Cuba
Cuba is a time capsule like no other — the largest island in the Caribbean, where 1950s American cars cruise past crumbling Spanish colonial facades, salsa pours from every doorway, and the rhythms of son cubano, rumba and reggaetón form the soundtrack of daily life. Havana's Malecón seawall at sunset, with waves crashing against the rocks and locals gathering to socialise, is one of the great urban scenes on earth. Old Havana (UNESCO) is a labyrinth of baroque churches, art deco theatres, cigar factories and rooftop bars. Trinidad (UNESCO), frozen in the 19th century, is Cuba's best-preserved colonial town. The Viñales Valley — limestone mogotes rising from tobacco fields — produces the world's finest cigars. Varadero stretches 20 km of white sand into the Caribbean. And everywhere, live music: from Buena Vista Social Club veterans in Havana to son bands in Santiago de Cuba.
Booking links go to our partner Trip.com — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cuba Entry Requirements & Tourist Card
Cuba requires most visitors to obtain a Tourist Card (Tarjeta del Turista) rather than a traditional visa. The tourist card allows stays up to 30 days (extendable once for 30 more days in Cuba) and is purchased from airlines at check-in, travel agents, or Cuban consulates before departure. Cost: USD 25-100 depending on source and nationality. US citizens require a specific pink tourist card and must travel under one of 12 authorised categories (“Support for the Cuban People” is the most flexible for general travel). All travellers need a valid passport, proof of travel insurance covering Cuba (mandatory — purchased before arrival or at the airport), proof of sufficient funds, and return or onward ticket. Critical: US credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba due to the embargo. Bring sufficient cash in Euros, Canadian dollars or British pounds — USD can be exchanged but incurs an additional penalty fee. Extensions are processed at immigration offices in major cities for approximately USD 25.
Visa types
Tourist Card (General - Green)
For most nationalities (except US citizens) visiting Cuba for tourism. Purchase from airline check-in, travel agent or Cuban consulate before departure. Simple process — fill in your details, present at immigration on arrival.
Tourist Card (US Citizens - Pink)
For US citizens travelling to Cuba under one of 12 authorised categories. “Support for the Cuban People” is the most commonly used for general travel. Document your activities. Hotel restrictions may apply.
Business Visa (D-6)
For business travel, conferences and professional activities not covered by the tourist card. Requires invitation from a Cuban entity. Apply through a Cuban consulate.
Family Visit Visa (A-2)
For Cuban-Americans or family members visiting relatives in Cuba for extended periods. Multiple entries allowed. Requires proof of Cuban family ties.
Guides
Cuba is unlike anywhere else in the Americas. Havana alone could fill a week: the UNESCO-listed Old Havana with its baroque churches, plazas and cigar factories; the Malecón seawall where all of Havana gathers at sunset; the Vedado district's modernist architecture and Fábrica de Arte Cubano (a converted cooking-oil factory turned cultural centre); and the Hemingway trail — La Bodeguita del Medio for mojitos, El Floridita for daiquiris, Finca Vigía where he wrote The Old Man and the Sea. Trinidad, frozen in the 19th century, is a UNESCO gem of pastel-coloured colonial houses, cobblestone streets and Afro-Cuban drumming in the Casa de la Música. The Viñales Valley is Cuba's most dramatic landscape — limestone mogotes rising from vivid green tobacco fields, with farmers still drying leaves in traditional thatched barns. Varadero is a 20 km strip of white Caribbean sand. The Bay of Pigs (Playa Girón) has surprisingly excellent snorkelling and diving along the reef. Santiago de Cuba, the eastern capital, is the cradle of son cubano, carnival and revolutionary history. And through it all, the music: live salsa, son, timba and trova in bars, on street corners, in Casa de la Trova venues across the island. Cuba also happens to be extraordinarily affordable outside resort enclaves — a casa particular (private homestay) for USD 15-30, a full meal for USD 3-8, and a classic car taxi ride for a few dollars.
Cuba travel guide →
The full guide — two food systems, transport by system not distance, and the fewer-stops plan.
Money in Cuba →
Cash-first CUP, blocked US cards and EUR/CAD in the wallet — the practical money guide.
Eating in Cuba →
Two systems, one island — the libreta and plain home cooking, the paladar scene visitors actually meet, and the dishes worth knowing.
Getting around Cuba →
Plan for the system, not the distance — Viazul's real limits, collectivos and the honest car-rental caveats.
Health & safety in Cuba →
Insurance that's mandatory and actually checked, connectivity to plan around, pharmacy reality and street sense.
Cities & planning
Plan your trip
Booking links go to our partner Trip.com — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Regions
Embassies & missions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Cuba?
Most visitors don't need a traditional visa — instead you need a Tourist Card (Tarjeta del Turista), purchased from airlines at check-in, travel agents, or Cuban consulates before departure, valid for 30 days and extendable once.
How much does the Tourist Card cost, and where do I get it?
It typically costs USD 25-100 depending on where you buy it and your nationality — airline check-in, a travel agent, or a Cuban consulate before departure. It's also available at some airports on arrival, but at a higher price.
I'm a US citizen — are there extra requirements for me?
Yes — US citizens need a specific pink tourist card (USD 50-100) and must travel under one of 12 authorised categories, with “Support for the Cuban People” the most flexible for general travel. Keep records of your activities and expenditures, since some hotel restrictions also apply.
Is travel insurance really required for Cuba?
Yes, it's mandatory for all visitors and must specifically cover Cuba. Buy it before arrival if possible — it's available at the airport but more expensive there, and proof may be requested at immigration.
Can I use my US credit or debit card in Cuba?
No — US credit and debit cards don't work in Cuba due to the embargo, even cards from US-based banks if you're not American. Bring sufficient cash in Euros, Canadian dollars or British pounds; USD can be exchanged but incurs a penalty fee.
What currency does Cuba use?
The Cuban Peso (CUP) for most everyday transactions. The CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) — a different, older currency — was abolished in 2021, but Cuba still runs a second currency alongside CUP: MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible), a digital-only tourist currency used at state-run shops. Exchange rates fluctuate significantly, and the informal rate typically differs substantially from the official one, so check current rates rather than budgeting off a fixed figure.
Can I extend my Tourist Card once I'm in Cuba?
Yes — it's extendable once for 30 additional days at immigration offices in major cities, for approximately USD 25. Bring a passport photo with you.
Will I have reliable internet access in Cuba?
Internet is limited and slow. WiFi is available in parks, hotel lobbies and ETECSA centres via scratch cards, but connections are spotty — download offline maps and content before you arrive.
Planning a trip to Cuba? Compare hotels and flights and book in minutes.
Booking links go to our partner Trip.com — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.