Cuba · AmericasCuba
Vintage Chevrolets, salsa rhythms, crumbling baroque Havana, and pristine beaches
from $50/day Very safeculturebeach
Quick Facts
Capital
Havana
Best airport
José Martí International (HAV)
Visa
Tourist Card (tarjeta del turista) - ~$25, available at airlines/airports
Currency note
US debit/credit cards do not work - bring cash
Avg temp
25–30°C / 77–86°F year-round
Safety
Very safe
Vibes
culturebeachmusicuniqueadventure
Best Time to Visit
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best months This month
Daily Budget
Backpacker
$50
per day
Mid-range
$100
per day
Luxury
$250
per day
Top Experiences
🏛️Free to walk / $20 guided
Havana Walking Tour
Stroll Habana Vieja's UNESCO-listed cobblestoned streets past pastel colonial buildings and art deco facades
🏖️Free
Varadero Beach
23km of powder-white sand and turquoise Caribbean water - Cuba's premier resort beach
🌄$5 park fee
Vinales Valley
UNESCO landscape of dramatic limestone mogotes, tobacco farms, and cave systems in Pinar del Río
Must-Try Food
Ropa Vieja
Shredded slow-braised beef with tomatoes, peppers, and olives - Cuba's beloved national dish
Mojito
The real thing: white rum, fresh mint, lime, sugar, and soda - invented in Havana at La Bodeguita del Medio
Cubano Sandwich
Ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles on pressed Cuban bread - born in Florida, perfected in Cuba
Getting Around
🚌
Viazul bus$15–40
Cuba's tourist intercity bus - reliable, air-conditioned, book ahead online or at Havana terminal
🚗
Taxi colectivo$5–20
Shared classic car taxis that follow fixed routes - cheap and fast once you find one heading your way
🚲
Bicitaxi$1–3
Three-wheeled bicycle taxi for short city hops - negotiate price firmly before getting in
🚙
Rental car$60–100/day
Expensive and scarce - book months in advance; petrol stations are also limited outside Havana
Cultural Tips
Cuba has a dual currency system - bring USD or Euros; cards from US banks do not work at all
Wifi is on ETECSA cards bought at hotels/post offices - expect to be mostly offline outside resorts
Photography is generally fine but avoid military installations, border guards, and police
Paladares (private family restaurants) consistently offer better food at better prices than state restaurants
Power cuts are common - carry a torch and charge devices whenever power is available
Despite its political situation, Cuba remains one of the safest countries for tourists in the Caribbean
Hidden Gems
Baracoa - Cuba's oldest city in the far east, surrounded by rainforest, cocoa plantations, and El Yunque flat-topped mountain
Playa Ancón - Trinidad's beautiful beach without the Varadero crowds
Valle de los Ingenios - valley of old sugar plantation ruins and watchtowers east of Trinidad
Going beyond the trip?
Explore the Cuba country profile
Cost of living, visas, healthcare, taxes, expat life and everything you'd need to actually move and stay long-term.