Cuba: Havana / La Habana

Havana / La Habana, this city is the capital of Cuba and the largest city in the Caribbean. When you visit this city, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time. Indeed, Havana is known for: its white sandy beach, its old American cars, its architecture full of history, and of course its streets filled with music and vibrancy, which you can discover during your vacation. You can enjoy yourself both during the day and at night.

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

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

For 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 from 26°C to 32°C. The sea temperature remains very pleasant all year round. It varies from 26°C to 30°C, so you can enjoy the beach throughout your stay. However, the rainiest months are September and October. This period is therefore not ideal for vacationing to visit the city and the beach. But you can still relax in your hotel.

How long to stay in Cuba?

If you want to explore as much of Havana as possible during your stay, you should plan for about 5 days of travel. But if you want to explore all of Cuba, you'll need about two weeks. Don't hesitate to do a combined trip to discover as much as possible during your vacation. A combined trip allows you to combine two trips into one.

And for what budget/price?

Prices vary in Cuba. If you plan to stay 4 nights/5 days in Havana and have a tight budget; plan for about €300 per person. If you want luxury hotel stays, expect a price of around €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, a round-trip ticket costs about €700 to €900 per person.

You can compare your flight ticket prices for Cuba for free and with just a few clicks through 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 achievable for many people. For example, after comparing prices on EasyVoyage, the cheapest flight ticket price in June departing from Toulouse is €691 at the moment. But the price isn't the same in all cities. For example, in Bordeaux, the cheapest price is €761 or in Nantes the lowest-priced ticket is €840.

What type of accommodation should you choose for nights in Havana? (Hotels or homestays?)

Finding accommodation isn’t always easy, especially in a city you don’t know but we are here to help you find the accommodation that suits you. Initially, we recommend prioritizing guesthouses or homestays over hotels for this destination if you want to immerse yourself in the city and its atmosphere. However, if you're looking for optimal comfort, opt for hotels with pensions. Indeed, many hotels offer advantageous prices; most have very affordable prices for everyone. If during your departure you're looking to spend your stay by the beach and close to Havana's most beautiful places it is preferable to opt for guesthouses.

What are the procedures for traveling to Cuba / Havana?

If you are French, Swiss, or Belgian, it is mandatory to obtain a visa before departing for Cuba regardless of the duration of your stay/vacation. To carry out your formalities with Cuban authorities without any tedious processes (obtaining a Tourist Card generally takes 2 to 6 days) and avoiding any visa errors don't hesitate to visit Rapide Visa's website (https://www.rapidevisa.fr/Visa/Cuba.html) RapideVisa is a specialized agency that acts as an intermediary for processing your visa application.

Nowadays, with the COVID-19 crisis we recommend booking your plane ticket, room and hotel with a cancelable and refundable reservation just in case you encounter any issues traveling. A refundable and cancelable ticket will likely have a slightly higher price than average. But currently, it is recommended to take this option to ensure your stay.

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

1 – The stunning San Cristobal Cathedral

2 – The typical old square of Havana

3- The Capitol

4- The Grand Theatre

5- Paseo de Martí