In general
Documents and visa
You need a passport valid for more than 6 months and the tourist visa (the 'tarjeta del turista'), now in electronic form (e-Visa): obtained via the flight's tour operator, online or at the Cuban consulate. Valid travel health insurance is also COMPULSORY and may be checked on entry. Important note: visiting Cuba makes you ineligible for the US ESTA (you will need a US visa for future trips to the USA).
Currency and cash (essential)
The currency is the Cuban peso (CUP). This is the most important point: BRING CASH in euros or US dollars, because due to the US embargo the credit cards of many banks (especially those linked to US networks) do NOT work, ATMs are unreliable and often out of cash. The exchange rate is very volatile: change small amounts at a time. Declare foreign-currency sums over USD 5,000 at customs. Budget cash for the whole trip: you will not be able to withdraw reliably.
Blackouts and power
Due to a severe energy deficit, Cuba suffers frequent and long power cuts nationwide, even in Havana: blackouts can last entire days. Bring a charged power bank, a torch and keep your phone charged; outside the cities even fuel can be scarce (stock up). Many casas particulares and hotels have generators, but not all. It is part of the experience of a country in difficulty: travel with flexibility and patience.
Language
The language is Spanish, spoken fast and musically. English is understood in the tourist sector (hotels, guides, casas), much less by ordinary people: a few words of Spanish help enormously and open the hearts of the Cubans, who are warm and sociable.
Health and vaccines
No mandatory vaccine. Healthcare is state-only and quality has worsened greatly: hospitals with precarious hygiene and often lacking materials; those for foreigners are better but must be paid for. Insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation is COMPULSORY and essential. Dengue, Chikungunya, Oropouche and Hepatitis A are present: use mosquito repellent, drink only bottled water, no ice, and eat cooked food or peeled fruit. Bring a small personal first-aid kit (medicines are scarce here).
eSIM and connectivity
The only operator is the state-run ETECSA. Connectivity is slow and limited: you can buy a tourist SIM (Cubacel) or an ETECSA eSIM with a data package, but the signal is weak and the internet is often patchy, worsened by the blackouts. Download maps, documents and bookings OFFLINE before leaving. Consider Cuba a chance to disconnect: updating social media will be hard, and that is fine.
Electricity
Voltage is mostly 110V/60Hz (in some hotels also 220V), with type A and B 'US-style' sockets (flat blades) and sometimes European type C. Bring a universal adapter and check the voltage before plugging in non-dual-voltage devices. Given the frequency of blackouts, a power bank is almost essential.
Time zone and climate
Cuba is at UTC-5 (with daylight saving), about 6 hours behind central Europe. The climate is tropical: the dry season (November-April) is the best time, warm and pleasant; from May to October it is very hot and humid and is hurricane season, with possible tropical storms that can strain infrastructure. Pack light clothing, repellent and a poncho.
Good to know
Staying in casas particulares
The best and most authentic way to sleep in Cuba is in casas particulares, rooms in the homes of licensed Cuban families: you directly support the people, eat very well (the home-cooked dinners are often the best meal) and get in touch with the island's real life. They are widespread and cheap at every stop. Book the first nights, then it is easy to find new ones on the spot, also through word of mouth between owners.
Getting around
Between cities you travel by Viazul tourist buses (comfortable but to be booked in advance), by shared taxis (the 'colectivos', often shared old American cars) or by hiring a car with driver, a convenient option given fuel scarcity and not-always-signed roads. In town vintage cars act as taxis: always agree the price first. Transport can be cancelled or delayed: leave buffers and travel with a flexible spirit.
Safety
Cuba was long very safe, but the economic crisis has led to a rise in petty crime (theft, bag-snatching and, more rarely, robbery) including against tourists, especially in Havana and at night. Carry only the bare essentials, avoid flaunting valuables and cash, and at night prefer known taxis. Be wary of 'jineteros', the touts offering cigars, restaurants or exchanges at suspicious rates. Otherwise, Cubans are welcoming and hospitable.
Eating, tipping and drugs
Cuban cuisine is simple: ropa vieja (shredded beef), rice and beans (moros y cristianos), pork, fish and tropical fruit, all washed down with rum and mojitos. For the best variety rely on the casas and the 'paladares' (private restaurants). Tips, in euros or dollars, are much appreciated and help concretely: leave something for waiters, musicians and guides. Drugs are severely punished (up to very harsh penalties for trafficking): avoid them entirely.
Useful numbers
- 106 — Police
- 104 — Ambulance / medical emergency
- 105 — Fire brigade
- +53 7 2045615 — Italian Embassy in Havana (weekend/holiday emergencies: +53 5 2805417). For other nationalities, contact your own country's embassy
💡 The golden rule for Cuba is just one: BRING ALL THE CASH you will need, in euros or dollars, because cards often don't work and you won't be able to withdraw. Add health insurance (compulsory), a power bank for the frequent blackouts, repellent and plenty of patience. In return you get a unique country, suspended in time, among music, vintage cars and people of rare warmth. Travel in the dry season (Nov-Apr).