With kids · Havana · Cuba
Havana with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Havana suits families who enjoy history and street life: fortresses with cannons, colourful classic cars, a ferry across the harbour and beaches half an hour away. Heat, uneven pavements and limited facilities mean planning around rest breaks. Top picks: Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña and Castillo de la Real Fuerza. Families usually base themselves in Vedado.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Vedado
- Rainy-day options
- 1
- Busiest months
- December
Best things to do with kids
Castle · La Habana del Este
1.Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro
The 16th-century fortress guarding the harbour entrance has a lighthouse and ramparts with views back across the bay to the Malecón and Old Havana. It is part of the Morro-Cabaña historical park on the east side of the channel.
Go in the late afternoon, then walk to La Cabaña for the evening cannon ceremony.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Iconic
- Kids
Castle · La Habana del Este
2.Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña
One of the largest Spanish colonial fortresses in the Americas stretches along the ridge east of the harbour. Every evening at 9pm, soldiers in 18th-century uniforms fire a cannon in the Cañonazo ceremony, a tradition that once signalled the closing of the city gates.
Arrive by about 8:30pm to find a good spot along the wall for the cannon ceremony.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- After dark
- Kids
- Views
Castle · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
3.Castillo de la Real Fuerza
One of the oldest stone forts in the Americas, completed in the 16th century, with a moat and a tower topped by La Giraldilla, a bronze weathervane that became a symbol of Havana. Inside is a maritime museum with ship models.
Climb the tower for a view over the harbour and Plaza de Armas.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Experience · Habana Vieja (Old Havana)
4.Classic car tour
Restored 1950s American convertibles wait around Parque Central for hour-long tours along the Malecón, through Vedado to Plaza de la Revolución and the Bosque de La Habana forest. Prices are per car, not per person.
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
Neighbourhood · Jaimanitas
5.Fusterlandia
Artist José Fuster has covered his home and dozens of neighbouring houses in the fishing district of Jaimanitas with colourful ceramic mosaics, in a style inspired by Gaudí and Picasso. His home studio is open to visitors.
Combine with a drive along Quinta Avenida in Miramar; it is about 25–30 minutes from Old Havana by taxi.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
.jpg){kind=link}
Waterfront · Centro Habana
6.Malecón
The 8-km seawall and boulevard runs from the harbour mouth west to the Almendares River, past weathered façades in Centro Habana and the Hotel Nacional. At sunset it fills with fishermen, couples and musicians; in winter storms, waves crash over the wall onto the road.
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
Rainy-day ideas
- Castillo de la Real Fuerza — Climb the tower for a view over the harbour and Plaza de Armas.
Where families should stay
$$ · 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
Family travel tips
- Pack sunscreen, hats, medicines and baby supplies from home; they can be hard to find in Havana.
- Plan outdoor sightseeing in the morning and late afternoon, and rest in the midday heat.
- The evening cannon ceremony at La Cabaña is a highlight for older children.
- A spacious casa in Vedado with a terrace gives families more room than a small Old Havana flat.
- Strollers struggle on broken pavements; a carrier is more practical.
Day trips for families
- Las Terrazas and Soroa (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Las Terrazas is a reforested eco-village in the Sierra del Rosario with river pools, ruined coffee plantations and a zip line over the forest.
- 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.
- Playas del Este (About 30–40 minutes by car) — The nearest good beaches to Havana, with Santa María del Mar offering fine white sand and clear water, and Guanabo a livelier local beach town.
When to go with children
The best months overall are November–April. December is the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Havana good for kids?
Havana suits families who enjoy history and street life: fortresses with cannons, colourful classic cars, a ferry across the harbour and beaches half an hour away. Heat, uneven pavements and limited facilities mean planning around rest breaks.
+What can kids do in Havana?
Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, Castillo de la Real Fuerza, Classic car tour and Fusterlandia.
+Where should families stay in Havana?
Vedado: Leafy 20th-century district of mansions, hotels, Coppelia and music clubs.