Skip to content
wheretotravel.info
Vintage car on Cuban street at dusk with streetlights

Cuba travel guide

Havana, provincial cities and Caribbean coast, best visited from December to March

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec

Photo: JudiHa / Pixabay

Capital
Havana
Language
Spanish
Currency
Cuban peso (CUP)
Time zone
UTC-05:00
Plugs
Type A, B · 110 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
106 / 104 / 105

Why visit Cuba

Cuba suits travellers who want to mix city time with the coast. Start in Havana, the capital, then head to coastal cities such as Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba or Varadero, or inland to Santa Clara and Camagüey. The best months are December, January, February and March. Spanish is the main language, so a few phrases help. One practical limit: power is 110 V with type A and B plugs, so many visitors need an adapter and should check their devices.

  • Havana, a capital on the sea

    Havana is Cuba's capital and its largest city by a wide margin. It sits on the coast, so you can combine city streets with time by the water in a single trip. Many visitors start and end their journey here.

  • Dry-season months to aim for

    The best months to visit are December, January, February and March. If you have a choice, plan your trip for this window. Outside it, you may find the weather less comfortable, so check conditions before booking other months.

  • More coast beyond the capital

    Several other Cuban cities lie on the coast. These include Santiago de Cuba, the second-largest city, the smaller Cienfuegos and the resort town of Varadero. This lets you choose between a larger city base and a quieter seaside stop.

  • Inland cities for a different view

    Not all of Cuba is about the beach. Camagüey, Santa Clara and Pinar del Río are all inland cities. Adding one or more of them to a route shows you a side of the country that coastal stays miss.

  • Straightforward to plan a road trip

    Cuba uses one time zone, and cars drive on the right. Spanish is the official language, so some basic phrases will help a lot outside tourist areas. A route linking Havana, Santa Clara, Camagüey and Santiago de Cuba connects the main cities.

Is Cuba right for you?

Great for

  • Winter-sun seekers: December to March brings highs of 26–27°C and 4 or fewer rain days.
  • Dry-season trips in January, February and March, with only 17–20 mm of rain a month.
  • Coastal city trips: Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos and Varadero all sit on the coast.
  • Spanish speakers and learners, since Spanish is the country's language.
  • North American visitors: Cuba uses UTC-05:00, 110 V power and type A and B plugs.

Less ideal for

  • Travellers who dislike rain: May to October has 13–17 rain days a month.
  • Heat-sensitive travellers in July and August, when highs reach 30°C and lows stay near 28°C.
  • Anyone seeking cool weather: even January nights stay around 23.5°C.
  • Visitors with European or UK devices: sockets are 110 V with type A and B plugs.

Cuba right now: October

4.4/10
Avg high
29°C
Avg low
27°C
Rain days
17

Averages for Cuba.

Weather by month

Climate data for Cuba (2015–2024) shows December to March is the best time to go, with highs of 26–27°C, only 3.5 to 4 rain days and 17–29 mm of rain a month. Avoid August, the lowest-scoring month, with highs of 30.2°C and 15.5 rain days; May to October is wet overall, and October is the rainiest month at 151 mm.

Average highs and lows in Cuba by month January: high 26°C, low 24°C , 4 rain days . February: high 26°C, low 24°C , 4 rain days . March: high 27°C, low 24°C , 4 rain days . April: high 28°C, low 25°C , 6 rain days . May: high 28°C, low 26°C , 15 rain days . June: high 29°C, low 27°C , 16 rain days . July: high 30°C, low 28°C , 13 rain days . August: high 30°C, low 28°C , 16 rain days . September: high 30°C, low 28°C , 16 rain days . October: high 29°C, low 27°C , 17 rain days . November: high 28°C, low 26°C , 8 rain days . December: high 27°C, low 25°C , 4 rain days . 26°C 24°C JAN 4d 26°C 24°C FEB 4d 27°C 24°C MAR 4d 28°C 25°C APR 6d 28°C 26°C MAY 15d 29°C 27°C JUN 16d 30°C 28°C JUL 13d 30°C 28°C AUG 16d 30°C 28°C SEP 16d 29°C 27°C OCT 17d 28°C 26°C NOV 8d 27°C 25°C DEC 4d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Cuba (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Cuba: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Havana, the south coast and Varadero

  1. Day 1–3

    Havana

    Start in the capital, the biggest city on this route. Spend your first days walking its neighbourhoods and seafront. Get used to the Cuban peso (CUP) and the pace of travel here.

  2. Day 4–5

    Cienfuegos

    Head to this smaller coastal city on the south side of the island. It is quieter than Havana, so slow down, walk the centre and spend time by the water.

