Can I use my US debit or credit card at Havana airport?

No. US-issued credit and debit cards do not work anywhere in Cuba, including at Havana's Jose Marti airport, because the US embargo blocks them at every Cuban bank and payment processor. There is no working ATM for a US card here, and no card terminal will accept one. You must arrive with all the cash you need for your whole trip, in clean post-2009 EUR or USD notes, plus a buffer. Even European and Canadian cards work only unreliably, at a few government hotels.

Should I change money at the Havana airport Cadeca?

Only a small amount, for your taxi into the city. The Cadeca (Casa de Cambio) exchange booth in Jose Marti arrivals gives a worse rate than the Cadecas and bank counters in downtown Havana, and lines can be long. Change just enough foreign cash to cover the airport taxi (roughly the equivalent of 25 to 35 euros), then exchange the rest in smaller chunks downtown as you go. Bring your passport, which is required for any exchange, and count your pesos before leaving the window.

Should I bring euros or US dollars to Cuba?

Euros, if you have a choice. The Cuban government applies a 10 percent surcharge when exchanging US dollars to pesos, which it does not apply to euros, so the same value in EUR gets you about 10 percent more pesos than USD. Bring clean, crisp, post-2009 notes in good condition; torn or marked bills may be refused. Whatever you bring, bring all of it: there is no working ATM or card backup in Cuba, so calculate your daily budget times your trip days, add 20 to 30 percent, and carry that in cash.

How do I get from Jose Marti airport into Havana?

By taxi, paid in cash. Official yellow taxis and the classic-car taxis wait outside Terminal 3 arrivals; a ride into central Havana or Old Havana runs roughly the equivalent of 25 to 35 euros, so agree the fare before getting in. There is no Uber in Cuba and no train from the airport. Many casa particular hosts and hotels will arrange a pickup for a set price, which is the easiest option after a long flight. Change a little cash at the airport Cadeca first so you can pay the driver in pesos or agreed foreign cash.

What happens if I run out of money in Cuba?

It is a serious problem, because there is no working ATM safety net for a US traveler and your cards will not work. Your only realistic options are to have someone wire funds via Western Union to a Cuban recipient, or to pay very poor rates at a government-hotel exchange window that may not even have currency during a shortage. The fix is prevention: budget aggressively before you fly, bring 20 to 30 percent more cash than you think you need, and keep an emergency reserve of clean EUR or USD separate from your daily spending money.

Currency at Havana Jose Marti Airport (HAV): Cash Rules, No Working ATMs

Quick answer. Your US cards will not work anywhere in Cuba, so there is nothing to "withdraw" at José Martí. Arrive with all the cash you need for the trip in clean, post-2009 euros (preferred, because dollars carry a 10% government surcharge) or US dollars. At the airport, change only a small amount at the Cadeca booth, enough for your taxi (about €25–35), then exchange the rest in smaller chunks at downtown Havana Cadecas, which give a better rate. Bring your passport for any exchange, count your pesos, and budget 20–30% over what you expect, because there is no working ATM backup.

🧾 Bring Your Cash Before You Fly

There is no working ATM in Cuba for US cards. Order clean, post-2009 EUR or USD to a US address, insured 2–5 day delivery, and bring your whole trip's budget.

Order EUR / USD Cash → CEI Currency Exchange

Why there is nothing to withdraw at José Martí

Every other airport guide on this site tells you to walk past the exchange counter and use a bank ATM. Cuba is the exception. The US embargo blocks American-issued Visa and Mastercard at every Cuban bank and payment processor, so a US debit or credit card will not work at any ATM, hotel, restaurant, or shop in the country, including at José Martí. There is no fee to compare and no "best card" to bring, because none of them function. European and Canadian cards work only unreliably, at a handful of government hotels.

That changes the whole strategy: instead of pulling cash on arrival, you must arrive with all the cash you will need for the entire trip, in clean, crisp, post-2009 euro or US dollar notes, plus a comfortable buffer. Euros are the better choice, because the Cuban government adds a 10% surcharge on US-dollar exchanges that it does not apply to euros. Order your cash before you fly from a service like CEI Currency Exchange, or from your home bank.

