Cheap Flights from London to Havana

This information is correct as of December 2015

Airlines that fly from London to Havana

Virgin Atlantic is currently the only airline offering direct flights to Havana, from Gatwick Airport. There are currently no flights from London's other airports.

Terminal Information – Departing

This is only a guideline. Always check your boarding pass for up-to-date terminal information.

Flights to Havana usually depart from Gatwick's South Terminal. Gatwick Airport's train station is in the South Terminal too, which makes it a convenient place to fly from. The terminal has a fantastic range of shops and restaurants, as well as one No.1 Traveller executive lounge (access starts from £25*) and some work pods for business travellers (£10* for half an hour). There are numerous bars and coffee houses in addition to restaurants and snack bars, so there's no need to fly on an empty stomach. Cuba is outside the EU so you can enjoy duty free shopping in designer and high-street stores like Cath Kidston, Fat Face, Harrods and Joules.

Terminal Information – Arriving

Flights from London usually land at Terminal 3. The easiest way to reach the city from the airport is by taxi: there are no official bus routes. Expect to pay around 25* CUC (about £17) for the trip into the city centre. While some taxis are eye-catching vintage Chevy and Lada beauties, the majority of the tourist taxis are modern cars (usually Peugeot, Mercedes and Skoda). There's likely to be a huge queue for cabs once you arrive, so you'll have no trouble finding the taxi rank.

Practical Information

You need a tourist card to visit Cuba from the UK. The cards are valid for one entry to the country for up to 30 days, but can be extended for a further 30 days later on. If you want to stay for longer, or if you're planning on working in Cuba, you will need to apply for a visa from your nearest Cuban embassy. We recommend arriving at least two hours before your flight is due to depart.

What to expect in Havana

Havana is five hours behind the UK and the currency is the Cuban Convertible Peso. The weather in Havana is warm all year round, with an average temperature of 27°C in summer and 21°C during the coldest month (January). Havana is a lot cheaper than London. You can easily get a three-course meal for two for less than £10* while a pint of domestic beer costs well under £1*. Some establishments will have a price for locals and a price for tourists, but the tourist price is still very cheap and it's actually quite a reasonable request considering how poor the country is.

*Prices subject to change