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Back to Artemisa

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Voykit pocket guide · Cuba

Artemisa

Skip Artemisa unless you have a specific reason (family, work, a bus transfer). It is a provincial capital with one museum and a pizza stand, not a destination: zero hours.

Artemisa is the capital of the province created in 2011, a quiet town of about 60,000 people on the Carretera Central between Havana and Pinar del Río. It has a small history museum, a mausoleum and a pizza place that locals like. There is no public transport, limited accommodation and no reason to stop unless you are passing through on a collective taxi.

HavanaBaracoaCamagüeyCayo CocoCayo GuillermoCayo LargoCiego de ÁvilaCienfuegosFloridaGuanaboGuanajayGuantánamo BayGuantánamoHolguínArtemisa100 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Cuba
Best months
Nov–Apr
Avoid
May–Oct (rain and heat)
Stay
0 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
CUP
Money
Currency is the Cuban peso (CUP). There are three official rates: 24 and 120 CUP per US dollar for state accounting, and a managed "floating" rate launched in December 2025 (about 680 CUP per US$1 in late September 2026). The informal street rate tracked by elTOQUE was about 730 CUP per US$1 on 26 September 2026. Rates move weekly — check before you go (checked 2026-09).
Daily spend
Budget CUP 1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid CUP 2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High CUP 4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
ETECSA is the only operator; tourist SIMs and eSIMs are sold with passport at the airport and ETECSA offices (check eSIM).
Emergency
Police 106 · Ambulance 104 · Fire 105
Plugs
Types A, B, C, L · 110 V and 220 V · 60 Hz · Casas often have both; check before plugging in.
Tipping
Restaurants: 10% in cash.; Casa hosts, drivers, musicians: US$1–5.
Water
Do not drink tap water; bottled water can be scarce, so bring a filter bottle or tablets.
Toilets
Often without seats or paper; carry tissue and small coins for attendants.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Pizza at Peso PizzaCUP 30–50
Batido (milkshake)CUP 20–40
Mausoleo entryCUP 100 (check)
Collective taxi Havana–ArtemisaCUP 500 (check)

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

HAV · José Martí International Airport
About 60 km (37 mi) east; collective taxi or hired car, about 1 h 15 min

Typical fares

Collective taxi Havana → Artemisa
about CUP 500, about 1 h (check)
Collective taxi Artemisa → Soroa
about CUP 200, about 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

No public transport. Walk the centre (15 min across) or hire a taxi for trips to the mausoleum.

See and do

Known for

  • Mausoleo a los Mártires de Artemisa
  • Museo de Historia
  • Peso Pizza

Day trips

WhereHowTime
SoroaCollective taxi or hired car, about 30 minAbout 40 min
Las TerrazasCollective taxi or hired car, about 40 minAbout 50 min
HavanaCollective taxi or hired car, about 1 hAbout 1 h 15 min
Pinar del RíoCollective taxi or hired car, about 1 h 30 minAbout 1 h 45 min

Sleep

Town centre
One hotel and a few casas particulares; ask locally.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
How much does it cost?¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-to KWES-ta
Where is the bus stop?¿Dónde está la parada?DON-de es-TA la pa-RA-da
I need a taxi.Necesito un taxi.ne-se-SEE-to oon TAK-see
Do you have a room?¿Tiene una habitación?TYE-ne OO-na a-bee-ta-SYON

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake, or a cheek kiss among acquaintances; avoid: Rushing straight to business
  • Casas: Respect the family's routine and water use; avoid: Leaving air conditioning on in blackouts or low supply
  • Shortages: Share useful supplies if asked; avoid: Handing out gifts in the street
  • Politics: Let hosts lead; avoid: Pushing people to criticise the government

Scams and watch-outs

  • Trains from Havana are unreliable: do not plan a trip around them.
  • No ATM may accept foreign cards; bring enough CUP or cash.
  • Accommodation is very limited; book ahead or be prepared to continue to Havana or Soroa.

Artemisa is a quiet town with low crime. The main risk is running out of cash or getting stranded if a collective taxi does not show. Carry enough CUP for a night and a return to Havana.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Artemisa yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Mausoleo a los Mártires de Artemisa
  • Museo de Historia
  • Peso Pizza

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Artemisa

A esta dirección, por favor.

To this address, please.

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Carry small CUP bills. US dollars and euros are accepted in many places but change may be in CUP.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/artemisa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.