Understanding Your Options
Cuba's transport system is generally slow and complicated, with frequent cancellations and delays. The one reliable, good-value exception is the long-distance bus network, which is useful if you plan to travel between cities. A key thing to understand is the two-tier pricing system: convertible-peso services aimed at foreign visitors, and much cheaper national-peso services used mainly by Cubans. As a visitor you will usually be expected to pay in convertible pesos.
Rail, Metro and Trams
Cuba is the only Caribbean country with a functioning rail system, but trains are slow, with long delays and cancellations common. If you want to travel by train, you must bring your passport to buy a ticket, and purchase it in person at the station between one hour and five days before departure — the ticket office will not sell you a ticket less than an hour before the train leaves. Foreigners are officially required to pay in convertible pesos, though national-peso tickets are sometimes possible on less-travelled routes.
The main line runs from Havana through Santa Clara and Camagüey to Santiago de Cuba, and is generally the most reliable and comfortable option. The air-conditioned "Especial" or "Tren Francés" service uses French coaches, has two classes, and stops only at a few major points. The "Regular" service has no air conditioning, one class, and runs less frequently. Branch lines and other routes suffer frequent delays and cancellations and are slower; the state discourages tourists from some lesser branch lines and steers them toward buses instead. Bring your own toilet paper.
There is no metro or tram network to rely on for getting around.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses — known locally as guaguas — are the most commonly used transport, both within cities and between provinces. For long-distance travel there are two national networks: Víazul, which carries foreign passport holders and Cubans paying in convertible pesos, and Empresa Omnibus Nacionales, which is exclusively for Cubans paying in national pesos. Víazul connects all mainland provincial capitals plus tourist cities such as Trinidad and Baracoa, and is the quickest, most reliable, hassle-free independent option alongside long-distance taxis. Some routes are sporadic, including services to the northern cays and Jardines del Rey.
Long-distance buses have air conditioning (which can be very cold, so bring a sweater), occasionally usable toilets, and sometimes TVs. Bring toilet paper. Booking procedures change often, so it is worth asking at Havanatur, Cubatur or Infotur. You can generally buy tickets at the station at least 24 hours before departure, or online up to a week ahead if you print your tickets. Same-day booking is sometimes possible but inadvisable. Children travel free, and under-12s pay half price.
Conectando Cuba, run under the Transtur logo, links Havana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos with hotel-to-hotel pickup and drop-off. Journey times are longer because of the many hotel stops, and tickets must be bought at Cubanacán by noon the day before travel — none are sold on the day of travel. Fares are roughly the same as Víazul.
Local city buses are a different experience: there is little information at stops, no timetables, and they are overcrowded. Most journeys cost under half a national peso. The only information at stops is the route numbers, and the front of the bus shows its final destination. To queue, ask aloud who is last — for example, "¿Ultima persona para la 232?" — and have exact change within one peso for the flat fee.
Converted trucks, known as camiones, supplement the buses on relatively short routes between towns and within provinces. They are officially part of public transport but are aimed at Cubans, and not all drivers allow non-Cubans aboard.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
There are numerous state-run and private taxis. Private taxis are licensed either in national pesos or convertible pesos, with no visible distinction between them and no meters, so agree on a fare before you set off. Classic American cars — called almendrones or maquinas — are widely used as taxis.
Colectivos are communal taxis that run fixed routes like bus services. They are usually private, though some are state-run, and they have no official markings or route displays, so you flag them down. They are almost always classic American cars. Fares are fixed on most routes, though Havana drivers charge double for some journeys. Colectivos are hard to flag down if you have much luggage.
Long-distance taxis and colectivos wait at Víazul bus stations, offering to take passengers for the same price as the Víazul ticket. They are usually reliable and sometimes negotiable, and are a good alternative to buses, especially for groups travelling in the same direction.
Walkability
The source material does not provide specific guidance on walking conditions. As a general practice, given that local buses are overcrowded and information at stops is minimal, walking is often a practical way to cover shorter distances, but you should plan your routes around the transport options described above.
Getting From the Airport Into the City
The source material does not describe airport transfers specifically. What it does make clear is the range of options you can expect to arrange: state-run and private taxis (including classic American cars), communal colectivos on fixed routes, and long-distance taxis or colectivos that wait at Víazul bus stations and charge the same as the bus ticket. For a straightforward arrival, a taxi is the most direct choice, but remember that private taxis have no meters, so agree the fare in advance and confirm whether it is quoted in convertible pesos.