5 Great Things to Do in Havana, Cuba

Havana Cuba
Welcome to Havana, Cuba
"Havana ooh na- na...
Half of my heart is in Havana ooh na-na...
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (ay)
There's somethin' 'bout his manners (uh huh)
Havana, ooh na-na (uh)"

Sing with me, dear friends.
I bet you are quite familiar with this famous single of Camila Cabello, Havana.


So, what do you have in mind when you heard the word Havana?
The famous cigar?
Fidel Castro?
Classic cars?
Ernest Hemingway?
Beautiful beaches and lovely sea lanes?
Salsa all night long?
Or all of them?


happy me at Cuba :)
Well, for me, it's all of them.
I have been wanting to come and visit Cuba since ages ago, especially since some of my 
best friends at the UN are Cubans. Surely they have been inviting me to come and visit their beautiful home and before I went back to Indonesia, I managed to sneak and fly to Havana, Cuba, with my dearest sister-in-crime, Erma.


Feel like riding it? Why not!


Akhirnya sampai juga #myitchyfeet ke kota Havana, Kuba.
Bahagianyaaaaa tingkat dewa!
Dan mohon maaf karena postingan ini jadi #latepost.
Meskipun jalan-jalan dan mampir ke Negeri keren ini bulan Juli 2018, aku baru semita menuliskannya sekarang.
Aku benar-benar nagga sabar karena Havana, Kuba benar-benar kota yang Sudan lama masuk dalam bucket list aku.
Dan ternyata Kuba benar-bener cantik dan unik deh!


Don't miss Havana Cuba when you are around!

Kuba memang sudah lama nangkring di puncak teratas bucket list aku sejak pindah ke New York City. Buatku, Kuba adalah negara unik yang rasanya sayang untuk dilewatkan, apalagi karena jaraknya yang relative dekat dari NYC and sejarah serta kota Havana yang menawan. Waktu aku menawarkan Erma, saudara sepermainan dan seperjuangan di the Big Apple, untuk ikutan cuti dan liburan bareng ke Havana, Kuba, tanpa pikir panjang dia pun setuju! 

Pucuk dicinta ulam pun tiba namanya. Untungnya, cuti kami berdua pun langsung disetujui dan dapat tiket pesawat yang murah meriah, less than USD 500 untuk tiket pulang pergi dengan . Alhamdulillah bangeeet! 


Super happy me after swimming at Santa Maria Del Mar

So here comes a little throwback from July, last summer.
We decided to have a 4 days, 3 nights trip to Havana, Cuba. Since we're using diplomatic passport, Cuban visa was easily and speedily approved in Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. 
We were super excited and booked JetBlue to have a direct flight there.
As you now, Cuba is still blocked by the US own certain issues as their political relationship is 
It took around 6 hours to fly from JFK to the International Airport. 
By the time we arrived, we directly lined up to get some local currencies and head to our lovely hotel, N.H. Capri at Vedado, a region near city center of Havana, Cuba.

We went there for 4 days and 3 nights.
And for sure, it's enough for us to have a nice and memorable visit to Havana, Cuba
So, what can we do while in Havana, Cuba?

How many days is perfect for exploring and enjoying Havana, Cuba? 
Btw, check out my teaser video for our trip to Cuba at my Youtube Chanel at Indah Nuria Savitri and see how lovely the trip was :)




Without further ado, here are 5 Cool Things to do in Havana, Cuba, for you.

Explore the Old Havana

During our first night in Havana, we went to the Old Town, Old Havana, or famously known as La Havana Vieja

Here you can see the grandeur of Cuba in the past. Majestic buildings with stunning architectures, big and historical squares, as well as vibrant day and night lives dominate this tourist center area. We went to one of the cafes and danced all night long, joining the old and young doing salsa to their heart content!


The Grand Opera at the old city of Havana

We hired local tourist guide that we got from Air B&B website. 
Ismeth, our tour guide, took us around the Old Havana during the day and we really loved it!  So many beautiful buildings there like the Grand Opera, National Capitol and wonderful street like Paseo del Prado. Old and elegant, yet, unfortunately, not maintained properly. Well, it's understandable as Cuba has been blocked for too long up until now.

