Is Havana, Cuba Safe Now? Travel advice 2025
Havana is a city that cannot be compared anywhere in the world. Filled with colorful colonial Spanish architecture, Caribbean music, classic cars and warm locals who treat you like family, this city invites you to a unique holiday experience.
Traveling to Havana is relatively safe if you take common sense precautions. Petty crimes such as theft or carjacking occur even in tourist areas. It is therefore advisable to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Warn – International travelers who set foot in Cuba since January 2021 are no longer eligible for a US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). If you plan to visit or transit through the US territory, you will need to apply for a visa in one of your home countries American embassies.
Cities across Cuba are facing massive shortages of food, medicine, power and fuel. Let’s take a look at some important considerations to keep in mind if you do decide to visit Havana.
LATEST NEWS from Havana:
Weather warning – US Embassy Havana, Cuba (October 27, 2025)
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has classified Hurricane Melissa as a Category 5 storm starting Monday, October 27, 2025. The powerful system is currently located south of Jamaica and is expected to cross eastern Cuba on Tuesday evening. The NHC has one hurricane warning for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguínwhile Cuban authorities have extended their warnings to record Las tunas and Camagüeyand placed Ciego de Ávila and Sancti Spíritus under alarm. Evacuations are reportedly underway in vulnerable coastal areas, particularly Guantanamo, with residents of several other eastern provinces advised to move inland.
Forecasters warn of one heavy storm surge of 7-11 feetdestructive waves and rainfall totals of 15-20 incheswhich poses the risk of catastrophic floods and landslides. The combination of extreme weather and Cuba’s vulnerable infrastructure– including an unreliable electricity grid and limited emergency capacity – increases the threat to life and property.
U.S. citizens in the storm’s path are urged to do so leave the area if safe, or prepare to shelter in placeas the US government cannot guarantee evacuation or safe passage during the hurricane.
Crime statistics in Havana, Cuba
Here you will find a selection of recent statistics on crime and safety perception Havana, Cubafrom the online data aggregator Numbeo. All figures are based on the perceptions of visitors/contributors over the past five years, and should be read as relative indices and not as exact crime figures.
| Indicator | Value | Category* |
|---|---|---|
| Crime index (general) | 34.12 | Low |
| Safety index (general) | 65.88 | Moderate to good |
| Level of crime | 34.32 | Low |
| Crime has increased over the past five years | 59.13 | Moderate |
| Concerns about burglary/theft in the home | 37.66 | Low |
| Getting mugged or robbed | 36.38 | Low |
| Make sure the car is stolen | 30.31 | Low |
| Worries about things from a stolen car | 38.84 | Low |
| Worries under attack | 26.17 | Low |
| Concerns about attacks based on skin color/ethnicity/gender/religion | 11.42 | Very low |
| Perceived problem: people using or dealing drugs | 25.93 | Low |
| Perceived problem: property crimes (vandalism, theft) | 42.26 | Moderate |
| Perceived problem: violent crimes (assault, armed robbery) | 29.61 | Low |
| Perceived problem: corruption and bribery | 56.25 | Moderate |
| Safe walking alone during the day | 81.27 | Very high |
| Safety to walk alone at night | 64.79 | High |
Areas to avoid
According to recent government advisories, travelers to Cuba are advised to exercise extra caution due to sporadic crime, infrastructure problems and shortages of essential goods.
Although Havana and major tourist destinations such as Varadero and Trinidad remain generally safe for visitors, petty thefts, scams and opportunistic robberies occasionally occur, especially in busy areas, on public transport and at night along the Havana Malecón. Authorities also warn against accepting rides from unlicensed taxis or strangers, as cases of overcharging and theft have been reported.
Official travel advice
US travel advice
This is according to the travel advice of the American Department of State updated May 7, 2025Cuba is rated at level 2: “Exercise extra caution.” The advice points to two primary areas of concern: crime (including rising numbers of armed robberies and homicides) and an unreliable electricity grid with frequent, prolonged power outages.
In addition, the advisory reminds U.S. citizens that U.S. regulations (through the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control) continue to prohibit travel to Cuba purely for tourism and require that all travel by U.S. persons fall into one of the permitted categories. Visitors are also told to be vigilant in tourist zones, keep valuables to a minimum, use authorized transportation and prepare for service (transport, power, fuel) disruptions.
Travel advice for Canada
Canada urges its citizens to “exercises a great deal of caution” when visiting the island due to a lack of food, medicine and gasoline.
According to this government, traveling around the island has become extremely difficult due to the current lack of public transport.
Renting a car is no longer a smart idea because there is a fuel shortage. Water is also rationed, even in hotels in Havana.
A shortage of food and medicine is also starting to have negative consequences for tourists.
