What to do in Fort-de-France

Discover the activities to do in Fort-de-France! Fort-de-France, the capital of Martinique, is often the city that tourists choose to visit first when they arrive on the island.

Located only ten minutes from Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport, Fort-de-France is the capital and only major city on the island. Surrounded by the communes of Saint-Joseph, Le Lamentin and Schoelcher, it is a real place of effervescence, which will plunge you directly into the heart of Martinique's culture as soon as you land in Martinique! When you see all these buildings, clothes and stalls in the covered market, each as colourful as the next, you can immediately feel how warm the island's culture is.

Most visitors start their day at the covered market in Fort-de-France, which is very lively from early morning. The smell of spices and the outpouring of colours will surely make your mouth water. The covered market is the ideal place to buy some typical Martinique souvenirs, but also some local products to taste on the spot or a little later, such as bananas, pineapples, or even the cinnamon apple, a Martinique fruit with a good name.

Fort-de-France also has historical monuments that are not to be missed, such as the superb Saint-Louis cathedral, the famous Schoelcher library, as well as the Saint-Louis fort and its inhabitants, iguanas of all colours. There is no shortage of places to visit in Fort-de-France! A short stroll along the seafront is also pleasant, with the possibility of swimming at the city's one and only beach, La Française beach.

And if you want to get out of Fort-de-France for a while to visit the surroundings and do other activities, don't hesitate to go to Case-Pilote, a small coastal town from where you can take a sailing trip on the Caribbean Sea. You can also hike to the Didier waterfalls and then take the famous Route de la Trace to the Jardin de Balata to spend some quiet time among the many species of tropical plants it contains. If you can also go back to the airport, do so: from there, an autogyro, a microlight helicopter, will take you on a panoramic flight to discover Martinique from the sky. This will give you unforgettable memories of your stay on the island from another angle!

Fort-de-France is an essential stop on your trip to Martinique, particularly thanks to the many cultural activities it offers. Whether you decide to visit it at the beginning or at the end of your stay, give it at least a day to discover it: you will not lack things to do in Fort-de-France!