How to leave Havana airport for 5 dollars? This option makes it possible

Cuba AirportPhoto © @elizabeth_canova / TikTok

A Cuban content creator revealed on TikTok a fact that many travelers are unaware of: there is a bus that connects the Terminal 3 of José Martí International Airport with the main hotels in Havana for just 5 dollars, without the need for prior reservation or being a guest at any establishment.

Elizabeth Cánova shared on Wednesday the video on her TikTok account while arriving in the Cuban capital amidst a blackout on Fifth Avenue, and detailed how the Airport Shuttle service from Transtur operates.

"These buses operate every day from 9:30 AM to 10 PM, with three different routes covering the hotels in Playa, El Vedado, and Old Havana," Cánova explained in the video. "You don't need to be a guest to use them; they leave every hour from and to Terminal 3."

The service operates with three fixed routes. The Route 1 travels through the Miramar and Playa areas, with stops at hotels such as Copacabana, Panorama, Memories Miramar, and Comodoro. The Route 2 covers Vedado, including Habana Libre, Nacional, Presidente, and Meliá Cohíba. The Route 3 connects to the Historic Center and Old Havana, passing by Hotel Parque Central, Hostal O'Farrill, and the Museum of the Revolution.

Baggage is allowed on board and does not need to be reserved in advance. Payment can be made directly on the bus, at airport commercial offices, or electronically through EnZona, Transfermóvil, or national and international bank cards.

"You are going to go out there, and the sign is right here, and the buses are here; you can take luggage, and you don't need to make a reservation," clarified the content creator, pointing to the signage at the exit of Terminal 3.

The information takes on special importance in the context of the severe transportation crisis that Cuba is experiencing in 2026, exacerbated by fuel shortages and frequent blackouts. Urban transport in Havana has operated very irregularly, and since June 18, MITRANS has reduced the frequency of interprovincial transport from daily to three times a week.

In that scenario, the Transtur Shuttle represents a notable exception: a service that runs regularly and accepts payments in foreign currency, in contrast to private taxis that can charge between 20 and 30 dollars for the same route.

The state media Tribuna de La Habana confirmed on May 29 that Transtur continues to operate the service with the three main routes. There is also the option to book online through platforms such as Rentcar Cuba and agencies like Cubacar, Cubatur, Havanatur, and Ecotur.

The video by Cánova accumulated more than 29,000 views and highlighted that many Cubans returning from abroad choose private taxis without knowing that this economical alternative exists at the airport exit.

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Yare Grau

Originally from Cuba, but living in Spain. I studied Social Communication at the University of Havana and later graduated in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Valencia. I am currently part of the CiberCuba team as an editor in the Entertainment section.

Yare Grau

Originally from Cuba, but living in Spain. I studied Social Communication at the University of Havana and later graduated in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Valencia. I am currently part of the CiberCuba team as an editor in the Entertainment section.