🇨🇺 Cuba travel essentials
Everything you need to plan a trip to Cuba — climate, currency, packing essentials, public holidays, voltage and plug types, and what locals actually wear.
Top cities in Cuba
Local style + dress code
Havana is hot + humid + the AC is non-existent. Linen, linen, linen. Cobblestones in Habana Vieja — sturdy walking shoes.
Dress code: very casual
Public holidays in Cuba
Plan around national holidays — many businesses close, transport gets busier, and prices for flights/hotels can spike.
Cost of living & travel — Havana
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Lodging assumes single occupancy or shared dorm; food covers 3 meals + a coffee/drink; transit covers metro and short rides; activities cover one paid attraction per day.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $30 | $95 | $285 |
| Food | $18 | $38 | $125 |
| Transit | $6 | $12 | $35 |
| Activities | $18 | $35 | $90 |
| Daily total | $72 | $180 | $535 |
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person. Actual spend varies with season, neighborhood, and trip style.
Visas & entry rules
Top-passport entry rules for Cuba — quick reference, but always confirm with the destination's official consulate before booking flights:
| Passport | Rule | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US passport | Visa required | — | Tourist card required; OFAC general licence categories also apply for US citizens. |
| 🇬🇧 UK passport | Visa required | up to 30 days | Tourist card via airline or consulate. |
| 🇪🇺 EU passport | Visa required | up to 30 days | — |
| 🇨🇦 Canadian passport | Visa required | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇦🇺 Australian passport | Visa required | up to 30 days | — |
Last reviewed 2025-2026. Visa rules change with little notice; this table is informational and not legal advice.
Plan a trip to Cuba
Use one of our planning tools to figure out exactly when and how to go:
What to pack
Each city has month-by-month packing lists computed from local climate data — temperatures, rainfall, peak hazard seasons, and Cuba's dress code.