The best times to visit Havana

05.01.2024 - 17:45 / lonelyplanet.com

Havana's cultural calendar is full of visit-worthy events every month, with the more prestigious festivals taking place between October and April.

Jazz or ballet? Religious processions or fiery festivals? Cheap hotel deals or cool temperatures? You'll be able to find something to fit your taste and budget throughout the year.

Lapped by the choppy waters of the Straits of Florida, Havana is always warm, but it hits a climatic peak during the northern hemisphere winter when the weather is dry and not too humid. This seasonal guide can help you plan the best time for your visit to Havana. 

Havana’s high season stretches from November to March, when hordes of tourists from Europe and Canada flee the snow and freezing temperatures and decamp to Cuba. While many head to the all-inclusive resorts that line the north coast, a good proportion spend at least part of their time in Havana.

More than a quarter of Havana’s winter tourists come from Canada, and they start arriving in early to mid-November. Prices for flights, hotels and packages start going up from then and nudge even higher (as much as 25%) over Christmas and New Year, making this the most expensive time to visit.

As the rainy season draws to a close, temperatures become more bearable in November, and acclimatized runners line up for Havana’s annual marathon. 

December brings one of Havana's biggest international festivals, Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano (dedicated to film), and its most devotional religious procession (dedicated to San Lázaro).

Christmas celebrations have been reignited in the last two decades after practically dying out during the early years of the Revolution.

The busiest month in terms of tourist numbers is January, closely followed by February and March, when the weather is dry but not too hot and tempered by the occasional frente frio (cold front). January is Havana’s coolest month, with average daily temperatures of around 22ºC (72ºF).

Expect some shortages during this busy time, particularly in the availability of rental cars. Sharp-eyed travelers visiting in March should look out for migratory birds that congregate in some of the city's large green spaces, including Parque Lenin and the Jardín Botánico Nacional.

Crowds aside, January to March is the perfect time to visit the beaches of Playas del Este and partake in a range of water activities. It’s also the conclusion of Cuban baseball’s National Series and a potentially exciting time for fans of Havana’s Industriales team.

The mini high season of July and August is when Cubans go on vacation. This two-month-long summer spike affects the country’s cheaper hotels and rural campismos (affordable rustic accommodations) but has less of an impact in Havana, except