How to Get Around Havana: The Ultimate Transportation Guide

If you are planning a trip to Cuba, knowing how to get around Havana is essential. The city is full of vibrant culture and colorful streets, but navigating its unique transportation options can be challenging for first-time visitors. Whether you want to explore the historic Old Havana or visit neighborhoods further out, understanding the best ways to get around will help you make the most of your trip.

Havana’s transportation system is unlike many other cities. Instead of ride-sharing apps or subways, you will find classic American cars from the 1950s, shared taxis called colectivos, local buses, and plenty of walking opportunities. Each option offers a different experience, and knowing what to expect can make your travel smoother and more enjoyable.

This guide will cover all the ways to get around Havana. From renting a car to taking public transportation or hiring a private driver, we will help you choose the best options for your budget and travel style. Whether you want a local experience or the easiest way to see the sights, our Havana transportation guide is here with all the information you need.

How to Get Around Havana, Cuba: a Brief Intro

Before diving into all of the details of how to get around Havana, let's go over some of the basics.

 Getting to Havana, Cuba

Before learning how to get around Havana, let's look at the options to get you there in the first place! 

Here are the different options for getting to Havana:

• Fly into Havana: Being located in the Caribbean, Havana has direct flights from all over the Americas, several cities in Europe, and even a few others from around the world.
• Take a bus to Havana: You can get buses to Havana from several other cities across the country.
• Drive to Havana: You can rent a car in most big cities
• Hire a driver to go to Havana: Nearby cities like Trinidad, Varadero, and Viñales have plenty of local drivers for both private and shared trips.

The Different Options for How to Get Around Havana

Wondering how to get around Havana once you're there? Here are the different options you can look at:

• Walk - some of the top areas of best explored by foot!
• Rent a car (or scooter) and drive around the city.
• Take public transportation (buses and colectivos)
• Use private transportation (taxis or private drivers)
• Take a classic car ride around the top sights
• Hire a guide or join a group trip

How to Get Around Havana: from the Airport to the City

Before diving into how to get around Havana, let's get you from the airport to the city, so you can set yourself up for success.

How to Get from Havana Airport to the City

Here are the different ways to get from Havana airport to the city:

• Take the shuttle: it's $5/person and you can get a ticket from the office or from rentacarcuba.com. (You can check the schedule below).
• Get a taxi: There are fixed rates, and you can get them right outside.
• Rent a car: You can get a car from outside the airport - we recommend reserving one in advance.

How to Get Around Havana: Options for Exploring the City

Now that you know how to get from the airport to the city, let's check out how to get around Havana city!

 Is Havana Walkable?

Our favorite option for how to get around Havana is to simply explore it on foot! The old town of Havana is full of gems to discover, and truly the best way to get a feel for the city is to walk around as much as possible.

We'd recommend sticking to walking just for the Old Town and the Malecon, as these are the safest and most pedestrian friendly.

 Renting a Car in Havana

When we travel, we almost ALWAYS rent a car! We love having the freedom on exploring on our own time, having flexibility in our schedule, and having the ability to explore hidden gems.

When we saw rental car prices and the lack of availability, we opted not to rent a car, as it really didn't make sense for us. 

If you do want to rent a car you can do it via one of the two main companies on the island, CubaRentaCar and Transtur. There is limited availability on cars, so we'd recommend booking on one of these sites in advance. You can rent straight from the airport, or in the city center of Havana.

 It is Worth it to Rent a Car in Cuba?

Renting a car in Cuba is much more expensive than we were anticipating. Not only are the rental prices high, but the vehicles also aren't in amazing shape, and they're mostly gas guzzlers, making it truly not the most ideal option for getting around Havana.

To explore the city of Havana you really don't need a car, so it's really only worth it if you are planning on exploring a lot of other cities in a short amount of time, and if you're with a group of people.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

 Renting a Scooter in Havana

If you want to explore all that Havana has to offer without putting in tens fo thousands of steps, another great option is to rent a scooter!

It's much more affordable and more practical than a car - you can easily park it in many places, dodge traffic, and not worry about having a clunky old car. Do keep in mind though that some of the streets have cobblestone or be falling apart in certain areas, so this should be for more confident drivers!

Like anything, there are pros and cons to renting a scooter in Cuba, which is why we've written a full guide for you.

 Taking the Ferry in Havana

While it's not a commonly used option, we highly recommend taking the ferry while in Havana! We used the ferry to cross the channel when we were visiting the fort and the Christ of Havana. You can get there via road, but the ferry was affordable and a more scenic way to experience Havana.

