Cuba
Currency in Cuba: what to use and how to exchange
Cuba uses the Cuban peso (CUP), and cash is the rule: bring euros or US dollars in clean, untorn notes and exchange at a bank, CADECA office or your casa particular. Cards issued by US banks do not work, and card acceptance is patchy even where it is legal, so plan to fund the whole trip in cash.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideCuba
Key facts
- Currency
- Cuban peso (CUP); dollars and euros widely used in cash
- Best to bring
- Euros or US dollars, clean and untorn, in mixed notes
- Where to exchangecheck
- Bank or CADECA office; many casas particulares also exchange
- Cardscheck
- US-issued cards do not work; other cards accepted only at some hotels and state shops
- ATMscheck
- Exist in Havana and larger cities but often empty or offline
- Cash to carry
- Enough for the whole trip; assume no reliable card or ATM backup
- Tipping
- Expected: 10% in restaurants, a dollar or two for musicians and guides
Details
Cuba runs on cash. The official currency is the Cuban peso (CUP), and the country's own guidance for visitors has long been to bring cash rather than rely on cards. Since the 2021 currency reform there is a single peso, so you no longer have to choose between two currencies at the counter — but you still have to choose what to carry in.
Euros and US dollars are the practical choices. Both are accepted in cash in many private transactions, and both can be exchanged for pesos. Notes must be clean, unmarked and untorn: Cuban cashiers and casas particulares routinely refuse damaged bills, and this applies to dollars and euros alike. Bring a mix of denominations, including small notes, because change is chronically short.
Exchange at a bank or a CADECA (the state exchange house) for the official rate, and keep the receipt. Many casas particulares will also change money for guests, often at a rate close to the street rate and without a queue; this is common practice, but confirm the rate before handing over notes. Do not change money with someone who approaches you on the street.
Cards are the weak point. Cards issued by US banks do not work in Cuba at all. Cards from elsewhere may work at some hotel desks and state-run shops, but acceptance is inconsistent and depends on the bank and the day. ATMs exist in Havana and larger cities but are frequently empty, offline or out of cash, so treat them as a bonus rather than a plan. Carry enough cash for the whole trip, split across two places, and keep a reserve that you do not touch until the last days.
Summary table
| Item | What to expect | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Cuban peso (CUP) | No |
| Cash accepted | Euros and US dollars widely used in cash | No |
| Note condition | Clean, untorn, unmarked notes only | No |
| Official exchange | Bank or CADECA office; keep the receipt | Yes |
| Private exchange | Common at casas particulares; agree the rate first | Yes |
| US-issued cards | Do not work | Yes |
| Other cards | Sometimes accepted at hotels and state shops | Yes |
| ATMs | Present in Havana and larger cities; often empty or offline | Yes |
| Tipping | 10% in restaurants; a dollar or two for musicians and guides | No |
Tips
- Bring more cash than you think you need, in two separate places, and budget for the whole trip.
- Ask for small notes when you change money; breaking a large bill is a daily problem.
- Photograph your notes and serial numbers before you travel, in case of loss.
- Keep exchange receipts; they are useful if you need to change pesos back.
- If you are American, check the current OFAC rules before you go: tourism is not a permitted travel category, and card use is restricted.
- Prices move with fuel and supply shortages, so treat any figure you read as a 2026 estimate and confirm locally.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Cuba?
The Cuban peso (CUP). Since the 2021 reform there is a single peso, and US dollars and euros are also widely used in cash for private transactions.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Cuba?
A bank or CADECA office gives the official rate and a receipt. Many casas particulares also exchange for guests, often faster and at a similar rate; agree the rate first. Avoid street offers.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Cuba?
Cash. US-issued cards do not work, other cards are accepted only patchily, and ATMs are often empty. Bring euros or US dollars in clean notes for the whole trip.
Do I need to bring US dollars specifically?
No. Euros work just as well and are often preferred. What matters is that the notes are clean, untorn and unmarked, and that you have small denominations.
Can I use an ATM in Havana?
ATMs exist in Havana and larger cities, but they are frequently empty or offline. Treat them as a backup, not a plan, and carry enough cash regardless.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialCuba travel guide (parent country page)
- secondaryWikivoyage – Cuba