October 9

We get up early and head straight to the Museum de la Revolucion. The Revolution Museum is housed in the former Presidential Palace and is a must for all Che Guevara fans — and genuinely fascinating! Alongside historical artifacts you'll find countless photographs, tanks, the president's golden telephone and toilet, Che Guevara's blood-stained shirt, and Fidel's favorite cigar. Behind the palace stands a glass pavilion sheltering the original yacht Granma, on which Fidel Castro and his companions sailed from Mexican exile to Cuba, sparking the revolution.

After all that culture we walk along the Malecon back into the old town, passing the Castillo de la Real Fuerza (a fortress built in 1558, now a police station) on our way to Hemingway's favorite cocktail bar, the "Bodeguita." It's a tiny bar with a live band and a mojito turnover that feels more capitalist than socialist. We treat ourselves to one as well. Our tour continues to the Catedral de la Habana from the 18th century. For a small admission fee you can climb the tower and admire the Plaza de la Catedral and the rooftops of the old town. Our next stop is the Plaza de Armas with a view of the Castillo de la Real Fuerza (home to the ceramics and maritime museum).

We make another stop at the bar of the Museo del Ron Havana Club (you can also take a guided tour here), drawn in by the salsa music blasting from inside and the lively atmosphere. Oh, and we're thirsty for another mojito by now.

We continue along what is probably the liveliest street: Obispo, lined with shops like the Casa del Habano — all about the famous cigars — cafés, beautifully restored mansions, boutiques, and souvenir shops. It's always worth peeking into the patios, the elegant gardens of the former upper class. This part of the old town has been freshly restored.
Our walk takes us through the streets and squares of the historic center. Here on Obispo you'll also find the salmon-colored Hotel Ambos Mundos. You can enjoy a coffee with a great view on the rooftop terrace — as we do — or stop for lunch. By the way, the hotel is home to Room 511, where Ernest Hemingway wrote his novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls." You can visit the room at certain times.

Before heading back to our hotel, we enjoy an excellent and affordable dinner at Jardin Oriental — behind the hotel of the same name (address: 112 Oficios, La Habana).

Our evening program: a ride in a pink vintage convertible to Habana del Este and another tourist attraction, the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, one of the largest forts on the American continent with 120 cannons. For an admission fee of 8 CUC you can watch the cannon ceremony at 8 PM and the cannon shot at 9 PM. The Casa del Che is also here and worth a visit. Back in the vintage convertible, we stop for a nightcap mojito at the El Floridita Bar, another one of Hemingway's haunts, right around the corner from our hotel. At 6 CUC, it's probably the most expensive mojito in town.

Something we didn't do in Havana but which is one of the city's biggest attractions is the famous "Tropicana Show" — there are different ticket categories, for example including a drink (3-year-old rum), soda, and a snack, or with dinner, etc. The cheapest option is just under €100 per person, so it's quite pricey. An alternative is the evening "Parisien Show" at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana, which costs about half as much. You can also book it on the spot at the hotel if you can't decide right away.

If you're not keen on walking, you can take the Habana Bus Tour with 3 routes — a hop-on hop-off bus that covers the main attractions during the day.

We also skipped Regla and Guanabacoa, the neighborhoods across the harbor from the old town. There you'll find the over 200-year-old Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Regla with a black Madonna.