💰 Quick Context: The Cuban Peso
Cuba uses the Cuban Peso (CUP / $). The country unified its dual currency system in 2021, eliminating the CUC (convertible peso). Now only CUP exists. Quick math: the official rate is roughly 24 CUP = $1 USD, but the informal/street rate is much higher (120–300+ CUP per $1 USD as of 2024–2025). A coffee costs 20–50 CUP, a meal in a local restaurant 200–500 CUP, a meal in a tourist restaurant $8–20 USD, and a casa particular runs $25–50 USD/night. Cuba is essentially cash-only for tourists. US credit and debit cards do not work here due to the embargo. Bring enough cash for your entire trip.
🎧 Order Cuban Peso Before You Fly
Have cash in hand when you land. Insured delivery, 2–5 day shipping.
Order CUP → CEI Currency ExchangeCash vs. Card: What to Expect in Cuba
Cuba is a cash-only country for most tourists. Card infrastructure exists in some places, but it is extremely limited and unreliable, especially for visitors from the United States.
Cash is everything. You will pay for nearly all transactions in cash. Paladares (private restaurants) in Old Havana, classic car taxis, casas particulares (private homestays) in Trinidad and Viñales, markets, and shops all operate on cash. US-issued cards do not work anywhere in Cuba. Visa, Mastercard, and Amex cards from US banks are blocked by the embargo, including debit cards.
European and Canadian cards may work at some government-run hotels (Hotel Nacional, Meliá properties) and a handful of larger shops, but acceptance is spotty and failures are common. Budget your entire trip in cash. There is no reliable backup plan if you run out of money in Cuba. Calculate your daily budget, add a 20–30% buffer, and bring it all in physical currency.
How to Get Cash for Your Cuba Trip
Cuba is the most cash-only country on this entire list. US-issued credit and debit cards do not work anywhere in Cuba (the embargo blocks them at every Cuban payment processor and bank), so you cannot rely on ATM withdrawals as a backup, regardless of how reliable your card is at home. Even European and Canadian cards work only at a handful of government hotels (Hotel Nacional, Meliá), and even then unreliably. The only viable path: bring all the cash you'll need for the entire trip in clean, post-2009 USD or (better) EUR notes, plus a 20–30% buffer. There is no working ATM safety net. Run out of money in Cuba and your only options are wiring funds via Western Union to a Cuban friend or paying eye-watering rates at hotel exchange counters that may not even have currency available during shortages.
Bring all cash you need before you fly
Cuba is the rare country where pre-arrival cash is non-negotiable, not optional. A currency-exchange service like CEI Currency Exchange ships clean post-2009 USD or EUR to a US address with insured 2–5 day delivery, which is what you'll actually need to bring on the plane. Your home bank can also order EUR or USD: Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citi all stock both. Allow 3–7 business days. Cuban pesos themselves are essentially impossible to get outside Cuba (the currency isn't traded internationally and most US currency-exchange services do not stock CUP). Cuba does not have a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner — and even if it did, US-issued cards still wouldn't work because of the embargo. EUR is preferred over USD at most Cuban exchange points because the Cuban government applies a 10% surcharge to USD-to-CUP exchanges (it does not apply to EUR-to-CUP). Bring crisp, clean, post-2009 EUR bills if you have a choice. The cleanest setup for any Cuba trip: calculate daily budget × trip days × 1.25, bring that amount in EUR cash, exchange small chunks at Cadeca government booths as needed.
Exchange EUR or USD at a Cadeca booth
On the ground, the only legal way to get Cuban pesos is to exchange foreign cash at official Cadeca (Casa de Cambio) booths or at Cuban bank counters: Banco Metropolitano, Banco de Crédito y Comercio (Bandec), and Banco Popular de Ahorro. Cadecas exist at most major hotels, at Habana Vieja's Plaza de Armas area, in Vedado along Linea, and at HAV (Havana José Martí) airport arrivals. Bring your passport — required for any exchange. The 10% USD penalty means a $100 USD exchange yields ~10% less than the same value in EUR. The official Cadeca rate is also typically 5–15% worse than the informal/black-market rate that Cuban friends and casa particular hosts will sometimes offer privately. Some exchange-savvy travelers exchange small amounts at Cadecas for daily spending and the rest in private peer-to-peer arrangements with their casa hosts (legal status is gray; do at your own risk). ATMs are essentially useless for US travelers: even when machines are working, they reject US-issued cards. European and Canadian cards may work at a few specific machines but failures are routine. The closest thing to a backup is to arrive with more cash than you think you need. Curious how this compares to the Wise card path you'd use elsewhere? Our ATM fee calculator will show you what you'd save in a normal-banking country.
