladares; Closer to Fusterlandia and the west
- Watch out
- 20–30 minutes by taxi to Old Havana; Little street life
- Nearby
- Quinta Avenida, Acuario Nacional, Fusterlandia
$ · Best for quiet stays and budget
Cojímar
Cojímar is a fishing village about 10 km east of Old Havana where Ernest Hemingway kept his boat; it is often linked to The Old Man and the Sea. A small fort and a bust of the writer face the bay, and a few casas offer a slower pace near the eastern beaches.
- Good
- Peaceful seaside setting; Close to the beaches; Low prices
- Watch out
- Taxi needed for the city; Few restaurants
- Nearby
- Torreón de Cojímar, Playas del Este
$$ · Best for beach, families and budget
Playas del Este
A chain of beaches — Bacuranao, Tarará, Santa María del Mar, Boca Ciega and Guanabo — runs east of Havana. Santa María del Mar has the finest sand and a few hotels; Guanabo is a local town with casas and cafés. Habaneros pack the beaches on summer weekends.
- Good
- Real beach time near the capital; Local atmosphere at weekends; Cheaper casas in Guanabo
- Watch out
- 30–40 minutes by car from Old Havana; Limited services and dining
- Nearby
- Santa María del Mar, Guanabo, Cojímar
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Habana Vieja (Old Havana) | $$$ | Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral, Calle Obispo, El Capitolio |
| Centro Habana | $ | Malecón, Paseo del Prado, Callejón de Hamel, Barrio Chino |
| Vedado | $$ | Hotel Nacional, Coppelia, Plaza de la Revolución, University of Havana |
| Miramar | $$$ | Quinta Avenida, Acuario Nacional, Fusterlandia |
| Cojímar | $ | Torreón de Cojímar, Playas del Este |
| Playas del Este | $$ | Santa María del Mar, Guanabo, Cojímar |
Getting to your hotel
José Martí International Airport (HAV) is about 15 km south of the centre; taxis take about 25–35 minutes to Old Havana or Vedado. There is no convenient public transport for visitors, so most arrange a taxi or a transfer through their casa or hotel.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Havana for first-time visitors?
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.
+Where should families stay in Havana?
Miramar: Quiet and spacious.
+Which area of Havana is best for a budget stay?
Centro Habana ($): Dense residential blocks between Old Havana and Vedado, with the Malecón on one side.