  3. Day 6

    Santa Clara

    Stop for a day in this inland city on your way back north. It gives you a look at everyday Cuban life away from the coast.

  4. Day 7

    Varadero

    End on the north coast in Varadero, a small coastal town. Use your last day to rest by the sea before you leave.

10 days

Across Cuba from Havana to Santiago

  1. Day 1–3

    Havana

    Begin in the capital and largest city on the route. Give yourself 3 days to walk its districts and seafront. Settle into local money and transport before heading east.

  2. Day 4–5

    Cienfuegos

    Move to this coastal city on the south side of the island. Its smaller size makes it an easy place to explore on foot and relax by the water.

  3. Day 6

    Santa Clara

    Spend a day in this inland city in the centre of the island. It works well as a break on the long trip east.

  4. Day 7–8

    Camagüey

    Continue east to Camagüey, one of the larger inland cities. Take 2 days to walk its streets and see a side of Cuba that fewer short trips reach.

  5. Day 9–10

    Santiago de Cuba

    Finish in Santiago de Cuba, the second-biggest city on this route, on the coast in the far east. Spend your last days exploring it at an easy pace.

Food to try in Cuba

Ropa vieja

Shredded beef slowly cooked in a tomato sauce with peppers and onions. It is often called Cuba's national dish and is usually served with white rice at lunch or dinner.

Moros y cristianos

Black beans and white rice cooked together in one pot. It is a standard side dish, and you will find it with many home-style meals across the country.

Lechón asado

Roast pork marinated in mojo, a sauce of sour orange and garlic. It is the classic dish for Christmas Eve and big family celebrations, and it also appears on restaurant menus.

Tostones

Slices of green plantain, fried, flattened and fried again until crisp. They are eaten as a side dish with meat or as a salty snack.

Mojito

A cocktail of white rum, lime juice, sugar, fresh mint and soda water. It is closely linked with Havana bars, but you can order it almost anywhere in Cuba.

Café cubano

Very strong, sweet espresso with the sugar whipped in as it brews. Cubans drink it in small cups throughout the day, often at street coffee windows.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Cuba uses plug types A and B, the flat-pin kind, at 110 V. Bring an adapter if your plugs differ. Check that your chargers and devices accept 110 V before you plug them in.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you rent a car, plan your routes before you set off and give yourself time to adjust.
  • Emergency numbers: Cuba uses several emergency numbers: 106, 104 and 105. Save all 3 in your phone before you arrive, and ask your host which service each one reaches.
  • Currency: The official currency is the Cuban peso (CUP). Payment rules and exchange options can change, so check the latest advice shortly before you travel and bring a backup way to pay.
  • Language: Spanish is the official language. Learn a few basic phrases and carry key addresses written down. This helps with taxis, directions and small shops.
  • Time and phone code: Cuba runs on UTC-05:00. The country calling code is +53, so use it when you share a Cuban number with people back home.
  • Tap water: Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled or treated. Most visitors use bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth.

Cuba: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Cuba?

The best time to visit Cuba is December to March. These months score 8.6 to 9.2, the highest of the year. Rain is low, with 3.5 to 4 rain days and 17 to 29 mm a month. Highs stay between 26.3°C and 27.2°C. April is also rated best, with a score of 8.1, but rain days rise to 5.7.

Is Cuba good to visit in August?

No. August is the one month we rate avoid, with the lowest score of the year at 3.9. It has 15.5 rain days and 114 mm of rain. It is also the hottest month, with highs of 30.2°C. Nights give little relief, with lows of 27.6°C. If August is your only option, plan for rain on about half the days.

When is the rainy season in Cuba?

The rainy season in Cuba runs from May to October. In these months there are 12.8 to 16.5 rain days and 72 to 151 mm of rain each month. October is the wettest, with 151 mm. It still gets 10.3 sun hours a day. All six months are rated ok, except August, which is rated avoid.

Is November a good time to go to Cuba?

Yes. November is rated good, with a score of 6.4. Rain drops to 7.5 days and 63 mm, down from 16.5 days and 151 mm in October. Highs are 28.2°C. If your dates are flexible, December is better. It has only 3.9 rain days and scores 8.6.

How hot is Cuba during the year?

Cuba is warm all year. Highs run from 26.3°C in January to 30.2°C in August. Lows never fall below 23.5°C, so you will not need warm clothes at any time. The hottest stretch is July to September, when highs are 29.9°C to 30.2°C and lows are about 27.5°C.

What plugs, voltage and currency does Cuba use?

Cuba uses plug types A and B at 110 V. The currency is the Cuban peso (CUP), and the main language is Spanish. Cars drive on the right. The time zone is UTC-05:00. The emergency numbers are 106, 104 and 105. The calling code is +53.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Cuba.