Havana

Vibrant Streets, Timeless Rhythms

Havana welcomes visitors with wide boulevards lined by vintage American cars and pastel-colored buildings that reflect decades of history. The city’s rhythm comes from music spilling onto sidewalks, lively markets filled with local crafts and the smell of coffee drifting from corner cafés. Historic forts stand near modern neighborhoods where artists work in open studios. Street life thrives along the Malecón, a long waterfront road where residents gather to watch sunsets over the ocean. Each district tells part of Cuba’s story through its architecture, food and daily routines.

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City in Cuba

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.8

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	5

Read details

3/5

English is moderately spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and some restaurants. Learning a few basic Spanish phrases can greatly enhance your experience.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Havana Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Read how our scores work

Excellent for vintage culture and music. Ride classic cars, walk colorful colonial streets, enjoy live salsa music and relax in historic plazas.

Place score

7.3

Best at:

Guided tours

Street food

Architecture

Historic sites

Music

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

Cuba – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	110 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Cuban Peso (CUP) £1 ≈ CUP 31.96
Cashless info:	Rating 2/5 Cashless payments are not widely accepted in Cuba, and credit cards from U.S. banks do not work. Cash is essential. Most transactions are done in Cuban Pesos (CUP); the Convertible Peso (CUC) was abolished in 2021. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	We cannot recommend an eSIM provider for this country. We advise getting a local SIM card.

Tipping:	Tipping is common in Cuba, especially in restaurants, with a typical tip ranging from 5-10%. It is also appreciated by hotel staff and tour guides.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in Cuba, particularly in areas like streets and parks, though alcohol is served in licensed venues like bars and restaurants.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces like restaurants and public transport, but smoking is allowed in designated outdoor areas.

Liberation Day (1 January)	National holiday celebrating the triumph of the 1959 revolution
Christmas (25 December)	Celebrated with family gatherings and local festivities

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 106 (Police), 104 (Ambulance), 105 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber (limited availability in some areas)
Other:	Cuba is famous for its history, culture, and natural beauty, including pristine beaches and colonial architecture. While the country is still developing, it remains a popular destination for travellers.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Havana, Cuba

☀️

Jan

☀️

Feb

☀️

Mar

🔥

Apr

🔥

May

🌦️

Jun

🔥

Jul

🔥

Aug

🔥

Sep

🌦️

Oct

☀️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - April, Dec.
Shoulder season:	May, Nov.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Hurricane season June to November, peak risk August to October

Dry season November to April is best for sightseeing, rainy season May to October

Havana Jazz Festival takes place in January, drawing visitors from around the world

Don't miss

🏘️ Stroll through colorful streets of Old Havana
🌅 Watch sunset along the famous Malecón promenade
🗼 Visit the historic José Martí Memorial tower
🎭 Explore the grand Gran Teatro de La Habana
🖼️ Discover art at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
🎶 Enjoy live Cuban music and salsa dancing

You've been here?

Why travel to Havana?

Havana's charm lies in its blend of crumbling colonial architecture, lively music and warm, welcoming people. The city is a living museum with a unique blend of history, culture and creativity. However, the infrastructure can be a bit rough around the edges, so come with an open mind and a spirit of adventure.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Museum of the Revolution
2 Revolution Square
3 El Malecón
4 Havana Old Square
5 Callejón de Hamel
6 Tres Reyes del Morro's Castle
7 National Capitol
8 Fusterlandia
9 Gran Teatro de La Habana

🎡Places for activities

1 Rum museum
2 Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
3 La Bodeguita del Medio
4 Jazz Café
5 Hotel Nacional de Cuba
6 Floridita
7 Fábrica de Arte Cubano
8 Cabaret Tropicana

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Cojímar
2 Playas del Este
3 Bosque de La Habana Isla Josefina
4 Las Terrazas
5 Parque Lenin
6 Parque Almendares

🛍️Shopping

1 Galerías Paseo
2 Mercado UNICO de Cuatro Caminos

🎈Events

Havana Biennial (Art)
Havana Jazz Festival
Havana Film Festival
Carnival of Havana
International Ballet Festival
Fiesta del Fuego (Santiago de Cuba)
Havana World Music Festival
Habano Cigar Festival
Day of Cuban Culture
Book Fair of Havana

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Carry USD cash; ATMs unreliable and cards rarely accepted.
Book classic car tour for iconic ride through colorful colonial streets and Malecón seawall.
Wear comfy shoes for uneven cobblestones and explore Old Havana's vibrant plazas on foot.
Stay in casa particular for authentic homestay experience with home-cooked meals and local insights.

How to travel to Havana

Arrive via José Martí International Airport (HAV), which connects to major cities in North America, Europe and Latin America. Cruise ships also dock in Havana Harbor, making it accessible by sea.

Access summary

From José Martí Airport (HAV): Taxi to central Havana, about 30–45 minutes.
From Varadero: Long-distance buses or private transfers, typically around 2–3 hours.
From other Cuban cities: Viazul intercity buses to Havana, journey times vary 3–10 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Havana

Havana offers a mix of hotels, casas particulares (private homestays) and guesthouses. Staying in a casa particular is a great way to experience Cuban hospitality and support local families.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

We couldn't find any nearby hotels for now.

How to get around Havana

Havana is best explored on foot, especially in Old Havana. Taxis, classic cars and 'Coco Taxis' are popular for short distances. Public buses (Guaguas) are very affordable but often crowded and not tourist-friendly.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-63 %

Daily expenses in Havana are around 63% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-2 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CUP) is 2% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£37	£76	£205
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£45	£120
🍝 Food per day	£14	£25	£72
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£5	£12

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.80
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.80
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6
☕ Cappuccino	£0.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.95
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£7
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.10

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£0.85
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£47
🤧 Cold medication	£8
💇 Basic haircut	£27

Safety information overview

General safety

Havana is generally safe, but petty theft can occur. Be cautious with your belongings, especially in crowded places and avoid isolated areas at night.

Health & Medical

Medical care is generally available, but supplies can be limited. It’s wise to bring any needed medications and basic medical supplies with you.

Accessibility

Accessibility can be challenging in Havana due to uneven streets, limited infrastructure and fewer facilities for visitors with mobility needs. Plan accordingly.

Tap water

Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Stick to bottled water and avoid ice in drinks unless you're sure it was made with purified water.