6 Best Resorts in Havana, Cuba: A Local’s Guide [2024]

Cuba is renowned as a beach vacation destination, but travelers might be surprised to learn that resorts in Havana are few and far between. Truthfully, you’ll have to travel about two hours east to Varadero before you reach some of the best beaches in Cuba (and the best resorts in Cuba). However, there are a few city resorts in Havana worth considering for your stay.

Looking for an amenity-rich resort-like stay in Havana? As locals, we’ve checked out the best of the city’s resorts, from beautiful, modern hotels in Havana‘s historic districts to beachfront properties with plenty of places to spread out. Read on for the best resorts in Havana, Cuba!

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Best Resorts in Havana, Cuba

Havana may not have any true beach resorts, but it has some luxurious, amenity-rich city resorts and hotels to choose from for your stay. These are our top favorite resorts in Havana, Cuba:

• Best Resort in Havana: Royalton Habana
• Best Resort in Old Havana: Iberostar Grand Packard 
• Best Resort in Vedado: Hotel Grand Aston La Habana 

Keep reading if you’re looking for even more options and our complete reviews (we’ve visited each hotel and resort on this list)! You’ll find everything from historic hotels in Havana that Fidel Castro called home after the Cuban Revolution (one of my favorite fun facts about Cuba!) to brand-new oceanfront hotels that put larger beach resorts to shame.

1. Royalton Habana

Best Resort in Havana

Our top recommendation among the best resorts in Havana is Royalton Habana, hands down! This gorgeous, modern hotel is pure city luxury and offers tons of resort-like amenities from its privileged position along Havana’s iconic malecón sea wall.

Beautiful modern decor and thoughtful details throughout the Royalton Habana‘s 250 rooms make a stay here a comfortable one, though the true star is the ocean views from every room. The resort also offers a luxurious spa (one of Havana’s best!) as well as a beauty parlor, on-site dining, and an incredible rooftop pool deck with a bar and eatery to enjoy the sweeping views over the city and the sea. It’s a popular destination even for those who aren’t staying here.

Reviews and Bookings: Royalton Habana

2. Iberostar Grand Packard

Best Resort in Old Havana

The Iberostar Grand Packard is our top pick among modern hotels in Havana, though with its excellent options for dining, its luxurious spa, and its beautiful pool with incredible ocean vistas, it also earns a spot on our list of the best resorts in Havana. Nestled between the winding streets of Old Havana and the city’s largest pedestrian thoroughfare, Paseo del Prado, it’s the best choice for a resort-like experience in an area perfect for exploring the city.

Rooms at the Iberostar Grand Packard are spacious and modern, yet comfortable, and many offer excellent views, overlooking either the ocean or the historic areas of the city. Excellent on-site dining options are also a highlight; make sure to enjoy a drink at sunset on the pool deck overlooking El Morro, Havana’s historic fortress across the harbor.

Reviews and Bookings: Iberostar Grand Packard 

3. Hotel Grand Aston La Habana

Best Resort in Vedado

After its debut just over a year ago, the Hotel Grand Aston La Habana has quickly become a favorite choice for travelers looking for all the amenities of Havana resorts while hoping to enjoy the best of the lively yet storied neighborhood of Vedado. It’s one of our top recommendations among resorts in Havana, Cuba.

Rooms are quite large and offer stunning views over the city from the upper levels. The restaurant also has great on-site dining options. One of the highlights is the large oceanfront pool deck with a bar and eatery with plenty of loungers and sun beds. You’ll feel like you’re enjoying a proper beach getaway in Cuba while being within walking distance of all the best restaurants, shops, and attractions in Havana.

Reviews and Bookings: Hotel Grand Aston La Habana 

4. Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski

The Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski is one the best hotels in Old Havana and has a rich history: this building was once home to Havana’s first indoor shopping arcade, which visitors can still visit on the ground floor of the building.

This 246-room hotel has modern yet comfortable decor and some seriously cool amenities and spaces. The rooftop bar and restaurant offer stunning views over the city, making this a must-visit destination even for those who aren’t staying here, as is the lounge and cigar bar with a massive walk-in humidor on the second floor.

If you’re headed to the beach after you complete your Havana itinerary, consider staying at Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski’s sister resort in Cayo Guillermo – it’s considered the most luxurious resort in Cuba.

Reviews and Bookings: Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski 

5. Melia Habana

The oceanfront Melia Habana has everything you could ever want from resorts in Havana, Cuba, including amenities that put larger resorts in Cuba to shame. Multiple restaurants and buffets, five bars, a large pool deck with an area for the kids, and a large wellness spa with spa, sauna, and fitness center are just the start at this 397-room resort.

While the Melia Habana certainly has the feel of a true resort, more so than most other resorts in Havana Cuba, I generally don’t recommend it for most travelers due to its location: it’s located in residential, yet upscale, Miramar. While the hotel offers a free shuttle to Old Havana, the hotel just doesn’t offer much for those looking to explore Havana.

Truthfully, if you’re not looking to explore Havana, you’re better off heading to one of the impressive beach resorts of Varadero, where you’ll enjoy the same amenities but one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.

Reviews and Bookings: Melia Habana

6. Tryp Habana Libre

Tryp Habana Libre is one of the most storied hotels in Havana, the stuff of endless legend and myth, and among Havana’s most important landmarks.

Originally opened in 1958 as the Habana Hilton, the hotel became the headquarters of Fidel Castro upon the victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 – Castro famously lived in the hotel’s Continental Suite (room 2324) for three months. The hotel was renamed Habana Libre – or, “free Havana” – in 1960 when the revolutionary government nationalized the hotel.

While certain areas of the hotel could use some serious love and are overdue for a refurbishment, it still has a lot to offer travelers, and rooms are generally much more affordable than those at other Havana resorts on this list. Plus, the hotel is located on one of the most desirable corners in Havana – 23 y L in the very heart of Vedado, meaning your stay guarantees you one of the best places to stay in Havana to explore the city.

Reviews and Bookings: Tryp Habana Libre

Can Americans Stay at Resorts in Havana?

Travelers from the United States might be surprised to learn that, for the most part, Americans can travel to Cuba easily, and quite normally.

However, policy changes implemented during the Trump administration mean that travelers from the United States are limited to where they can stay in Cuba. ALL of the resorts on this list are included in the list of hotels that American travelers CAN NOT visit while staying in Cuba.

Instead, opt for one of the many smaller, independently owned and operated hotels in Havana. These are some of our favorite spots in the city:

• Residencia Santa Clara in Old Havana
• La Reserva Vedado in Vedado
• La Rosa de Ortega in 10 de Octobre, one of Havana’s more residential, “local” neighborhoods

For a full summary of hotels that American travelers should avoid while traveling in Cuba, check out the U.S. Department of State website for an updated list.