- You cannot wear beach clothes, cutoffs, and hats to restaurants, evening events, or entertainment venues. Men wear long pants and shoes. Women wear a sundress, skirt or slacks, and a blouse.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater as rooms, restaurants, tour coaches, and other public areas can be overly air-conditioned.
- Comfortable footwear is key. Never break-in new shoes when traveling.
- Sunscreen and mosquito repellent are indispensable.
- Hotels and private homes offer laundry services for a fee. There are no laundromats in Cuba.
- Airline weight limits and charges change constantly. Check with your airline before packing to avoid extra luggage fees. Consider leaving some space for gifts.
Photo Norlys Pérez Padrón
Cuba travel essentials – best things to bring
What do I pack for my Cuba tour?
Cuba is a sunny warm tropical island, so cotton and other light natural fabrics are ideal. Cubans dress casual and creatively – a consideration when selecting your travel wardrobe. If you think you’ll need it, bring it. You’ll have difficulty finding it in Cuba.
Cuba packing suggestions
Required documents and money matters
- Passport (must be valid for two weeks beyond your stay).
- Airline tickets.
- Cuban Visitor Visa supplied by Global Relations. Learn more about Cuban visas.
- Cash is king. US credit and debit cards don’t work in Cuba. Study Money Matters in Cuba.
- Fanny pack or money belt.
Minimum clothes and accessories to bring
- Men. Long pants and shoes for evening events, shorts for day activities.
- Women. Skirt, slacks or sundress for evening events, shorts for day activities.
- Shirts, T-shirts.
- Sweater or light jacket.
- Swimsuit, beach towel if visiting the beach.
- Underwear and socks.
- Comfortable shoes (don’t break in new shoes on this trip), sandals, flipflops.
- Belt, watch, prescription glasses, and contact lenses.
- Sunglasses travel umbrella, sunscreen.
- Cap or sun hat.
Medicine and hygiene items – challenging to find in Cuba
- If you have food allergies, crucial to bring antidotes.
- Band-Aids, miniature first aid kit, earplugs (if trouble sleeping).
- Deodorant, fragrance, moisturizer.
- Face cloth, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, comb, hairbrush.
- Fingernail clippers, lip balm, wet wipes.
- If you are sensitive to foreign food and water, bring Kaopectate or Imodium.
- Prescription drugs, bring a two-week supply, keep in original container.
- Mosquito repellent.
- Toilet paper for day excursions, sanitary napkins, condoms.
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, and shaving supplies.
- Vitamins, headache medicine.
Other travel essentials to consider
- Camera, mobile phone, tablet, e-reader, laptop, and accessories, including charging cables, batteries.
- Snacks, dried fruits, trail mix.
- Rubber bands, Ziplock bags, super glue, tape, sewing kit.
- A novel, guidebook, Spanish phrasebook, notepaper, pens, pencils.
Cuba prohibits entry of these items – don’t even consider it!
- Narcotics. Cuba is a zero-tolerance nation.
- Explosives and weapons.
- Anti-Cuba literature or pornography.
- Aerial drones and walkie-talkies.
- Stand-alone GPS devices (cell phones are ok).