Flights to Fort-de-France

From the airport

Aimé Césaire International lies about 10 km east of the centre. Taxis wait outside arrivals and charge higher rates at night and on Sundays, and car hire desks fill the arrivals hall. Driving into the city is straightforward, but parking near the centre is tight, so many hotels suggest leaving the car behind for the day. Local buses run between Le Lamentin and the city, though most visitors with luggage take a taxi or collect a hire car.

The city centre

La Savane, a large park by the bay, is the city's main open space, lined with cafés and craft stalls. Across the road stands the Schœlcher Library, an ornate iron-and-glass building shown at the Paris Exposition of 1889 and then shipped here in pieces. Saint-Louis Cathedral, with its iron frame and tall spire, is a few streets away, and Fort Saint-Louis, still a naval base, guards the harbour. The covered market sells spices, vanilla, fruit and bottles of rum punch. Above the city, the Balata Botanical Garden has a treetop walkway with views back over the bay, about 20 minutes up the Route de la Trace.

Ferries and beaches

Passenger ferries cross the bay from the waterfront to Les Trois-Îlets, Anse Mitan and Anse à l'Âne in about 20 minutes. From there you can visit Joséphine's birthplace museum and the beaches of the south-west coast. Fast ferries to Dominica, Guadeloupe and St Lucia also leave from the city's ferry terminal.

When to plan your trip

The dry season runs from December to May. Carnival brings parades through the city in the days before Lent, ending with the burning of King Vaval on Ash Wednesday. Book early for those dates.

Planning to visit St Lucia or Dominica on the same trip? Call 020 7871 4545 for a tailored quote.