As of 2021, Cuba has only one official currency, the CUP (Cuban Peso or Peso Cubano), although not all prices are in CUP. In the so-called MLC shops and in some tourist services, for example excursions, prices are expressed in USD. Most services today are paid for by credit or debit card.
In many cases, cash payment is not accepted, so we recommend that you do not change a lot of money into CUP. In some services, foreign currencies are accepted in cash, especially euros and USD.
One euro is officially equivalent to about 120 CUP.
Currency Exchange
You can exchange foreign currency into CUP in the exchange offices called CADECA or in banks. You can also withdraw money in CUP using credit and debit cards. CADECA currency exchange offices can be found in many places such as airports, hotels, shopping malls and other public places.
It is not advisable to change money unofficially on the street.
Foreign currencies that can be exchanged in Cuba
Auf Kuba kann man auf der Bank und in den CADECA-Wechselstuben Euro (EUR), US-Dollar (USD), Kanadischer Dollar (CAD), Britisches Pfund (GBP), Japanischer Yen (JPY), Neuer Mexikanischer Peso (MXN), Australischer Dollar (AUD), Norwegische Krone (NOK), Schwedische Krone (SEK), Dänische Krone (DKK) und Schweizer Franken (CHF) wechseln.
European bank cards that can be used to pay in Cuba.
The cards approved in Cuba are: VISA, MASTERCARD, AIS (American International Service, Unión Pay, Ocean Card and Cabal. Credit cards that run on US American institutes are not accepted in Cuba (e.g. American Express or a master card from Credit Suisse). EC card Maestro is also not accepted in Cuba.
There are also Cuban prepaid cards that can be purchased at CADECA exchange houses. These prepaid cards can have a balance of $100, $200, $500, or $1,000. An import of 5 USD is deducted from each card. That is, if the prepaid card is 100 usd, it will have a balance of 95 usd. These cards can also be recharged at CADECA.
These prepaid cards require a 4 digit pin number that the same customer can create at the time of purchasing these cards. If several of these are purchased, they can all have the same PIN number at the customer's request.
Tip
In Cuba, it is very common to tip in services, be it in shops, workers in hotels, restaurants, bars, the tour guide, the bus driver, the taxi driver, etc. Tips can be given in CUP, although everyone can give them in USD or US dollars euros preferred.
MLC stores
There are many shops in Cuba that only accept credit or debit cards, whether they are international cards valid in Cuba (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) or Cuban debit cards in USD or prepaid cards. In these stores, all prices are in USD.
