Small group travel means you’re not navigating Cuba’s infrastructure and challenges alone—the local experts will ensure your safety and comfort.
Travel to Cuba from UK Airports: A Guide For Brits
What British travellers need to know and arrange before visiting Cuba
Cuba’s character, complexity and the fascinating stories of its past and present make it an extraordinary and inspirational destination. If you’re planning a holiday in Cuba and are travelling from the UK, here are the essentials you need to know before you go. Our guide for British travellers answers your questions about safety, group travel options, entry requirements, how to travel to Cuba from the UK and more.
- The best times for Brits to travel to Cuba
- Benefits of small group vs solo travel
- Tour options for Brits visiting Cuba
- Flights for UK citizen travel to Cuba
- Cuba entry requirements for British travellers
- Visiting Cuba from UK departure points
- Cuba trip costs and budgeting
- Time differences between the UK and Cuba
What’s the best time of year for UK citizens to travel to Cuba?
Cuba’s tropical climate averages 25 to 30°C year-round, with the dry season from November to April generally busier. Visit in the low season for fewer crowds, cheaper rates and easier access to attractions; or enjoy Cuba-style festivities during the Christmas break!
Group travel vs independent exploration
Many British travellers ask if it’s safer to travel to Cuba independently or on a tour. Small group travel offers many benefits, including safety, logistics, ease and convenience. Here’s why many UK citizens prefer to explore Cuba on a small group tour:
Our fully licensed tour leaders and guides are Cuban locals who undertake rigorous training delivered through our headquarters in Australia.
Family-run guesthouses, known as casas particulares, take you inside real Cuban homes to learn about the community’s way of life.
On a small group tour, the costs of food, accommodation, transport, guides and experiences are consolidated to deliver a more competitive price.
Choose a responsible tour operator that supports local businesses, environmental projects and conservation programs, so your visit benefits local people.
Cuba tours for British travellers
Choose from half-day, full-day, multi-day or customised tours designed to help UK travellers maximise their time while experiencing authenticity.
Multi-day tours
Explore Cuba’s unmissable sights and destinations on a 5- to 20-day tour. Choose from classic Cuba, women-only, cycling adventure and birdwatching tours, amongst others.
Short stay packages
The perfect option for a 3- to 5-day long weekend in Cuba, a quick getaway combined with another Caribbean destination, or an add-on before or after a multi-day tour.
Full- and half-day tours
Connect with Cuban culture in Havana, Trinidad or Santiago de Cuba. Uncover Cuba’s revolutionary past, take a vintage car tour, dive into the energetic nightlife and more.
Custom and private Cuba tours
Book a private or fully customised tour on a departure date that suits you or your own small group with activities that match your preferences.
Key takeaways: When and how to travel in Cuba
- When to visit: Cuba’s dry season, from November to April, offers ideal weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities, or opt for off-season travel.
- Safe group travel: Travelling to Cuba from the UK on a small group tour offers convenience, safety, pre-arranged logistics, local insights, on-the-ground support and value for money.
- Cuba tours for British travellers: These include longer multi-destination itineraries, shorter 3-5 day adventures, and half- and full-day options that showcase Cuba’s diverse scenery, traditions and culture.
Flights to Cuba and entry requirements for British travellers
Choose your flights and organise your pre-travel requirements with our Cuba travel checklist; we’ll help you to prepare for your trip to Cuba from UK departure points like a pro!
Flying to Cuba from the UK
There are currently no direct flights from the UK to Cuba; however, several airlines operate direct routes from nearby European hubs, including Amsterdam, Madrid, Paris or Frankfurt. Arrive within 11-18 hours, depending on stopover and connection wait times. With a time difference of only 4-5 hours, depending on daylight saving time, most people experience very little jetlag.
Several airlines offer flights to Cuba on various routes, depending on season and demand. For example, Air Europa usually flies from the UK to Havana via Madrid, and KLM offers seasonal flights via Amsterdam. Check available options with your travel agent, on airline websites, or by comparing routes on flight search engines, however, note that not all available options will be published.
Important note for UK citizens flying via the US
When transiting via the US, UK travellers are subject to US regulations, so you must provide a valid reason for travel to Cuba such as ‘Support for the Cuban People’. British travellers will lose their ESTA online pre-screening for future visa-free entry into the US after visiting Cuba.
Cuba pre-travel entry requirements for British travellers
Well before arrival in Cuba, UK travellers must apply for a tourist eVisa, complete an online customs declaration form and comply with various other entry requirements.
Valid passport and onward flight ticket
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the arrival date and you must also have proof of onward travel.
Compulsory tourist e-Visa
When entering Cuba by air, international travellers must have a valid tourist eVisa. You must apply and pay for your eVisa online well before arrival.
How to apply for a Cuba visa for British citizens
Purchase your eVisa through Cuban Adventures using our step-by-step instructions to buy your eVisa online. eVisas can take three working days to process.
D’Viajeros customs declaration form
The government-issued customs and immigration D’Viajeros declaration form must be submitted online up to seven days before you enter Cuba. It cannot be submitted earlier.
Mandatory travel medical insurance
Comprehensive travel medical insurance that specifically provides cover for Cuba is required for the full duration of your trip, and evidence may be requested upon arrival. You can purchase the appropriate travel medical insurance through Cuban Adventures online.
Vaccination requirements for Cuba
Visit www.gov.uk and read TravelHealthPro’s Cuba guide for up-to-date information about vaccinations, medical entry requirements, health and safety information.
Key takeaways: Getting there and entry requirements
- Flying to Cuba: UK travellers can connect in another major European airport and arrive in 11-18 hours, depending on the route.
