Before You Book: The Current Situation
The UK FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to Cuba, a warning first issued in February 2026 and still in place. It's about strain on the island's infrastructure, not violence against tourists: nationwide power outages, fuel shortages, and knock-on disruption to transport and services.
Since June 2026, international Visa and Mastercard no longer work anywhere in Cuba, at hotels, ATMs, or shops. Bring all the cash you'll need for the trip. Travelling against FCDO advice can also invalidate standard travel insurance, so check your policy wording before you book anything non-refundable.
Tourism is still running and plenty of people are still travelling, but this is not a turn-up-and-wing-it year. Check the official FCDO advice for Cuba before you book, and again before you fly.
Why Cuba, Why Now
Cuba doesn't do subtle. It's a country that hits you immediately, the colour, the music spilling from every doorway, the smell of cigar smoke and saltwater, that surreal first sight of a 1957 Chevrolet rolling past crumbling colonial grandeur. It's like nowhere else on earth, and that's not a cliche. There are no fast food chains here, no global hotel brands, no Instagram-optimised tourist district.
What there is: chaotic, beautiful, complicated travel that gets under your skin in a way polished destinations simply don't. Right now it also takes a bit more planning than most trips, cash, patience, a backup plan for power cuts. This guide covers all of it, honestly, including the bit most blogs skip.
Best Time To Visit
It's warm all year in Cuba. What changes is the humidity, the rain and the storm risk, so pick your month around those three.
Nov to Apr, Dry Season
21-26C, blue skiesThe easiest window. Lower humidity, dependable sun, and the most comfortable conditions for walking Havana's streets or the cobbles of Trinidad.
Dec to Feb, Coolest
Never cold, low 20sCCuba's coldest stretch still sits in the low 20sC, so no coat required. Long daylight hours too, nearly 11 hours even in December.
May & Nov, Shoulder
Fewer crowds, better pricesNot guaranteed dry, but noticeably quieter and cheaper than peak season. November tends to be the safer bet of the two as the rains start to ease.
Jun to Nov, Hurricane
Hot, humid, showeryHurricane season, with the highest caution from late summer into early autumn. Rain tends to come in short heavy bursts rather than all-day washouts.
Planning around the current disruption? Power and fuel shortages aren't tied to any particular season, so check the FCDO advisory close to your travel dates regardless of when you're going. For weather planning specifically, our Best Time To Visit Cuba guide breaks it down month by month.
See Cuba in 60 Seconds
A minute of Havana's Malecon, Vinales at sunrise and a lot of very old, very loved cars. Then read on for the full story.
Video coming soon
Cuba is a country where colourful colonial streets, classic American cars, white-sand beaches, and rich musical traditions create a destination unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. In just 60 seconds, we’ll explore the vibrant streets of Havana, the tobacco fields of Viñales, the colonial charm of Trinidad, the crystal-clear waters of Varadero, and a culture shaped by history, music, and resilience. Whether you’re travelling for the history, the beaches, the culture, or the atmosphere, Cuba is a destination that stays with you long after you’ve left.
Book The Essentials
The exact booking sites we use ourselves. Nothing here we wouldn't personally recommend.
What To Expect
The practical stuff, minus the waffle.
Capital
Havana anchors nearly every trip, colonial grandeur, classic cars, and Old Havana's UNESCO-listed core.
Language
Spanish is the official language. Hello is "hola" and thank you is "gracias". English is limited outside hotels, so a phrasebook earns its keep here.
Currency
The Cuban Peso (CUP). It runs an official exchange rate and a much higher informal one that move independently, so a single "today's rate" figure goes stale fast. Check El Toque for the informal rate close to travel, or just ask your casa host.
Cards & ATMs
Since June 2026, international Visa and Mastercard don't work anywhere in Cuba, not in shops, not at ATMs. Bring all the cash you need in Euros or Canadian Dollars for the best rates, and hold some back as a buffer.
Plugs
Types A, B, C and L, running at 110/220V and 60Hz. Grab a universal adapter before you go, and expect the occasional power cut regardless.
Safety
Low rate of violent crime and petty theft is the main realistic risk, same as most tourist destinations. The bigger factor right now is infrastructure: power cuts, fuel shortages and knock-on transport disruption. See the advisory note above before booking.
Entry Requirements
Most visitors need a Cuban e-Visa, which replaced the old paper tourist card in July 2025, plus the online D'Viajeros customs and health form completed shortly before you fly. Mandatory travel insurance too, checked on arrival.
Never Ever
Don't drink the tap water, even though it's technically drinkable in places. Stick to bottled to avoid an unpleasant stomach, and carry printed copies of your documents given how patchy internet access can be.
Live Weather in Havana
Straight from the source, updated as you read this.
24°C
- Temperature
Explore Cuba
Old Havana to Vinales, classic cars to coral reefs. The essential six to start with, and everything new lands below as we publish it.
Havana, Cuba: 20 Essential Things You Must Know Before You Go
The classic cars, the Malecon, the currency confusion. Everything to land in Havana already knowing what's going on.
Read the guide10 Best Things To Do In Havana, Cuba
Old Havana on foot, a Malecon sunset, live salsa in a courtyard bar. The list to work from on your first visit.
See the listTop 10 Places to Visit in Cuba: Tropical Treasures
Vinales, Trinidad, Cienfuegos and the beaches worth the detour. The shortlist beyond Havana.
Explore the listThe Best Time To Visit Cuba: A Season to Season Guide
Dry season, hurricane season, and the shoulder months that quietly work best. A month-by-month breakdown.
