Arrival brief · Havana HAV
HAV Arrival Guide: José Martí Airport to Havana, Without the Traps
Havana's airport is a fair way from the city and cash-first — the arrival is easy once you agree your taxi fare and sort money. A pre-arranged casa or hotel transfer is the calmest way in.
2026-08-25
What to expect after landing
Havana’s José Martí International (HAV) is a fair way from the city and, like all of Cuba, cash-first — the arrival is easy once you agree your taxi fare and sort money. A pre-arranged casa or hotel transfer is the calmest way in (~30–40 minutes). Change some cash at the official airport bank/cadeca, bring enough cash for the trip (many foreign cards fail, and US-issued cards generally don’t work), and use the official yellow taxis if you don’t have a transfer.
Option 1 — Casa or hotel transfer (calmest)
A pre-arranged transfer — a driver holding your name at a set price — is the smoothest option, especially when you may be short on local cash and tired. Most casas particulares and hotels arrange it; it removes both the fare negotiation and the money scramble.
Option 2 — Official taxi (agree the fare)
Use the official yellow airport taxis and agree the fare and currency before you get in (no meters). Know the rough going rate (ask your casa/hotel), have small notes, and confirm it’s the total for the trip. Don’t take an unofficial car or a driver who approaches you.
What it looks like
HAV’s tells are the no-meter fare and the cash-first surprise: a taxi price that floats without an agreement, and arriving with no local cash because a card didn’t work. Sort both on arrival — agree the fare and currency up front (or pre-book a transfer), and change money at the official airport cadeca — and Havana opens up easily.
Do this instead
Pre-arrange a casa/hotel transfer, or take an official yellow taxi with the fare and currency agreed first; change cash at the official airport cadeca and bring enough for the whole trip; and count your money carefully. That’s the whole HAV arrival, into a city like nowhere else.
Late-night arrivals
A pre-arranged transfer is the best late choice — a named driver, a set price, no money scramble. The official yellow taxis run late too (agree the fare and currency first). Change some money at the airport if you can, keep cash secure, save your address offline, and go straight to your accommodation — not with an unofficial driver who approached you.
Quick answers
What's the best way from Havana airport to the city?
The calmest option is a pre-arranged casa particular or hotel transfer — a driver meets you by name and takes you into the city (about 30–40 minutes) at a set price, which removes the negotiation when you're jet-lagged and possibly short on local cash. Otherwise, use the official yellow airport taxis and agree the fare and currency before you get in (there are no meters). There's no train or convenient bus for tourists from the airport, so it's a taxi or transfer. Ask your casa/hotel to arrange the pickup if you can.
How much is a taxi from Havana airport, and how do I avoid overcharging?
Havana taxis don't use meters, so the fare to the city is a set/negotiated amount — agree it (and the currency) clearly before you get in, and know the rough going rate in advance (ask your casa or hotel) so you're not overcharged. Use the official yellow airport taxis rather than an unofficial car or a driver who approaches you. Have small notes ready, confirm it's the total for the trip, and don't get into a cab whose driver is vague about the price. A pre-arranged transfer at a fixed price avoids the whole negotiation.
How do I handle money when I land in Havana?
Cuba is largely cash-first, and card acceptance is patchy and unreliable for many foreign cards — and US-issued cards generally don't work at all — so bring enough cash for your trip and change it at the official airport bank or cadeca (exchange house) on arrival, not with a street tout. Count your money carefully at the counter. Understand Cuba's current currency situation before you travel (the rules change), budget in cash, and keep it secure and low-profile. Having some local cash before you leave the airport makes the taxi and first night easy.
What if I land in Havana late at night?
A pre-arranged casa or hotel transfer is the best late-night choice — a named driver at a set price, no negotiation and no scramble for local cash when you're tired. The official yellow airport taxis also operate late (agree the fare and currency first). Change some money at the airport before you leave if you can, have your casa/hotel address and the transfer details saved offline, keep cash secure, and go straight to your accommodation. Don't take a ride from an unofficial driver who approaches you.