How to get to Cuba: airports, flights and border crossings

Havana (HAV) is the airport to book. It takes the widest range of direct flights, has the most onward transport into the city, and is the only Cuban airport with regular long-haul service from Europe. Varadero (VRA) works if you are on a package or heading straight to the beach, but you then face a 2–3 hour transfer to Havana.

Book a return ticket, not a one-way, and prefer an airline that has kept flying the route through 2025–2026. If your carrier suspends the route, a return ticket is what gets you rebooked rather than stranded.

Cuba has ten international airports, but only a few matter for a normal trip. Havana handles the bulk of scheduled traffic. Varadero takes charter and package flights, mainly from Canada and Europe. Santa Clara, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba and the cays (Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo) see seasonal or charter service, often tied to resort packages.

From the United States, direct flights leave Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and New York. Americans must travel under a legal OFAC category — tourism is not one — and the airline will ask for the declaration. From Canada, Toronto and Montreal have year-round service, with winter charters to Varadero and the cays. From Europe, Madrid has the most frequencies, with Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Lisbon, Moscow and Istanbul also connected. From Mexico and Latin America, Mexico City, Cancún, Panama City, Bogotá and Lima are the usual jumping-off points.

There is no scheduled passenger land crossing into Cuba. The US naval base at Guantánamo Bay is not a civilian entry point, and no road or rail link connects the island to another country. In practice, everyone arrives by air or by sea.

By sea, cruise ships call at Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, and private yachts can clear in at marinas such as Hemingway Marina near Havana. There are no scheduled passenger ferries from Florida, Mexico or Jamaica. If you arrive by private boat, expect paperwork and a customs inspection, and confirm current marina rules in advance.

Most visitors need a Cuban tourist card, often sold by the airline at check-in or issued by a Cuban consulate. Rules differ by nationality: some travellers get it free with the ticket, others must buy it before boarding. Check the requirement for your passport before you fly, and keep the card safe — you surrender part of it on arrival and part on departure.

You also need a passport valid well beyond your stay, proof of a return or onward ticket, and evidence of accommodation. Travel medical insurance covering Cuba is required on entry; policies sold at the airport exist but are easier to arrange at home. See the visa page for the full list.

Bring cash. Cards issued by US banks do not work in Cuba, and even non-US cards often fail because of processing problems. Euros, US dollars and Canadian dollars are the practical currencies to carry; change what you need on arrival and keep the rest secure.

Expect the arrival airport to be slow. Immigration queues, baggage handling and the taxi rank can all take longer than the flight. Pre-booked transfers or a hotel-arranged pickup remove one variable. Buy a local eSIM or a tourist SIM before you rely on your phone, and check that your travel insurance actually covers Cuba — many standard policies exclude it.

Fly in the dry season, November to April, when cancellations and storms are less likely. Hurricane season runs June to November and can shut airports for days. Whatever month you choose, build in two buffer days at the end of the trip: Cuban domestic transport and airline schedules fail often enough that a same-day connection to an international flight is a gamble.

If your route is suspended, the fastest fix is usually to rebook through Panama City, Mexico City or Madrid rather than wait for the original carrier.