Is five nights enough in Havana?

Five nights is the sweet spot for most visitors. You get three full days to explore Havana at a relaxed pace, plus the option of a day trip to Viñales. If you want beach time too, we can extend the trip with a few nights in Varadero (2.5 hours east) — ask us to quote for a combined city-and-beach itinerary.

Why is this B&B rather than all inclusive?

Havana's food scene is one of the best reasons to visit — the private restaurants (paladares) serve creative Cuban cuisine that you would miss entirely by eating in the hotel every night. We include breakfast (which is excellent) and leave lunch and dinner free so you can explore. A good dinner at a top paladar costs £20–40 per person including drinks — far less than you might expect.

Is Havana safe for walking around?

Old Havana and Vedado are generally safe for tourists walking during the day and early evening. Normal city precautions apply — keep valuables secure, avoid unlit streets late at night, and be aware of occasional street scams (overcharging taxis, unofficial guides). The hotel concierge can advise on current conditions.

Can I extend the trip with a beach stay?

Absolutely — that is one of the most popular combinations. We can add 3–7 nights in Varadero at an all inclusive resort, with a private transfer from Havana. This turns the city break into a full two-centre holiday. Ask us to quote for your preferred dates.

Do I need travel insurance for Cuba?

Yes, Cuba requires all visitors to have valid medical insurance. Because the FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel, most standard UK policies will not cover Cuba. We recommend High Risk Voyager — a specialist insurer that covers FCDO-advisory destinations, with medical cover up to £1,000,000.

Colourful vintage American cars parked outside the Iberostar Grand Packard hotel in Havana, Cuba

LUXURY · HAVANA · ROOFTOP

Luxury Havana City Break

Name: Luxury Havana City Break — Iberostar Grand Packard
Brand: Travelfab
Price: 2200.00 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (10 reviews)

5 nights at one of Havana's finest five-star hotels on the Malecón seafront

CubaTailor-Made5 nightsFlights IncludedFrom £2,200 ppATOL 10898

The Iberostar Grand Packard is one of Havana's finest hotels — a restored 1920s landmark on the Paseo del Prado, directly overlooking the Malecón seafront. Managed by Iberostar's premium Grand Collection, it combines genuine five-star service with one of the best locations in the city.

This is not the faded glamour that most people associate with Cuban hotels. The Grand Packard has a rooftop infinity pool with panoramic views of the Malecón and Havana harbour, a full spa, and restaurants that serve food well above the Cuban average. The rooms are large, modern and soundproofed — a welcome retreat from the energy of the streets below.

Five nights gives you enough time to explore Havana properly — the plazas of Old Havana on foot, the Malecón at sunset, the jazz clubs of Vedado, the paladares (private restaurants) that have transformed the city's food scene, and a day trip to the tobacco fields of Viñales if you want to see Cuba beyond the capital.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL

Trip highlights

Iberostar Grand Packard — Cuba's only five-star international hotel, in a restored 1894 building

Rooftop infinity pool — overlooking the Capitolio and the rooftops of Old Havana

Private transfers — airport to hotel and return in a private vehicle, not shared coach

Old Havana on your doorstep — step out onto Plaza de San Francisco and the cobbled streets of the UNESCO World Heritage quarter

Air Europa flights — return flights from London Gatwick via Madrid

Cuban e-Visa included — we handle the application free of charge

ATOL protected — full financial security from the moment you book (licence 10898)

DAY BY DAY

Your itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Havana

Fly from London Gatwick to Havana via Madrid on Air Europa. On arrival at José Martí International Airport, your private driver meets you in arrivals and takes you directly to the Grand Packard — a 30-minute drive into the heart of Old Havana. Check in, head up to the rooftop pool for a first glimpse of the Capitolio dome and the city skyline, then walk five minutes to the Malecón for sunset.

Day 2: Old Havana Walking Tour

Spend the morning exploring Old Havana on foot — the hotel is perfectly positioned between Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de la Catedral and Plaza de Armas. Stop at the Museo de la Ciudad, browse the second-hand book market on Plaza de Armas, and duck into a paladar for lunch — Doña Eutimia (famous for ropa vieja) or El del Frente (rooftop cocktails and ceviche) are both within walking distance. In the afternoon, visit the Fábrica de Arte Cubano if it is open, or walk the length of the Malecón from the Prado to the Hotel Nacional.

Day 3: Classic Car Tour & Vedado

A morning classic car tour is one of Havana's signature experiences — a 1950s Chevrolet or Buick convertible takes you through the Prado, along the Malecón, through Vedado (Havana's mid-century neighbourhood), past the Plaza de la Revolución and back through Centro Habana. In the afternoon, explore Vedado at your own pace — the Fábrica de Arte Cubano, the jazz clubs, and the quieter residential streets with their art deco architecture. Evening: cocktails at Hotel Nacional's terrace bar, followed by live music at La Zorra y El Cuervo (Havana's best jazz club).

