Fort-de-France

Fort-de-France is the largest city in and capital of Martinique.

Get in

Cruise ships often stop in Fort-de-France's harbor.

Get around

Mopeds, cars, and taxis are the main mode of transportation.

See
Bibliothèque Schœlcher
  • 🌍 Fort Saint-Louis. A fortress on a peninsula in Fort-de-France harbour constructed during the reign of Louis XIII. It currently houses a French naval base, and parts of the fortress have been turned into a museum and are open to the public. (updated Mar 2019)
  • Bibliothèque Schoelcher. One of the nicest colonial buildings in town is a library, located next to Place de la savane. (updated Mar 2019)
  • Le grand marché, rues Blénac et Isambert. Covered market. 
  • Cathedral Saint-Louis, rue Victor Schoelcher. First built in 1671, it was damaged by numerous fires and earthquakes before being totally reconstructed in 1890 by the same architect as the Bibliothèque Schoelcher. 
  • 🌍 Place de la Savane. 
  • Dillon distillery, 9, route de Chateauboeuf.. A small museum about rum making in the former distillery Dillon. All the rum making process has now moved to a new site. 
  • Sacré-Coeur de Balata. A replica of the Montmartre Church in Paris, constructed in 1925 on a cliff surrounded by tropical forest. Open everyday from 8 to noon and 3 to 6. (updated Mar 2019)
  • Jardin de Balata (10 km away on the road to Morne Rouge). Botanical garden with more than 200 species of plants and flowers. 
  • Cascade Absalon, Up on the route de Balata, take a left right after the Balata Gardens. Easily accessible waterfall where you can swim in the water basin. Park the car just after the bridge and watch out on the slippery steps. 

Do
  • Hike to Cascade Didier (Take the route de Didier from the rond point du Vietnam heroique. Go all the way up, through the tunnel and now you are in the tropical jungle only 10 min from downtown.). Trail is not marked, park next to the power generator almost at the end of the road. Walk down towards the river, cross the bridge and up on the other side you ll find a tunnel, bring a flash light. The 1st waterfall is now a 15 min walk away up the river, it is around 6 meter high and jumping from the top is possible. The 2nd waterfall is another 45 mins up the river and consist of a 25 m drop in a basin where you can swim. Watch out for the green and purple matoutou spider on the way. 

Buy
  • La Galleria, in Lamentin (near airport), is the island's largest mall, with several European branded stores and others.
  • Fort-de-France's Spice Market offers stalls full of local/unique flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables, and herbs and spices.
  • Rue Victor Hugo is Fort-de-France's main shopping street... a Paris-like strip of boutiques, island shops and vendors of fresh fruit and flowers
  • Leader Price, rue Ernest-Deproge. If you re travelling by boat, this is the closest to restock on groceries. 

Eat
  • Babaorum, 42 route de Chateauboeuf (behind Carrefour Dillon), ☎ +596 5 96 75 03 32. Lunch and dinner Monday to Friday, dinner only on Saturdays. Outside bar in a garden and restaurant inside. 

Drink

Sleep

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