Best Time to Visit Havana
Month-by-month guide for Havana, Cuba — when to go for best weather, when to save money, and which months to skip. Updated 2026.
Havana by month
Best Good Quiet Avoid
Which season should you pick?
Dry season Dec–Mar is peak — warm, low rain, best hotel and flight demand. May–Oct is the rainy season with afternoon storms; prices drop 30–50%.
Peak season
Dec–Mar
Best weather. Highest prices — book flights + hotels 3+ months out.
Shoulder — best value
Apr, Nov
Weather still good, prices drop 20–40%. Sweet spot for budget travellers.
Avoid
May–Oct (rainy season)
Only worth it if you have specific reason — deep discounts, but weather works against you.
Search flights for your dates
Once you've picked a month, compare flight prices across airlines. Prices for Havana (HAV) shift 20–40% between peak and shoulder months.
Book a hotel in Havana
Dec–Mar rooms sell out first at the best hotels. If you're travelling peak, book 60+ days out. Shoulder-season rooms rarely need more than 30 days lead.
Local tip
HAV is 20km SW of centre. Skip the public bus (P-12 stops nowhere near hotels). Classic vintage-car taxi from official rank at arrivals — CUC 25-40 fixed rate, ONLY use official yellow "Cubataxi" or authorized cars (avoid unmarked). Cuba requires PAPER Cuban Tourist Card + travel insurance proof — bring both. Currency: use CUC (or new peso post-2021 unification, depending on stage). Cash-heavy economy — very limited ATM/card acceptance for non-EU cards. For 6h layovers: Old Havana + a mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio.