🛫 How to Get There
Getting to and around Cuba
✈️ Flying to Cuba
Main Airports
José Martí International Airport (HAV) — Havana's main gateway, 18km from the city centre. Most international flights arrive here. Terminal 3 handles the majority of scheduled international services.
Other International Airports:
- Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport (VRA) — Varadero, the main resort hub. Direct charter flights from Europe and Canada make this a popular entry point for beach holidays.
- Antonio Maceo Airport (SCU) — Santiago de Cuba, the island's second city and cultural capital of the east.
- Abel Santamaría Airport (SNU) — Santa Clara, useful for central Cuba and Trinidad.
💡 Insider Tip
Flying into Varadero (VRA) on a charter can be significantly cheaper than flying to Havana. If you're planning to include both a beach stay and a Havana visit, start in Varadero and bus west on Viazul — straightforward and inexpensive.
🚕 From Havana Airport to City Centre
Official Taxi (Fastest Option)
State Cubataxi vehicles queue outside the arrivals hall. The fixed rate to Old Havana (Habana Vieja) is approximately 25–35 CUP at the official exchange rate. Negotiate and agree the fare before getting in. Journey time: 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Private Casa Particular Transfer
Many casa particulares (private guesthouses) arrange airport transfers for guests. Agree in advance via WhatsApp. Typically cheaper than official taxis and door-to-door.
Bus P12 (Cheapest Option)
The public P12 bus connects the airport to the city centre for a few pesos. Very slow, crowded, and infrequent — practical for independent budget travellers who are not carrying much luggage and have time.
🚢 Other Ways In
Cruise ships — Havana's cruise terminal is in Old Havana. Many Caribbean cruises include a Havana stop. Check current cruise line schedules as port access fluctuates depending on US policy changes.
From Mexico — Havana and Cancún have direct air connections. Aeromexico and Cubana operate the route. Flight time: 1.5 hours. A common routing for travellers arriving from the US on third-country tickets.
From Canada — Air Canada, WestJet, and Sunwing operate direct charters and scheduled flights from Toronto, Montreal, and other Canadian cities. Canada is Cuba's top source of tourists.
From Europe — Direct flights from Madrid (Iberia), London (Virgin Atlantic, Thomson), Paris, and several German and Dutch cities. Flight time from Madrid: 9.5 hours.
US citizens — US law restricts tourist travel to Cuba. Americans must travel under one of 12 authorised categories (educational, journalistic, etc.). Most fly via Mexico City, Cancún, or Panama City on third-country carriers. Always verify current regulations before travelling.
🛂 Visa & Entry Requirements
Cuba requires a Tourist Card (tarjeta de turista) for most nationalities. This is not a visa but a pink or green card that allows a 30-day stay (extendable once for another 30 days at an immigration office in Cuba). Citizens of many countries can obtain the Tourist Card at their departure airport or from a Cuban consulate in advance.
You also need proof of travel insurance valid in Cuba — this is a legal entry requirement and checked at the border. Most travel insurance policies cover Cuba; verify before you fly.
Check Tourist Card requirements for Cuba →🚗 Getting Around Cuba
Viazul Buses (Best for Independent Travellers)
Cuba's tourist bus network run by Viazul connects all major cities and tourist destinations. Air-conditioned, reliable, and inexpensive. Havana–Trinidad: around 12 hours, ~600 CUP. Havana–Varadero: 3 hours, ~200 CUP. Book ahead online at viazul.com.
Shared Taxis (Colectivos)
Old American cars and modern Ladas operating as shared taxis between cities. Faster than Viazul and often similar price if you fill the car. Ask at your casa particular — they can usually arrange one. Popular for Havana–Viñales and Havana–Trinidad.
Domestic Flights
Cubana and Aero Caribbean operate domestic routes between Havana and Santiago, Holguín, and Camagüey. Book early — seats are limited and availability is unpredictable. Useful for the Havana–Santiago leg if time is short.
🎫 Travel Tip
Viazul seats sell out weeks in advance during high season (December–March, July–August). Book as soon as your itinerary is confirmed. Colectivos are a good backup if Viazul is full — cheaper and faster too.
🚋 Local Transportation in Havana
Havana's local transport is an adventure in itself. Official state taxis, private coco-taxis (yellow egg-shaped three-wheelers), bicitaxis (cycle rickshaws), and classic car tourist taxis all operate alongside extremely crowded public buses (guaguas).
Tickets & Costs
- Local P-buses: A few pesos per journey — extremely cheap but very crowded and often unreliable
- Coco-taxi: Fun for short hops — agree the price (in CUP) before boarding. Typically 50–150 CUP within central Havana
- Classic car taxi: Tourist prices — expect 500–1,500 CUP per trip depending on distance. Always agree fare upfront
- Official Cubataxi meter taxis: Available via phone, reliable, metered in CUP
There is no Uber, Bolt, or ride-sharing app in Cuba. All taxis are state-run or informal private operators. Have cash (CUP) ready — card payment is not accepted in taxis.
🚙 Renting a Car
Rental cars in Cuba are available through state agencies (Cubacar, Rex, Havanautos) at airports and major hotels. Supply is extremely limited — book months in advance for peak season. Expect to pay around $60–100 USD per day including insurance.
Things to Know
- Drive on the right side of the road
- Roads in cities are generally good; rural roads can be very poor (potholes, no road markings, animals)
- Fuel (gasoline) is available at Servicentros — carry cash as cards often don't work
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h on main roads
- Night driving outside cities is strongly discouraged — hazards include unlit cyclists and livestock on the road
⚠️ Important
Car rental in Cuba is far more expensive and complicated than in most countries. Supply shortages are common. If you can manage your itinerary using Viazul buses and colectivos, that's usually more reliable than depending on a rental car.
🚗 Compare Rental Cars for Cuba
Compare prices and book your rental car:
💰 Money-Saving Tips
- Book Viazul early: Seats fill up weeks ahead in high season — book online as soon as your dates are confirmed
- Use colectivos: Shared private taxis between cities are often faster than Viazul and similar in price when the car is full
- Avoid airport taxis for everything: State taxis from the airport charge a premium — once in the city, local taxis and coco-taxis are much cheaper
- Walk central Havana: Old Havana, Vedado, and Centro Habana are all walkable — save taxi money for longer distances
- Exchange money at official CaDECA offices: Better rates than hotels and airports for converting foreign currency to CUP