Fast Facts

Babysitters -- Your hotel front desk is your best bet for finding a babysitter.

Bookstores -- In La Habana Vieja, check out La Moderna Poesía, Calle Obispo 527 (tel. 7/861-6640), or La Librería Internacional, Calle Obispo 526 (tel. 7/861-3283), which are directly across the street from each other. In Vedado, head to Ateneo, Calle Linea, between Calles 12 and 14 (tel. 7/833-9609).

Currency Exchange -- Currency exchange offices are ubiquitous around Havana. There are branches of the state-run casa de cambio CADECA (tel. 7/855-5701) throughout Havana, as well as at the airport and in the lobbies of most major hotels. Most banks will also exchange money.

Dentists -- Hospital Cira García, Calle 20 no. 4101, Playa (tel. 7/204-4300 or 204-2811; www.cirag.cu), and other major medical centers also provide dental care. If you want a specific recommendation, contact your embassy, or ask at your hotel's front desk. Alternately, you can contact Asistur (tel. 7/866-4499; www.asistur.cu), which can help you with dental emergencies.

Doctors -- Cuba has a surfeit of doctors and many hotels catering to tourists have one or two on staff. If not, your hotel is still probably your best bet for a recommendation. You can also try contacting your embassy or Asistur (tel. 7/866-4499; www.asistur.cu), which specializes in emergency medical care and insurance for travelers.

Drugstores -- Well-stocked drugstores are few and far between in Havana. There's a 24-hour pharmacy at the international terminal of the José Martí airport (tel. 7/266-4105). The pharmacies at the Hotel Plaza (tel. 7/861-5703) in La Habana Vieja, and Tryp Havana Libre (tel. 7/838-4593) in Vedado, are usually decently stocked. In Miramar, you can try the Farmacia Internacional, Avenida 41 and Calle 20 (tel. 7/204-2051), also at Avenida 3 and Calle 82 (tel. 7/204-4515) and Avenida 7 and Calle 26 (tel. 7/204-7980).

Emergencies -- Dial tel. 106 for police; tel. 838-1185 or 838-2185 for an ambulance; and tel. 105 for the fire department. At none of these numbers can you assume you will find an English-speaking person on the other end. Also, you can try contacting Asistur (tel. 7/866-4499), which specializes in emergency medical care for travelers.

Express Mail Services -- The main office of DHL, Calle 26 and Avenida 1, Miramar (tel. 7/204-1578; www.dhl.com), will pick up and deliver anywhere in Havana. EMS Cubapost, Calle 21 no. 1009, between Calles 10 and 12, Vedado (tel. 7/831-3328), is a Cuban-run express mail service with a desk at most post offices.

Eyeglasses -- Look for the word óptica. Optica Miramar, Avenida 7 and Calle 24, Miramar (tel. 7/204-2269), is one of the better ópticas catering to foreign residents and visitors. It has a branch in downtown Havana at Calle Neptuno 411, between San Nicolás and Manrique (tel. 7/862-1292).

Hospitals -- Your best bet is Hospital Cira García, Calle 20 no. 4101, Playa (tel. 7/204-4300 or 7/204-2811; www.cirag.cu), which provides emergency services and long-term care. Another possibility is the Hospital Hermanos Almeijeiras, Calles San Lázaro and Belascoaín, Centro Habana (tel. 7/876-1000).

Internet Access -- Internet access is becoming more common and available in Havana. The most popular Internet cafe in town is located at El Capitolio. The rate here is CUC$5 (US$5.40/£2.70) per hour, and the 10 machines here are often booked solid. Aside from this, your best options are the various hotels with business centers and/or Internet cafes; most of these charge between CUC$6 and CUC$8 (US$6.50-US$8.65/£3.25-£4.30) per hour, with even higher rates occasionally charged at the fancier hotels. Alternately, you can go to any Etecsa office. These offices sell disposable access cards at CUC$6 (US$6.50/£3.25) per hour, which are good at any Internet-equipped Etecsa office in the country. There's one at Calles Obispo, corner of Calle Habana, in La Habana Vieja.

Maps -- The various Infotur booths and kiosks around town sell a pretty decent map of Havana for CUC$1 (US$1.10/55p); sometimes they'll even give you a copy for free. Most rental-car agencies and hotels can also give you a copy of the same, or a similar, map. The Cuban Geographic and Cartographic Institute publishes a couple of much more detailed maps of Havana, including the Ciudad de la Habana Mapa Turistica, which you can get at most tourist gift shops and Infotur kiosks. You'll also find good maps online at www.cubaroutes.com and www.cubamapa.com. The best road map to Cuba is the Guía de Carreteras published by Limusa; it can be bought at El Navegante, Calle Mercaderes 115 between Obispo and Obrapía.

Photographic Needs -- Most of your photographic needs will be met by the rival chains of Photoservice and Photoclub. Their shops offer 1-hour or overnight developing services and usually carry an assortment of film and some replacement batteries. Between the two chains, there are numerous outlets across Havana. For any repairs or more complicated needs, try Fotografía Luz Habana, Calle Tacón 22, between Calles O'Reilly and Empedrado, La Habana Vieja (tel. 7/863-4263).

Police -- Dial tel. 106. Although it's possible for someone who speaks English to be rounded up, do not expect to find an English-speaking person on the other end. In the event of serious danger, you are probably better off contacting your embassy (nonlicensed U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. Interests Section only as a last resort).

Post Office -- Most major hotels either have small post office branches, or will sell you stamps and post letters. This is generally your best bet, as the correos (public post office branches) are often crowded and inefficient. In La Habana Vieja, there's a correo on the west end of the Plaza de San Francisco. There's another on the side of the Gran Teatro toward the Capitolio. Both are open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 5pm.

Safety -- Havana is a very safe city. There's a strong police presence and street crime is uncommon, especially in tourist areas. But because streetlights are virtually nonexistent, it's wise to avoid the dark alleys and side streets of Havana after dark. Popular tourist spots are relatively safe at night. Still, given the vast economic gap between Cubans and tourists, you should be careful about where you walk and whom you engage. It is best not to wear much jewelry or make other showy signs of wealth.