Key facts
Cuba is a country located in Caribbean. The country has no land neighbors. The official language of Cuba is Spanish. Unfortunately, if you speak English, it might be problematic to communicate fluently unless you know Spanish.
In the EF English Competency Index (EF EPI), which assesses the language proficiency of non-native speaking countries, Cuba was ranked 43rd out of 100 countries in 2021.
The national currency in Cuba is Cuban convertible peso (CUC). The peso ($) is subdivided into 100 centavo (¢).
Cuban
Banknotes
$1$3$5$10$20$50$100
Cuban
Coins
1¢5¢10¢25¢50¢$1$5
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest No data available.
ATM Density No data available.
SIM Registration No data available.
Socket types
There are 2 socket types used in Cuba. Type A & Type B are widespread in North America (incl. the U.S.), Central America, Japan, and the Philippines.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Cuba will celebrate 9 national public holidays. The next one Independence Day will take place on October 10.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Moving holiday | Triumph of the RevolutionTriunfo de la Revolución | |
| January 2, 2024Moving holiday | Victory of Fidel CastroDía de Victoria de las Fuerzas Armadas | |
| March 29, 2024Moving holiday | Good FridayGood Friday | |
| May 1, 2024Moving holiday | Labour DayDía de los trabajadores | |
| July 25, 2024Moving holiday | Day before the Commemoration of the Assault of the Moncada garrisonConmemoración del asalto a Moncada | |
| July 26, 2024Moving holiday | Commemoration of the Assault of the Moncada garrisonDía de la Rebeldía Nacional | |
| July 27, 2024Moving holiday | Day after the Commemoration of the Assault of the Moncada garrisonConmemoración del asalto a Moncada | |
| October 10, 2024Moving holiday | Independence DayDía de la Independencia | |
| December 25, 2024Moving holiday | Christmas DayNavidad |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Cuba?
There are no Mariott hotels in Cuba.
There are no Hilton hotels in Cuba.
There are no IHG hotels in Cuba.
There are no Best Western hotels in Cuba.
There are no Radisson hotels in Cuba.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Cuba.
What fast food chains are present in Cuba?
The McDonald’s chain does not operate in Cuba.
The KFC chain does not operate in Cuba.
The Burger King chain does not operate in Cuba.
The Subway chain does not operate in Cuba.
The Domino’s Pizza chain does not operate in Cuba.
The Starbucks chain does not operate in Cuba.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Havana?
Weather data for Havana (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are passenger trains operating between some cities.
Subway Systems There is no subway system in any city.
Taxi Apps Unfortunately neither Uber nor Bolt are available in Cuba.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Cuba
Sources
- Cuba Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Cuba (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is prohibited in all public areas excluding entertainment and restaurants.
Cananbis legality Both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is prohibited.
The products are only for your own use or consumption, or as a present for members of your household. They may not be imported for commercial purposes under any circumstances.
Alcohol allowance
- two bottles of liquor
Tobacco allowance
- one carton of cigarettes
Sources
- Clearing Customs (Cuba Tourist Board of Canada)
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)