1 popular destinations across Cuba — compare prices from 500+ airlines and OTAs, find the cheapest fares from any UK airport.
Direct UK flights are limited and seasonal — Virgin Atlantic flies Gatwick to Havana three times a week (winter), and TUI Airways runs Gatwick and Manchester direct charters to Havana, Holguín and Varadero. Year-round, fly via Madrid, Paris or Amsterdam.
| Visa (UK passport) | A tourist card (formerly "tourist visa") is required, costing around £25 from a Cuban embassy or many UK travel agents. Valid 30 days, extendable once on arrival. |
|---|---|
| Currency | Cuban peso (CUP, post-2021 unification). Bring euros or pounds in cash to exchange — UK debit/credit cards rarely work due to ongoing US banking restrictions. |
| Time zone | CST (UTC−5) — five hours behind UK in winter; six during BST. |
| Language | Spanish (Cuban accent — fast, dropping s sounds). Tourist staff in Havana and Varadero speak some English; little outside resorts. |
| Plug type | Type A/B (US-style); some hotels also have Type C. UK adaptor essential. Voltage is 110V in older buildings, 220V newer — check before charging anything. |
| Best months | December–April (dry season, warmer). November and May are quieter, cheaper, slightly wetter. Avoid August–October hurricane peak. |
| Flight times from UK | Havana (HAV) 9h 15m |
Yes. UK passport holders need a tourist card, available from the Cuban Embassy in London, many UK travel agents and online for around £25. It permits 30 days and is extendable once for another 30 days inside Cuba.
Often no. US banking sanctions cause many UK cards (especially those issued by US-owned banks like Citi or HSBC) to fail. Bring cash in pounds or euros and exchange at official CADECA bureaux. Visa-branded cards are more reliable than Mastercard.
February is typically the cheapest direct fare and has the most reliable weather. November and early December are good value with smaller crowds. Avoid August–October — hurricane risk peaks and several charter airlines pause routes.
Limited. Public Wi-Fi via ETECSA cards (1 hour, ~$1.50) works in main squares of larger cities and most hotels. Outside Havana and Varadero coverage is patchy. UK eSIM data is rarely usable on Cuban networks.
It is a paper card you fill out and stamp on arrival. Keep both halves — the exit half must be presented when leaving. Lost cards cost roughly $25 to replace at the airport.
Cuba is unusual among Caribbean destinations for UK travellers — US-issued cards do not work, internet is limited, and the official tourist card is mandatory before travel.
