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Winter is one of the best times of the year to visit Cuba; it's when the tropical island boasts a wonderfully mild climate, the mood is cheerful and the upcoming festivities mean only one thing: it's party time!

New Year's Eve in Cuba is one of the most celebrated events on the calendar (even more than Christmas) where Havana residents and tourists gather in the Plaza de la Catedral and the plazas of Old Havana for a night of dancing, rum drinking and delicious food. The same goes for whether you're in Trinidad or Cienfuegos or the Vinales Valley or in a hotel on the beach, New Year's Eve in Cuba is celebrated, always and with what you have!

Many locals celebrate New Year's Eve in Cuba as the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, when Castro marched victoriously into Havana in 1959, while others simply celebrate the birth of a new year with friends and family, but whatever the reason, one thing you should know about Cuba is that there is always a reason to party!

No matter your political persuasion or beliefs, it is a day when everyone comes together and that is what we are here for. Wander the atmospheric streets and you will see families roasting pigs on a spit, you will pass by lively plazas that exude salsa dancers, you will dodge locals throwing water from their balconies or doorsteps in a symbolic ritual of leaving bad things behind.

You can join the locals who simply pull out a chair from their doorstep to watch the people partying in the street. Seeing how other cultures celebrate this familiar time of year is something very special and if you're someone who likes to do as the locals do then it's a great time to try out some unique traditions.

Cuban New Year's Eve Food

When it comes to festive celebrations in Cuba, you can bet that it's going to revolve around food. But we're not just talking about a few polite appetizers, no, we're talking about authentic, home-cooked, family feasts, and at Christmas and New Year's that means pork. Preparations are in full swing during the run-up to New Year's Eve in Cuba, with cheerful locals joining the hustle and bustle of the market stalls to shop for the festive ingredients (often consisting of pork, black beans, plantains, cassava bread, grapes and, of course, rum).

It’s not uncommon to find a whole pig roast (plus the rotating spit) on the menu at large family gatherings, which you can try at barbecues, restaurants, paladares, and family homes for a traditional New Year’s Eve dinner, which you might even score an invitation to if you’re staying in a casa particular. This type of activity usually takes a full day to prepare, so you’ll often see families taking turns spinning the spit while drinking or smoking cigars.

Eating 12 Grapes

It seems pretty specific, right? But for New Year’s Eve in Cuba, eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight is an integral part of the festivities. You see, the grapes represent each of the 12 months of the New Year, and with each grape you eat, you have to make a wish. This brings hope that the new year will be a good one, plus, with a glass of sidra (another New Year’s Eve must), it makes for a pretty tasty after-dinner snack.

New Year's Eve Celebrations in Cuba

Head to the beating heart of Old Havana and you will discover a handful of authentic restaurants and bars where you can treat yourself to a special occasion dinner, such as La Guarida and San Cristóbal, or a show at the Cabaret Tropicana or the Hotel Nacional or a special dinner in the Plaza de La Catedral always accompanied by live music and shows. Once the clock strikes midnight, you will hear 21 salvos fired from the cannons of the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabana across the bay, marking another anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.

If you fancy a more formal New Year's Eve in Cuba then you can spend it in one of the hotels in Varadero or in a Cayo where you will enjoy a New Year's Eve dinner in evening dress and then dancing and shows on the beach until the morning. Of course, the toasts start in the afternoon because somewhere in the world it is already New Year's Eve!

So, if you are planning a dip in the winter sun and want to double the holiday cheer, plan your holidays with Travelnetcuba and Cubatours for New Year's Eve. Do not hesitate to contact our team of specialists to organize a tailor-made New Year's Eve to remember. Write to us! sales@travelnetcuba.com and you will have your proposal.