Cuba travel guide

Getting there

Most international flights arrive at Havana's José Martí International Airport (HAV), with others landing at Varadero, Santa Clara, Holguín and Cayo Coco. There are no regular international ferry services.

Best time to visit: Nov–Apr – dry, warm weather and less humidity.

Tougher months: No bad time – but August to October brings the most rain, heat, humidity and the peak of hurricane season.

Weather by month in Havana

• 26°J●
• 27°F●
• 28°M●
• 29°A●
• 30°M●●
• 31°J●●
• 32°J●●
• 32°A●●
• 31°S●●●
• 29°O●●
• 28°N●
• 27°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: America/Havana. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 21 of 198 other passports can enter Cuba without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 155 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 22 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Cuba (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-05-07). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Cuba travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Cuba are based around Havana, Viñales or Trinidad. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$40–60 for a backpacker and US$90–160 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Cuba page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: A, B, C, L. Voltage: 110 V / 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +53.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Havana (Capital · culture & architecture): A captivating city of colonial squares, Art Deco buildings, music venues and the iconic Malecón.
• Viñales (Pinar del Río · countryside): A lush valley of tobacco fields and limestone hills, perfect for hiking, cycling and caving.
• Trinidad (Sancti Spíritus · colonial town): One of the best-preserved colonial towns in the Caribbean, with nearby beaches and waterfalls.
• Cienfuegos (South coast · French-influenced city): An elegant bayside city with neoclassical architecture and a grand central park.
• Santiago de Cuba (East · music & history): The heartland of Cuban son and Afro-Cuban culture, rich in revolutionary history.
• Varadero (Matanzas · beach resort): A long, white-sand peninsula with calm water and many all-inclusive resorts.
• Baracoa (Far east · nature & history): Cuba's oldest town, surrounded by rainforest, rivers and cacao plantations.
• Jardines del Rey (North cays · beaches): A chain of islands including Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, linked by causeway to the mainland.

Things to do

• Wander Old Havana. Lose yourself among the colonial plazas, crumbling mansions and lively street life of La Habana Vieja.
• Ride in a classic car. Cruise the Malecón seafront in a gleaming 1950s convertible as the sun sets over the sea.
• Dance to live son and salsa. Join locals at a Casa de la Música or neighbourhood bar where bands play late into the night.
• Visit tobacco farms in Viñales. Hike or ride horses through a valley of limestone mogotes and learn how cigars are rolled by hand.
• Step back in time in Trinidad. Stroll cobbled streets lined with pastel colonial houses in this UNESCO-listed town.
• Stay in a casa particular. Sleep in a family home and enjoy hearty home-cooked breakfasts and local insight.
• Relax on Cayo beaches. Lounge on the white sands of Cayo Santa María, Cayo Levisa or Varadero beside turquoise water.
• Explore Santiago de Cuba. Feel the Afro-Caribbean beat of Cuba's second city and visit the clifftop Castillo del Morro.

Source: full Cuba guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Ropa vieja – shredded beef in tomato sauce
• Moros y cristianos – black beans cooked with rice
• Lechón asado – slow-roasted pork
• Yuca con mojo – boiled cassava with garlic and citrus sauce

Source: RoamSun Cuba guide

Money and safety

Currency: Cuban peso (CUP). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Appreciated; about 10% in restaurants, and tip musicians and guides.

Emergency numbers: 106 police · 104 ambulance · 105 fire.

• Cash is still essential in Cuba; foreign cards, especially those issued by US banks, often don't work.
• Bring enough cash for your trip and check the latest advice on currencies and exchange options before you go, as rules change frequently.
• Violent crime against tourists is rare, but watch out for pickpockets and scams in Havana.
• Be wary of friendly strangers ('jineteros') steering you to particular restaurants, casas or cigar sellers.

Source: RoamSun Cuba facts