Martinique

Key facts

• Region: The Caribbean
• Sovereignty: Non-sovereign territory administered by France
• Capital: Fort-de-France
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Languages: French (official) and Martinican Creole
• Main airport: FDF — Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport, serving Fort-de-France
• Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season; the hurricane season runs June to November

Overview

Martinique is a French overseas department in the Lesser Antilles, lying between Dominica to the north and Saint Lucia to the south. It is part of France and the European Union, so the currency is the euro and French is the official language. The island combines mountainous rainforest in the north with drier beaches and resort areas in the south, and it has a strong culinary and rum-producing tradition.

Airports

Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF) is the island's only international gateway, located at Le Lamentin just outside Fort-de-France. It receives flights from mainland France, other Caribbean islands, and North America, and it also handles inter-island connections. There is no other commercial airport of significance on the island; travellers arriving by sea generally use the ferry terminal in Fort-de-France.

Main cities

Fort-de-France is the capital and largest city, with the ferry port, markets and colonial-era buildings. Le Lamentin is the commercial and airport town. Saint-Pierre, in the north, was once the island's cultural capital before it was destroyed by the 1902 eruption of Mont Pelée, and its ruins are now a heritage site. Les Trois-Îlets, south across the bay, is a historic town and resort base, and Sainte-Marie and Le Robert serve the north and east coasts.

Places to go

The north is dominated by Mont Pelée, an active volcano and UNESCO World Heritage site, with rainforest trails and the Jardin de Balata botanical garden in the hills above Fort-de-France. The Presqu'île de la Caravelle, a nature reserve on the northeast coast, has dry-forest walking trails and views over the Atlantic. In the south, Grande Anse des Salines near Sainte-Anne is the island's best-known beach, with Pointe du Diamant and the coves around Les Anses-d'Arlet nearby. The Route de la Trace winds through the interior rainforest, and the ruins of Saint-Pierre recall the 1902 disaster.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Martinique, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked