Travel Stories

Cuba

- food and drink
What to eat and drink in Cuba
11 min read • Sep 13, 2022
Here’s where to find the best traditional dishes around the country.
- tips and advice
- destination practicalities
10 of the very best places to visit in Cuba
7 min read • Aug 26, 2022
We can help you decide where you should visit in Cuba.
- tips and advice
- destination practicalities
The rules for Americans visiting Cuba in 2022
5 min read • May 20, 2022
The US has taken several steps toward thawing US-Cuba relations after five years of tightened restrictions. Here's what Americans need to know about traveling…
- tips and advice
- destination practicalities
Getting a visa to visit Cuba is tricky – and worth it
3 min read • Mar 5, 2022
Travelers often have questions about the visa process for Cuba and whether one is able visit from the US. Here’s a guide to Cuba’s visa requirements.
- beaches
- activities
See the real Cuba on these top road trips
8 min read • Feb 22, 2022
From beaches to mountains to historic cities and more, these road trips around Cuba offer access to the best of this enchanting island.
- activities
- hiking
The top 8 hikes in Cuba, from forested trails and historical hideouts
8 min read • Feb 15, 2022
Cuba is best known for its beaches, but it also has a little-explored network of national parks and protected areas that are worth hiking.
- hostels
- destination practicalities
Cuba accommodation 101: A guide to everything from casas particulares to all-inclusive hotels
7 min read • Feb 14, 2022
From private homestays to all-inclusive hotels, Cuban accommodation needs some pre-trip thought. Here's how to stay, pay, (and allay any first-time fears).
- destination practicalities
- tips and advice
Everything you need to know before visiting Cuba – money, medicine, and whether those cheap cigars are really worth it
8 min read • Feb 5, 2022
With several currencies, multiple street names, and cheap cigars, Cuba confuses even hardened travelers. Here's everything you need to know before you go.
- art and culture
- history
A guide to Cuba's classic cars: take a tour in an iconic motor
6 min read • Feb 3, 2022
Classic cars are a popular tourist attraction in Cuba. Here's how to book yourself the perfect tour in an iconic vehicle.
- beaches
- activities
Cuba's 8 most gorgeous beaches for sunbathing, diving and more
5 min read • Feb 2, 2022
Circled by stretches of white sand and crystal clear waters, Cuba offers the perfect Caribbean escape. Here's a guide to Cuba's best beaches.
- budget travel
- connections
Cuba on a budget: tips for making the most of your money
7 min read • Jan 27, 2022
There are many ways to visit Cuba and, while it might not be the best place in the world for shoestring backpackers, you can certainly save money if you…
- activities
- art and culture
The top 17 things to do in Cuba
9 min read • Jan 19, 2022
Pack a sunhat and a book of José Martí’s poems and get ready to uncover the buoyant, beautiful magic of Cuba. Here are the top things to do on your visit.
- art and culture
- covid 19
A guide to visiting Cuba during COVID-19: what it's like to travel there now
8 min read • Dec 31, 2021
Lonely Planet's Cuba travel expert visits the tropical island and reports back about his worthwhile trip.
- national parks
- activities
Cuba’s most beautiful national parks
8 min read • Dec 20, 2021
Visited by few foreign tourists, Cuba’s best national parks offer rugged tropical landscapes, diving through shipwrecks, astonishing wildlife and more.
I went to Cuba after it reopened - here’s what you need to know
8 min read • Oct 27, 2020
Travel writer Brendan Sainsbury is an expert on travel to Cuba. This is his first time returning since the global pandemic began.
- history
- art and culture
Why female Cuban professionals are leaving their careers to become artists
5 min read • Jun 16, 2020
For decades, Cuba's female professionals have been redefining the country's art scene and exploring new avenues for income.
- history
- art and culture
Virtual Vacation: Cuba
4 min read • May 7, 2020
Whether it's the fluid movements of salsa dancers, the blare of a trumpet or the waft of cigar smoke in the air, Cuba is a country that lingers in the mind.
- hotels
- destination practicalities
Everything you need to know about traveling legally to Cuba
7 min read • Sep 3, 2019
Despite a well-publicized announcement by the Trump administration in June 2019, it is still relatively easy for Americans to travel legally to Cuba.
- art
- art and culture
Yes, Americans, you can still visit Cuba
4 min read • Jun 12, 2019
In the space of three years, US-Cuban relations have gone from cagey cooperation to the tetchy squabbling of yore. On June 4, the Trump administration…
Trump administration cruise ban: how new policy impacts travel to Cuba
3 min read • Jun 5, 2019
Travel to Cuba just got more difficult for Americans after the Trump administration announced a ban on cruise ships, private planes and boats to the…
- road trips
- destination practicalities
Cuba beyond the capital: best things to do outside Havana
5 min read • Apr 23, 2019
From the copper-hued farms of rural Viñales to the rainbow-colored plazas of Trinidad, the places beyond Cuba’s capital offer up a mix of contrasts. Spend…
- road trips
- destination practicalities
Havana to Viñales: a classic Cuban road trip
6 min read • Aug 11, 2017
The Malecon comes alive at sunset. This broad ribbon of cement curves around Havana’s waterfront, and as the sun wanes, the sky turns pink and the road is…