Highlights
Old Havana (La Habana Vieja)
A UNESCO-listed historic centre of plazas, colonial palaces and baroque churches, including the Plaza de la Catedral and Plaza Vieja. Walk the Malecón, the long seafront promenade, at sunset, and catch the nightly cannon ceremony at the fortress across the harbour.
Viñales Valley
Limestone hills called mogotes rise out of red-earth tobacco fields in the west. Visitors ride horses or walk to family farms to see how cigars are rolled, explore caves and stay in local guesthouses.
Trinidad
A colonial town of cobbled streets and pastel houses, with live music on the steps beside the main square in the evenings. Nearby are the Valle de los Ingenios, a UNESCO-listed valley of former sugar plantations, and the beach at Playa Ancón.
Cienfuegos
A bayside city founded by French settlers, with a grand central park, a neoclassical theatre and a waterfront peninsula, Punta Gorda, lined with ornate mansions. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Santiago de Cuba
The country's second city, in the east, has a strong Afro-Caribbean influence and is known as a home of son music and carnival. The Castillo del Morro fortress guards the entrance to the bay.
Varadero and the northern cays
Varadero is a long beach peninsula lined with resorts. Further east, causeways link the mainland to cays such as Cayo Santa María and Cayo Coco, with white sand and shallow turquoise water.
Zapata Peninsula
A large wetland on the south coast, protected as a biosphere reserve, with mangroves, birdlife and crocodiles. Its coast is known for diving and snorkelling along reefs close to shore.
Interesting facts about Cuba
- The bee hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world, is found only in Cuba.
- Old Havana and its fortifications were listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1982.
- Many of the classic American cars on Cuban streets date from the 1950s and have been kept running for decades with improvised parts.
- Ernest Hemingway lived near Havana for many years, and his house, Finca Vigía, is now a museum.
- Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean by area.
Best time to visit
The dry season, roughly from November to April, is the most comfortable time to visit, with warm days and lower humidity, and it is also the busiest. May to October is hotter and wetter, with heavy afternoon showers. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk usually from August to October; check forecasts and insurance if travelling then. Christmas, New Year and Easter are peak periods.
Practical information
| Capital | Havana |
|---|---|
| Currency | Cuban peso (CUP) |
| Languages | Spanish |
| Plugs | Type A, B, C |
| Voltage | 110 V, 60 Hz in most places; some hotels also have 220 V sockets |
| Emergency | 106 police, 104 ambulance, 105 fire |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Tips are widely expected and important to people working in tourism, including guides, drivers, waiters, musicians and guesthouse staff. |
Getting around
Long-distance tourist buses connect the main destinations such as Havana, Viñales, Cienfuegos and Trinidad, but seats are limited, so book ahead. Shared taxis, often classic cars, run between cities and can be arranged through guesthouses. Within cities, use taxis, bicycle taxis or walk; agree the fare before you set off. Car rental is possible but availability is limited and fuel can be scarce. Domestic flights and trains exist but schedules can be unreliable.
Staying connected in Cuba
Mobile data is available in Havana and other cities and has improved in recent years, but speeds can be slow and coverage is patchy in rural areas, on the cays and in the mountains. Public Wi-Fi hotspots exist in some parks, squares and hotels, often requiring access cards, and hotel Wi-Fi is frequently slow. Some websites and apps may not work normally. Power cuts can affect service. Download offline maps, translation packs and booking confirmations before you travel, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Cuba eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Cuba
- Maps.me or Organic Maps: Detailed offline maps of Cuban cities and roads that work without a connection.
- Google Translate: Download Spanish for offline use; English is limited outside tourist areas.
- WhatsApp: Widely used to contact guesthouses, drivers and guides when you have data.
- XE Currency: Offline currency conversions; exchange rates in Cuba can vary, so check what you are being offered.