Money, cards and ATMs in Cuba

The change that reorganises the whole trip

• Since 6 June 2026, international cards such as Visa and Mastercard are no longer accepted in Cuba. This is not "American cards do not work", which was the old rule - it is all foreign cards.
• You are unlikely to be able to withdraw cash from an ATM with an international card.
• Payment is now cash, or a Cuban prepaid card.
• So you must arrive with every peso you intend to spend, for accommodation, food, transport, tips, tours and a margin for things going wrong. There is no top-up mechanism once you are there.
• Budget generously and then add to it. Running out of money in Cuba is not an inconvenience you can solve with a phone.

What cash to bring

• US dollars and euros are widely accepted and can be exchanged. Euros are the safer bet for non-Americans.
• Bring clean, unmarked, untorn notes. Damaged notes are refused.
• Bring a mix of denominations. Small notes are what you actually spend.
• Exchange only at Cadeca exchange houses. The FCDO is explicit: it is illegal to exchange money anywhere else, however good the rate someone offers on the street.

Carrying it

• The FCDO advises against carrying large sums - and you have just been told to bring the whole trip in cash. Both are true.
• Split it. Leave the bulk in the accommodation safe or a locked bag and carry a day at a time.
• Opportunistic crime is rising because of economic hardship, and muggings happen in Havana. Do not count money in public.

Costs

• Cuba is not as cheap as its reputation once you are paying tourist prices for transport, casas and restaurants, and shortages push prices up unpredictably.
• Casas particulares are the good value and are also where the money reaches a household directly.