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How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From HAV
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION60m
TRANSIT30m
EXPLORE1h 30m
RETURN30m
BUFFER60m
Recommended Itinerary
Your layover plan
Arrive & Immigration
~60 min · HAV
Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
Cuba e-Visa required as of July 1, 2025 (replaced the paper tourist card). Complete the D'Viajeros digital customs declaration online before travel and save the QR code offline. Health insurance explicitly naming Cuba is legally required. US travelers must self-certify under OFAC-authorized categories -- tourist travel is not permitted. No airside transit zone.
Transit into the city
30 min
Official yellow taxi (turismo) to central Havana: $25-30 USD, 20-35 min. Agree the fare before getting in -- meters are rarely used. Bring cash in Euros, Canadian dollars, or GBP. US debit and credit cards do not work anywhere in Cuba.
Explore Havana
~1h 30m of free time
At HAV, stay airside—limited amenities landside and slow processing favor staying near your gate.
A 3-6 hour layover to Havana is not recommended. Jose Marti Airport is 25km from Old Havana, the taxi takes 30-45 minutes each way in good traffic, and immigration can be slow. You would spend more time in transit than in the city. Stay at the airport unless you have a very smooth immigration track record in Cuba.
Six to ten hours makes a Havana trip worthwhile if you plan it carefully. Take an official Cubataxi from the airport ($25-30) directly to Old Havana. Walk Plaza de la Catedral and the streets nearby - the colonial architecture is extraordinary. Walk to Plaza Vieja (5 min) and climb to any rooftop bar for a mojito and city views. The Malecon waterfront promenade is 15 minutes walk from the plaza and essential. Head back to the airport 2 hours before your flight. Have CUP cash ready - USD and credit cards do not work.
With 10+ hours, you can absorb Havana properly. Hire a 1950s classic car for a city tour ($30-40/hour) - the drivers know every neighborhood and make the experience. See the art galleries around Obispo Street. Walk through the Vedado neighborhood for a more local feel: the Hotel Nacional rooftop bar has Mafia-era history and excellent daiquiris. The Museum of the Revolution (free with CUP) gives essential context. Eat at a paladar (private restaurant) - La Guarida in Centro Habana is the most famous (book ahead), but many excellent cheaper options exist. Leave 2.5 hours before your flight to clear airport security and formalities.
Return to HAV
30 min back to airport
Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 90 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~60 min buffer before gate
Re-entry security at HAV typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them
Where to Eat
Best eats for a layover
Short on time? Stay airside.
What to See
Top sights for your time window
Under 4 hours? Most city sights won't be feasible. Check the Itinerary tab for airside-only recommendations.
Practical Info
What you need to know
Currency
Cuban Peso (CUP) is official. USD and EUR cash are widely accepted in tourist areas since 2023. Cards issued by US banks do not work. Bring cash, since ATMs are unreliable.
Language
Spanish. Limited English outside tourist areas and hotels.
Visa
E-visa replaced the paper Tourist Card on 1 Jan 2026. Transit under 72 hours needs no visa. Longer stays require the $50 e-visa, approved in about 72 hours. Verify before travel, visa rules change.
Transit
No train or metro. Official yellow taxi from HAV to central Havana takes 25 to 30 min, about $25 to $30 USD. Agree the fare before getting in, since meters are rarely used.
Weather
Tropical. Hot humid summers with rain May through October, drier and cooler November through April. December through March is ideal for layovers, with hurricane risk August through October.
Tipping
Expected. 10 percent at restaurants, $1 per bag for porters, $1 to $2 for taxi drivers. Tips in USD or EUR are preferred.
Emergency
106 (police). 104 (ambulance). 105 (fire). English-speaking operators are not guaranteed.
Time Zone
CST (UTC-5). Clocks move to CDT (UTC-4) from early March through early November.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.
