Cuba: Havana/Habana

Havana/Habana is the capital of Cuba and the largest city in the Caribbean. When you visit this city, you will feel like you are traveling back in time. Indeed, Havana is known for its white sand beach, its old American cars, its architecture full of history, and of course for its streets filled with music and energy, which you can discover during your vacation. You can have fun both during the day and at night.

Here you will find the complete guide to everything you need to know about Havana/Habana, as well as the must-see places to visit during your stay.

When is the best time to go on vacation to Cuba, specifically to Havana?

To go on a trip to Cuba, we recommend planning your departure for the city of Havana between March and June. This is when the city and the climate are most pleasant. Temperatures range between 26° and 32°. The sea temperature remains very pleasant all year round. It varies from 26° to 30°, so you can enjoy the beach throughout your stay. However, the rainiest months are September and October. This period is therefore not ideal for visiting the city and the beach on vacation. But you can always relax in your hotel.

How long should you stay in Cuba?

If you want to discover as much of Havana as possible during your stay, plan for about 5 days of travel. But if you want to explore all of Cuba, you should plan for two weeks. Do not hesitate to combine trips to discover as much as possible during your vacation. A combined trip allows you to combine two trips in one.

And for what budget/price?

Prices vary in Cuba. If you plan to stay 4 nights/5 days in Havana and you have a tight budget, plan for about €300 per person. If you want nights and days in high-end hotels, expect a price of about €450. The price of a meal in Cuba ranges from €4.5 to €15; prices vary greatly depending on the places and menus chosen for lunch. For an international flight from France, the price of a round-trip plane ticket is about €700 to €900 per person.

You can compare the prices of your plane tickets to Cuba for free and in just a few clicks with our partner EasyVoyage: https://www.quotatrip.com/fr/plane

In France, you can depart from many airports to get to Havana. For example: Nantes, Toulouse, Lyon, Nice, Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Marseille, and many more, so that this trip is possible for a large number of people. For example, after comparing prices on EasyVoyage, the cheapest plane ticket in June from Toulouse is currently €691. But the price is not the same in all cities. For example, in Bordeaux the cheapest price is €761, or in Nantes the lowest price is €840.

What type of accommodation should you choose to spend nights in Havana? (Hotels, homestays?)

Finding accommodation is not always easy, especially in a city you do not know, but we are here to help you find the accommodation that suits you. First, we recommend favoring guesthouses or homestays rather than hotels for this destination, if you want to soak up the city and its atmosphere. However, if you are looking for optimal comfort, opt for hotels with meal plans. Indeed, many hotels have advantageous prices, most of them are very affordable for everyone. If when you leave you want to spend your stay by the beach and close to the most beautiful places in Havana, it is better to choose guesthouses.

What are the procedures to go to Cuba / Havana?

If you are French, Swiss, or Belgian, it is mandatory to obtain a visa before leaving for Cuba, regardless of the length of your stay/vacation. To complete your formalities with the Cuban authorities, to avoid any tedious process (the process of obtaining the Tourist Card usually takes 2 to 6 days) and any risk of visa error, do not hesitate to visit the Rapide Visa website (https://www.rapidevisa.fr/Visa/Cuba.html). RapideVisa is an agency specialized in processing your visa application as an intermediary.

Nowadays, with the COVID-19 crisis, we recommend booking your plane ticket, room, and hotel with a cancellable and refundable reservation in case you have any problem leaving for your trip. A refundable and cancellable ticket will surely be a bit more expensive than average. But currently, it is recommended to take this option to secure your stay.

5 must-see places to visit during your trip to Havana/Habana:

1 – The magnificent San Cristobal Cathedral

2 – The typical old square of Havana

3 – The Capitol

4 – The Grand Theater

5 – The Paseo de Martí