Hotel exchange windows & airport counters
Three traps to avoid in Cuba. The currency-exchange counters in arrivals at HAV (Havana José Martí), VRA (Varadero), and SCU (Santiago de Cuba) advertise the official rate but routinely apply additional fees that push the effective rate 10–15% off the Cadeca downtown rate. The exchange windows inside government-run resort hotels (Meliá Cohiba, H10, Iberostar) target captive guests with rates 15–25% off the downtown Cadeca rate; some hotels charge a flat surcharge per transaction on top. And any unofficial "better rate" offer in the street, especially around tourist hubs in Habana Vieja, is either an outright scam (fake bills) or a setup for a peso-counting trick. Stick to downtown Cadeca booths or Banco Metropolitano counters, bring EUR rather than USD when possible to avoid the 10% USD surcharge, count your pesos before walking away, and budget aggressively up front because there is no working in-country backup if you run out. Cuba does not yet have a city-specific guide on this site, but the Best ATMs & Exchange section below covers the legal exchange points.
For a side-by-side comparison of every method (bank wire, travel card, pre-order, ATM, exchange counter) including USD-or-EUR-to-CUP timing tips, see our complete Getting Currency guide →.
Best ATMs & Exchange Points in Cuba
Getting Cuban Pesos as a tourist means exchanging foreign cash at official locations. The options are limited, and the official exchange rate is significantly worse than the informal rate. Plan accordingly.
CADECA (Casa de Cambio)
Government-run exchange houses found at airports, hotels, and city centers across Cuba. CADECA is the most common way for tourists to exchange foreign cash into CUP. Rates use the official exchange rate. Expect lines, especially at the airport.
Primary OptionBanco Metropolitano
The main tourist-oriented bank in Havana. Can process cash advances on non-US Visa and Mastercard (European/Canadian cards). Bring your passport. Lines can be very long, sometimes hours. Found primarily in Havana.
Non-US CardsBANDEC (Banco de Crédito y Comercio)
Cuba's commercial bank with branches in smaller cities and towns outside Havana. Useful when traveling to Trinidad, Viñales, or Santiago de Cuba. Can exchange foreign cash, though availability varies.
Smaller Cities⚠ Watch Out for the 10% USD Surcharge
When exchanging US dollars at official CADECA locations or banks, Cuba charges a 10% surcharge on top of the already unfavorable official exchange rate. This penalty does not apply to euros, Canadian dollars, British pounds, or Mexican pesos. Bring euros instead of US dollars to avoid this extra cost. If you must bring USD, be aware that you will lose roughly 10% right away at official exchanges.
ATMs to Avoid in Cuba (Nearly All of Them)
Cuba has ATMs at some bank branches and hotels, but they are not a reliable source of cash for foreign tourists. Do not plan your trip around ATM access.
All Cuban ATMs
ATMs in Cuba frequently run out of cash, go offline, or reject foreign cards entirely. Some European Visa and Mastercard holders have occasional success, but failures are common. US-issued cards will not work at any ATM. Never depend on ATMs as your primary or backup cash source in Cuba.
UnreliablePaying by Card in Cuba
Card Networks
US-issued Visa, Mastercard, and Amex do not work anywhere in Cuba. The US embargo blocks all transactions from US financial institutions, including debit cards. European and Canadian Visa and Mastercard may work at some government-run hotels (Hotel Nacional, Meliá Havana, Meliá Varadero) and a handful of upscale restaurants, but acceptance is inconsistent and failures are frequent. Discover and Amex have no acceptance regardless of issuing country.
Contactless & Mobile Payments
Contactless payments do not exist in Cuba. No terminals anywhere in the country support tap-to-pay. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay do not work. Internet is limited, slow, and expensive (purchased in 1-hour blocks at ETECSA offices or hotel lobbies), so banking apps and online payment methods are not a fallback option.
The Bottom Line
Do not rely on any card for payments in Cuba. Treat the entire trip as cash-only. Casas particulares (private homestays in Havana, Trinidad, Viñales) and paladares (private restaurants) accept only cash. Government hotels are the only places where non-US cards might work, and even that is not guaranteed. Taxis (classic cars, coco-taxis), markets, and street vendors are all strictly cash.
Tipping in Cuba
Tipping Guide
Tipping is very important in Cuba. Workers earn extremely low state wages (often $20–40/month), and tips make a significant difference in their income. At restaurants and paladares, $1–3 USD or 10–15% of the bill. Tips in USD or EUR are preferred over CUP since foreign currency has far more purchasing power. Hotel housekeeping: $1 USD per day. For private tour guides in Havana or Viñales, $5–10 per day. Group tours: $3–5 per person. Musicians: $1 USD per song for the live bands playing son cubano at restaurants and bars along the Malecón. Taxi drivers: round up or add $1–2 for longer rides. Casa particular hosts: $3–5 USD at the end of your stay is a kind gesture.
Havana & Beyond: The Cash-Only Reality
Essential Money Tips for Cuba
For city-specific tips, see our Havana money guide covering Old Havana ATMs, casa particular payments, and classic car tour costs.
Bring euros (preferred) or CAD/GBP. Euros have no exchange surcharge and are widely accepted at casas particulares and paladares. Canadian dollars and British pounds also avoid the 10% USD penalty. If bringing USD, expect the 10% surcharge at all official CADECA exchange points, on top of the already poor official exchange rate.
