Cuba travel guide
Cuba is a country of music, old cars and colonial streets, and it feels like nowhere else in the Caribbean. You can wander the pastel lanes of Trinidad, ride through the tobacco fields of the Vinales valley, listen to son and trova in Santiago de Cuba and spend slow days on the white sand of Varadero. The island divides naturally into regions. The west holds Vinales and its limestone hills, the centre has Cienfuegos and Trinidad, and the east is home to Santiago de Cuba, with its strong Afro-Caribbean traditions. For beaches, Varadero is the best-known resort, and Cayo Coco and neighbouring cays offer quieter sand and shallow lagoons. Havana, on the north coast, is the usual starting point. The dry season from November to April is the most comfortable time to travel, while summer is hot, humid and part of the hurricane season. Cuba suits culture lovers, music fans and beach travellers, and you can plan the itinerary city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: Havana.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa required, apply before you fly.
Before you go to Cuba
- Currency
- CUP $
- Emergency number
- 106
- Plug type
- Type A, B
- Tap water
- Drink bottled water
- Tipping
- Expected
- Bargaining
- Not expected
- Card networks
- None - bring cash; foreign cards do not work
- ATM fees
- Foreign Visa and Mastercard have been suspended nationwide since 6 June 2026 - assume no ATM will work
Cities in Cuba
- Havana Cuba's capital and largest city; UNESCO-listed Old Havana (Habana Vieja), the Malecón seawall, El Capitolio, classic-car boulevards and…
- Trinidad UNESCO World Heritage colonial town in Sancti Spíritus, cobbled streets and pastel mansions, gateway to the Valle de los Ingenios and Playa…
- Santiago de Cuba Cuba's vibrant second city and cradle of the Revolution; Afro-Caribbean music, the Moncada barracks, Castillo del Morro and the El Cobre…
- Cienfuegos The "Pearl of the South" — a UNESCO-listed 19th-century French-influenced bay city with a graceful neoclassical centre and the Palacio de…
- Varadero Cuba's premier beach resort on the Hicacos Peninsula in Matanzas: 20 km of white sand, all-inclusive resorts, and cays.
- Viñales Tobacco-growing valley in Pinar del Río (UNESCO), famed for limestone mogotes, cave systems and traditional cigar farms.
- Cayo Coco A resort cay in the Jardines del Rey archipelago (Ciego de Ávila), reached by causeway; flamingo-fringed beaches and neighbouring Cayo…
Frequently asked questions about Cuba
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for Cuba?
- Visa required, apply before you fly.
- What currency is used in Cuba?
- The currency in Cuba is the Cuban Peso ($). $1 is about ₹4.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Cuba?
- Accepted card networks: None - bring cash; foreign cards do not work.
- Should I tip in Cuba?
- Tipping in Cuba: expected. Typically about 10% in restaurants.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Cuba?
- Drink bottled water.
- What plug type does Cuba use?
- Cuba uses Type A, B plugs.
- What is the emergency number in Cuba?
- Emergency: 106. Police: 106. Ambulance: 104.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in Cuba?
- SIM cards available in Cuba.
- What is the capital of Cuba?
- The capital of Cuba is Havana. Time there: IST - 9 h 30 min.