Port-au-Prince Travel Guide

Things to Do in Port-au-Prince

Copa Airlines flights to Port-au-Prince take you to the capital of the world’s first black republic. Haiti’s history as a former French colony is reflected in its French colonial architecture and lilting Creole patois. The earthquake of 2010 damaged or destroyed countless buildings in Port-au-Prince, including many modern cement structures, businesses, the Cathedral and the National Presidential Palace. Yet some neighborhoods, built of wooden gingerbread houses, weathered the quake, and international redevelopment is well under way. The city’s bustling uptown commercial center, Pétionville, has many dining and shopping options. Visit the Musée du Panthéon, Haiti’s National Museum that displays the country’s tangled past. Haggle for fruit, herbs, and voodoo potions in the Iron Market, a restored 19th-century bazaar. One hour drive from Port au Prince is the Cotes des Arcadins with hotels, sandy beaches and fresh seafood.

New hotels in Port-au-Prince

Although more than half of the hotel room inventory in Port-au-Prince was lost in the 2010 quake, international chains have already begun investing in the city’s tourism infrastructure. A new 54 room hotel called Servotel was inaugurated near the airport in November 2011, a seven-story Best Western is scheduled to open in summer 2012, and a 173-room Marriott is slated for completion in 2014.

Art shopping in Port-au-Prince

Haiti is celebrated for its brilliant and colorful art. Among the art galleries in Pétionville, both Expressions Gallery (rue Metellus) and Galerie Monnin (rue Lamarre) offer excellent selections at good prices. Alternatively, look for affordable souvenir such as paintings, wooden art and iron sculptures in the streets of Petionville or in Boutilliers a spot in the mountains with a breathtaking view of the entire city.

Port-au-Prince Travel Tips

• French and Creole are the main languages spoken in Port-au-Prince.
• The local currency is Haitian Gourdes (HTG) and the rate is approximately HTG40 = 1USD. USD are accepted everywhere and can be exchanged at hotels and banks.
• The weather in Port-au-Prince is hot and humid year-round. Pack for sultry days and balmy evenings.
• If your country has a traveler registration program, sign up before traveling to Haiti.
• Visit a travel medicine clinic or physician specializing in travel medicine at least six weeks before you plan on traveling to Haiti.
• All visitors to Haiti should exercise extreme caution and vigilance with regard to money, clean drinking water, and personal possessions.
• It’s wise to have a reputable tour operator, such as Agence Citadelle (Tel +509 2940-5900 or info@agencecitadelle.com) pick you up at the airport. In the city, locals get around by tap-taps (colorfully painted buses) or moto taxis (motorbikes). English-speaking drivers and cars ($25 per hour) can be hired through Voyages Lumière ([tel] 509/3607-1321; voyageslumierehaiti@gmail.com). At night, take a reliable taxi service in Pétionville, such as Nicks' Taxis ([tel] 509/2948-7777) or ask your hotel to recommend you a certified tourist driver (Chauffeur guide).

Fly to Port-au-Prince with Copa Airlines, the best way to connect to the Americas.