The informal exchange rate is dramatically better. Many casas particulares, paladares, and taxi drivers throughout Havana, Trinidad, and Viñales will exchange at informal rates (120–300+ CUP per $1 USD versus the official 24 CUP). This is technically illegal but widely practiced across the country. Bring enough cash for your entire trip. There is no backup plan: no reliable ATMs, no card payments, no money transfers that work consistently.
Key Tourist Areas
Havana: the capital has the most CADECA locations and Banco Metropolitano branches. Old Havana (Habana Vieja) is the main tourist district, with CADECA offices on Obispo Street and near Plaza de Armas. Trinidad: a popular colonial town with fewer exchange options. Bring enough cash from Havana to cover your stay. Viñales: tobacco country with limited banking. BANDEC has a branch here, but do not rely on it being open or having cash.
Casas particulares and paladares often price in USD but accept EUR as well. Many prefer foreign currency over CUP. José Martí International Airport (HAV) has a CADECA office. Exchange only what you need at the airport since the rate is poor. Save the bulk of your cash for informal exchanges at your casa.
Money Safety in Cuba
Staying Safe
Cuba is very safe for tourists, but carrying large amounts of cash requires precaution. Distribute your money across multiple locations: money belt, casa particular safe, different bags, and different pockets. Never keep all your cash in one place.
Use your casa particular's safe to store cash you do not need for the day. Casa hosts in Cuba are generally very trustworthy and take pride in protecting their guests' belongings. Keep a mix of currencies: some EUR (or CAD/GBP), some USD if you brought it, and some CUP for different situations.
Count your change carefully at CADECA offices and when making informal exchanges. Know the current official and informal rates before you arrive. Bring crisp, clean bills. Torn, marked, or heavily worn banknotes may be refused at CADECA and by private exchangers. €50 and €100 notes get the best rates.
Prepare Your Travel Funds
The Wise card can help you prepare for travel. Hold and convert multiple currencies at the real mid-market rate before you go.
Get the Wise Card →Frequently Asked Questions
Do US credit cards work in Cuba?
No. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards issued by any US financial institution are blocked in Cuba due to the US embargo. This includes debit cards. There are no exceptions or workarounds. Budget your entire trip in cash.
Should I bring USD or euros to Cuba?
Bring euros if possible. Cuba charges a 10% surcharge on US dollar exchanges at official CADECA locations, on top of the already unfavorable official rate. Euros, Canadian dollars, and British pounds do not incur this penalty. If you must bring USD, be aware of the extra cost.
What is the difference between the official and informal exchange rate?
The official exchange rate at CADECA is roughly 24 CUP per $1 USD, while the informal (street) rate can be 120–300+ CUP per dollar. Many casas particulares, paladares, and taxi drivers exchange at the informal rate. This practice is technically illegal but widespread across Cuba.
Are there ATMs in Cuba?
Cuba has ATMs at some bank branches, but they are extremely unreliable for foreign tourists. Machines frequently run out of cash, go offline, or reject foreign cards. US-issued cards are completely blocked. Do not plan your trip around ATM access.
How much cash should I bring to Cuba?
Budget $50–100 per day for mid-range travel (casa particular, paladar meals, taxis, activities). Add a 20–30% buffer since there is no way to get more cash if you run out. For a 10-day trip, bring $700–1,300 in euros or equivalent.
Is Cuba safe for carrying cash?
Cuba is one of the safest countries in Latin America for tourists. Violent crime against visitors is rare. Distribute cash across money belt, casa safe, and different bags. Casa particular hosts are generally very trustworthy and take pride in protecting their guests.
Quick Comparison
| Method | Cost | Convenience | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bring EUR cash from home | Best (no surcharge, best informal rates) | ★★★★★ | All spending. The recommended approach |
| Bring CAD/GBP cash | Good (no surcharge at official exchange) | ★★★★☆ | Alternative to EUR if easier to obtain |
| Bring USD cash | Moderate (10% surcharge at official exchange) | ★★★☆☆ | Widely understood. Good for tipping and informal exchange |
| CADECA (official exchange) | High (poor official rate) | ★★★☆☆ | Small amounts for immediate needs |
| ATMs | Unpredictable (frequent failures) | ★☆☆☆☆ | Not recommended. Do not depend on them |
Cuba Quick Facts
| Currency | Cuban Peso (CUP / $). Official rate ~24 CUP per $1 USD. Informal rate 120–300+ CUP |
| Cash vs. Card | Cash only. US cards do not work. Non-US cards are unreliable |
| Best Currency to Bring | Euros (no surcharge). CAD and GBP also good. USD has 10% penalty |
| Contactless Payments | Do not exist in Cuba |
| Exchange Options | CADECA (official), Banco Metropolitano, BANDEC, informal exchange |
| Tipping | Very important. $1–3 USD at restaurants, $5–10/day for guides |
| ATMs | Extremely unreliable. Do not depend on them |
| Best Strategy | Bring enough EUR cash for your entire trip. There is no backup plan |
Cuba City Guides
Neighborhood-level money guides for Cuba's top destinations. Where to find ATMs, which areas need cash, how to pay for transport, and more.