 How to Get Around Havana with Public Transportation

Public transportation in Cuba is unlike any other place we've been in the world. There aren't a ton of buses, and in fact - buses are segregated. There are designated buses for locals and tourists. 

The ones for tourists operate with Viazul, and charge in dollars and euros. They're about 100x the price of what locals pay - luckily it's still not crazy expensive, but just a little ridiculous that you can't even be on the same bus as a local .

Viazul operates around Cuba for tourists to get around the country, but what about getting around Havana itself? Well, here's the fun part!

 Getting Around Havana in Colectivos

In Latin America, colectivos are typically shared vans that leave when they fill up. They don't have real schedules, and are very affordable, only paid in cash.

Colectivos are absolutely the cheapest way to get around Havana, and we had a lot of fun the one time we took one to the Cuban Art Factory.

Basically you wait in a plaza (in our case we were in Parque el Curita), and all random cars (that look like they're going to break down at any moment) will stop and shout the destination. You'll run up (make sure to confirm your destination), and be quickly hurried to hop in the back. They make several stops, so be on the lookout for yours! Also make sure to have cash.

Our colectivo on the way back actually broke down (unsurprisingly), so don't rely on these for time-sensitive activities, and get some of your Spanish ready!

 How Much Does a Bus Ride in Cuba Cost?

Colectivos are dirt cheap - I believe it was around 50-60 cents for each of us to go to the Cuban Art Factory. Prices will range, but they'll remain a really affordable way to get around Havana's city.

*Keep in mind the colectivos in Havana are not in every other city, and there are no public buses available to tourists to other cities.

 How to Get Around in Havana with Private Transportation

The most popular option for getting around Havana is private transportation. Taxis are readily available at the airport and around the city. You'll have to negotiate a price and have cash. It's not the most ideal, but it's still pretty affordable and a fast way to get from point A to point B.

You also may come across some tuk tuks! These are even more affordable, and a fun way to get around Havana if you come across them.

 Is There Uber in Havana, Cuba?

Uber does not operate in Havana. Also something to remember about the internet in Cuba is that many apps are actually blocked completely while you're there!

 How to Get Around Havana in Style - Classic Car Rides

When people think of Havana, they often imagine tons of colorful, classic cars riding around. Well, the locals don't typically drive the ones you're imagining, and they are purely for the tourism industry.

Riding in a classic car is one of the top things to do in Havana, and is a fun (although very touristy) way to see the city in a unique way. 

You can do a city loop to see the highlights, or cruise the Malecón with the top down - it's a stylish way to get your sightseeing in, and can be booked by the hour. Head to Plaza de la Revolucion, and you'll see plenty of them lined up!

How Do You Get from Havana to Other Cities in Cuba?

Now that you know how to get around Havana, let's look into how to get to other cities from there!

 How to Get from Havana to Nearby Cities

Some of the most popular cities to visit from Havana are Trinidad, Viñales, Cienfuegos, and Varadero. (These are actually all of the ones that we visited). Luckily, Havana is the most well-connected city in Cuba, and you can easily get to all of these places in a variety of ways:

• Renting a car
• Getting a colectivo or shared ride
• Using the bus - the only one tourists can use is Viazul
• Going for a day trip in a classic car

If you'd like to dive into the details of getting to each city individually, you can check out the following articles:

 Travel to Varadero: How to Reach Cuba's Famous Resort Town

How to Get to Cienfuegos, Cuba: Complete Guide to Transportation and Travel Options for Tourists

How to Get to Trinidad, Cuba: Complete Guide to Transportation and Travel Options for Tourists

 Viñales, Cuba Travel Guide: Your Gateway to Lush Valleys, Tobacco Farms, and Unforgettable Adventures

How to Get Around Havana, Cuba: Final Thoughts

There are quite a few options for how to get around Havana, from the budget-friendly colectivos to riding around in style with one of the classic cars. The good news is that there are options for all travel types, and you can also do a mix, depending on your itinerary.

For the heart of Old Havana, we recommend putting on some comfy shoes and getting your steps in, as it truly is the best way to explore the city.

If you are a solo traveler or with one other person and looking for something easy and fun, we'd recommend renting a scooter. Going with a group and looking to ride in style? Then going in a classic car is the way to go.

We hope our guide for how to get around Havana, Cuba has helped you exploring Cuba's most popular city. If you have any other questions about how to get around Havana, Cuba, feel free to drop them in the comments below!

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