UNESCO-listed Old Havana, the Malecón at sunset, classic American cars and casas particulares: visiting Havana in 2026, economic realities included.
Havana at a glance
Population
2.1M
Airport
HAV
Ideal stay
3 to 4 days
Budget / day
€50-200
Flight Paris
~10h direct
Time diff
-6h year-round
Current climate
Best season
In brief
Bring your whole budget in euro cash
ATMs are empty or broken, cards barely work anywhere. Carry the full trip in small euro notes: they're spent as-is or exchanged at the informal rate.
Exchange small amounts, at the street rate
In early 2026, €1 traded between 480 and 550 CUP informally (the official rate is meaningless). Change €50-100 at a time, through your casa particular, never with a stranger on the street.
Sleep in a casa particular, not a hotel
A room in a Cuban home for €25-40 with breakfast, conversation and problem-solving included. State hotels charge European prices for hit-or-miss service.
Plan around the shortages, without drama
Power cuts, empty pharmacies, menus half-available: that's daily Cuban life in 2026. Pack medicines, soap and a few extras for your hosts.
E-visa + D'Viajeros form before departure
The electronic visa replaced the tourist card (roughly €25-50 depending on the channel). The D'Viajeros form is filled online within 7 days of arrival; show the QR code.
Must-see
Four colonial squares linked by streets in permanent repair: Armas, Catedral, Vieja, San Francisco. Go in the morning before the heat.
8 km of seafront where the whole city sits down at dusk: fishermen, musicians, rum by the bottle. Havana's real show.
One hour in a 1956 Chevrolet convertible: Malecón, Vedado, Revolution Square. $30-50 per car (not per person), negotiable.
The restored dome crowns the Paseo del Prado. Guided visits payable in hard currency; the Gran Teatro next door hosts the national ballet.
The former presidential palace tells 1959 from the Cuban side, with the Granma yacht under glass. Few translations, plenty of history.
Afro-Cuban art alley in Centro Habana. Blistering rumba on Sundays at noon, murals and Santería the rest of the week.
The largest Spanish fortress in the Americas, across the bay. Cannon-firing ceremony every night at 9pm.
An oil factory turned cultural lab in Vedado: exhibitions, concerts, DJ sets. Thursday to Sunday nights, queue from 8pm.
1950s houses, the Hotel Nacional and Che's steel outline on the esplanade. The José Martí memorial lift gives the city's best view.
The Jaimanitas district entirely covered in mosaics by artist José Fuster, a Caribbean Gaudí. 20 min from the center by taxi.
Choose your district
Casas particulares on colonial upper floors, everything on foot. Noisy early mornings. €30-50/night with breakfast.
★ Recommended
The working-class district between Vieja and Vedado, crumbling and endearing. Casas at €20-35. To see the city as it lives.
Budget
1950s houses, tree-lined streets, the FAC and cabarets close by. Casas €30-60. Quieter; taxi to the old town.
Nightlife
Embassies, villas and business hotels to the west. Clean and calm but far from everything: 20 min by taxi minimum. €50-120/night.
Quiet
Getting around
Negotiated taxi
No meters anywhere: settle the fare before getting in, in euros or CUP. €5-10 for rides within the city, €25-30 to the airport.
Almendrones (shared taxis)
Old American cars running fixed routes along the main avenues. A few hundred CUP per ride; flag them with a raised hand.
Bicitaxi & cocotaxi
Handy for 1-2 km hops in Vieja and Centro. €2-5 for a short run depending on your bargaining. Always agree the price first.
On foot
Vieja, Centro and the Malecón chain together on foot. Broken pavements and scarce lighting at night: phone torch and closed shoes.
Climate & crowds
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Dry season
Dec to Apr · 20-28°C, dry · Ideal: crisp skies, mild evenings on the Malecón. High season, book casas ahead
Early wet season
May to Jul · 26-32°C, showers · Decent: sticky heat, short storms, fewer visitors
Hurricane season
Aug to Oct · 27-32°C, storms · Avoid: hurricane peak in September-October, maximum humidity
Transition
November · 23-29°C, drying · Good window: weather settling, pre-holiday prices
How much
Backpacker
€50
per day
Comfort
€100
per day
Premium
€250
per day
Our tested itinerary
Day-by-day program.
Around
2h30 away · Mogotes, tobacco farms and horseback rides
📍 2h30 away · 20 km of beach, the seaside antidote to the capital
30 min away · The Habaneros' beaches, Santa María del Mar first
3h30 away · The 'Pearl of the South' and its bay, French architecture
FAQ
Marie Laurent ✓
·Southeast Asia specialist
Last updated: June 10, 2026.