Your stay — Chacón 160
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The Property — Chacón 160
Chacón 160 is a small colonial hotel in Old Havana, built around a leafy inner courtyard that doubles as a breakfast terrace. The vibe is understated: white walls, dark wood, a few antique chairs, and no fuss. It suits travellers who want clean, central accommodation without pretending to be luxury — the real draw is the location, two blocks from the Plaza Vieja, and the fact you're sleeping inside a restored 18th-century building, not a generic box.
Chronicles of Havana
Havana was founded in 1519 by Diego Velázquez on the island's north coast, its deep natural harbour quickly making it Spain's key trading port in the Americas. The city's architecture is a layered mix of Spanish Baroque, neoclassical and art deco, shaped by waves of wealth from sugar and tobacco. The 1959 revolution froze much of the old town in time, and its gradual, uneven restoration since the 1990s has turned the historic core into a living museum. Today, Havana is a city of crumbling facades, live music on every corner, and a cautious, state-managed tourist economy that's both vibrant and frayed.
Best Time to Visit
Full Havana guide →Best months
November to April: dry season with clear skies, high 20s°C, and the city's cultural calendar in full swing. December and January are particularly pleasant for walking tours.
Peak / festival surge
January (Havana’s anniversary festivities) and late February (Cuban cigar festival) see the highest visitor numbers. Hotel rates can double, and Chacón 160 often books out weeks ahead — plan six months in advance.
Budget shoulder season
May and October. May is less humid than June, and October sits just before the dry season's ramp-up, offering 30% lower prices on rooms and quieter streets.
Weather & packing
July in Havana is hot (30-33°C) and humid, with a high chance of brief, torrential afternoon downpours. Pack a lightweight, quick-dry poncho or a travel umbrella, and bring only sandals or breathable canvas trainers — boots are a mistake.
Live City Briefing — Havana
- Old Havana’s water supply has been unreliable in summer 2025, with intermittent cuts in the Chacón area — ask the hotel if they have a backup tank or bottled water.
- The new cycle-lane network along the Malecón is now open, making it feasible to rent a bicycle to escape the tourist crush — just watch for potholes and aggressive taxi drivers.
- Cuba's ongoing fuel shortages mean fewer long-distance buses and taxis, so expect delays to/from José Martí Airport; book a private pre-paid transfer well in advance.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Chacón 160, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a rear-facing room on floors 3 or 4. Those rooms sit above street-level clatter but below any roof-level activity, and the back elevation avoids the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or floor 2. Ground-floor rooms pick up lobby noise and pavement chatter; floor 2 sits close to the low-height lift machinery and any street-level bar or restaurant sound.
Best views
Front-facing rooms on floor 4 offer a view of the Havana street life and period architecture. But they come with more noise — trade-off worth knowing.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest — far enough from the street and lift motor, and with fewer passing guests.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a central Havana street, so expect honking, revving motorbikes, and late-night pedestrian noise, especially at weekends. Rooms at the back are significantly quieter even on lower floors.
Insider tips
If you value quiet, book a rear-facing room and confirm it at check-in. The lift is small and slow — request a floor no higher than 4 to avoid waiting or taking the stairs with luggage.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Chacón 160
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and dining room (download ~3 Mbps, upload ~1.5 Mbps). No in-room signal; you need to sit near the central courtyard. One login per device, no time limit.
No passenger lift. Property is a restored 18th-century townhouse over two floors; all rooms accessed via stairs only.
No complimentary newspapers. A single copy of Granma is sometimes placed on the front desk. The hotel's heritage includes a well-preserved original marble floor in the lobby and a period sideboard from 1790.
Check-in from 15:00, check-out by 12:00. Early bag drop available from 08:00 at reception. Late check-out (until 18:00) costs 30 CUC if available.
Free baggage storage at reception, no limit on number of bags. Secure room with CCTV.
No step-free access. Two steps at main entrance, narrow doorways, no ramps. Ground floor has two rooms, but all common areas and other rooms require stairs. Not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Estacionamiento de San Francisco, 400 m west on Calle Oficios, costing 5 CUC per 24h. No EV charging within 5 km.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (Cuba does not charge a separate city tax for domestic or foreign guests; all taxes included in the rate)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking via wire transfer or international card; a 50 CUC incidental hold will be placed on the card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Parroquia del Santo Cristo del Buen Viaje (396 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia del Santo Ángel Custodio (407 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia María Auxiliadora (557 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida (575 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Harry's Brothers — 142 m · ~2 min walk
Plaza Supervielle — 162 m · ~2 min walk
Edificio de Arte Cubano — 217 m · ~3 min walk
Teatro Campoamor — 673 m · ~8 min walk
Barbeparque — 438 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 159 m · ~2 min walk
Farmacia Internacional Hotel Sevilla — 404 m · ~5 min walk
Extension Harry Brothers — 126 m · ~2 min walk
Terminal de Cruceros de La Habana — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cuban Peso, CUP
Change money at official CADECA exchange houses for the best rate; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux where rates are worse.
Cards are rarely accepted outside major hotels; bring enough cash in euros or Canadian dollars, as US dollars incur extra fees.
