Culture and Customs of Cuba

Arts, Crafts, and Architecture

Arts

Crafts

Architecture

Museums

Customs and Traditions

Local Traditions

Etiquette

Dress and Behavior

Sensitive or Taboo Topics

Languages

Spanish is the official language of Cuba. It is spoken with a distinct accent and includes some typical island expressions and words. In tourist areas, you are more likely to find people who also speak English or even French.

Glossary

A few local words and expressions useful for travelers:

Campismo: These are not campsites but tourist complexes with bungalows, sometimes quite basic, mostly reserved for Cubans.

Casas particulares: These are homestays and an excellent way to live with and meet locals.

Cayo: Known as Cayes in English. These are small, low islands typically made of sand and coral.

Chavito: The nickname for the Convertible Peso (or CUC), used by tourists.

Jineteros: Small-time "delinquents" who try to extract money from tourists through minor scams.

Oriente: The eastern part of the island, around Holguín and other areas, which is much wilder, less developed, and less visited than the rest of Cuba.

Paladares: The term refers to small "home restaurants" where you can enjoy typical Cuban home cooking.

Santería: Similar to voodoo, Santería blends African beliefs brought by enslaved people with Catholicism. Beyond being a religion, it also functions as a "philosophy" that unites Cubans.

Festivals and Events

Public Holidays

January 1: Liberation Day (Triumph of the Revolution).

May 1: Labor Day.

July 25–27: Anniversary of the 1953 Revolution.

October 10: Anniversary of the start of the War of Independence.

December 25: Christmas, which was banned for decades under the Castro regime until the Pope’s visit in 1998.