The national currency in Cuba is the Cuban Peso (CUP), which is equivalent to 100 cents. 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 pesos bills circulate, as well as fractional coins of 1 and 3 pesos and 1, 2, 5 and 20 cents. Upon arrival you can exchange money at the airport or at the banks and Cadecas of each destination. Visa, MasterCard, Access, Eurocard, Banamex and American International Service (AIS) magnetic cards can also be used in Cuba, with the proviso that they cannot have been issued by United States institutions since they do not work in Cuba, so Firstly, it is recommended that you verify beforehand that your card is not associated with an American banking institution and secondly, and of great importance, that you always have cash as a backup to avoid setbacks. In addition to using your magnetic card to withdraw cash in the Cuban National Currency (CUP), according to the exchange rate, making use of the ATM network, you can also buy in national store networks that operate freely in currency convertible and other establishments enabled with the necessary devices.

For more information on the location of banks, CADECAS and ATMs visit https://cubamaps.travel/

The best currency to tip in Cuba is the Euro because it has the highest “official” and “unofficial” exchange rates. However, tipping in any foreign currency, including the US dollar, is fine.

For example it is advisable to exchange GBP for Euros or USD before you arrive in Cuba. You can use foreign currency in local and private business such as restaurants, bars, markets and taxis but some hotels only accept bankcard payments. You should not take Cuban pesos (CUP) out of the country.