Visit Hotel Nacional de Cuba



At Hotel Nacional de Cuba
Hotel Nacional de Cuba is a must! 
We are lucky that our hotel is not too far from this historical spot.
The Hotel is located only 5 minutes walk from our own hotel, NH Capri Havana.


Waiting for my mojito

We had great drinks (mine is virgin mojito) and I really had great times looking at all those photos of celebrities, presidents and world leaders coming to this very spot. 
The garden behind the hotel is also lovely, with stunning view of le Malecon!
The garden also housed several peacocks which are very interesting to see.
Inside, they have souvenir shop as well.
I got my post cards and stamps from here, then posted them as well here as they have the post box.
So for sure, you should not miss this!






Ride the classic car

Oh don't you miss it, dear.
Cuba is haven for antique cars lovers.
And that's the first thing we have in our bucket list while traveling to Cuba.
Oh my, it's wonderful and it feels good.
We strolled around the city riding this classic hot pink car and I felt super awesome.
We paid around USD 50 for around 2 hours ride and photo session.


Cheers...

Swim and stroll along Santa Maria Del Mar Beach

Visiting Havana, Cuba and enjoying the beach? Why not?
And Santa Maria Del Mar Beach is one of the best options here in Cuba.
It took us around 45 minutes from Havana and we rent a taxi for our hotel to go here.
We brought some snacks and water and arriving there, we just strolled around the beach, had a little dip, and drank fresh coconut!
I have spent some times here to have a little deep in the fresh ocean.

Cheers from Santa Maria Del Mar
We came here in the morning so it was not that packed with people yet.
And the most important thing is it was not that hot yet.



Learn Salsa!

Cuba is the beautiful home of Salsa, so make your trip more memorable and amazing by learning salsa dance right with the master. Make sure you don't miss this chance because there are so many salsa short course being offered on the net. 

Erma and I found our salsa master, as well as our tour guide from Air B&B website for Havana. 

Check out my video of us enjoying our private Salsa dance lesson in Havana.
You can definitely see how fun the private class of Salsa in Havana, Cuba!
I feel like dancing all night long!




Enjoy the cuisine, cigar, and more

Now, this is what you can enjoy in Cuba.
I don't smoke cigar but we bought a lot for our bosses and colleagues. And for sure they all love it! Cuban cigar is top notch indeed. 

We also tried the food at the famous Floridita restaurant, the home of Daiquiri! 
I tried the famous menu of Ernest Hemingway, Gran Plato Hemingway and I know why Hemingway loved this menu.

We went to Museo Revolucion or Museum of the Revolution and learnt a lot about the history of the Cuban peoples' struggle, including the Three Musketeers,- Ernesto (Che) Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos, and Fidel Castro.

The three musketeers at Museo Revolucion

So many other places we tried and it was also beautiful! 
I guess 4 days in Havana, Cuba is far from enough.

Cheers from Cuba

So, that's 5 great things to do in Havana, Cuba
How do you like Havana, Cuba?
Do you think you will put Cuba on your bucket list?
What you will first visit in Havana, Cuba?





53 comments:

  1. ah mbak keren banget foto di classic car yang warna pink itu
    ah warna favorite aku banget kece banget deh pose di situ
    pewe banget ke Havana nya , mupengg

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  2. Kalau lihat foto-fotonya, terutama yang mobil, jadi berasa kayak kelempar ke masa lalu. Tetapi, ada nuansa kekiniannya juga karena warna-warna mobilnya yang bikin gemes

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    Replies
    1. Iya mba.. tapi seeih memang karena Cuba diblokade sama US lumayan lamaaa

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  3. ma, Cuba is super cool indeed! So much to see and enjoy while visiting those cool spots

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  4. Wow! Seru banget trip ke Cuba ya mba Indah..jadi pengeeeen..hehe..

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  5. Aku tahunya Kuba itu terkenal dengan cerutunya ya mbak kl gak salah aku lihat di film :)
    Allhamdulilah mbak indah udah sampai juga ke Kuba sesuai dengan bucket listnya

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    1. iyaaa mba..dan Havana, Cuba is indeed beautiful!

