When to Visit Havana

January arrives cool and dry in Havana, with highs around 25°C (78°F) and lows dipping to about 18°C (65°F) after dark. cardigan weather by Cuban standards. Rainfall is modest at around 64 mm for the month, and the city feels lively with post-holiday energy.

February holds much the same character as January, with highs of 26°C (78°F) and lows near 18°C (65°F). Rainfall ticks up only slightly to about 69 mm. This tends to be one of the most comfortable months to walk the Malecón at sunset without breaking a sweat.

March is the driest month of the year in Havana, with rainfall dropping to around 46 mm. Temperatures nudge up to 27°C (81°F) during the day, and evenings at 19°C (67°F) remain comfortable. The light this time of year has a particular clarity that photographers tend to notice.

April sees temperatures climbing to 28°C (83°F) with lows around 20°C (69°F), and rainfall rising slightly to about 53 mm. The dry season is beginning to loosen its grip, and afternoons start to carry a little more humidity. Still firmly in comfortable territory, though.

May signals the shift into the wet season, with highs reaching 29°C (85°F) and rainfall jumping to roughly 99 mm. The afternoons turn noticeably stickier, and the first serious showers of the year start appearing. Mornings in Havana in May tend to be clear and beautiful before the clouds build.

June is one of Havana's two wettest months, with around 183 mm of rain. More than double the previous month. Highs hit 30°C (86°F) and lows settle at 23°C (74°F). This is when the city's afternoon rhythm of shelter-wait-emerge becomes second nature for anyone staying more than a few days. Hurricane season has officially begun.

July pulls back a bit from June's rainfall peak, dropping to around 107 mm, though the heat climbs to its near-maximum of 31°C (88°F). Lows stay at 23°C (74°F). The humidity is as persistent as it gets, and air conditioning in Havana, where it exists, becomes appreciated.

August matches July's highs at 31°C (88°F) but with lows rising slightly to 24°C (75°F), making nights feel warmer and less refreshing. Rainfall sits around 99 mm, and the humidity rarely relents. This is statistically peak hurricane vulnerability, though Havana itself is struck less often than it might seem from the calendar.

September dumps 145 mm of rain, Havana's third-wettest month. Yet highs still hit 31°C (88°F). The wet season roars at full volume. Buy travel insurance. The city keeps moving. Outdoor concerts line the Malecón. Paladares fill every night. Work with the weather, not against it.

October tops Havana's rainfall chart at 180 mm, tying June for the worst month. Temperatures slide to 29°C (84°F), a minor relief. Tropical storms pose the highest disruption risk now. Travelers treat this month with respect.

November flips the switch. Rainfall drops sharply to 89 mm. Highs settle at 27°C (81°F). Lows dip to 21°C (70°F). Havana breathes easier. Evenings feel fresh again. The city exhales after months of heavy skies.

December locks into dry-season rhythm. Highs hover at 26°C (79°F). Nights cool to 18°C (65°F), the year's chilliest. Rainfall stays light at 58 mm. Holiday lights flicker across every barrio. Festive spirit fills the air. Few months feel this good.