Getting pesos at HAV: change a little, then go downtown

Cuban pesos (CUP) are essentially impossible to buy outside Cuba, so you exchange your foreign cash for pesos on the ground. At the airport you have one real option, and it is not the best rate, so use it sparingly:

Option	Where	Rate vs downtown Cadeca	Use it for
Airport Cadeca (Casa de Cambio)	Terminal 3 arrivals	Slightly worse; passport required	Just your taxi fare (~€25-35)
Downtown Cadeca / Banco Metropolitano	Habana Vieja, Vedado	The reference rate; better than the airport	The bulk of your exchange, in chunks
Government-hotel exchange window	Meliá, Iberostar, etc.	10-25% worse, sometimes a flat surcharge	Avoid unless stuck
Any US-card ATM	Anywhere	Does not work for US cards at all	Nothing, it will be declined
Street "better rate" offer	Tourist areas	Scam risk: fake bills or short-counting	Avoid

There is no US-card ATM option in Cuba. The airport Cadeca is fine for a small first exchange to cover your taxi; do the rest downtown. Bring EUR to avoid the 10% USD surcharge, bring your passport, and count your pesos before leaving the window. The official rate is also typically well below the informal peer-to-peer rate some casa hosts offer privately (legal status is gray).

⚠ The one rule that matters: bring more cash than you think you need. There is no working ATM or card backup in Cuba. Calculate your daily budget, multiply by your trip length, add 20–30%, and carry that in clean EUR (or USD) notes. Keep an emergency reserve separate from your daily spending cash. Running out means wiring money via Western Union or paying punishing hotel rates, if currency is even available.

The terminals at José Martí

Terminal 3 (international)

The main international terminal, handling flights from Europe (Air France, Iberia, KLM), Canada (Air Canada, WestJet), Latin America, and US carriers and charters. This is where nearly all foreign visitors arrive.

In arrivals you will find a Cadeca exchange booth (often with a queue) and taxi ranks outside. Change a small amount of your EUR or USD here for the taxi into Havana, keep your passport handy for the exchange, and count your pesos. Do not expect a working ATM for a US card.

Terminals 1 & 2 (domestic and additional flights)

Terminal 2 has historically handled US charter flights and some regional services, and Terminal 1 handles domestic flights. Facilities are more limited; the same cash rules apply, so arrive with your currency in hand and change only what you need for the ride into the city.

Getting from HAV into Havana

There is no Uber and no airport train in Cuba, so you travel into the city by taxi, paid in cash. Here is what to expect:

Official yellow taxis (roughly €25–35 to central Havana): licensed taxis wait outside Terminal 3 arrivals. Agree the fare before getting in and pay in pesos or agreed foreign cash. This is the standard option.

Classic-car taxis (negotiable, often similar or a little more): the iconic 1950s American cars also serve the airport; the price is negotiable, so settle it up front.

Casa particular or hotel pickup (set price, arranged in advance): many casa hosts and hotels arrange an airport pickup for a fixed price. This is the easiest option after a long flight and avoids haggling on arrival.

Change a little cash at the airport Cadeca first so you can pay the driver, then handle the rest of your exchange downtown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my US card at Havana airport?

No. US-issued cards do not work anywhere in Cuba, including HAV, because of the embargo. There is no working ATM for a US card. Bring all your cash in clean EUR or USD notes.

Should I change money at the airport Cadeca?

Only a small amount, enough for the taxi (about €25-35). The downtown Havana Cadecas give a better rate, so exchange the bulk of your cash there in chunks. Bring your passport and count your pesos.

Euros or US dollars for Cuba?

Euros. The government adds a 10% surcharge on USD-to-peso exchanges but not on euros, so EUR gets you about 10% more pesos. Bring clean, post-2009 notes; torn or marked bills may be refused.

How do I get into Havana from the airport?

By taxi, cash only, about €25-35 to central Havana; agree the fare first. There is no Uber and no airport train. A casa or hotel pickup arranged in advance is the easiest option.

What if I run out of money in Cuba?

There is no ATM or card backup, so it is serious. The only options are a Western Union wire to a Cuban recipient or poor hotel rates. Prevent it: bring 20-30% more cash than you expect and keep an emergency reserve.

Currency at Havana José Martí (HAV)