Stayed at a heavenly hotel in Cuba, waking up to the Caribbean Sea
Who would understand! After spending 7 days in Cuba, I was hit by both the price difference and the intensity of happiness — a glass of sugarcane juice costs 5 CNY, a seafood feast averages 80 CNY per person, and a guesthouse in the old town is 200+ CNY with a sea view room. Clearly spending little money but enjoying a top-tier experience, I have no motivation to work after returning! Cuba is truly a colorful country you don’t want to leave once you arrive, with vintage classic cars, colonial architecture, azure beaches, and a rich literary atmosphere… I’ve compiled a comprehensive guide, just follow it and you won’t go wrong!
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✨ Pre-trip Preparation
✨ Visa: Chinese passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days; fill out the entry application 48 hours before departure
✨ Currency: Bring euros or Canadian dollars for exchange (US dollars incur fees); airport exchange rates are poor, hotel exchange is more cost-effective
✨ Internet: Buy an ETECSA SIM card in advance; offline maps are essential! Cuba’s internet speed is really slow
✨ Clothing: Polka dot dress + straw hat for classic car photos, always carry sunscreen! UV rays are very strong
✨ Cash: Be sure to bring enough cash! Cuba hardly accepts cards; most places only take cash
✨ Language: Learn some basic Spanish phrases; English is not widely spoken but locals are very friendly
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📅 Seven-Day Itinerary
📅 Day 1: Arrive in Havana → Stroll the Old Town → Evening classic car ride
Exchange money upon arrival; the guesthouse owner will provide pickup. In the evening, explore the old town and experience Cuban nightlife. Street bands perform everywhere, vintage classic cars are seen every few steps. When tired, find an outdoor café to relax and enjoy the slow Caribbean life.
📅 Day 2: Hemingway’s Home → Revolution Museum → Flamenco show at night
Start at 9 AM to avoid crowds. Hemingway’s home preserves traces of the great writer’s life, with mango trees in the courtyard and books in the study, quiet and atmospheric. Learn about Cuban history at the Revolution Museum. At night, watch an authentic flamenco show; the passionate Latin music is truly infectious.
📅 Day 3: Havana → Trinidad → Explore the old town + watch the sunset
Take an early bus to Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage town with red tile roofs, white walls, and cobblestone streets, free from commercial noise, as if time stopped in the 19th century. In the evening, watch the sunset by the sea; the sun casting over the water is breathtaking.
📅 Day 4: Trinidad → Flamingo Lake → Colonial estate experience
Sleep in the morning, no rush. In the afternoon, visit Flamingo Lake to see pink flamingos, then go to a colonial estate to try hand-rolling cigars. The farm experience costs only 35 CNY and you can also taste authentic sugarcane liquor.
📅 Day 5: Trinidad → Viñales Valley → Ox cart + farm visit
Karst landscape + green tobacco fields, ride an ox cart around the farm and experience the slow rural life of Cuba. Horseback ride to visit cave-dwelling farmers, see prehistoric cliff paintings. The valley has big temperature differences, remember to bring a light jacket.
📅 Day 6: Viñales → Varadero Beach → Relax and watch the sea
Varadero Beach is Cuba’s most beautiful beach, with 22 kilometers of white sand and colorful coral reefs. The water is crystal clear and feels as soft as cotton underfoot. Snorkeling to see tropical fish is dreamy, and sailors catch and cook lobster on the spot — lobster freedom achieved!
📅 Day 7: Varadero → Havana → Buy souvenirs and return
Shop for handicrafts in the old town, buy cigars and rum as gifts. Have an authentic seafood feast at night to perfectly end the trip.
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📍 Must-Visit Attractions
📍 Havana Old Town
A World Cultural Heritage site! Spanish-style plazas, colorful buildings, every photo looks like a masterpiece. Be sure to take a ride in a pink vintage classic car and watch the sunset along the Malecón seaside avenue. Find Hemingway’s manuscript wall, fish for lobster at dusk on the Malecón seawall; local guides cost only 70 CNY.
📍 Trinidad
A living 500-year-old city! Cobblestone streets + candy-colored houses, like stepping into a vintage movie! At night, there are open-air salsa dance parties. Climb the clock tower for panoramic views of red roofs and yellow walls; tickets only 7 CNY. Wear comfortable shoes! The cobblestones are hard on feet but perfect for photos.
📍 Viñales Valley
A World Heritage site! Karst landscape + green tobacco fields, horseback riding through is super healing. Ride horses into tobacco farms to learn cigar rolling, explore caves, and buy rum souvenirs. The hills are covered with the world’s finest tobacco leaves — Cuban cigars are born here.
📍 Varadero Beach
You won’t understand Cuba’s beauty without visiting Varadero! The 21-kilometer stretch of pure white sand beach was once named one of the world’s top ten most beautiful beaches. The sea, sun, sand, and endless blue sky make lying here all afternoon incredibly soothing.
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🍽️ Food Recommendations
🍽️ Lobster Set: Beachside wooden shack, 60 CNY each, served with black bean rice, super delicious. Fresh Caribbean lobster, steamed or grilled, both excellent
🍽️ Roast Suckling Pig: Slow-roasted over firewood in a Trinidad farmhouse, crispy outside and tender inside, Cuba’s national dish, served with cassava and rice
🍽️ Mojito: Hemingway’s favorite, rum + mint + lime, refreshing and cooling, street bars sell it for 20-35 CNY a glass
🍽️ Cuban Sandwich: Roasted pork + ham + cheese + pickles, the ultimate carb joy, street carts sell it for 20 CNY, same style as Jay Chou’s favorite
🍽️ Coconut Ice Cream: Loved by locals at Coppelia Park, fresh sugarcane juice for 5 CNY, sweet and refreshing
🍽️ Fried Plantains: Common Cuban street snack, crispy outside and soft inside, delicious both salty and sweet, 20 CNY for a large portion
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⚠️ Pitfall Tips
⚠️ Don’t book “low-price day tours” on the street, most are scams
⚠️ Don’t buy overpriced souvenirs at tourist spots; handicrafts in old town alleys are cheaper and more unique
⚠️ Don’t buy “100% authentic cigars” on the street; they’re all fake! Always buy from state-run stores
⚠️ Don’t drink too much in five-cent bars; they target tourists, just take photos and check in
⚠️ Don’t wear sleeveless tops and shorts in churches; you’ll be asked to cover up
⚠️ Don’t forget to tip; restaurants, hotels, and taxis usually require about 10% tip
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Accommodation
🏨 Kempinski Hotel Manzana in Havana
The most upscale hotel in Havana, located in the old town center, with a stunning rooftop pool and open-air bar. Enjoy a mojito at sunset, a check-in spot favored by Jay Chou
🏨 Melia Hotel Havana
Every corner is full of design, the ninth-floor restaurant balcony offers breakfast with a view of the Caribbean sunrise, free shuttle bus to the old town
🏨 National Hotel of Cuba
A historic legendary hotel that has hosted countless celebrities, Art Deco architecture, excellent sea view rooms, and a cigar bar that is a haven for cigar lovers
🏨 Iberostar Parque Central Hotel
Located in the heart of the old town, within walking distance to all major attractions, colonial-style building, attentive service, rich breakfast, excellent value for money