Cost per day · Cuba
Havana on $25, $80 or $250 a day
How much does Havana cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $25 a day, mid-range trips run around $80, and luxury starts near $250 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Havana the 13th cheapest of 82 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 82 ranked.
Havana is a time capsule of crumbling colonial grandeur, 1950s American cars, salsa rhythms, and revolutionary history. The city is chaotic, colourful, and utterly captivating — a place where every street corner tells a story.
Havana is incredibly affordable. Casas particulares (homestays) cost $15–25, street food is $1–3, and mojitos at local bars cost $2. The biggest cost is taxis from the airport. Bring cash — cards rarely work.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Stunning colonial squares, free to explore, live music everywhere
Havana's 8km seafront promenade, best at sunset with locals
Art gallery, live music, cinema, bar — Cuba's coolest cultural space
🏨 Where to Stay
Colourful Old Havana casa with breakfast included, friendly hosts
Charming homestay in Centro Habana, rooftop terrace with views
Well-reviewed guesthouse near the Malecón, air conditioning
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Old Havana on Foot ~$25
Day 2: Centro & Malecón ~$25
Day 3: Vedado & Culture ~$30
Stay in a casa particular for the authentic experience. Eat at paladares (home restaurants) not state restaurants. Bring euros or Canadian dollars to exchange — US dollars carry a 10% penalty. Download Maps.me offline before you go.
Mid-range Havana opens up the best paladares, classic car tours, and private salsa lessons. Boutique hotels in Old Havana are emerging, and a good casa particular with air conditioning and breakfast is the sweet spot.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Visit a working cigar factory, learn rolling techniques
Visit Finca Vigía, Floridita, and Cojímar — Hemingway's Havana
🏨 Where to Stay
Rooftop pool overlooking the Capitolio, Art Deco restoration
Check prices on Klook →Seafront on the Malecón, modern rooms, great sunset views
Central Park location, reliable amenities, rooftop pool
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Classic Car & Quarter ~$80
Day 2: Art & Rum ~$90
Day 3: Beach Day ~$80
Book a casa in Habana Vieja for walking access to everything. Classic car tours ($30/hour) are fun but negotiate the price first. Fábrica de Arte Cubano is the best nightlife in town — get there at 8pm.
Luxury in Havana is limited but growing. A handful of 5-star hotels have opened, exclusive cigar experiences exist, and private dining in restored colonial mansions is unforgettable. This is luxury with character.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Private 1957 Chevy Bel Air, champagne, sunset along the Malecón
Exclusive tasting with a master torcedor, premium Cohibas and aged rum
Learn from a national salsa champion in a colonial mansion
🏨 Where to Stay
Legendary 1930s hotel, mob history, ocean views, Art Deco glory
Check prices on Klook →New luxury boutique on Havana's grand boulevard
Havana's first true 5-star, rooftop infinity pool, Old Havana
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Private Havana ~$280
Day 2: Cigars & Countryside ~$320
Day 3: Sea & Music ~$300
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski is Havana's only true 5-star. Private cigar factory tours need to be arranged through hotel concierges. Book La Guarida 2 weeks ahead — it's Cuba's most famous restaurant for good reason.
About Havana
Tropical, hot and humid year-round. The dry season (Nov–Apr) brings pleasant warmth (25–28°C) and is by far the best time; the wet season (May–Oct) is hotter, stormier and overlaps hurricane season.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| 22° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 26° | 24° | 23° |
| 6d | 4d | 4d | 5d | 9d | 11d | 9d | 11d | 12d | 12d | 8d | 7d |
| high | high | high | high | mid | low | low | low | low | mid | high | high |
Vintage American cars run as shared taxis (almendrones) on fixed routes, and classic-car tours are a highlight. The Habana Bus Tour loops the sights. Old Havana is walkable. Carry cash — foreign cards (especially US-linked) often will not work.
The four colonial squares, the bookseller street, the capitol and the sea wall at the end.
The revolution square, the university steps, the great cemetery and the Malecón back at dusk.
The restored colonial core: four grand plazas, the cathedral, cobbled streets and Hemingway's old haunts. A UNESCO World Heritage gem.
Best for midrangeCrumbling grandeur between Old Havana and Vedado: raw daily life, the Malecón seawall, and the best-value casas particulares.
Best for budgetThe 1950s heart: the Hotel Nacional, the Coppelia ice-cream park, jazz clubs and tree-lined avenues. Faded glamour and great nightlife.
Best for midrangeWest of the centre: grand mansions, embassies and the city's smarter hotels and restaurants. Quiet and green.
Best for luxuryNot a district but the soul of the city: the 8 km seafront where Havana gathers at sunset to fish, flirt and play music.
Best for budgetWestern seaside neighbourhoods home to the famous Tropicana cabaret and the Marina Hemingway.
Best for midrange- ✓Carry plenty of cash — foreign cards rarely work and ATMs are unreliable
- ✓Learn a little Spanish — English is limited outside hotels
- ✓Tip in cash for music, guides and restaurant service (around 10%)
- ✓Stay in casas particulares to meet locals and support families directly
- ✓Ask before photographing people, then tip street performers
- ✓Be patient and flexible — supplies, schedules and wifi are unpredictable
- ✗Discuss politics loudly or critically in public
- ✗Assume you will be online — buy a wifi card and expect slow connections
- ✗Drink the tap water — stick to bottled
- ✗Change money on the street — use official cadecas or your casa host
- ✗Photograph military, police or port facilities
- ✗Rely on US debit or credit cards — budget your whole trip in cash
Travel Insurance for Havana
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Havana. Safety is rated Generally safe — low violent crime; watch for scams and pickpocketing in tourist areas. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Most visitors need a tourist card ("tarjeta del turista"), sold via airlines or consulates. US citizens face restrictions and must travel under an authorised category.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Havana →FAQ: Havana Travel Questions
Is Havana safe to visit? ▾
Generally safe — low violent crime; watch for scams and pickpocketing in tourist areas.
When is the best time to visit Havana? ▾
November – April (dry season) Tropical, hot and humid year-round. The dry season (Nov–Apr) brings pleasant warmth (25–28°C) and is by far the best time; the wet season (May–Oct) is hotter, stormier and overlaps hurricane season.
How much does a trip to Havana cost per day? ▾
- budget: $25–$40/day
- midrange: $80–$130/day
- luxury: $250–$450/day
- business: $120–$250/day
Do I need a visa to visit Cuba? ▾
Most visitors need a tourist card ("tarjeta del turista"), sold via airlines or consulates. US citizens face restrictions and must travel under an authorised category.
How do I get around Havana? ▾
Vintage American cars run as shared taxis (almendrones) on fixed routes, and classic-car tours are a highlight. The Habana Bus Tour loops the sights. Old Havana is walkable. Carry cash — foreign cards (especially US-linked) often will not work. Taxi base fare ~$1. Day pass ~$10.
Is tipping expected in Havana? ▾
Expected and appreciated — around 10% at restaurants, plus small cash tips for musicians, guides and hotel staff.
What currency is used in Cuba? ▾
The local currency is CUP (Cuban Peso), and the official language is Spanish.