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  6. Bacanya havana langsung nyanyi lagunya camila cabelo. Masyaalloh cantik banget ya di Cuba langsung seruput air kelapa juga ��

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  7. Mb salam kenal, auto nyanyi saya, I like that song, what it is ? Havanna Cuba ? Such beautiful place to visit. Wah ini sangat indah bisa nah saya NgeTrip kesana yah ? Pasti berat huhuhu

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  8. wow mba In baru tahu Cuba deket dari NYC alhamdulilah ya dapet tiket murah PP, lihat keseruannya asik banget foto-fotonya :) semoga bisa kesini nyusul mba In :p doakan ya mba hehehe

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  9. Ah, bikin mupeng mbak Indah bisa keliling dunia...Alhamdulilah ya. Btw, serasa lihat film2 nih...��
    Hotelnya viewnya masya Allah deh

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  10. Wow, tempatnya memang indah banget yaa, Mba. Gak heran deh, havana jadi pilihan lokasi syuting drama korea Encounter :)

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  11. Ingat Kuba ingat lagu Havana, eh sekarang ingat drama Encounter, hehehe, gara-gara drama itu jadi bisa melihat keindahan Havana, Kuba

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  12. Aku suka pas belajar salsa sama naik classic car. Kayanya seru banget ya. Belajar salsa dari tempat asalnya pasti beda deh sama belajar disini hihihi. Pengelamab tak terlupakan ya kakaak

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  13. Ya ampun indah banget ini lokasinya, andai aku bisa kesana hehehe. Selalu keren mba foto-fotonya

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  14. Pasti senang sekali nonton pertunjukan opera yang megah mewah dan gedung dengan artistektur zaman dahulu.

    Havana adalah tempat yang indah dan keren

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  15. Gedung operanya klasik dan megah ya, mbak. Dan sempat juga latihan salsa, asik lah bisa untuk gerakkan tubuh sembari nari. Bakar lemak tuh mbak kalo bisa salsa tiga kali seminggu, hihiii

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  16. i really want to visit the Havana, its like the Paradise in the earth, since the song Havana is booming, i really wanted to know that place, so lucky you are

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  17. Aku baru mulai nonton drama korea Encounter dan episode awalnya di cuba. Kok pas ya baca tulisan mba indah, masih ngebayanin cakepnya Sunset di Cuba. Mereka liatin sunset berdua di Pantai El Malecon habis tu nonton tarian salsa. Cakepp

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  18. Ngomongin Cuba bikin mupeng pengen ke sana. Lihat kecantikan tempatnya di drama Encounter sangat memukau. Belajar salsanya juga. Sunset di pantainya itu ya, cakep. :D

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  19. Worth lah ya USD 50 buat dua jam keliling kota sambil foto-foto pakai mobil antik nan cantik, cute bangeeett! Pertanyaanku: kok milih yang pink? pasti karena ga ada yang ungu yaaaa Mbak? Hihihi....

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  20. Aku tu kalau denger Kuba bawaannya suka kyk yg di film2 itu, agak2 gmn gtu hehe. Ternyata bagus ya KUba, banyak hal yg bisa dinikmati di sana, eksotis :D

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  21. Mobil antiknya sewa yaa, mba Inda?
    Aku pikir kalau liat acara-acara relaity show Korea, para artisnya "beli" mobil antik.

    Waduu~
    Kebayang aja gitu berapa harganyaaa...

    Aseek~
    Berasa shooting MV yaa, mba Inda.

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  22. Aku kurang banyak tau tentang Kuba...Baca ini jadi punya wawasan tentang Kuba deh..

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  23. Santai banget mbak insav berasa kebahagiaannya. Pakai ungu bikin mood mba insav makin terlihat nyata . Kenal berapa orang baru di Kuba, mba?

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  24. Wadooh mupeeng.. kapan ya saya bisa ke negara2 di benua Amerika? XD btw mba, kujadi teringat film FF7 deh ngelihat mobilnya wahahah

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  25. Klasik banget suasananya ya. Nikmatnya pelesiran keliling dunia kayak mba Indah. Imajinasi bisa melanglang buana deh.

