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Cuba
Havana in May
🌦️ Shoulder (showers)Warm, humid and some showers.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why May scores 8.5What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.6
- ✓Warm (31°C highs / 23°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 21.2°C)
- !Wet: ~120 mm rain, ~3 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.7
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~7 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Feb | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5 Excellent | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 31° / 23° | 27° / 19° |
| Rain | 120 mm | 59 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 21° | dew pt 18° |
| PM2.5 | 7 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Havana weather-station normals. Rainfall: Havana weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: International Workers' Day (1 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore HavanaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyCuba's capital, known for its colonial old town, seafront Malecón, classic American cars, live music and rum and cigar culture.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Hurricane seasonDate variesUsually June to November
Tropical storms and hurricanes are most likely in late summer and autumn.
Why go: Have flexible plans and travel insurance if visiting in this period.
Where: Island-wide
International Festival of New Latin American CinemaDate variesUsually December
A major film festival focused on Latin American cinema.
Why go: Screenings are cheap and very popular with locals.
Where: Cinemas across the city
Havana International Jazz FestivalDate variesUsually January
A long-running festival featuring Cuban and international jazz musicians.
Why go: Programmes are often confirmed late, so check closer to the time.
Where: Theatres and venues across the city
Old Havana (Habana Vieja)
A UNESCO-listed colonial centre with restored plazas such as Plaza Vieja, Plaza de Armas and Plaza de la Catedral.
Malecón
An 8 km seafront promenade and road where locals gather in the evenings.
💡 Waves can crash over the wall in winter storms.
El Capitolio
The domed former parliament building, a city landmark.
Morro and La Cabaña fortresses
Spanish fortresses guarding the harbour entrance, with an evening cannon-firing ceremony at La Cabaña.
Museo de la Revolución
The former presidential palace, now a museum about the Cuban Revolution.
Fusterlandia
A neighbourhood in Jaimanitas covered in colourful mosaics by artist José Fuster.
Ropa vieja
Shredded beef stewed in tomato sauce with peppers and onions.
Moros y cristianos
Black beans and rice cooked together, a staple side dish.
Lechón asado
Roast pork marinated in garlic and sour orange mojo.
Tostones
Twice-fried green plantain slices.
Mojito and daiquirí
Rum cocktails closely associated with Havana bars.
💡 Old Havana bars
Cuban cigars
Hand-rolled cigars from Cuba's famous tobacco regions.
💡 Official state-run cigar shops, not street sellers
Cuban rum
Aged and white rums.
💡 State-run shops
Cuban coffee
Strong, dark-roasted local coffee.
Local art
Paintings and prints by Cuban artists.
💡 Artists' studios and galleries in Old Havana