The capital city of Haiti, Port-au-Prince is the largest center and the major transport hub in the country. A devastating earthquake hit Port-au-Prince in January 2010, killing over 200,000 people and reducing much of the city into rubble. Restoration is now slowly underway. This rarely visited city has major crime problems but also beautiful colonial buildings, some interesting markets plus a nice national museum. Port-au-Prince hosts most of the better hotels in Haiti.
The Haitian capital located in the West coast of Haiti along the Gulf of La Gonave, Port-au-Prince is a large and growing city with slum areas in the hillsides around it. Port-au-Prince is the economic center of Haiti that once used to be a popular place for cruise ship visits but has now lost majority of its tourism due to the devastation caused by the recent earthquake and ongoing problems with political violence and crime.
Shopping in Port-au-Prince used to be of great value. Most of the interesting shops in Port-au-Prince were located in the waterfront and are yet to open again, but there are still marketplaces such as Marche en fer that are filled with vendors selling everything from voodoo crafts to Haitian art and fresh food. This bustling market is a great place to find Haitian souvenirs such as sculptures, masks, paintings or coconut belts.
Travel to Port-au-Prince is relatively easy as it has an international airport with flights to Port-Au-Prince available from the Caribbean, France and North America.
The Haitian capital located in the West coast of Haiti along the Gulf of La Gonave, Port-au-Prince is a large and growing city with slum areas in the hillsides around it. Port-au-Prince is the economic center of Haiti that once used to be a popular place for cruise ship visits but has now lost majority of its tourism due to the devastation caused by the recent earthquake and ongoing problems with political violence and crime.
Sights and activities in Port-au-Prince: historical attractions, nightlife and shopping
Port-au-Prince used to be a colorful city with great coastal scenery and interesting Haitian culture. However, decades of political upheaval and the recent earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince in January 2010 have left their marks in the city. The beautiful cathedral and the National Palace of Port-au-Prince were both largely destroyed in the earthquake. However, Port-au-Prince still has some cultural and historic sites, for example the famous Caribbean gingerbread-styled houses in the wealthier Pétionville area. The Haitian National Museum houses interesting exhibitions about the history of Haiti, with historic artifacts including the anchor of Columbus's flagship Santa Maria.Shopping in Port-au-Prince used to be of great value. Most of the interesting shops in Port-au-Prince were located in the waterfront and are yet to open again, but there are still marketplaces such as Marche en fer that are filled with vendors selling everything from voodoo crafts to Haitian art and fresh food. This bustling market is a great place to find Haitian souvenirs such as sculptures, masks, paintings or coconut belts.
Port-au-Prince travel tips and practical information
Climate in Port-au-Prince is tropical as elsewhere in the Caribbean. The city has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round and with some rain and occasional hurricanes during the summer and autumn months. The best time to visit Port-au-Prince is the dry season from November to March, but traveling to the city for leisure is currently not recommended.Travel to Port-au-Prince is relatively easy as it has an international airport with flights to Port-Au-Prince available from the Caribbean, France and North America.
Photo: joquerollo, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
You can also travel to Port-au-Prince by bus from the neighboring Dominican Republic. Transport connections to elsewhere in Haiti, by bus or by air, usually go through Port-Au-Prince as well. The city’s public transport is handled by colorful public taxis. Normal taxis and rental cars in Port-Au-Prince are also available.
Accommodation & services. There are several hotels in Port-au-Prince, as well as some restaurants in Port-au-Prince, serving tasty Haitian Creole cuisine. There used to be vibrant nightlife in Port-Au-Prince with cultural shows, nightclubs and live music, but it is currently less active. Unlike French, English is not widely understood in Port-au-Prince.
Safety. Political violence as well as violent crime is frequent in many areas in Port-Au-Prince. Local authorities, armed forces and international aid workers have their hands full of work trying the rebuild the city and have therefore limited capacity to assist tourists, so it would be very useful to have a local guide when going around in Port-Au-Prince. The streets outside the main city center of Port-au-Prince are not safe to walk after dark.
