09 May Trinidad – A Must-Visit In Cuba

Trinidad in Cuba is one of those places you wouldn’t believe existed. It is so different and unique and it really feels like you are in the 1850s. With horse transportations and bakers selling their bread from street to street and of course the iconic and colourful avenues. 

La Botija

Most of us have heard that Havana is a colourful and an interesting city. Don’t get me wrong.  I loved Havana too. However, I am so glad I made it to Trinidad. Before reading about it I thought it was only one place in the world called Trinidad, like Trinidad and Tobago. But in this blog post, I am going to convince you why you should visit the city Trinidad in Cuba! 

The picture above is probably the most Instagrammed place in Trinidad. As matter of fact, Trinidad is incredibly picturesque and I think you can make Instagram photos for a year, only by walking around that city.

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Men smoking a cigar in Trinidad de Cuba. You will see street performers like this just sitting there and they might randomly sing Cuban songs. You can take photos of them, but it is nice to give them a little tip for it.

I recommend walking around Trinidad early morning at sunrise and at sunset! The colours are amazing!

A man riding a horse, in a colourful street in Trinidad, Cuba. Trinidad really gets you back in time!

Colourful street with a classic car in Trinidad, Cuba

Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima, Trinidad, Cuba

Sunset over Convento San Francisco de Asis, Cuba

View of colourful houses from top of Convento San Francisco de Asis, Cuba

Where to go

In the Lonely Planet Cuba (Travel Guide) you will find a recommended photogenic walk recommended by Lonely Planet.  We took this walk early in the morning as well as during sunset. The light and colours are amazing and it is so much life in the streets. If you go early you will see people getting their milk from the bodegas and selling fresh bread etc.

First of all, spend a good amount of time walking around all over Trinidad, really let the atmosphere sink in. Walk around right before sunset and your photos will look amazing. You can also watch the sunset from the top of Convento San Francisco de Asis with a view over the town and you will even see the sea.

Playa Ancon

Rent a bike and visit one of the most beautiful beaches in Cuba, playa Ancon! Here you have sellers even serving you drinks while soaking up some sun.

 When I went to Cuba, I was deciding between visiting Trinidad or Varadero. I am so glad I skipped Varadero because this beach is just as nice and fewer people! And you get to see the real colourful Cuba.

La Boca

Instead of going to the touristy El Nicho, we decided to go off the beaten path and see the real Cuba just outside of Trinidad, where there are basically no tourists or sellers trying to book you on a taxi. 

If you have enough time I recommend biking to the little town outside Trinidad called La Boca. It is not a long bike ride but it can be really hot, so if you struggle with the heat, it is better taking a taxi.

Where to eat

If you are staying at a Casa Particular you will most likely have an option for breakfast, however. They will probably not get up at 6 am to make breakfast for you. If you want to have an early breakfast I recommend the buffet at Iberostar Grand Hotel. It is $10 but it will last you until the afternoon.

For lunch or dinner, I recommend Guitarra Mia. It is such a charming place and the food is delicious. They might also give you a cigar for free at the end too!

Guitarra Mia, Trinidad, Cuba. This is my favourite restaurant in Trinidad.

Another popular option is La Botija. It is very crowded at night, so get there early. On the side of La Botija, you will see the iconic window with the Cuban flag hanging. Good options for Instagram photos there!

Waitresses having a break outside of La Botija, Trinidad, Cuba

Cafe Don Pepe,  Best coffee place in Trinidad!

Where to dance

Casa De La Musica, Trinidad, Cuba. The place to be late in the evening. Here you can dance salsa until late night and meet people from around the world. When I was there the power went off all over Trinidad for around 30 minutes, but people kept sitting there and drinking. It happens in Cuba, no biggie.

Other places to dance are Disco Ayala and Casa de la Trova.

Where to stay

We stayed at a casa Particular which was within a walking distance from Plaza Mayor. Casa Yady and Dailin is in a beautiful building with a rooftop, own fridge, bathroom, tv and options for all meals. They are super nice and you can contact them directly on hostalyadiradailin@gmail.com or (53)52448267. They gave us tips on what to do in Trinidad and bookeda  taxi back to Havana and a new Casa Particular in Havana for our last two days in Cuba.

If you rather prefer staying at a hotel, Iberostar Grand Hotel is the biggest one in Trinidad and Hotel la Ronda is also a good option. Hotels should be booked early, especially during peak season.

Be prepared, get the Lonely Planet Cuba (Travel Guide)

I don’t know what we would have done without the Lonely Planet Cuba book! It seriously was a life-saver. It answers all your questions about everything to prepare for your trip to Cuba. It tells you what to expect, what to see, eat, and do in the places you want to go and with a little description about each place.

Know you won’t have internet access everywhere in Cuba. Only at some specific places like parks etc and it is expensive and shit. You can’t just use google map or search for something on TripAdvisor. This book has done all the research for you.  It also has contact details to recommended Casa Particulares! So make sure you get this book and buy it a few months before, so you can read through it and prepare yourself for the trip. This book will save you a lot of time and stress while you are in Cuba as well. You can get the book here: Lonely Planet Cuba (Travel Guide)

Trinidad is very unique, it is a place that has not changed much since the 1850s. You still see bakers selling their bread from street to street early in the morning, horse transportation and charming streets and colourful houses. If there is one more place you should visit besides from Havana, I strongly recommend Trinidad.

Next step: How to prepare for a trip to Cuba!

Must Haves When Travelling to Cuba