Havana: Best Time to Visit, Nov–Apr | Trailwind

City guideCubaBest time to visit Havana: Nov–Apr. Vintage cars, salsa, and sun-bleached grandeur. Weather and timing on Trailwind.

Best time: Nov–Apr

Country: Cuba

Region: La Habana

Population: 2.1M metro

Nearest airport: Jose Marti International (HAV)

The lay of the landHavana feels suspended in time: 1950s Chevys cruise the Malecon, faded Baroque and Art Deco line the old town, and live son and salsa spill from bars all night. It rewards wandering, small talk, and a mojito in the shade. Come with cash and patience for the pace.When to goThe sweet spot is Nov–Apr. Plan around it and you will catch Havana close to its best.Getting thereFly into Jose Marti International (HAV). From there Havana is an easy hop to the center.Know before you go

Bring cash and small bills, as US cards mostly do not work.

Wander Habana Vieja on foot, where the restoration is stunning.

Ride the Malecon seawall at sunset for the whole city's promenade.

What to see

National Library José Martí, The National Library José Martí is the national library of Cuba. It is located in Havana and named after the national hero José Martí. This library was established on October 18, 1901. BNJM is a partner in the Digital Library of the Caribbean, contributing digitized materials to share with the world as Open Access. Information about the extensive holdings are available through WorldCat. Its current headquarters was built between 1952 and 1957. It has more than 4 million printed copies.

National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba, The Cuban Revolution was the military and political movement that overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, who had ruled Cuba from 1952 to 1959. The revolution began after the 1952 Cuban coup d'état, in which Batista overthrew the emerging Cuban democracy and consolidated power. Among those who opposed the coup was Fidel Castro, then a young lawyer, who initially tried to challenge the takeover through legal means in the Cuban courts.

Gran Teatro de La Habana, Gran Teatro de La Habana is a theater in Havana, Cuba, home to the Cuban National Ballet. It was designed by the Belgian architect Paul Belau and built by Purdy and Henderson, Engineers in 1914 at the site of the former Teatro Tacón. Its construction was paid for by the Galician immigrants of Havana to serve as a community-social center.

Museum of the Revolution, The Museum of the Revolution is located in the Old Havana section of Havana, Cuba, in what was the presidential palace of all Cuban presidents from Mario García Menocal to Fulgencio Batista. The building became the Museum of the Revolution during the years following the Cuban Revolution. The palace building was attacked by the Directorio Revolucionario 13 de Marzo in 1957.

Havana Cathedral, Havana Cathedral is one of eleven Catholic cathedrals on the island. It is located in the Plaza de la Catedral on Calle Empedrado, between San Ignacio y Mercaderes, Old Havana, Havana, Cuba. The thirty by forty-nine meters rectangular church serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of San Cristóbal de la Habana. Christopher Columbus’s remains were kept in the cathedral between 1796 and 1898 before they were taken to Seville Cathedral.

Colón Cemetery, Havana, El Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, also called La Necrópolis de Cristóbal Colón, was founded in 1876 in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana, Cuba, to replace the Espada Cemetery in the Barrio de San Lázaro. Named for Christopher Columbus, the cemetery is noted for its many elaborately sculpted memorials. It is estimated the cemetery has more than 500 major mausoleums.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza, The Castillo de la Real Fuerza is a bastion fort on the western side of the harbour in Havana, Cuba, set back from the entrance, and bordering the Plaza de Armas. Originally built to defend Havana against attack by pirates, it was not strategically located, being too far inside the bay, and instead was adopted as the residence of the Governor of Havana.

San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, colloquially known as La Cabaña, is an 18th-century fortress complex, the third-largest in the Americas, located on the elevated eastern side of the harbor entrance in Havana, Cuba. The fort rises above the 60-meter (200 ft) hilltop, along with Morro Castle. The fort is part of the Old Havana World Heritage Site which was created in 1982.

Pairs well with

Morro Castle, 3 mi away

Estadio Pedro Marrero, 3 mi away

San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, 3 mi away

Key West, 106 mi away

Frequently asked questionsWhen is the best time to visit Havana?The best time to visit Havana is Nov–Apr, in Cuba.Where is Havana?Havana is in Cuba. The nearest major airport is Jose Marti International (HAV).What is Havana known for?Vintage cars, salsa, and sun-bleached grandeur.Havana month by month: when to visitWhat to plan a trip around, month by month. Jump to a month: January · February · March · April · November · DecemberJanuary in HavanaHavana in January. One of the best months to visit Havana. Typical daytime highs around 27°C.February in HavanaHavana in February. One of the best months to visit Havana. Typical daytime highs around 28°C.March in HavanaHavana in March. One of the best months to visit Havana. Typical daytime highs around 30°C.April in HavanaHavana in April. One of the best months to visit Havana. Typical daytime highs around 31°C.November in HavanaHavana in November. One of the best months to visit Havana. Typical daytime highs around 29°C.December in HavanaHavana in December. One of the best months to visit Havana. Typical daytime highs around 27°C.Nearby on TrailwindMore to see near Havana:

National Library José Martí

National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba

Gran Teatro de La Habana

Museum of the Revolution

Havana Cathedral

Colón Cemetery, Havana

Castillo de la Real Fuerza

San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress

Estadio Pedro Marrero

Overseas Highway

Keep exploring

Browse every city guide, national park and collection

Trailwind finds the moment a trip is unusually possible: the right season, a cheap fare, your open dates, and rare skies. Browse by calendar:

Cosmic calendar — meteor showers, eclipses and aurora, and the best time to see each

Nature's calendar — wildlife migrations, blooms and seasonal wonders, and when to go

World culture calendar — festivals, celebrations and rituals, and when they happen (Holi, Diwali, Day of the Dead and more)

Browse all city guides, national parks and collections