Read the guideCuba Travel Tips For First-Timers: Honest Advice
Cash, connectivity, casa particulares and the small stuff that makes a first Cuba trip go smoothly.
Get the tips20 Things You Need to Know Before Travelling to Cuba
Entry requirements, the e-Visa, the D'Viajeros form and the current advisory, laid out in one place.
Read before you bookLatest Cuba Articles
Every new Cuba guide we publish lands here automatically.
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Cuba Cost?
Surprisingly affordable if you know where to spend and where to save. Prices in pounds, with dollars and euros alongside. Cuba prices in a genuinely dual-rate currency, so we've kept the peso out of the table below and flagged it separately.
Backpacker
- Casa particulares from about £16 / $21 / €18.5 a night
- Street food and peso cafeterias
- Viazul buses and shared colectivos
- Free beaches, walking and salsa nights
Mid-Range
- Private casa rooms and budget hotels
- Local paladares and restaurant meals
- Viazul buses, plus the odd classic car ride
- Guided tours, museums, rum bars
Upscale
- Luxury hotels and Varadero resorts
- Fine dining and cocktail bars
- Private guides and vintage car tours
- Catamaran trips to Cayo Largo
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Real prices in pounds, with dollars and euros alongside. Pick a category.
Budget
Mid to Luxury
City Travel
Long Distance
Eat Cheap
Eating Out
Budget Fun
Big Experiences
10 Ways to Save Money in Cuba
Cuba is already good value. These squeeze a fair bit more out of it.
Tap water isn't safe and bottled adds up fast over a fortnight. A LifeStraw or Grayl pays for itself quickly.
USD transactions carry a surcharge wherever they're accepted at all. Change into pesos and pay locals directly.
Cheaper than hotels, more authentic, and breakfast is usually included. Booking through a host also gets you local advice on the current situation.
Roughly half the price of tourist restaurants for food that's often better.
Tourist taxis are priced for tourists, full stop. Viazul and shared colectivos cost a fraction of the same route.
Expected for taxis, classic car tours and markets. Not expected at paladares or shops with fixed menus.
Sunscreen, toiletries and basic medicine are scarce and expensive here. Pack more than you think you need.
Wi-Fi is limited, patchy, and sold in cards by the hour. Sort your maps and guides while you've still got signal at home.
Havana and Trinidad both run good ones. Tip your guide well, since that's genuinely their income.
May to November brings lower prices and quieter beaches, though it's also hurricane season, so weigh the trade-off.
Getting Around Cuba
Cuba's transport situation is unique at the best of times, and current fuel shortages add another layer. Here's how to navigate it without losing your mind or your budget.
Colectivos
Best for flexible intercity travel on a budget. Faster than Viazul and cheaper than a private taxi, once you accept they leave when full.
- Quick and affordable between cities
- More flexible than a fixed bus timetable
- Depart when full, so waiting is part of the deal
Viazul Coaches
Best for intercity travel between the main tourist stops. Air-conditioned and reliable, but you need to book ahead, especially now.
- Cheapest fixed-route intercity option
- Covers Havana, Vinales, Trinidad and the coast
- Fills up fast, book several days ahead if you can
Car Hire
Best for exploring the countryside and Vinales at your own pace. Expensive, and worth confirming fuel availability before you commit.
- Total freedom around the island
- Access to remote beaches and the Vinales valley
- Expensive, and fuel shortages can complicate a route
Classic Cars
Best for short city hops and the iconic Havana experience. A 1950s convertible cruise along the Malecon is worth doing once.
- An unmissable, genuinely Cuban experience
- Widely available across Havana
- Tourist rates versus local rates, always agree the fare first
Cycling
Best for Vinales, Cienfuegos and rural stretches. Havana traffic is chaotic on two wheels, but the countryside is a different story.
- From about £8 / $10.5 / €9 a day
- Perfect for the Vinales valley trails
- Bumpy roads and zero bike lanes in the cities
Coco Taxis & City Taxis
Best for short hops within a city. Coco taxis are the little yellow three-wheelers, fun for a laugh, negotiate before you climb in.
- Cheap and everywhere in Havana
- Good for short hops when it's too hot to walk
- No meters anywhere, agree the price first every time
Which Is Right For You?
Walk it, plus local peso buses or a coco taxi.
Viazul coach, booked ahead, or a colectivo.
Hire a car, and book it early.
Colectivo or an overnight Viazul.
Quick Tips
Visa and Mastercard have not worked in Cuba since June 2026. Cards aren't accepted on public transport, in most taxis, or at bus stations either.
Buses fill fast, and current disruption makes that worse. Book at least a few days ahead wherever you can.
Power and fuel shortages can shift quickly. Check gov.uk before you book and again before you fly.
Wi-Fi is scarce outside hotels and main plazas. Download Maps.me or Google Maps offline before you leave.
coming soon
Related Resources
Because good trips still hit bumps, and Cuba trips more than most right now. Here's the backup plan.
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here's how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Read the GuidesTheft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won't see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Protect YourselfTravel Insurance
Non-negotiable in Cuba, and worth double-checking the wording given the current advisory. We compare policies and explain what you actually need.
Find the Right PolicyCuba Travel FAQs
The questions we get asked most, answered honestly.
Is it currently safe to travel to Cuba?
Do international cards work in Cuba?
Can Americans visit Cuba?
Do I need a visa to visit Cuba?
What currency should I use in Cuba?
Is Cuba safe from a crime perspective?
Is travel insurance mandatory in Cuba?
What's the internet situation like?
When is the best time to visit Cuba?
How many days do I need in Cuba?
Travel Hubs Worth A Look
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