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Havana
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Suspended in time and revealing its charm with long walks, Havana is a destination both seductive and mysterious. Nicknamed the “City of the Thousand Columns” and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the capital of Cuba is a masterpiece of colonial architecture. Between old American cars, frenzied salsa and the smell of cigars, discover a city with multiple faces, endowed with a rare authenticity.
Lyon (LYS) - Havana (HAV) flight
Book a Lyon Havana flight from Lyon-Saint Exupéry
Book your plane ticket from Lyon to Havana and discover a city full of traditions and memories. Throughout the year, many flights are regularly offered from Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport by several airlines. It takes an average of 14 hours with a stopover at Roissy Charles de Gaulle to go, and an additional stop in Mexico City for the return trip.
Prepare your trip to Havana
Formalities for travelling
To leave for Havana, regardless of your country of origin, a valid biometric passport is compulsory.
A tourism card is also required to enter the territory, which available for a fee. This card, equivalent to the visa and usable up to 6 months after its issue, is valid only for an entry in Cuba and has a validity of 30 days from your arrival on the island. It is not available on the plane and must be obtained from the Cuban consulate in your country of residence before your arrival in Havana.
You must also be able to present an insurance certificate covering medical expenses. If this is not the case, you must imperatively subscribe to one upon your arrival.
Services at Havana Airport
- Services on Arrival
In Havana, 2 currencies are in circulation: the Cubano peso (the national currency) and the Cuban convertible peso (CUC). Nevertheless, the currency of all transactions is the CUC. Its value, of zero on the international foreign exchange market, is centred on that of the dollar. Thus, 1 USD = 1 constant CUC. Hence, you may compare the euro to the USD to know what one needs to pay in CUC.
The CUC is exchangeable only on the Cuban territory. You will be able to exchange your currency at the exchange offices of the airport or at the ATMs present in terminal 3.
Car rental companies are located in the Arrivals Hall of Terminals 2 and 3.
- Services on Departure
Numerous restaurants, cafeterias and snack bars can be found in terminals 2 and 3 of the airport to allow you to dine. Most of them are open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
On the shopping side you will find many shops (Duty Free, souvenir shops, newsstands, rum and cigar shops, etc.) at Terminal 3.
Baby changing facilities are available at the airport and there is also a children’s play area.
There are no luggage storage areas at the airport. However, you will find a lost/found office at Terminal 3.
Transfer from airport to Havana
The José Marti of Havana’s international airport is the largest airport of Cuba. It is about 15 kilometres south-west of the city centre. To reach it, several transport solutions are available to you:
- Buses from the local Viazul company serve Terminal 1 and allow you to reach the city centre in 30 minutes. Tickets can be bought directly at the bus station and departures are usually every 30 minutes, from 10 am to 10 pm.
- Shuttles can also do private transfers to the city centre. Nevertheless, you will have to make a reservation with your hotel or your tour operator.
- Official taxis are located in front of the arrivals hall of terminal 3. The journey to the city centre takes about 30 minutes.
Useful information about Havana
Weather
Essentials
Distance
7990 km
Local time
09:28
Jet lag
-6 h
Currency
Cuban Peso
Language
Spanish
Localisation
- José-Martí International Airport
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Latitude : 22.991533
Longitude : -82.4100642
5 Reasons to go to Havana
1. Discover Habana Vieja
The historic heart of Havana (Habana Vieja in Cuban) is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site as it preserves a large number of historic buildings in very good condition. Discover the district on foot and preferably while looking up! Around the five main squares—Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza del Cristo and Plaza de la Catedral—you will see many museums, buildings and colonial residences. A real feast for the eyes!
2. Visit the Cigar Museum
How not to think of cigars when talking about Havana? If you want to improve your knowledge or become certified on tobacco, the Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagas is for you. Located in the centre of the city, it is one of the oldest and most popular factories in Havana.
3. Discover the Tasty Cuisine of Havana
Cuban cuisine offers deliciously typical specialties that you will have to taste at all costs. Original dishes will be served in the many restaurants of the capital: many dishes based on rice and red beans, pork or “cochinito,” particularly appreciated from the premises. On the seafood side, it is common to cook lobster, sea turtle and crab. The crocodile is also offered in some specialties.
4. Visit the Former Presidential Palace
Fidel Castro, Ernesto Che Guevara, names that are readily associated with the modern idea of revolution. This is in any case the message of the Museum of the Cuban Revolution, located in the former presidential palace. The museum provides a complete picture of the history of the struggles of the Cuban people for their independence through numerous documents: films, photos, clothing, models, vehicles, weapons, flags, etc. Followers of history, go for it!
5. Learn Salsa
In Havana, one runs to the casa del Son take a solo salsa class happily and joyfully: you will soon become hooked! Then head to Casa de la Musica, where you will always find a partner—whether you are a novice or an expert—to make you “salsa!”