Where to stay in Havana
If it's your first time in Havana and you want to see it on foot, stay in Old Havana: the squares, the museums and the music in the street are a few minutes' walk away.
We've been welcoming travelers at Amargura 62 for eleven years, a colonial house right in the historic center. On Airbnb we average 4.93 out of 5 across more than 750 reviews (October 2026). We'll tell you why we chose this neighborhood, what the house is like and what we do for you.
Why stay in Old Havana
Old Havana is where the city was born, a World Heritage Site since 1982. The four squares, the palaces and the museums are all here: a good part of what you came to see fits into one walk.
From our door, Plaza de San Francisco is a 1-minute walk; Plaza Vieja, 3; Plaza de Armas, 7; the Cathedral, 9; and the Capitolio, 15.
What about the other neighborhoods? Vedado is for going out at night, but it's too far to walk to the historic center. Centro Habana is very Havanan, though less restored. Miramar is residential, and there almost everything is done by car.
A tip: in Old Havana, not every street is equally well kept. Check exactly where the house is before you book. Ours is on a pedestrian street, one of the best restored.
What is a casa particular, and why a colonial house
A casa particular is a Cuban home licensed to host travelers. It's not a hotel: there's usually more space, a closer relationship and someone to help you with what is hardest in Cuba, like the airport taxi or changing money.
A colonial house adds the architecture of the old city: a courtyard in the middle, the rooms around it, patterned cement tiles (the traditional mosaico hidráulico), exposed brick and, above the doors, the medios puntos, those semicircular stained-glass fanlights.
What Amargura 62 is like
When we arrived, the house was in ruins. We've spent eleven years restoring it, room by room, with artists from Havana, trying to keep what was original and add only what suited it.
The courtyard is the heart of everything: palm trees, a small fountain and wrought-iron tables under an umbrella. That's where breakfast happens and where, without looking for it, you end up meeting travelers from all over the world. Upstairs is the roof terrace: colorful rocking chairs, a chess table and the rooftops of Old Havana all around. The best time is late afternoon.
Amargura Street takes its name from the Stations of the Cross procession that walked it during Lent; at the end of our block, one of its stone crosses still stands, the Cruz Verde (Green Cross). And what surprises people most when they arrive is the quiet: you close the door and the city stays outside.
There's no reception desk: there's a blue door and someone from the house waiting for you. That person welcomes you, helps you with a taxi or a recommendation and makes sure everything goes well. Eugenio and Patricia look after the house, and our family lives in it.
The apartments
Today we offer four apartments. Each one is different, and they all share the courtyard and the roof terrace. They're one floor up, with 36 steps. Arrival is from 15:00 and departure is until 12:00.
- El Balcón · up to 4 guests. Two bedrooms with double beds and a blue balcony over the street. In one, the wall opens into cracks that look like tree branches. 4.93 out of 5 across 225 Airbnb reviews.
- El Cielo · up to 3 guests. A loft painted together with artists from Havana; in the sleeping loft, the headboard is a door painted with sky and clouds. Separate bathtub and shower. 4.94 out of 5 across 157 reviews.
- La Casita · up to 3 guests. A wooden loft, with the bed next to a fanlight and the bathroom in a little brick house. 4.96 out of 5 across 51 reviews.
- La Playa · up to 2 guests. A room with its own bathroom and a turquoise sea painted on the wall. 5 out of 5 across 12 reviews.
All of them have air conditioning and Wi-Fi included, which in Cuba can drop out now and then. If the power goes out, there are fans and battery-powered lights, and a power bank for your phone.
Traveling as a group? You can book the whole house: up to 12 guests, minimum 3 nights.
Services: what we arrange for you
We know how hard it is to get organized in Havana. We help you with people we trust:
- From the airport to the house. What people ask us for most and what we recommend most: tell us your flight and a driver we trust will be waiting for you. We also take you back.
- VIP arrival. To arrive without lines: they collect your bags, you wait in an air-conditioned lounge and they walk you to the taxi. You pay in cash to the airport staff.
- Breakfast in the courtyard. Fruit, eggs, bread and juice, every morning. Ordered separately.
- Taxis and trips. Around Havana, and to Viñales, Trinidad or Varadero by private car or shared taxi.
- Activities. Guided tours, day trips, salsa lessons, massages, a tour in a classic convertible and a beach day at Tarará, with lounge chairs and a round-trip taxi.
- At the house. Laundry, cleaning on request, minibar, SIM card and help with Cuban pesos.
Everything is ordered from the Guest Portal, where you see the price before you order, or by talking to us at the house. See all services.
The Guest Portal: your stay on your phone
When you book, we send you the link to your Guest Portal. It installs on your phone, with no passwords, and it works without internet too:
- Before you arrive: you do your check-in from the Portal, whenever you like.
- When you arrive: the address ready to show your taxi driver and, when the time comes, the codes for the door and for your apartment.
- During your stay: you copy the Wi-Fi with one tap, order services with the price in view and message the house on WhatsApp.
- To explore: walks starting from Amargura Street, the cultural agenda with the distance from the house, a map of places and useful Spanish phrases with audio.
- Offline: your reservation, the codes, the map and the photos of the places stay saved on your phone. In Cuba, you'll be glad of it.
- The day you leave: if your apartment is free, you can stay all day, at no cost. If someone books it, we'll let you know.
What our guests say
On Airbnb we average 4.93 out of 5 across more than 750 reviews, after eleven years of welcoming guests (October 2026). It's the average of the reviews our guests have left us on Airbnb, where only people who have stayed can leave one.
Some of our favorites:
"I have traveled to Cuba many times and stayed in different hotels and Airbnbs across various categories, but this place was truly exceptional. […] No matter the time of day — even after midnight — whenever I needed something, they were immediately available."
"A wonderful paradise in the middle of Havana, Cuba. […] The location was unbeatable – in the middle of the city and yet quiet. The highlight was the breakfast: incredibly delicious, beautifully presented, and you could enjoy it outdoors. […] His kindness and care made us feel like part of a small family."
"Their house is beautiful, too - several rooms surrounding a light courtyard, with a beautiful rooftop porch. […] The inner courtyard and rooftop created a 'sanctuary' feel when we wanted a little peace from the streets."
Written in English (Margarita's, in German); translated for this page.
How to book, and why directly with the house
Booking is easy: go to amargura62.com/en/book/, choose your dates and you'll see the available apartments with their final price, taxes included.
Booking here has two advantages:
- Direct contact. You talk to the house before and during your trip, by email or on WhatsApp. Someone from the house answers you.
- A discount for coming back. After your stay, your next direct booking comes with a discount.
Questions before you book? Write to us on WhatsApp at +53 55391631 or at bookings@amargura62.com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Havana for the first time?
Old Havana, if you want to see the city on foot: the squares, the museums and the atmosphere of the historic center are a few minutes' walk away.
Is breakfast included?
No. It's prepared every morning in the courtyard and ordered separately, from your Portal or at the house.
Are there stairs?
Yes: the apartments are one floor up, with 36 steps.
How do I get from the airport?
Ask us for the taxi before you travel, with your flight number. More details in how to get here.
Can I pay by card in Cuba?
Since June 2026, Visa and Mastercard are not accepted: bring cash in euros or US dollars. We explain it in money in Cuba.