Do I need a visa for Cuba in 2025?

Almost everyone needs a tourist card (Tarjeta del Turista) – valid 30 days, extendable once for another 30. Buy online or at gateway airports. US citizens travel under one of 12 OFAC categories (Support for the Cuban People is the easiest).

Is it safe to travel to Cuba right now?

Yes – Cuba remains one of the safest countries in the entire Americas for tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. The biggest dangers are pickpockets in Old Havana and occasional power cuts.

Can foreigners buy property or invest in Cuba?

Foreigners still cannot own property outright, but long-term (99-year) leases are common in new developments (especially Miramar and Varadero). Private business investment is growing fast – paladares, casas particulares, and small factories can now be 100% foreign-owned in many sectors.

Best time to visit Cuba?

November–April (dry season). February–March is perfect. Avoid hurricane season June–November.

How does internet and SIM work?

Buy an ETECSA SIM at the airport (CUP 1,000–2,000 ≈ USD 5–10). Public Wi-Fi parks still exist but 4G/5G is expanding rapidly. Many private casas now offer strong private Wi-Fi.

Complete Guide to Cuba: Visa, Travel, Investment & Important Facts

Cuba is not a destination — it is a feeling. The smell of 1950s Detroit steel mixed with hand-rolled tobacco, the sound of son cubano spilling out of every doorway at 2 a.m., the taste of a mojito made with real hierba buena from someone’s backyard. This is the real Cuba in 2025: still proudly socialist, yet quietly transforming with thousands of new private restaurants, boutique hotels in restored colonial mansions, and a nightlife that rivals Miami or Barcelona on a Friday night in Vedado. This is the deepest, most honest guide you’ll find anywhere.

The Cuba That Actually Exists in 2025

Forget the 2016 time-warp cliché. Yes, the candy-colored Chevys and Buicks still roar down the Malecón at sunset, but beside them you’ll now see brand-new Chinese electric scooters, rooftop solar panels, and Airbnb signs on every block of Centro Habana. Over 12,000 private restaurants (paladares) have opened since 2021. You can pay with Visa or Mastercard in most tourist zones. The Cuba of today is vibrant, entrepreneurial, and — most importantly — still unmistakably Cuban.

Visa & Entry – Simpler Than Ever

Everyone except a handful of countries needs the green (or pink for US arrivals) tourist card. Buy it online before you fly or at your gateway airport (Miami, Toronto, Cancún, Panama). Valid 30 days + 30-day extension in-country. US travelers simply choose “Support for the Cuban People” — stay in casas particulares, eat at paladares, take private taxis, and you’re 100% compliant.

Safety – One of the Safest Places You’ll Ever Visit

Cuba consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Violent crime against tourists is virtually unheard of. You can walk Old Havana at 3 a.m. with a camera around your neck and feel safer than in many European capitals. The biggest annoyance is jineteros (hustlers) trying to guide you to their cousin’s paladar — a polite “no gracias” is enough.

Where to Go – The Unmissable Circuit

Havana – 3–4 nights minimum. Walk the Malecón at sunset, drink daiquiris at El Floridita, dance until dawn at Fabrica de Arte Cubano.
Viñales – Tobacco farms, limestone mogotes, horseback riding through valleys that look like Jurassic Park.
Trinidad – UNESCO cobblestone jewel frozen in the 18th century, with live music spilling from every plaza.
Varadero – 20 km of powder-white beach if you need a few days of pure relaxation.
Cayo Coco / Cayo Guillermo – New luxury resorts and some of the clearest water on earth.
Santiago de Cuba – The beating heart of Cuban music (birthplace of son and the revolution).

Where to Stay – Casas Particulares Are the Soul of Cuba

Forget all-inclusives unless you only want beach. The real Cuban experience is renting a room (or entire apartment) in a family-run casa particular. You’ll pay USD 25–80 per night, eat the best lobster dinner of your life for USD 12 in their dining room, and leave with lifelong friends.

Investment & Business – The Quiet Boom

Foreigners still cannot buy homes outright, but 99-year usufruct rights are now common in new developments. Private businesses exploded after 2021 reforms — you can now own restaurants, construction companies, tech startups, even import/export firms. Real estate prices in Miramar and Vedado have tripled since 2020. The next five years will be the biggest transfer of wealth in Cuban history.

Money, Internet & Practical Tips 2025

Bring EUR or CAD cash (USD incurs 10% penalty). ATMs work with Visa/Mastercard everywhere. Internet: ETECSA SIM at the airport, 4G/5G coverage now excellent in cities. Power cuts are much less frequent than 2023–2024.

Current Leadership

President: Miguel Díaz-Canel (since 2018) First Secretary of the Communist Party: Still Raúl Castro in honorary role.

Getting There & Around

Direct flights from Miami (45 min), Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Houston, New York, Toronto, Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt, Panama City, Mexico City. Domestic flights on Cubana or private charters to Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santiago. Classic convertible taxis, private drivers, and Viazul buses are all easy.

Final Thought

Cuba doesn’t need to be “discovered” — it’s been here all along, waiting with open arms and a cold Bucanero beer. Come now, while the classic cars still outnumber Teslas, while the music is still live every night, and while a smile and a “¿Qué bolá?” is still the universal greeting. This is the Cuba of 2025 — raw, beautiful, changing fast, and absolutely unforgettable.