Cuba: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic
Extreme
Overall verdict for Cuba: Extreme. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.
Cuba: read the 3 riskiest rules free →
🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Medicines, Smoking
The 23 topics at a glance
Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed
Get the exact rules for your trip
This page gives you the level. The app gives you the rule, the numbers and the penalties for Cuba, offline, in 23 languages.
Cuba: read the 3 riskiest rules free →
How Cuba compares
With 8 of 23 topics flagged red, Cuba is stricter than 21 of the 22 other countries in The Americas (regional average: 3.3). Worldwide, Cuba ranks #28 of 148 for strictness (tied with 8 other countries).
What sets it apart
- Cash & currency: flagged red here, while only 7 of 148 countries are this strict.
- Medicines: flagged red here, while only 13 of 148 countries are this strict.
- Smoking: flagged red here, while only 16 of 148 countries are this strict.
- Extradition: relaxed here, while 146 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
- Theft & scams: relaxed here, while 118 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
What to watch most in Cuba
- ADHD medicine is the number one problem: banned outright in some countries, prescription or not.
- Codeine and tramadol are ordinary painkillers in Europe and controlled narcotics in the Gulf and Egypt.
- CBD is legal in much of Europe and completely banned in the Gulf and parts of Asia — including cosmetics.
- The vape is the real trap: several countries fine or arrest for simple possession, including devices with no nicotine.
- Indoor smoking bans now cover terraces, beaches, parks and bus stops in a growing number of cities.
- Throwing a butt on the ground is a separate, and often expensive, littering offence.
Cuba at a glance
CapitalHavana
CurrencyCuban Peso (CUP) / US Dollar (USD)
LanguageSpanish
Emergency number106
Driving sideRight
Mains voltage110 V
Calling code+53
Plug typesA · B
Land bordersNone (island or enclave)
Frequently asked questions
Is Cuba strict with tourists?
Overall verdict: Extreme. 8 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Medicines, Smoking, Weapons, Jail risk, Drones, Cash & currency, Politics & protest), 8 require caution.
What can get me fined or arrested in Cuba?
The strictest topics for travellers in Cuba are: Drugs, Medicines, Smoking, Weapons, Jail risk, Drones, Cash & currency, Politics & protest. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.
Where do I find the exact rules for Cuba?
In LawsTravels: open Cuba, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.
What is the emergency number in Cuba?
In Cuba, dial 106. Capital: Havana. Currency: Cuban Peso (CUP) / US Dollar (USD). Main language: Spanish.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Cuba?
In Cuba, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 110 V. Calling code: +53. Plug types: A · B.
Countries with the closest profile
Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.
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