Public Transportation into and out of Havana

Airport  José Martí, 18 km from Havana.

The Cubatur desk will book a taxi for you from the airport but any porter will help you.

City buses run from Terminal 4 (Air Cubana terminal) to town, ask around. To the airport from town, M2 buses leave from Parque Fraternidad, but are always full, long queues, difficult with luggage.

Long distance buses:  Terminal de Omnibus Interprovinciales, Av Rancho Boyeros (Independencia). See Information for travellers for advance booking addresses. Also Víazul, from Av 26 entre Av Zoológico y Ulloa, Nuevo Vedado, T 811413, 811108, 815652, F 666092, buses or minibuses usually every other day to Varadero, Trinidad, Viñales via Pinar del Río (and Varadero-Trinidad).

Hiring a car is not recommended for getting around Havana City, roads are badly signed and there have been many accidents with tourists.

Havana – Trains

Cuba is the only Caribbean island with a functioning rail service, which is operated by Ferrocarriles de Cuba. There is no national enquiries number but information can be obtained from the main station in Havana, the Estación Central, Avenida Bélgica and Calle Arsenal. The station tends to be rather crowded with patient passengers surrounded by large piles of luggage waiting for delayed trains. There is a cafe in the station to escape the chaos.

Rail services: Train travel is a great way to meet people and experience a slice of Cuban life, but the service is notoriously unreliable with frequent delays and cancellations. For those with the time and wherewithal, it makes for an unforgettable journey. The main, and best, route is from Havana to Santiago de Cuba via Matanzas, Santa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey and Las Tunas. The overnight express service between Havana and Santiago is the fastest, taking a minimum of 15 hours. There are several branch lines from this main line. Published timetables don’t exist, so it is imperative to check times well in advance and make a reservation in person at the La Coubre ticket office by the station.