Cuba
Republic of Cuba
Caribbean · CUB
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Cuba
Cuba rewards travelers who want architecture, music, beach time, and a very different Caribbean trip from the standard resort formula. It works best as Havana plus one or two contrasting stops such as Trinidad, Vinales, or a beach extension, rather than a rushed full-island sweep that spends too much time in transit.
Popular For
Things To See
- Havana
- Trinidad
- Vinales Valley
- Varadero
- Cienfuegos
- Plaza Vieja
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- November through April is the easiest broad window for a first visit.
- Transport and bookings can run slower than travelers expect, so a short itinerary should stay focused on just a few stops.
- Cuba pays off most when you mix city time with one rural or beach leg instead of treating it as only a classic-car Havana trip.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Cuba.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Cuba Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Cuba.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Havana
- Population
- 9,748,007
- Area
- 109,884 km²
- Region
- Caribbean
Languages
- Spanish
Currency
Cuban convertible peso ($)
CUC
Cuban peso ($)
CUP
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
41.8
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 41.2
- Restaurants
- 26.3
- Rent
- 11.4
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Havana (23.12°N, 82.35°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
82/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 48/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.762
High human development
- 5-year change
- -0.007
- 10-year change
- -0.009
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.975
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.296
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.723
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (9)
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Camagüey
Inscribed 2008
- 🏛️
Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos
Inscribed 2005
- 🌿
Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
Inscribed 2001
- 🏛️
Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Viñales Valley
Inscribed 1999
- 🌿
Desembarco del Granma National Park
Inscribed 1999
- 🏛️
San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba
Inscribed 1997
- 🏛️
Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios
Inscribed 1988
- 🏛️
Old Havana and its Fortification System
Inscribed 1982
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 15.6%
- Forest cover
- 31.2%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 10
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 17
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
40/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
83/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated to reflect information on power grid failures and Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) licenses for travel. Exercise increased caution in Cuba due to crime and unreliable electrical power. Country Summary: Petty crime is a risk for travelers in Cuba. This includes pick pocketing, purse snatchings, and car break-ins. Violent crime, including armed robbery and homicide, is also on the rise in Cuba. U.S. law and regulation prohibit travel to, from, or within Cuba for tourist activities. OFAC regulates travel to, from, and within Cuba by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, defined to include, among other things, all U.S. citizens or residents (wherever located) and anyone in the United States, regardless of their citizenship and nationality. Failure by a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction to act consistently with the regulations may result in penalties and criminal prosecution. Travel to Cuba without an OFAC license is illegal. Cuba's electrical supply is unreliable. Since October 2024, there have been several prolonged nationwide power outages. Scheduled and unscheduled power cuts lasting up to 12 hours occur daily in Havana, and even longer outside the capital. Some large businesses, hotels, hospitals, and institutions use generators during power outages. However, they may have trouble keeping the generators running during a long outage due to the inconsistent and scarce availability of fuel. U.S. citizens in Cuba or those planning to visit should check local news often to stay up to date. In Cuba, peaceful assembly and freedom of speech are not protected rights. U.S. citizens should avoid protests or demonstrations. U.S. Embassy employees must follow a special notification process with the Government of Cuba to travel outside of Havana. This process can impact the embassy's ability to help U.S. citizens in Cuba during emergencies. If a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction travels to Cuba consistent with 1 of the 12 travel categories authorized by a general OFAC license, the person would not need to apply for a specific OFAC license for the travel transactions. For non-tourist travel that is not otherwise covered by a general license, a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction must seek a specific license from OFAC to authorize the travel. For travel questions, check 31 C.F.R. 515.560 and OFAC’s Frequently Asked Questions. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Cuba. If you decide to travel to Cuba: Stay aware of your surroundings. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Prepare for prolonged power outages by: Keeping mobile phones and portable battery banks charged. Having flashlights and spare batteries easily accessible. Stocking up on nonperishable food and water. Preparing alternative methods to meet your medical needs (medical devices requiring power, medicines requiring refrigeration, etc.) Obtain any required OFAC licenses as it is illegal to travel to Cuba without an appropriate license. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. We highly recommend buying insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data