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Connections at HAV: the honest numbers
The indicative minimum international-to-international connection at Havana José Martí is 90 minutes on a single booking with bags checked through. On separate tickets, add roughly 90 minutes: you'll collect bags, recheck them, and re-clear security — and no airline is obliged to help if the first leg runs late.
Transfer specifics
- José Martí is Cuba's main gateway, about 15 km southwest of central Havana, and it is a five-terminal complex rather than a single building. Terminal 3 is the main international terminal, handling flights from Canada, Europe and Latin America. Terminal 2 handles flights to and from the United States. Terminal 1 is used for charter and some domestic services. The terminals are separate buildings, so confirm yours on your ticket rather than assuming — arriving at the wrong one is a taxi ride, not a walk.
- Cuba is one of the more paperwork-heavy destinations on this site and none of it can be sorted after landing. Most visitors need a Cuban Tourist Card (often called a tourist visa) bought before boarding — frequently sold by your airline, sometimes at your departure airport. Without one you will not be boarded.
- Travel insurance valid for Cuba is mandatory and is checked at immigration. If you cannot produce proof you will be directed to a desk to buy it before you are admitted. Passengers flying directly from the US have insurance included with the airline ticket, and the boarding pass serves as proof.
- There is also an online health and customs declaration — the D'Viajeros form — which generates a QR code checked before passport control. Complete it before you fly. And note that US travellers face a separate layer entirely: travel must fall into one of the OFAC-approved categories, with restrictions on transactions with certain entities and on staying at certain accommodations. That is a US legal question rather than a Cuban immigration one, and worth resolving well before travel.
Leaving HAV during a layover
Nobody arrives in Cuba without preparation. Most visitors need a Tourist Card bought before boarding, travel insurance valid for Cuba which is checked at immigration, and the D'Viajeros online form whose QR code is checked before passport control. US travellers additionally need their trip to fall within an OFAC-approved category. Official Cubataxi desks in Terminal 3 arrivals sell fixed-fare vouchers to central Havana, typically €25–30, paid at the desk rather than to the driver. The city is about 30 minutes away one-way; as a rule of thumb you want 6+ hours before exiting is worth the queues, and you should be back through security 90 minutes before boarding.
Worth your hours in Havana
- Habana Vieja, the UNESCO-listed old town, is the obvious target at about 30 minutes from the airport — the plazas, the Malecón and the colonial core are all walkable once you are there.
- The Malecón seafront is the classic Havana image and works for a shorter window if the weather cooperates.
- A classic American car taxi is a genuinely different way to see the city and easy to arrange, though agree the fare before you set off rather than after.
Staying airside instead
- Facilities are modest by international standards and Cuba's infrastructure is genuinely strained — the electrical supply has been unreliable since late 2024, and that affects airports as much as anywhere else.
- SIM cards with data plans can be bought at the airport and at ETESCA offices in the city. Arrange roaming or an eSIM beforehand if connectivity matters to you.
- Bring two blank passport pages for entry and exit stamps, and expect card payments to be unreliable — carry cash in euros, Canadian dollars or US dollars.
Sleeping, showers and lounges at HAV
Sleep: There is no airside transit hotel. Hotels sit in Havana about 30 minutes away, and reaching them means clearing immigration with the tourist card, insurance and D'Viajeros form all in order. US travellers should also note the restrictions on staying at certain accommodations. Airport hotels & sleep pods
Showers: Facilities are limited and shower access is not something to plan around here.
Lounges: Lounge provision is modest. Cubana de Aviação is the home carrier and Terminal 3 has the best of what is available. Book an airport lounge for your layover
Dietary needs: Cuban staples are rice, beans and pork based, which suits gluten-free eating reasonably well. Choice is genuinely limited by supply constraints rather than by preference, so bring what you need for a long connection.
Overnight reality: Havana's international schedule clusters around Canadian and European arrivals. Given the terminal facilities and the reliability of the power supply, an overnight connection here is worth designing out at booking time if you can — and if you cannot, have the paperwork done so a city hotel is an option.
HAV layover FAQ
Which terminal do I use at Havana airport?
Terminal 3 is the main international terminal, handling flights from Canada, Europe and Latin America. Terminal 2 handles flights to and from the United States, and Terminal 1 is used for charter and some domestic services. They are separate buildings across a five-terminal complex, so confirm yours on your ticket — arriving at the wrong one means a taxi, not a walk.
What do I need to enter Cuba?
Three things, all arranged before you land: a Cuban Tourist Card bought before boarding, usually sold by your airline; travel insurance valid for Cuba, which is checked at immigration and which you will be made to buy at a desk if you cannot show it; and the D'Viajeros online form, whose QR code is checked before passport control. Bring two blank passport pages for stamps.
Is travel insurance really mandatory for Cuba?
Yes, and it is checked. If you are asked for proof and cannot provide it, you will be directed to a desk to buy insurance before being admitted. Passengers flying directly from the US have it included with their airline ticket, and the boarding pass is accepted as proof.
Can US citizens travel to Cuba?
It is a US legal question rather than a Cuban one. Travel must fall into one of the OFAC-approved categories or hold a specific licence, and there are restrictions on transactions with certain entities and on staying at particular accommodations. Resolve that well before booking rather than at the airport, and check the current US State Department guidance since the rules change.
Some links above are affiliate links — they cost you nothing and fund keeping this data verified. We only link products we'd use on the layover in question.
Minimum connection times are indicative and vary by airline, terminal pair and season; visa notes are simplified general guidance, not immigration advice. Facts on this page were last verified on 2026-08-28. If anything has changed, tell us and we'll fix it fast.