Top Experiences in Havana, Cuba for Families

Parents everywhere want to make sure their kids are engaged during school vacations. Traveling can be one of the most rewarding experiences at any age, but it is particularly transformative for a young person. While visiting Havana, Cuba, families will experience an incredibly vibrant destination whereby children and teenagers are exposed to a new culture and language, picking up along the way knowledge regarding the history, music, food and’€”perhaps most importantly’€”the people that have made this city a favorite amongst travelers.

From physical activity to music and vintage cars, here are interactive experiences for families traveling in Havana that our Latin Excursions travel designers can organize:

This is a wonderful way to see a lot of Havana in a short amount of time. Accompanied by a local English-speaking guide, hop on a lithium-powered bike to cruise over hills and past colorful neighborhoods. Though you will still be exerting energy, the comfort and boost of the e-bikes make pedaling in the typically warm weather of Havana a breeze. It’s an incomparable experience that provides a panorama of the capital city that tour buses certainly can’t match.

Though this morning is all about breaking a sweat, you will start the day in style as a classic car will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to a boxing gym in Havana Vieja. Chat with the local trainers and up-and-coming boxers and learn about the national history of this sport, previously banned by Fidel Castro in 1962. (If interested, we can also set you up for an outdoor boxing class!)

Afterward, pick up a sandwich from a street food stall then travel to a sports stadium (baseball, basketball or volleyball, depending on your interest). Tour the stadium with a local guide then, depending on the season, catch a game.

EGREM Studios (Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales) is the national recodring label of Cuba and is absolutely legendary. Founded in 1964, EGREM is home to the most extensive catalog of Cuban music in the world. The original recording studio is located in a former mortuary in the heart of Old Havana where the Buena Vista Social Club series was recorded and produced. Larger than Abbey Road Studio 2 and fitted with wooden paneling on the floors and walls, the original EGREM studio is a blast from the past’€”though you can also visit its modern counterpart in the Miramar district.

No visit to Havana is complete without taking it to the floor in a salsa club. Our teacher guarantees to have you up and dancing in no time! Learn to feel the Cuban rhythm through moves like Dile Que Si and Dile Que No while simultaneously building confidence and letting loose. Dancers are performing live on nearly every corner of Havana’€”from ballet to reggaeton’€”so learning a few steps is simply taking on a part of the local culture.

Your teenage traveler is certainly too young to remember these swift bikes, but it’s a touch of nostalgia for the parents. Ural motorcycles came to Cuba in 1973, initially supplied by the Soviet Union for military use, but available to the public starting in 1975. We will supply you with helmets and drinking water, and off you will go in a safe sidecar. Spend an hour witnessing Havana as the locals do and snap some amazing photos while you’re at it.

In the early 20th century, fleets of American cars began to arrive in Cuba’€”that is, until Castro banned their entry after the Cuban Revolution ended, just shy of 1960. That’s why today the streets of Havana feel like a car museum, with spruced-up classic designs shamelessly whizzing around.

Dig deeper into this curious history when you are picked up in a vintage car and driven to the workshop of a private company specialized in the restoration and upkeep of vintage cars.

A fun class for kids led by an accomplished Cuban percussionist. Using traditional congas, children will learn the basics of Cuban rhythms and let out plenty of energy while making some noise. Music is at the heart of Cuban culture as a deep (and dark) history tells of African slaves brought to this tiny island. Today, the rich Afro-Cuban culture produces the delightfully catchy beats so characteristic of this nation’€”and this drumming class could spark a long-term interest for your child.

On weekends, a group of volunteers from the Cuban Environmental Agency, Project Blue Heart, artists and others gather to clean up garbage from Havana’s rivers and beaches. Join them! Recyclable materials are gathered and donated to other projects that make whimsical and sustainable art from recyclables.

Travel to Havana with Latin Excursions for a bespoke journey designed to meet your travel needs and interests, paired with our commitment to sustainability and supporting local communities. For more information and what to see, do and where to stay, contact our award-winning travel team.