Tip 10% in restaurants, small change for taxis, and 1-2 CUP per bag for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small espresso from a street stall or cafe costs around 15 CUP.
A lunch of rice, beans, meat and salad from a local paladar or lunch counter costs about 200-300 CUP.
A main course at a simple local restaurant runs 250-400 CUP.
Look for street stalls and small kiosks around central Havana and near the Capitol for sandwiches, pizza and tamales.
The main budget supermarket chain in Havana is Cimex, with several outlets in Vedado and Central Havana.
For cheap clothes, visit the street markets around Obispo and the crafts market at Plaza de Armas for souvenirs and local wear.
The cheapest way around is the local buses (guaguas) at 1-2 CUP per ride; from the airport take the P12 or P14 bus to central stops for under 5 CUP.
Eat at paladares away from tourist strips; always negotiate taxi fares before getting in; buy drinks at local bodegas rather than hotel bars.
Emergency Contacts
HavanaCall 106 for police, 104 for ambulance, 105 for fire. For tourist assistance, dial 103 (Cuban tourist police). Mobile networks work; local SIMs (ETECSA) are reliable. Save these offline.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Havana, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Chacón 160
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 159 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Internacional Hotel Sevilla — 404 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Central Park bus stop → Alamar (via 5ta Avenida)
💡 Hop on the Malecón route—bus P5 or P7 pass through Old Havana. Payment is by coin or phone card only; exact change essential. Expect the bus to be packed and hot during peak hours.
Terminal 3, José Martí International Airport → Old Havana (Central Park stop)
💡 Cheapest official airport transfer, but only runs from Terminal 3. If you arrive at Terminals 1 or 2, walk 15 minutes or take a 2 CUC taxi to Terminal 3 first. Space is first-come, first-served.
Old Havana taxi rank (e.g., Parque Central) → Vedado or Miramar
💡 Hail private yellow-tagged cars—not official taxis—for the true local fare of 10–20 CUP per person. Tell the driver 'Vedado' or your intersection. These run fixed routes but will drop you close to your destination for a small extra fee.
José Martí International Airport (HAV) → Casa Allegro, Old Havana
💡 Pre-book through your casa host for a reliable 25 CUC fixed rate. Avoid touts in the arrivals hall; look for drivers with yellow licence plates and a taxi cooperative badge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Chacón 160?
Request a rear-facing room on floors 3 or 4. Those rooms sit above street-level clatter but below any roof-level activity, and the back elevation avoids the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Chacón 160?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or floor 2. Ground-floor rooms pick up lobby noise and pavement chatter; floor 2 sits close to the low-height lift machinery and any street-level bar or restaurant sound.
Is Chacón 160 noisy?
The hotel is on a central Havana street, so expect honking, revving motorbikes, and late-night pedestrian noise, especially at weekends. Rooms at the back are significantly quieter even on lower floors.
Which rooms have the best views at Chacón 160?
Front-facing rooms on floor 4 offer a view of the Havana street life and period architecture. But they come with more noise — trade-off worth knowing.
What are insider tips for staying at Chacón 160?
If you value quiet, book a rear-facing room and confirm it at check-in. The lift is small and slow — request a floor no higher than 4 to avoid waiting or taking the stairs with luggage.
What time is check-in at Chacón 160?
Check-in at Chacón 160 is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Chacón 160 have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and dining room (download ~3 Mbps, upload ~1.5 Mbps). No in-room signal; you need to sit near the central courtyard. One login per device, no time limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Chacón 160?
None (Cuba does not charge a separate city tax for domestic or foreign guests; all taxes included in the rate)
Where can I eat cheaply near Chacón 160?
A lunch of rice, beans, meat and salad from a local paladar or lunch counter costs about 200-300 CUP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Chacón 160?
The cheapest way around is the local buses (guaguas) at 1-2 CUP per ride; from the airport take the P12 or P14 bus to central stops for under 5 CUP.
When is the best time to visit Havana?
November to April: dry season with clear skies, high 20s°C, and the city's cultural calendar in full swing. December and January are particularly pleasant for walking tours.
Top Attractions in Havana
💡 Go early (8-9am) before tour groups arrive. The adjacent Museo de Arte Colonial costs a couple of CUP but gives rooftop views of the plaza for free once you're inside.
💡 Start at the Hotel Nacional end, walk east towards Havana Vieja during late afternoon when the breeze picks up. Watch for crumbling seawall sections after storms.
💡 Take a bus or taxi from central Havana (about 15 mins). No security or fences around it; it's a regular neighbourhood park. Best visited late afternoon when it's cooler and the sun makes the bronze glow. The nearest cafe sells decent iced coffee.
💡 Skip the overpriced audio guide. Bring small CUP notes for the locked donation boxes in some rooms. The Granma Memorial outside (the yacht used in the 1956 landing) is free to view through the fence; you can see it from outside the museum grounds.
💡 Arrive by 8pm on Thursday or Friday to avoid huge queues. Pay in CUP at the door if you have it; the card machine sometimes fails. Check their Facebook page for schedule changes.