Many travelers to Cuba have a choice to make on where to stay, Old Havana vs Central Havana. Although part of the same vibrant and unique city, there is a different feel and vibe to the districts of the capital city. So, Old Havana or Central Havana – which one should you stay in?
Well, your itinerary of Cuba will greatly determine where you should stay in Havana – but there are other factors to consider when choosing a bed in the capital of Cuba!
Well, picking the right choice between Old Havana and Central Havana depends on what you’re after from Havana. It might not be the distinctive and direct answer you’re searching for, but the 7 points below show just how Havana varies.
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What causes Old Havana and Central Havana to be so different?
In one word, tourism. That is a good or bad thing depending on which side of the coin you’re looking at.
On one side, locals involved in tourism earn a great deal more money than those not (even more than those working for the Government), so they tend to live a more comfortable life. The streets are cleaner and less overwhelming.
If you flip that coin, you may have a different perspective. If Old Havana is cleaned with tourism in mind, is that the real Havana in experiencing the vibe and interaction with locals? Sure, Havana is still Havana, but there’s something to be said for these streets that are less manicured, fruit stalls on every second corner and unidentifiable puddles of water dotted around the chaotic streets.
During my two weeks in Cuba, I met tourists who loved Old Havana and those who much preferred Central Havana. There is no wrong answer. It all comes down to what you prefer as a traveler.
So, what exactly are the difference between Old Havana and Central Havana? Here are my 7 main points in booking accommodation in Cuba!
Cost – Old Havana vs Central Havana
As tourists pay more than locals for most things in Cuba, the cost of an area more tailored to the average tourist increases. It’s not a surprise to expect to pay a little more in a tourist area versus a more local area.
Old vs Central Havana is a great display of varying prices throughout the same city. While you can still find a takeaway pizza shop for a 1CUC or less in Old Havana, restaurants hike their prices up if only tourists eat there. This extra cost flows through many of the activities and necessities for travel.
Expect to pay a little more with accommodation, taxis, even bathrooms seem to have a higher expected tip fee to use the facilities.
Cleanliness
This is one topic that, to a certain point, doesn’t bother me too much personally, but it’s still a noticeable difference between the two districts of Havana.
Old Havana is more catered to tourism, and so it is kept more maintained and free of garbage. There are people who clean the streets of Old Havana much more regularly than many other places around Havana.
During my 2 night stay in Central Havana, it was much more common to walk passed an overflowing garbage pile, or a truck rolling away completely full of trash. There were more smells that made you think twice about what was causing the attack on your senses.
I mean, all that garbage has to end up somewhere. It’s just not thrown in your face as you stroll around the cobblestone streets of Old Havana.
Accommodation in Old and Central Havana
Common accommodation in Cuba is in the form of either a hotel or Casa particular, a type of family home where you can get a private or sometimes a shared room.
The differences in Old and Central Havana when it comes to a place to stay comers down to roughly two factors: cost and availability.
As Old Havana is more tourist orientated and tourists pay more for various items while traveling, the cost naturally is a bit higher. It’s usually only a couple of CUC extra for a room in Old Havana compared to Central Havana.
There are also a lot more options to choose from in Old Havana. Every second house has a blue anchor, indicating a tourist casa particular. These blue anchors are much less common throughout the streets of central Havana.
Local Interaction
The interaction you have with locals usually differs compared to what part of the city you’re in.
One of the easiest ways to notice the difference is the style of hustle many of the local Cubans will try on tourists. None are ever aggressive or threatening, they just want to sell you things pretty much.
Old Havana consists of Cuban WiFi cards and fake cigars. Where as Central Havana began with a question like “where are you from?”, and once you were befriended, they would try to lead you to their shop.
It wasn’t ever awkward, although it can get a little frustrating when every third person down a busy street asks what nationality you are. Still, it was never too bad anywhere in Havana, but the distinct differences of what tends to sell are there.
Comparing safety in Old and Central Havana
All in all, Cuba is incredibly safe, and that extends to Havana. Sure, there would be some dodgy areas were walking alone at night might put you in a bad situation, but that exists in almost every city in the world.
Havana, in general, is very safe. I never felt threatened or unsafe once. Your biggest threat is the constant traffic, dodging potholes and stray dogs (who are also timid) is a constant battle.
There was a small difference between Old Havana and Central Havana when it comes to safety.
The only time I ever felt something fishy going on was walking home from a restaurant in Central Havana around 9pm. Two kids, around 15 or so, trailed behind my group of 3. I had my bulky and obvious camera out and it was pretty easy to see they were waiting for an opportunity.
My story is a one-off and it falls on me as well for having an expensive item so visible. But it was the only time in Havana and all of Cuba where I felt things could have gone south pretty quickly.
From what I could tell, there was a much less police officer presence in Central Havana when compared to Old Havana. Crimes against tourists are treated as severe as the country relies so heavily on tourism, but it’s still interesting to see the subtle differences between the two sections of Havana.
Access to sights of Havana
Old Havana is located much closer to many of the sights around the city. The Revolution Museum, art galleries, and Havana Walking Tours are all a stone’s throw from the narrow Old Havana streets.
Havana’s hop on/off bus, the Capitol building and old fortifications and castle sit just outside these streets of vibrant colors. The mosaic filled world of Fusterlandia is also much more accessible and easily reached from Old Havana, rather than Central Havana.
While you can still walk from Central Havana, it’s around an hour if you take your time if you would rather be closer to the sights of Havana, then staying in the Old Quarter would probably be your best bet.
Atmosphere
With all these differences between Central and Old Havana, it’s no wonder the atmosphere is quite different.
Walking through Central Havana, you’re likely to get a few more looks and stares than Old Havana. Simply because fewer tourists get out that way. It’s not like tourists completely steer clear of the area, it’s just less common.
The streets of Central Havana are more chaotic. There’s things going on everywhere, more cars and locals living out their day. Old Havana is busy in a different way. The narrow sidewalks, especially those with shade, are almost impossible to walk in a straight line for a block. There’s just too many feet on the ground.
So, Central Havana or Old Havana?
Personally, I preferred Central Havana. It was more challenging with the noise and dodging of trucks, but it felt a little more authentic to me. I enjoyed just strolling the scorching streets and ducking into the shade created by the towering buildings.
Don’t get me wrong, Old Havana was beautiful and still held that unique flavor only Cuba has to offer, it’s just a bit different.
Booking.com and HostelWorld are great places to choose and book your room or bed in Cuba.
Depending what you’re hoping to get out of Havana, whether it be interaction with locals, ease of access to sights or transport around the city, that should be the deciding factor whether you choose to stay in Central Havana or the Old Quarter of Havana.
Which one do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below!
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Thanks for reading!
Happy and safe travels,
Ben – Horizon Unknown