Day 4: Viñales Valley Day Trip (Optional)

A full-day excursion to the Viñales Valley — a UNESCO-protected landscape of limestone mogotes (flat-topped hills), tobacco fields and red earth, about two hours west of Havana. Visit a working tobacco farm to see cigars rolled by hand, explore the Cueva del Indio by boat, and have lunch at a farm restaurant in the valley. You will be back in Havana by early evening. Alternatively, spend the day at leisure — the hotel's spa, pool and restaurants are reason enough to stay put.

Day 5: Havana at Your Own Pace

A free day to revisit your favourite corners of the city or explore something new. Suggestions: the Rum Museum (with tasting), the Partagás cigar factory tour, the street art of Callejón de Hamel, or a cooking class at a private home. In the evening, the Buena Vista Social Club show at the Hotel Nacional or live rumba in the courtyard of the Callejón de Hamel make for a memorable last night.

Day 6: Departure

After breakfast, your private transfer collects you from the hotel for the drive to the airport. Fly home via Madrid with Air Europa, arriving back in the UK the following morning.

WHERE YOU'LL STAY

Your hotel

Iberostar Grand Packard ★★★★★

The Iberostar Grand Packard occupies a restored 1920s building on the Paseo del Prado — Havana's grand tree-lined boulevard that connects the Capitolio to the Malecón seafront. The hotel reopened in 2018 after a complete renovation and is managed by Iberostar's adults-only Grand Collection brand. It has 321 rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, spa, and several restaurants and bars.

Rooms are large and well-appointed — marble bathrooms, proper air conditioning, fast Wi-Fi, minibar, and effective soundproofing. Sea-view rooms overlook the Malecón and Havana harbour; city-view rooms face the Prado and the Capitolio dome. The breakfast buffet is excellent — a full international spread with fresh fruit, pastries, eggs to order and real coffee.

The rooftop is the highlight: an infinity pool with unobstructed views across the Malecón, the harbour entrance, and the Havana skyline. It is genuinely one of the best hotel views in the Caribbean. The spa offers massages, facials and body treatments — a welcome luxury in a city where spa options are limited.

Why we chose this hotel: The Grand Packard is one of the best-run hotels in Cuba — consistent Iberostar service standards, a prime Malecón location, and a rooftop pool that alone justifies the price. It is confirmed open and fully operational.

What's Included

Return flights from London Gatwick to Havana via Madrid (Air Europa)
5 nights at Iberostar Grand Packard (5-star, bed and breakfast)
Full breakfast each morning — international buffet with eggs to order
Private airport transfers — meet and greet, private vehicle, not shared coach
Rooftop pool and spa access throughout your stay
Cuban Tourist Card (e-Visa) included free of charge
ATOL financial protection (licence 10898)

What's Not Included

Travel insurance (specialist cover required — we recommend High Risk Voyager)
Lunch and dinner (Havana's paladar scene is excellent and affordable — budget £20–40 per person per evening)
Optional excursions (Viñales day trip, classic car tour, cooking class)
Spa treatments (bookable at the hotel)
Gratuities
Anything not explicitly mentioned in What's Included

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Unlike many Cuban hotels that carry a five-star rating locally but would not meet that standard elsewhere, the Grand Packard is managed by an international luxury hotel group (Grand Packard Hotels, based in Geneva). The rooms, service, food and facilities are genuinely on par with upper-tier European city hotels. It is the only hotel in Cuba where this is consistently the case.

Ready to Book Your Luxury Havana Break?

Contact our Cuba specialists to check availability and prices at the Grand Packard. We handle flights, private transfers and your Cuban visa — ATOL protected from the moment you book.

Enquire About This Holiday

We typically respond within 24 hours

Tailor-Made Holiday

Guide price from£2,200

per personATOL protected (10898)

Flights Included

Private holiday

Flexible dates

5 nights (suggested)

Fully customisable

No commitment — we respond within 24 hours

Call us

Tailor-Made Holiday

Guide price from£2,200

per personATOL protected (10898)

Flights Included

Private holiday

Flexible dates

5 nights (suggested)

Fully customisable

No commitment — we respond within 24 hours

Call us

Real reviews

What our customers say

From travellers who visited Cuba with us

“

Thanks to Fabian's passion, advice and great organisation we had an amazing holiday in Cuba. TravelFab listened to what we wanted and tailored an experience to match. We would recommend TravelFab to anyone wanting to visit the beautiful island of Cuba. Thanks Fabian.

Madeleine and David

“

Great holiday, great service from Fabian at TravelFab, who turned it around for us in just a week! Cuba — such an interesting country in so many ways — politically, economically and culturally. Challenged our expectations and made us think — a country and people to admire and respect. Don't just head for the beaches, which are amazing, but take the time to explore a little. Thank you TravelFab.

Edwina

“

We had a fantastic trip. All the accommodation lived up or exceeded expectations, all the transfers worked well, and Jorge, who drove us for three days to Trinidad and Santa Clara was great company and really informative. Thank you!

Gareth

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Tailor-made · ATOL 10898

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Guide price£2,200pp

ATOL 10898