Despite being the oldest city in the Caribbean, Havana exudes a timeless charm that blends its elegant Spanish-colonial roots with the colourful vibrancy of its Afro-Cuban legacy. Visitors quickly find themselves immersed in a sensory overload, as Chevy Bel Aires from the 1950s putter past romantically faded colonial buildings from the 16th century where old men (and women) sit around smoking the world’s most prestigious cigars. The sounds of Afro-Cuban jazz often fill the background and the whole city seems to be in a perpetual state of contentedly living in the moment despite their obvious economic hardships.

Although Havana is arguably more of a playground for adults than children, there are still a number of things for the kids to do. The colourfully quirky city itself will likely interest most children who are old enough to walk, and the beaches, ubiquitous music and little parks all provide plenty of diversions.

Cuballet de Invierno: this winter ballet festival also features both traditional and contemporary Cuban dance at the Pro Danza Centre.

Havana is a city of sensory overload; a 500 year-old urban mosaic comprising several eras of humanity seemingly trapped in time. Antique cars motor along past Spanish-colonial, Baroque and Gothic buildings with fading facades. UNESCO felt that the Old Havana district was important enough to add to its list of world heritage sites, and rightly so. There’s no other city quite like Havana. Wandering the fabled seaside El Malecon promenade, drinking Mojitos in the same bar where Hemingway did and catching a cabaret show at The Tropicana are the stuff of Hollywood movies. The engaging public plazas, old churches and Central Park are treasures waiting to be unravelled, and hopefully you’ll have enough time to soak it all in.

Havana’s main international airport, Jose Marti International Airport, is a tiny little place about 17kms south of the city. All flights on and off the island come into this airport’s terminal, which is basic by all accounts. The national carrier, Cubana, offers direct air service to most major cities around the world with the glaring exception of the United States. Major global carriers such as British Airways and Iberia also have regular flights into Havana, although sometimes the best fares are found on chartered flights. Havana’s other two airports are Terminal Aerocaribbean, which handles flights from the Caribbean, and Aeropuerto Nacional, which services domestic flights only.

Banks: 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:00t to 17:00, Monday to Saturday
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday
Museums: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday with shorter hours on weekends; some close on Mondays
Business Offices: 08:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday with some open on Saturdays