How to Get to Havana: Your Complete Guide for Traveling to Cuba’s Capital

Wondering how to get to Havana? Cuba’s capital is a place full of history, color, and energy, but figuring out the best way to arrive can feel overwhelming at first. With its unique travel requirements and limited access compared to other destinations, a little planning goes a long way.

Traveling to Havana is not like heading to just any Caribbean island. It requires some preparation, and depending on where you are coming from, there may be different things to keep in mind. That said, once you know the basics, getting there is totally manageable.

This guide is here to help you get to Havana from outside the country, as well as from other cities within Cuba. Whether you are flying in internationally or looking for domestic options, we are breaking down the different ways to make your way to the capital.

How to Get to Havana: a Brief Intro

Before diving into all of the details of how to get to Havana, let's go over some of the basics.

 Do You Need a Visa for Havana?

Travelers flying into Havana need a visa to enter the country. Many countries can simply get e-visas, available online. My e-visa costed $100 USD, and Fede's was purchased in the Mexico City airport for 500 MXN ($25 uSD).

It's important to note that e-visas aren't available for all nationalities, and traditional visas are required for citizens from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

 Can US Citizens Travel to Cuba Right Now?

Americans CAN travel to Cuba! They do need to fall into one of 12 categories to travel though, and also get a visa before visiting (don't worry- it's super easy to get). 

Where is Havana Located?

Havana is the capital of Cuba, and is situated along the northern coast of the west part of the island.

How Do You Get to Havana, Cuba?

There are a variety of options for how to get to Havana, and the option you take will first depend on whether you are visiting from somewhere else in Cuba, or if you are looking to visit directly from another country.

Here are the different options for getting to Havana:

• Fly into Havana: Being located in the Caribbean, Havana has direct flights from all over the Americas, several cities in Europe, and even a few others from around the world.
• Take a bus to Havana: You can get buses to Havana from several other cities across the country.
• Drive to Havana: You can rent a car in most big cities
• Hire a driver to go to Havana: Nearby cities like Trinidad, Varadero, and Viñales have plenty of local drivers for both private and shared trips.

How to Get to Havana: Comparing the Different Options

Now that you know all of the options for how to get to Havana, let's dive into the details so we can then compare which option is right for you.

 Flying to Havana

If you're visiting Cuba from another country, you'll have to fly in. There used to be different cruises and boats visiting Cuba, but they've been suspended.

Havana is definitely the most popular city to visit in Cuba, and having the biggest airport, it's certainly the easiest city to fly into in the country.

 Which Cities Fly to Havana?

The cities in the Americas that fly direct to Havana include Antigua, Asunción, Basseterre, Bogotá, Bridgetown, Caracas, Castries, Cancún, Fort-de-France, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Gustavia, Houston, Lima, Madrid, Mérida, Mexico City, Miami, Montevideo, Montreal, Nassau, New York, Panama City, Port of Spain, Port-au-Prince, Providenciales, Punta Cana, Quito, Roseau, Saint John’s, Saint Pierre, Saint Vincent, Santo Domingo, Tampa, Toronto, and Valencia.

European cities with direct flights to Havana include Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Paris, and Rome.

Other cities with direct flights to Havana include Beijing and Luanda.

Search for a flight to Havana or another Cuban city:

 How to Get to Havana from Other Cities in Cuba

If you're not flying into Havana, or flights are too expensive, you can look into how to get to Havana from other cities. Other popular airports to fly into other than Havana are Santiago and Varadero.

How to Get to Havana from Varadero

There are two buses daily that go from Varadero to Havana - one leaves at 8:50 am and gets into Havana at 11:40, and the other leaves at 5:30 pm and gets in at 7:20 pm. Tickets can be purchased online Viazul's website, or at the office for 15 euros.

If you'd like to get to Havana quicker, you can hire a taxi. There are plenty of them offering rides outside of the bus station - you'll just have to negotiate.

Alternatively, you can rent a car, although they're really expensive in Varadero, and we wouldn't necessarily recommend it, especially since you won't need a car in Havana.

 How to Get to Havana from Santiago

We're not going to lie- Havana is FAR from Santiago, so really the easiest way to get to Havana from there is to fly.

However, there are 4 different buses that depart daily with Viazul for 60 euros. The ride is between 15-20 hours, and the times of departure are at 7:35 am, 3:00 pm, 3:40 pm, and 8:25 pm.

Alternatively, you can rent a car and drive, but just keep in mind that driving can be pretty costly, so we'd really only recommend it if you're 4 people.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

 How to Get to Havana from Trinidad

Viazul has one daily departure from Trinidad to Havana, which is 26 euros. It leaves at 6:00 am, and is scheduled to get into Havana at 1:40 pm. Just like Varadero, you can also hire private drivers which will get you there in much less time, or you can rent a car.

 How to Get to Havana from Cienfuegos

The optins for how to get to Havana from Cienfuegos are pretty much the same as they are from Trinidad. The Viazul bus leaving from Trinidad actually makes a stop in Cienfuegos. The ticket is 20 euros, and it leaves from the CIenfuegos bus station at 7:45 am.

 Bonus: a Fun Day Trip Alternative from Havana

If you're planning on basing yourself in Havana, but want to do a fun day trip to a nearby city (Cienfuegos, Trinidad, or Varadero in particular) you can take a day trip with a classic car!

How to Get to Havana, Cuba: Conclusion

Now you know all about how to get to Havana! Here's a bit of a recap:

• Havana is the easiest city to fly in Cuba, and can be reached by several cities in the Americas, Europe, and even a few in Africa and Asia.
• You'll need a visa for visiting Havana.
• E-visas are available for most nationalities.
• Americans can visit Havana as long as they fall into one of 12 categories. (We'll be writing an article detailing this soon).
• Viazul offers buses to Havana from most cities in Cuba.
• Hiring a driver can be cheaper than getting the bus if you're with a group.
• You'll need to pay with cash for most transportation.

What's Next?

Now that you know how to get to Havana, you'll probably want to learn more about visiting! Here are some of our top guides we recommend to help you getting acquainted with Cuba's capital:

Things to See and Do in Havana: a Guide to Cuba's Captivating Capital

 10 Best Places to Visit in Cuba for an Unforgettable Trip

 Travel to Varadero: How to Reach Cuba's Famous Resort Town

Is There Wifi in Cuba in 2024? The Ultimate Guide for Internet in Cuba

...and more coming each week!

So are you ready to explore Cuba's capital? Now you that you know how to get Havana, we hope you enjoy all of the different things to see and do in Havana.

Want to learn about all of the other places to visit in Cuba? We have a ton of other Cuba Travel Guides, and even more about Havana coming up! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so that you can receive all of our latest updates, as well as weekly content exclusive for our readers.

Ready to start planning your trip to Havana, Cuba? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa is here to help create you a customized itinerary so you can optimize you time on the island. Want to learn more about how it works? Check out our different travel planning packages, or email us today for a free consultation.

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