The Cuba time difference is −5 hours from London and 0 hours from New York all year (Cuba and the US East Coast change their clocks on the same dates, so the gap with New York stays the same, while the gap with London shifts by one hour for a few days each spring and autumn).
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 07:00 in Havana all year. When it is noon in New York, it is 12:00 in Havana all year.
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⚠️ Warning: travel to Cuba advised against
The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 25 September 2026) advises against all but essential travel to Cuba and reports shortages of fuel, electricity and water, as well as disruption to travel within the country. Read the latest FCDO travel advice for Cuba before planning a trip.
Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in Cuba: key facts
- Time zone: UTC−5 (winter) / UTC−4 (summer), IANA identifier
America/Havana - Difference with London: −5 h all year (with brief exceptions around clock changes)
- Difference with New York: 0 h all year (with brief exceptions around clock changes)
- Daylight saving in Cuba: yes, see the dates below
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027; Cuba on Sunday 1 November 2026 and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between London, New York and Cuba
| Time in London | In Havana (UK winter, GMT) | In Havana (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 03:00 | 03:00 |
| 12:00 | 07:00 | 07:00 |
| 18:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| 22:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
| Time in New York | In Havana (US winter, EST) | In Havana (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 08:00 | 08:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 22:00 | 22:00 |
| Period | Havana vs London | Havana vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October – 31 October 2026 | −4 h | 0 h |
| 1 November 2026 – 13 March 2027 | −5 h | 0 h |
| 14 March – 27 March 2027 | −4 h | 0 h |
| 28 March – 30 October 2027 | −5 h | 0 h |
| 31 October – 6 November 2027 | −4 h | 0 h |
| 7 November – 31 December 2027 | −5 h | 0 h |
The gap with New York stays the same because Cuba and the US East Coast change their clocks on the same dates; the gap with London changes because the UK changes its clocks on different dates.
Clock changes 2026–2027
Cuba observes daylight saving time. Planned dates (Havana local time):
- Sunday 1 November 2026: from UTC−4 to UTC−5
- Sunday 14 March 2027: from UTC−5 to UTC−4
- Sunday 7 November 2027: from UTC−4 to UTC−5
In the UK and the US, clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
When to call Cuba from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Havana time, call between 14:00 and 01:00 London time all year. From New York, call between 09:00 and 20:00 all year.
Always state the time zone in your meeting invitations, and check the times above again around the clock-change dates in the UK and the US and in Cuba.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
Flying to Cuba from Europe means travelling west: your day is lengthened and you will go to bed later than usual. From the US East Coast there is no time difference, so time-zone jet lag is not an issue. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
Cuba time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havana | America/Havana | UTC−5 | UTC−4 | CST (CDT in summer) |
- Havana (
America/Havana): daylight saving time applied every year since at least 1970.
Daylight saving time in Cuba in 2027: change dates
Dates calculated from the tz database rules for America/Havana (Havana). They differ from the UK dates, so the gap with London changes several times a year (table below).
- Sunday 14 March 2027 at 00:00 (local time): clocks go forward one hour (UTC−5 → UTC−4), at the same moment as 05:00 in London and 00:00 in New York.
- Sunday 7 November 2027 at 01:00 (local time): clocks go back one hour (UTC−4 → UTC−5), at the same moment as 05:00 in London and 01:00 in New York.
| 2027 period | Havana vs London | Havana vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | −5 h | 0 h |
| 14 March – 27 March | −4 h | 0 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | −5 h | 0 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | −4 h | 0 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | −5 h | 0 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Havana in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Havana (23.13° N, 82.37° W), daylight saving time included; the last column converts them to London time, UK clock changes included. They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:13 | 12:39 | 18:05 | 10 h 52 | 12:13 / 23:05 |
| February | 07:02 | 12:44 | 18:25 | 11 h 24 | 12:02 / 23:25 |
| March | 07:38 | 13:38 | 19:38 | 12 h 00 | 11:38 / 23:38 |
| April | 07:09 | 13:30 | 19:50 | 12 h 41 | 12:09 / 00:50 |
| May | 06:48 | 13:26 | 20:03 | 13 h 15 | 11:48 / 01:03 |
| June | 06:44 | 13:30 | 20:16 | 13 h 33 | 11:44 / 01:16 |
| July | 06:53 | 13:35 | 20:18 | 13 h 25 | 11:53 / 01:18 |
| August | 07:06 | 13:34 | 20:02 | 12 h 56 | 12:06 / 01:02 |
| September | 07:16 | 13:25 | 19:33 | 12 h 17 | 12:16 / 00:33 |
| October | 07:26 | 13:15 | 19:04 | 11 h 38 | 12:26 / 00:04 |
| November | 06:43 | 12:14 | 17:45 | 11 h 02 | 11:43 / 22:45 |
| December | 07:03 | 12:25 | 17:46 | 10 h 43 | 12:03 / 22:46 |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (13 h 33 between 06:44 and 20:16), the shortest 15 December (10 h 43).
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in Cuba
- Outbound from the UK (flying west): you « gain » 5 hours all year; your arrival day is lengthened and tiredness comes early in the local evening.
- Return to the UK (flying east): the opposite applies. Flying east shortens the day: plan a quiet day when you get home.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 18:00 – 02:00 in Havana from London, all year, and to 23:00 – 07:00 from New York, all year: this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Havana, the sun rises around 07:13 and sets around 18:05 in mid-January, and around 06:53 and 20:18 in mid-July (table above). After flying west, make the most of the late-afternoon light to stay up until the evening; this is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to Cuba
- Our complete Cuba travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit Cuba: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between Cuba and the UK or the US?
Cuba is 5 hours behind London all year. It is on the same time as New York all year. The gap with London shifts by one hour for a few days each spring and autumn, when the UK and the US change their clocks on different dates.
What time is it in Cuba when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 07:00 in Havana all year. Noon in New York is 12:00 in Havana all year.
Does Cuba have daylight saving time?
Yes. Planned clock changes (local time): Sunday 1 November 2026: from UTC−4 to UTC−5; Sunday 14 March 2027: from UTC−5 to UTC−4.
When should I call Cuba from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 14:00 and 01:00 London time all year, or between 09:00 and 20:00 New York time all year.
What is the IANA time zone for Cuba?
Havana: America/Havana.
What time does the sun rise in Havana?
Around 07:13 on 15 January 2027 and around 06:53 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 18:05 and 20:18. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- UK clock changes (BST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October): GOV.UK, When do the clocks change?, consulted 11 November 2026.
- US daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November): NIST, Daylight Saving Time, consulted 11 November 2026.
- Travel warning: UK FCDO, Cuba travel advice (GOV.UK, updated 25 September 2026).
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.