Before You Fly to Cuba:
You will need a valid passport with an expiry date of at least six months from the first arrival and at least three months from the day you leave Cuba.
You will need a Cuban e-visa, also known as a Cuban tourist Card. You can apply online at https://www.cubavisa.uk/apply. A tourist Card is a physical document and can’t be presented electronically. Make sure you do this with plenty of time before your trip.
Within seven days before you arrive in Cuba, you must complete your “Advanced Passenger Information” form, a Health Declaration form, or a Landing Card. Once you complete this application, you can save the PDF electronically or print it and take it. Note: there is an icon next to the Date and Time of Cuba in the top right corner where you can choose your preferred language. As with many online applications, we recommend using Chrome Browser for ease of use. Please visit https://dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio
Please make sure that you have medical coverage when visiting Cuba. If you have travel insurance, this will generally include medical coverage (Please check that insurance comprises the country of Cuba) within its policies. If you need travel insurance, we recommend JustTravelCover; please check all details and compare them with others if necessary.
Following the information the airlines and the UK Government provide is essential: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba.
A few airlines fly from the UK to Cuba, so reserve a Cuba Holiday for your desired dates. Although there will be only a few direct flights to Cuba, a wide range of airlines will suit your budget and dates that will fly indirectly.
Update: If you travel from or via the USA to Cuba, you can now get a simple E-Visa for Cuba. You no longer need a paper pink tourist card or have to apply via the Cuban Consulate in Washington, DC.
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Havana and Holguin has been added to the GDS (Global Distribution System) with “waiting for government approval” status. From our understanding, being a charter flight, the airport allocations can only be done within three months in advance, and as the flight is said to start on 11 April 2025, we will have to wait until January 2025 to be able to confirm and book seats.
The flight itinerary for this direct flight will be as follows:
Starting on 11 April 2025 – LGW to HAV departs at 11:30 hrs and arrives in Havana at 16:30 hrs (all local times). Flights will be weekly on Fridays.
Starting on 13 April 2025, LGW to HOG will depart at 11:0 hrs and arrive in Holguin at 16:00 hrs (all local times). Flights will be weekly on Sundays.
We expect to have an introductory price for the first flight and will be publishing further information as it becomes available.
INAUGURAL FLIGHT AND SCHEDULE
| Route | Inaugural Date | Departure Time (Local) | Arrival Time (Local) | Return Departure Time (Local) | Return Arrival Time (Local) | Frequency |
| London (LGW) – Havana (HAV) | Friday, 11 Apr 2025 | 11:30h | 16:30h | 23:00h | 13:45h (Next Day) | Every Friday |
| London (LGW) – Holguín (HOL) | Sunday, 13 April 2025 | 11:00h | 16:00h | 20:00h | 11:00h (Next Day) | Every Sunday |
TUI is the only airline with direct flights from Manchester to Varadero. However, in April 2024, TUI will stop all direct flights to Cuba.
There are also even more options when flying from the UK to Cuba. So, we’ve listed some airlines that will go to Cuba via their home hub airports.
With almost daily flights from London Gatwick to Havana, it is becoming a popular option. Flights depart from London Gatwick to Madrid, then Madrid to Havana. The carrier has improved quite a bit since they use their fleet to take you from London to Madrid, making sure that connections are prompt, minimising waiting time in Madrid, usually under two hours. Air Europa offers Business or Premium Economy seats depending on the time of the year. Contact us if you require more information and add upgraded seats to your Cuba travel plans.
Offering connections to the UK, we can now find flights from London and Manchester with good connections and competitive prices if booked to travel to Cuba. Destinations that Air Transat visits in Cuba are Varadero, Santa Clara and Holguin. You will need your Tourist Card and Advanced Passenger Information form to travel to Cuba.
Air France is one of the most popular airlines after Virgin Atlantic, operating six days a week.
You could also fly to Cuba from virtually anywhere in the UK with Air France, which offers a wide range of regional UK flights.
If you fly to Cuba from Scotland, Midlands, or Bristol, Air France offers the best connecting flights.
Air Canada also has flights every day of the week, flying from a few other locations in the UK; it also offers an alternative to connecting to other cities in Cuba, like Havana, Varadero, Santa Clara, Cayo Coco and Holguin.
Connecting time can be long, but our travel advisors will gladly help you find the best.
As the western part of Cuba no longer has a direct flight with Charter airlines like TUI, Condor Airlines ( codesharing with Lufthansa Airlines) flies from a few UK locations to Frankfurt, then to Holguin. Travellers who want to visit and stay around Western Cuba can opt for these flights, which are great if you want to avoid landing in Havana and going to Santiago or thereabouts.
Important information before you buy a flight from the USA to Cuba: If you would like to travel from the USA, you must get a Pink Tourist Card, which can be purchased online if you are based in the UK or from your nearest Cuban Consulate. Most importantly, you need to get a Full USA Tourist Visa; an ESTA will not allow you to travel via the USA to Cuba. You can read more about travelling to Cuba via the USA at https://www.cubavisa.uk/travelling-usa-cuba-info-uk-travellers/.
Travelling to Cuba from the US is legal; however, there are several limitations and restrictions. All US citizens and visitors must adhere to US regulations and be in one of the twelve categories for travel to Cuba from the USA.
Airlines and local tour operators in the USA can sell a Cuban Tourist Card, which costs 76 GBP per person.
Travelfab will include your Green or Pink Cuba Tourist Card in your package; please check with us if you have any questions and read our booking conditions for more information.
Travel Update:
Please note that you must fill in your travel declaration form online. The online form will ask for personal details, immigration and customs information and your health declaration form. Once completed, an email will be sent to you with a PDF file that has a QR code. You must present the QR Code electronically or on paper upon arrival to Cuba.
Please follow the link and choose your appropriate language to continue.
