City breakHavana City Break
- 5★ hotel near Old Havana
- Flights from London, one stop
- Return airport transfers
From£999per person · 2 sharing
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Cuba · Holidays from the UK
Cuba holidays from the UK
Classic cars and colonial streets in Havana, and the white sand of Varadero a few hours away by road. A UK consultant arranges your flights, hotels and transfers as one ATOL protected holiday.
Packages from £999 per person, with return flights, hotel and transfers
One stop from the UK
Flights from London take approx. 14 hours in total with one stop. Options change often, so we confirm them with your quote.
City and beach
Walk Old Havana, then relax on Varadero’s long white beach, or choose just one.
Seafood and vegetarian food
Fish, rice, beans and vegetable dishes are easier to find than halal meat.
ATOL protected
Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416.
Cuba holiday packages
Cuba holiday packages
Flights, hotel and transfers in one price. Every package can be changed: more nights, a different hotel or another UK airport.
3 packages · guide prices per person
City break
BeachVaradero Beach Week
- 5★ beach hotel in Varadero
- Flights from London, one stop
- Return airport transfers
From£1,249per person · 2 sharing
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Twin-centreHavana & Varadero
- 5★ hotels in both places
- Flights from London, one stop
- Private transfer between the two
From£1,549per person · 2 sharing
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Overview
Cuba holiday guide for UK travellers
Cuba holidays from the UK are long-haul, with one stop on the way and approx. 14 hours of travel in total. Most visitors choose a few days in Havana, a week at the beach in Varadero, or both. The dry, sunny months run from around November to April.
Havana is the capital and the main arrival point. Old Havana has colonial squares, narrow streets and pastel buildings, and the Malecón sea wall runs for several kilometres along the waterfront. Classic American cars from the 1950s still work as taxis and are a big part of the city’s look. Viñales, a green valley of tobacco farms and limestone hills, is a day trip of approx. 2 hours 30 minutes each way.
Varadero lies on the Hicacos Peninsula, approx. 2 hours by road east of Havana. Its beach is around 20 kilometres of white sand and shallow, calm water, with a long line of resort hotels. Larger hotels there usually run their own generators, but power cuts and shortages have affected Cuba in recent years, so check the latest travel advice and confirm details with us before you book.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Cuba
Three places for a first visit, from the capital to the beach and the countryside. Transfer times are approximate and depend on your hotel.
Havana
City break · History · Classic cars
Colonial squares, pastel streets and the Malecón sea wall, with museums, cafes and music in the evenings. Most sights are close together in Old Havana.
Nearest airport: Havana Airport, approx. 30–45 mins
Packages from £999 pp
Varadero
Beach · Couples · Families
A long white-sand beach with shallow, calm water and a line of resort hotels along the peninsula. Often booked on a full board basis.
Nearest airport: Varadero Airport, approx. 20 mins; or Havana Airport, approx. 2 hrs
Packages from £1,249 pp
Viñales
Countryside · Day trip · Walking
A green valley of tobacco farms and rounded limestone hills in the west. Usually visited as a day trip from Havana.
Nearest airport: Havana Airport, approx. 2 hrs 30 mins
Things to see
Places to see in Cuba
A few of the sights to plan your trip around. We can suggest hotels close to the ones you most want to see.
Weather
Cuba weather by month
Average daytime highs in Varadero and Havana, with the sea temperature at Varadero. The chart runs from July to June, so the dry season sits in one block. Hover over or tap a month for the figures.
View as a table
| Month | Varadero | Sea at Varadero | Havana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul | 32°C | 29°C | 32°C |
| Aug | 32°C | 29°C | 32°C |
| Sep | 32°C | 29°C | 31°C |
| Oct | 30°C | 28°C | 30°C |
| Nov | 28°C | 27°C | 28°C |
| Dec | 27°C | 26°C | 27°C |
| Jan | 26°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Feb | 27°C | 25°C | 26°C |
| Mar | 29°C | 25°C | 28°C |
| Apr | 30°C | 26°C | 29°C |
| May | 31°C | 27°C | 30°C |
| Jun | 32°C | 28°C | 31°C |
Long-term averages from weather2travel.com. Actual weather varies year to year.
November to April
The drier, more comfortable months, with daytime highs of around 26–30°C and a sea of around 25–27°C. Evenings can feel cooler.
May to October
Hot and humid, at around 30–32°C, with more rain, mostly in short heavy showers. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November.
Hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with storms most likely from August to October. Ask us about the dates you have in mind.
A quiet stretch of beach
Muslim-friendly travel
Muslim-friendly travel in Cuba
Cuba is not a Muslim-majority country, and halal food is very limited. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are the easiest options, and some resorts can sometimes arrange meals on request. We’re honest about what exists, and we confirm each hotel’s facilities before you book.
- Halal food is very limitedHalal meat is hard to find; ask us what a hotel can arrange before you book
- Seafood and vegetarianFish, lobster, rice, beans and vegetable plates are widely available; ask about pork and lard in cooking
- Meals on requestSome resorts can sometimes arrange special meals if asked in advance; this varies by hotel
- Halal flight mealsMost airlines offer halal meals on request when you book; we can note this for you
- PrayerBring a prayer mat and a qibla app; hotel rooms are private, and facilities vary by hotel
- Confirmed before bookingWe check what each hotel can offer, and we never describe a hotel as halal unless it is
Cuba holiday FAQs
Questions about Cuba holidays
Quick answers for UK travellers. For anything else, our UK team is happy to help.
020 7871 4545How long is the flight to Cuba from the UK?
Plan on one stop, with approx. 14 hours of travel in total from London. Flight options to Cuba change often, so we confirm the routes and times with your quote. Cuba is usually 5 hours behind the UK; its clocks change on different dates from the UK’s, so the gap is 4 hours for a few weeks in spring and autumn.
Do I need a visa or tourist card for Cuba?
UK visitors need a tourist card (an entry document) and normally an online arrival form before travel, and your passport should have enough validity. Rules and costs can change, so check the current requirements before you travel. We can tell you what to arrange, but we can’t apply for entry documents for you.
Will a visit to Cuba affect my ESTA for the USA?
It can. US rules make people who have visited Cuba on or after 12 January 2021 ineligible for ESTA, and they may need a US visa instead. If you plan to visit the USA later, check the current rules before you book.
Can I use my bank card in Cuba?
Not reliably. Cards issued abroad are often not accepted, and cash machines may not work with them, so most visitors bring enough cash for the whole stay. The currency is the Cuban peso (CUP), and euros and US dollars are widely taken in tourist places. Check the latest advice before you travel.
Are power cuts a problem for visitors?
Power cuts and shortages have affected Cuba in recent years. Larger resort hotels usually have their own generators, but this is not a certainty, so check the latest travel advice, make sure your travel insurance covers Cuba, and ask us to confirm details with the hotel before you book.
Is Cuba suitable for Muslim travellers?
Cuba is not a Muslim-majority country, and halal food is very limited. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are easy to find, and some resorts can sometimes arrange meals on request. Facilities vary by hotel, so we confirm them before you book.
When is the best time to visit Cuba?
November to April is drier and a little cooler, with daytime highs of around 26–30°C. May to October is hotter and wetter, at around 30–32°C, and the hurricane season runs from June to November.
Are Cuba holiday packages ATOL protected?
Yes. Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416, and you’ll receive an ATOL Certificate when you pay.
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