Flights to Cuba
Cuba has two main international airports that are served from Europe:
Havana — José Martí International Airport (HAV)
The most important airport in Cuba is located 15 km south of downtown. Direct flights from Europe:
- Condor: Frankfurt → Havana (approx. 10.5 hrs), year-round, 1–3× weekly. From about 400 € return in Economy.
- Edelweiss: Zurich → Havana (seasonal, winter half-year)
- Iberia: Madrid → Havana (daily, from 350 € return). Good connecting flights from Germany.
- Air France: Paris CDG → Havana (3–4× weekly)
- KLM: Amsterdam → Havana (seasonal)
Transfer to the city: Official taxis cost 25–30 € (45–60 min depending on traffic). There is no public bus from the airport. Arrange the ride in advance through the Casa Particular — often cheaper (15–20 €).
Varadero — Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport (VRA)
The second most important airport is located near Varadero, 130 km east of Havana. It is mainly served by charter flights:
- Condor: Frankfurt → Varadero (seasonal)
- TUI fly / Eurowings Discover: Various German airports (winter half-year)
From Varadero to Havana: Viazul bus (10 €, 3 hrs) or taxi (80–100 €). Varadero is better as a starting point for a beach week, not for a round trip.
Other Airports (Domestic Flights)
Cuba has about a dozen domestic airports. Cubana de Aviación flies from Havana to Santiago de Cuba (SCU, 2 hrs), Holguín (HOG), Camagüey (CMW), and several other cities. The flights are cheap (50–120 € one-way), but notoriously unreliable: delays and cancellations are the rule, not the exception.
💡 Tipp
The cheapest flights to Cuba are often found via Madrid (Iberia) or Paris (Air France) — significantly cheaper than Condor direct flights. Set up Skyscanner alerts!
Achtung
Chaos often reigns at Havana airport. Expect long queues at immigration (1–2 hrs), missing luggage, and aggressive informal taxi drivers. Don't let yourself be pressured — official yellow taxis are outside on the left.
