Best Time to Visit Cuba

Havana is the place to plan around

Our data covers Havana, so that's where the advice is most precise. Cuba is a long, thin island, though, and the weather doesn't change much from one end to the other. Trinidad, Viñales and the beaches at Varadero follow the same basic pattern: a dry winter and a wet, sticky summer. The east, around Santiago de Cuba, runs a bit hotter.

November to March: the sweet spot

This is the best stretch, and it's high season. Days in Havana are warm without being heavy. You can walk Old Havana's cobbled streets, stroll the Malecón (the seafront promenade) at sunset and not feel wrung out by 2 p.m. Evenings can be cool enough for a light jacket, and a north wind now and then brings a grey, breezy day.

Expect the most visitors from December to February, especially around Christmas and New Year. Casas particulares (private rooms in local homes) fill up in Havana and Trinidad, so don't leave Viñales for the last minute. Carnival in Santiago de Cuba is in July, but Havana's big February book fair draws crowds of readers and keeps the city lively.

May to October: hot, wet and quiet

July is the hottest month in Havana at 33°C, and it feels sticky. June is the wettest, with 160 mm of rain, often in heavy afternoon bursts. Mornings are usually your best bet for sightseeing. Spend the middle of the day in a museum, like the Museo de la Revolución, or in a shady courtyard with a cold drink.

Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the real risk mostly from August to October. Most trips go fine, but check forecasts if you're heading to the coast. The upside is fewer tourists and easier bookings. Cubans take their own holidays in July and August, so beaches like Varadero and Playas del Este near Havana can be busy with locals.

Holidays worth knowing

Liberation Day on 1 January and Revolution Day on 26 July are the big national dates. Expect closures and rallies on 26 July. Travelling with kids? The shoulder months of November and March keep you out of the worst heat and the thickest crowds.