City: Cuba
Top Things to do in Cuba
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5 Flea & Street Markets in Cuba That You Shouldn't Miss
Coordinates: 22°00′N 80°00′W / 22.000°N 80.000°W / 22.000; -80.000
Restaurants in Cuba
1. vintage bazar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
2. Varadero Street Market
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 564 reviews
Reviewed By BabsHubby - Ontario, Canada
Very neat market at the far end of Varadero. There are various things to buy, from hand-crafted goods (which many merchants will engrave if you like), shirts, hats, leather goods, typical tourist stuff, and some unique Varadero fair like '50s cars made out of recycled aluminum cans. There are also vendors selling food, drink, ice cream, etc. A Buccanero or Sprite helps shop when it's 49 degrees C - the market is closed-roofed, which also helps. :-) Vendors will generally negotiate a price if you ask, but I wouldn't try for more than 15-20% or so - there are lots of tourists and people can wait but if you want that specific hat, just buy it before someone else does (personal experience). They are also very helpful in finding that certain thing for you and are very friendly to boot. Protip: a taxi can bring you directly there, and you can walk in the opposite direction to visit the whole main strip in Varadero; if you take the bus, which is cheaper, you may have a bit of difficulty figuring out where to stop like we did - just stay on the bus until the last stop, or until it's about to turn right towards the Al Capone House. If you go to Varadero on your Cuba trip (and you should), this is a place that you should definitely try out.
3. Guardalavaca Flea Market
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 764 reviews
Reviewed By Ryedrinker - Ottawa, Canada
I really like the new market now situated between club amigo and Brisas. There are lots of different stalls to buy all the souvenirs you need and dont forget to get some peanuts while your there as they good great with an ice cold Crystal.
4. Mercado de Artesania
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By IslandPaul2017
I always visit the Mercada de Artesania on my trips to Havana. It easily has the biggest selection of souvenirs, gifts and handicraft items in Havana. My impression is that the prices are probably the best also. The Mercado is located in a former warehouse on the waterfront opposite the Iglesia de San Francisco de Paula. It is easily recognizable by the two ancient locomotives displayed out front. It is reached by an easy and interesting walk along the waterfront from the main tourist area downtown (Havana Vieja) past the ferry terminal. The Mercado is on a massive scale inside the warehouse with literally dozens of little stalls selling everything from leather goods, to wooden cigar boxes, bongo drums, and the usual artwork. The constant sales pitches from the vendors can be wearing, but this is Cuba after all and all the vendors are struggling to make a living and keen to sell to las turistas for payment in CUC. A smile and "no gracias" or "solo estoy mirando" (I'm just looking") will be well received. Some bartering is the norm but if you feel the price is fair and reasonable, then as a gracious and relatively affluent visitor to Cuba haggling over the price for a trivial item would be inappropriate (as some tourist guides advise). Paul
