Cuba is unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. A country where 1950s American cars roll past colonial palaces, and where salsa dancing, or Casino spills out of open doorways. If you're planning a Cuba trip, this guide covers things you need to know to make it happen.
Why Visit Cuba Now?
Cuba has been quietly changing. Private, family-run restaurants (paladares) have exploded in number and quality. Boutique, family-run accommodations (casas particulares) now rival hotels. The government has expanded Wi-Fi access in parks and public squares.
Traveling to Cuba for tourism is prohibited for Americans unless your travel is under one of 12 Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) categories. The most common is under the "Support for the Cuban People" travel category. You don't need a tour group — you need documentation that your activities involve direct contact with Cuban people, which includes staying at casas particulares, eating at paladares, and engaging with local culture.
Top Destinations in Cuba
1. Havana
Havana is where most travelers start their journey. Old Havana (Habana Vieja) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 500 years of layered history — Spanish baroque churches, neoclassical plazas, Art Deco apartment towers, and revolutionary murals.
- Plaza de la Catedral: The crown jewel of colonial Havana, anchored by the 18th-century Catedral de San Cristóbal.
- El Malecón: Havana's legendary 5 miles or 8 kilometers long seawall promenade — the best place to watch the sunset, join locals, and enjoy the ambience of the city.
- Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC): This Cuban Art factory is a converted cooking-oil factory turned multi-level art space, gallery, bar, and concert venue. Open Thursday–Sunday nights. Entry is about $2.
- Hotel Nacional de Cuba: Even if you don't stay here, explore it. This 1930 landmark hosted everyone from Winston Churchill to Nat King Cole.
- Centro Habana: The more authentic neighborhood between Old Havana and Vedado — this is daily Cuban life up close.
2. Viñales
Three hours west of Havana, the Viñales Valley is a UNESCO-listed landscape of limestone mogotes (flat-topped hills), red-soil tobacco fields, and jaw-dropping scenery. This is where Cuba's famous cigars begin — you can visit small tobacco farms (vegas) and watch farmers roll cigars by hand. Horseback riding through the valley is the classic Viñales experience, typically costing $20–$30 for a half-day ride.
3. Trinidad
Trinidad, on Cuba's southern coast, is a perfectly preserved 16th-century Spanish colonial town — cobblestone streets, pastel-colored houses with terra cotta roofs, and a central plaza. The town buzzes at night when the famous Casa de la Música stairs fill with dancers and the music of son cubano. Nearby, Playa Ancón offers the closest Caribbean beach experience, with the backdrop of the Escambray Mountains.
4. Cienfuegos
Founded by French settlers in 1819, Cienfuegos has a distinctly different feel — neoclassical architecture, a bayside malecón, or jetty, and a relaxed pace. The Palacio de Valle, a Moorish-Gothic mansion on the bay, is one of Cuba's most photogenic buildings. Cienfuegos pairs perfectly with Trinidad on a southern Cuba itinerary.
5. Varadero
If you want a classic Caribbean beach vacation, Varadero delivers — 12 miles or 20 km of white sand on a narrow peninsula east of Havana. All-inclusive resorts line the beach, and the water is warm, calm, and crystal-clear. Varadero is touristy, but it's also genuinely beautiful. Budget consideration: day-trip from Havana instead of staying at a resort.
6. Baracoa
At Cuba's far eastern tip, Baracoa is the island's original colonial settlement (founded 1511) and its most isolated city. Reached by winding mountain roads or a short flight, Baracoa feels like a different country — tropical rivers, coconut forests, the flat-topped El Yunque mountain, and a cuisine built around cacao and coconut that exists nowhere else in Cuba.
How Much Does Cuba Cost?
Cuba is one of the most affordable Caribbean destinations if you travel like a local:
- Casa particular: $25–$50/night for a private room with air conditioning, and often including breakfast.
- Paladar meal: $8–$20 for a full dinner at a good private restaurant. Street food: $1–$3.
- Classic car taxi in Havana: $30–$40/hour for a private tour in a vintage convertible.
- Viazul bus (Havana to Trinidad): $25 one-way, about 6 hours.
- Shared taxi (colectivo): $20–$30 per person between major cities. Faster than the bus.
- Daily budget: $50–$80/day for mid-range travel (casa + paladares + public transport). $150+/day for hotels and taxis.
Essential Cuba Travel Tips
- Currency: Cuba uses the Cuban Peso (CUP). U.S. Credit and Debit cards cannot be used in Cuba, so you need to bring cash. Euros, Canadian dollars, and USD can be exchanged at the airport, hotels, and CADECA exchange offices.
- Internet: Wi-Fi is available through ETECSA hotspots in parks and hotel lobbies. It's slow, so definitely download maps, translation apps, and entertainment before you arrive. Additionally, ETECSA offers a SIM card called Cubacel Tur for connectivity in Cuba. There is an ETECSA kiosk at Concourse C at José Martí International Airport, the CubaTur office at Varadero Airport, or any ETECSA Commercial Office.
- Best time to visit: November–April (dry season). Less humidity, lower tropical storm risk, and pleasant temperatures around 77-82°F or 25–28°C. July–October is hot and humid with the greatest risk for tropical storms.
- Visa: Most visitors need a tourist card (tarjeta de turista), available from your airline or through agencies. Americans need it plus documentation that falls under one of OFAC's 12 travel categories. It is also important to note that only the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. processes visa applications.
- Medical Insurance: Cuba requires all visitors to have medical insurance, check with your airline to determine if it is included in airline ticket prices, especially on flights originating in the United States. If you don't have insurance, it can be purchased at an airport kiosk for Asistur Medical Insurance (state-owned insurance broker that meets Cuba travel regulations).
Cuba rewards travelers who come with patience, curiosity, and of course, cash. While slightly inconvenient, it just takes a little bit of planning for an unforgettable adventure in a country we know a little less about, but one that provokes quite a bit of interest and curiosity.