- Entry requirements: British travellers entering Cuba must have a valid passport, onward flight ticket, Cuban tourist eVisa, completed immigration form and comprehensive travel medical insurance. Organise these before arrival.
- Health and safety information for UK travellers: Review UK authority websites before travel.
Frequently asked questions about travelling to Cuba from the UK
Get answers to some of the most common questions we receive from our travellers.
Many travellers choose a small group tour such as our 8 Day Cuba Original Tour, which includes your itinerary of activities, local guide, transport, accommodation in family-run casas particulares, airport arrival transfer and daily breakfast except for arrival day. This tour option costs US $795 per person (check the current exchange rate for the price in GBP) and is our most popular tour. Other multi-day tour itineraries start from US $640 per person.
For the total cost of your holiday to Cuba, include these expenses:
- Return airfares
- Your eVisa and insurance fees (Ultimate Tours include eVisa)
- Meals and drinks not included in your tour (budget US $50 a day. Ultimate Tours include all meals)
- Departure airport transfer (US $25-35. Ultimate Tours include departure transfer)
- Optional extra activities and excursions
- Tips, souvenirs and spending money
We recommend budgeting US $100 per person, per day. Meals, drinks, spending money and optional activities and excursions will vary, and we suggest tipping local guides US $2-5 per person. Plan with confidence using these tips for navigating currency in Cuba.
No, our tours do not include international airfares.
The UK is five hours ahead of Cuba, except during daylight saving time, when it is four hours ahead. The best overlap between the two time zones is from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Cuba, which corresponds to 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the UK.
Key takeaways: Common questions from British travellers
- Average cost to visit Cuba: Costs involved in visiting Cuba from the UK can vary depending on traveller preferences. Cuban Adventures offers tours starting from US $640 per person.
- Airfares and flights: Most tours to Cuba don’t include international airfares.
- How much cash to bring: Budget US $100 cash per person, per day for daily expenses and spending money.
- Time difference: Cuba and the UK are five hours apart, four hours during daylight saving.
Turn your Cuba holiday dreams into a reality!
Visiting Cuba from the UK is easy when you choose to travel with a specialised Cuba tour operator. We have 20 years of experience in guiding British visitors through Cuba, so you can enjoy peace of mind and safe travel. If you’re ready to encounter warm Cuban hospitality, taste delicious Caribbean cuisine, explore majestic mountains and tropical valleys, and see how our intriguing history has shaped daily Cuban life, your adventure is waiting! Explore our Cuba tour options and submit your booking form today.
What people say about our services in Cuba
Excellent
Based on 1,812 reviews
JosephJune 29, 2026My experience on the 9 day tour was fantastic from start to finish. Cuban Adventures were very helpful throughout the process and have well designed itineraries. Our tour guide was friendly, helpful, and informative. I met a lovely group of people and saw many parts of the island which would have been difficult to reach on my own. The activities were well thought out, with opportunities to spend more time with the group or do your own thing. This was one of my favourite trips after visiting many countries. Thoroughly recommended!- SimonMay 8, 2026Travel to and within Cuba has been severely disrupted by the oil embargo. Despite these difficulties Cuban Adventurers were able to provide an excellent tour. Our tour guide Adrian was able to make the trip interesting and informative despite potentially difficult circumstances. All the people we dealt with on this trip who were engaged by Cuban Adventurers such as local guides and accommodation providers were positive, helpful and friendly and added to our enjoyment of the tour.
- SophieApril 12, 2026I had a great time on the Women's Tour. Our guide was super friendly, knowledgeable and created a once in a lifetime experience for us all.
- GretchenMarch 22, 2026Cuban Adventures was the most accommodating tour I have ever taken. It was also the most interesting thanks to our tour guide, the history professor, Yoani Monteagudo Javier. Take the 15 day road trip for a very full picture of Cuba.
PhilipMarch 19, 2026To sum up the trip and company in one word. PROFESSIONAL. Quick responses, great guide, great driver. We were well looked after, always felt safe and enjoyed learning about the people, history, culture and great countryside. Thank you Cuban Adventures.
ElizabethMarch 15, 2026I recommend anyone who wants to visit Cuba to do it with Cuban Adventures. I always felt really guided visiting this beautiful but foreigner country for me. They had an excellent organization and sense of responsibility. All the members of the team are very friendly and really cared about the travelers. I felt completely safe traveling with them.- Andrea SuzanneMarch 7, 2026This has been one of the most amazing trips I have been on. Between the Cuban people and culture it was so memorable.
- CliffordMarch 3, 2026Our tour of Cuba was fantastic! It was a fun, interesting, and memorable adventure. It was extremely well-organized and seamless, and our tour guide Estefan was phenomenal. I highly recommend visiting Cuba and hope that I can return there in the future.
- StephenieFebruary 25, 2026My 10-day tour of Cuba with Cuban Adventures was an amazing experience. I didn't know what to expect and I was a little anxious beforehand, but this became easily my favorite vacation ever. My Cuban Adventures guide, Estefan, was incredibly organized, knowledgeable, and friendly. The staff that supported him, Dayana (local guide) and Carlos (driver) were wonderful too. Our trip took us to Havana, Viñales, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad, and I loved it all. Cuban Adventures made Cuba feel like home, and I was honestly sad to leave. I can't wait to return to Cuba, and when I do, I will definitely book my trip through Cuban Adventures.
More Cuba travel inspiration in our blog
Read our blog for local insights, practical tips and stories from the road to help you plan your trip to Cuba from the UK.