Last updated September 2, 2026 · Editorial policy
Things to Do in Cuba: What Is Actually Worth Your Time
Quick answer: This is an honest look at Cuba: the two free Havana experiences that beat anything sold to you in Old Havana, and where to actually stay.
Old Havana’s restored core is beautiful and heavily worked by touts. The Sunday alternative is Callejón de Hamel in Centro Habana, a narrow alley turned into an open-air Afro-Cuban mural gallery, where rumba — drummers, dancers and Santería-rooted ritual — runs free from around midday. Turn up before it starts if you want to see the paintings properly.
The other one to make time for is Fusterlandia out in Jaimanitas, where the artist José Fuster has spent decades covering his house and then much of the surrounding neighbourhood — benches, gateways, whole facades — in mosaic. Entry to the studio is free, tips are appreciated, and work can be bought directly.
- Stay in a casa particular rather than a hotel. Rooms in family homes are the standard way to visit, and the money reaches the household directly.
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John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