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  26. Pastinya kalau ke Havana saya may ngevlog di sana. Foto setiap sudut mungkin haha. Dan satu tidak lupa, nyari coffee cafe buat foto still life style hehe

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  27. selalu senang memnabaca cerita Mbk Indah ini,fotonya sangat menarik dan seru banget deh. Pastinya kalau aku ke Havana seru abis dengan selfie sana sini hahha...

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  28. Omaigatttt...cantik sekali nih Cuba. Juga model yang ada di fotonya ;)
    Thanks untuk kartu pos yang pernah dikirim dari Cuba ya.

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  29. Oh my god... Cuba is such a beautiful place. And Cuba is one of our bucket list. We know Cuba from drama encounter hahaha, and after watched this drama we promise to ourself, we have to visit Cuba!!!

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  30. Next mudah2an aku bisa traveling ke Cuba kepingin banget mba indah,, enak kali y klo kerja sekalian traveling gitu apalg k luar negri

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  31. Jason has been pricing cruises to Cuba. I think it would be fun to see all of those old card and eat the delicious food there!

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  32. Gorgeous photos. I love this post!

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  33. I would love to have a vacation like this. Looks so beautiful and relaxing.

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  34. haha ak lgsung auto nyanyi jg 😂😂 bagus yah kotanya colorful dan bnyk mobil yg unik, kayaknya ok jg ning dimasukin ke bucket list buat jd salah satu kota yg harus dikunjungi 💕

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  35. pengen banget jalan-jalan ke luar negeri..
    tpi suka ngeri kalau jalan sendirian huhu

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  36. waaah seneng banget nih kalo mampir ke blog nya Mbak Indah, selalu mupeng liat foto-foto saat travellingnya nih, apalagi Cuba ini cantik banget yaaa, semoga suatu saat punya kesempatan buat berkunjung kesini juga hehe

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  37. Ya ampuun semoga nanti aku kesempatan main ke cuba.. setelah nonton encounter jd fix pengen kesana sih. Korban kdrama ya aku wkwkwk

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  38. Omg, bacanya aja aku udah seneng ka. Apalagi main ke sana ya :D

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  39. Aku tau kuba ini dari slah satu kdrama, dan di drama itu ada learning salsanya .. Pengen jg suatu saat bs mampir ke kubaa karena msh jarang traveler yg nyorot kuba, pdahal cukup bagus. . Semoga ad rejekinya hehe

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  40. Baiklaah, mba Indah selamaat ya udah bikin aku ngiri ama postingan ini. Hahhaa. Ya ampun bisa private dance salsa pula. Sungguh aku ingin

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  41. Havana oh na na.... Ouh, aku dan anakku sama-sama suka dengan lagu ini, Mbaa. Enak irama dan liriknya :D
    Always have fun ya, Mbaa :)

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  42. Seruuu banget bisa jalan jalan keliling dunia, buat aku yg cuma taunya ngendon di jakarta tuh abis baca ini jadi nambah wawasan ttg negara lain sekaligus nambah wishlist jalan jalan kesana xD

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  43. Penasaran deh sama bentuk dalamnya The Grand Opera sebagus apa nih, dari luar aja terlihat indah.

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  44. Havana oh na na~
    Duh jadi nyanyi aku kalo denger kata Havana hihi
    Btw, sumpah ini tempatnya bagus banget Kak dan banyak spot foto Instagrammable-nya juga
    Mudah-mudah dikasih kesempatan buat berkunjung kesini juga aamiiin

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  45. aku baru aja nyelesin salah stau kdrama berjudul encounter yang berlatar belakang di cuba, disana indah banget ya mbak dan banyak sekali wanita cantik dengan kulit eksotis :( aku iri huhuhuu

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  46. Kalau ngeliat blog dan foto fotonya mba indah jadi pengen juga traveling kesana kesini, apa daya sekarang belum bisa karena masih sibuk kuliah

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  47. Aduuh mami nih paling bisa deeh bikin ngiler dan bikin pengen kesana jugaa.. nabung dulu deh wkwkwk

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  48. Kalo aku denger cuba adalah panas, sexy dan margarita hahahahaa. Selalu senang mendengar cerita perjalanan ke negara orang melalui blog mba. Thanks for sharing.

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