Ride in a 1950s classic American car through Havana
Thousands of pre-embargo American cars remain in daily use as taxis, kept running through decades of improvised mechanical ingenuity.
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Things to do in Cuba
1950s American cars still running as daily transport, live son and salsa spilling out of Havana's streets, and a Caribbean coastline with some of the region's least-developed beaches.
Explore Cuba on the map →Budget$
Best for7-10 days
CapitalHavana
VisaMost travelers now need an electronic visa (e-Visa) linked to Cuba's D'Viajeros digital entry form before arrival. US citizens face separate US legal restrictions: pure tourism is prohibited, but travel is permitted under one of 12 OFAC-authorized categories, most commonly 'Support for the Cuban People,' self-certified when booking.
CurrencyCuban peso (CUP); US dollars and euros widely used informally
LanguagesSpanish
InternetLimited and slow by international standards, improving but still inconsistent outside Havana
Typical lodging$20–$50/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage110–220V / 60Hz (Type A/B plug, mixed)
Time zoneUTC-4 to UTC-5
Emergency number106 (police) / 104 (ambulance)
Dialing code+53
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Nightlife★★★★★ Beaches
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Stick to bottled or filtered water. 10–15% at restaurants is standard; often added automatically.
Cuba's isolation from mainstream US tourism for decades left Havana's colonial architecture and classic-car culture frozen in a way found nowhere else in the hemisphere. The country also built one of the world's most respected medical and public health systems despite decades of economic embargo, a point of national pride visible in its well-staffed clinics even in small towns.
When to go
Dry seasonDecember–April
The most popular and reliable window, with lower humidity and minimal rain, also the priciest and busiest period.
Early wet seasonMay–June
Increasing rain and humidity but still good beach weather, with fewer crowds and lower prices.
Hurricane season (peak)August–October
The highest risk period for tropical storms and hurricanes, monitor forecasts closely if traveling in this window.
Late wet seasonJuly, November
Hot and humid with a lower hurricane risk than peak season, and a reasonable value shoulder period.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
12Wander Havana's Old Town (Habana Vieja)
A UNESCO-listed colonial core of restored plazas and crumbling facades side by side, best explored slowly on foot over a full day.
Explore the colonial town of Trinidad
A near-perfectly preserved 16th-century sugar-boom town, with cobbled streets and pastel houses that see far fewer visitors than Havana.
Explore Havana's Malecón seafront promenade
An 8-kilometre seawall where the city gathers each evening to fish, socialize, and watch waves crash over the wall at high tide.
Visit the Museum of the Revolution in Havana$5–10
Housed in the former presidential palace, tracing Cuba's revolutionary history through artifacts, photographs, and unmistakably pointed captions.
Explore the Bay of Pigs and its museum$5–10
The site of the failed 1961 US-backed invasion, with a small local museum and now also popular for its nearby snorkeling and diving.
Stay in a casa particular, a private Cuban homestay
Family-run guesthouses offer a direct, income-supporting alternative to state hotels, often with home-cooked breakfast included.
Walk the streets of Cienfuegos, 'the Pearl of the South'
A French-influenced colonial port city with neoclassical architecture, quieter and less touristed than Havana or Trinidad.
Watch a baseball game in Havana
Cuba's most popular sport by far, with passionate crowds at Havana's Estadio Latinoamericano during the regular season.
Explore Santiago de Cuba, the cultural cradle of the revolution
Cuba's second city and birthplace of son music, with a strong Afro-Cuban cultural identity distinct from Havana's.
Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through a colonial town
A common and practical way to get around smaller towns like Trinidad or Remedios, where car traffic is limited by design.
Visit the ExpoCuba grounds or a local art market
Contemporary Cuban art has a strong independent scene, with galleries and markets in Havana selling work directly from working artists.
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Adventure & outdoors
2Snorkel or dive the Jardines de la Reina reef
A protected marine park off Cuba's south coast with some of the Caribbean's healthiest coral and shark populations, reachable mainly by liveaboard.
Hike or horseback ride through Viñales Valley
Dramatic limestone karst formations rise from tobacco and coffee farmland, with trails and horseback routes through the valley floor.
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Nightlife
1Dance salsa at a Havana live music club
Live son, salsa, and Afro-Cuban rhythms fill clubs and street corners most nights: Casa de la Musica is a classic, but smaller neighborhood spots are often better.
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Beaches
1Relax on the beaches of Varadero
Cuba's most developed resort beach, with a long stretch of white sand and turquoise water, popular for all-inclusive stays.
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Food & drink
4Tour a working cigar farm in Viñales Valley
Limestone mogote hills surround tobacco farms still using traditional hand-rolling methods, with tastings straight from the grower.
Drink a mojito or daiquiri at a Hemingway haunt in Havana
El Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio both claim ties to Ernest Hemingway's Havana years and still serve the cocktails he's associated with.
Eat ropa vieja at a Cuban paladar
Shredded, slow-braised beef in tomato sauce, a national comfort dish best eaten at a private, family-run paladar restaurant.
Sample Cuban coffee at a street-side cafeteria window
Strong, sweet, and served in small cups from walk-up windows found on nearly every block: a genuine daily ritual, not a café sit-down.
Common questions
▾Can US citizens legally travel to Cuba?
Yes, under one of 12 OFAC-authorized categories, most commonly 'Support for the Cuban People', this requires a full schedule of activities supporting Cuba's private sector (staying in private homes, eating at private restaurants, using independent taxis) and keeping records for five years. Pure tourism remains prohibited under US law.
▾What documents do I need to enter Cuba?
Most travelers now need an e-Visa applied for online before departure, linked to Cuba's D'Viajeros digital entry form which generates a QR code required at arrival. You'll also need proof of travel insurance valid in Cuba and proof of onward travel.
▾Can I use US credit or debit cards in Cuba?
No. Due to the embargo, US-issued cards don't work in Cuba. Bring sufficient cash (euros or Canadian dollars often exchange more favorably than US dollars) for your entire trip.
▾Is internet access reliable in Cuba?
No. Internet remains limited, slow, and often requires purchasing scratch cards for public WiFi hotspots in parks and hotel lobbies rather than in-room connections. Plan for significant time offline.
▾Is Cuba safe for tourists?
Violent crime against tourists is rare, and most visits to Havana, Varadero, and Trinidad are trouble-free with normal precautions against petty theft and scams.
▾How much do museums and attractions cost in Cuba?
Most state museums charge foreign visitors in the range of $5-10 USD equivalent, noticeably more than the token amount locals pay in Cuban pesos, a two-tier pricing structure common across the country given its dual-currency history. Carrying small USD or euro cash is worth it since card acceptance remains limited.