Visitors to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago will
find that Port of Spain is king for nightlife, shopping, and
restaurants; there's nowhere else in the country that comes close.
The city is the primary administrative, financial, and retail hub
in the country, and is quickly becoming a leading city in the
Caribbean.
Don't be fooled into thinking that Port of Spain is
all hustle and bustle, while the city is well in tune with the
relaxed pace of Caribbean life. Trinidadians love to party, and
nowhere is this more obvious than in Port of Spain during Carvinal
(February), where the fun spills from the clubs and onto the
streets.
For the rest of the year, you can enjoy the numerous
art galleries, theatres, and nightclubs, and dance to the
distinctive sounds of Trinidadian steel pan calypso. While clubs
come and go, the best areas to party are St James, St Clair, and
Woodbrook. Western Main Road has a large concentration of shops,
restaurants, and bars. Port of Spain is home to a number of lively
festivals, including the Red Earth Festival, Erotic Art Week, and
the famous Carnival.
Main attractions in Port of Spain include beaches
like the beautiful Maracas Bay; historical sites like Fort George,
The Red House, and the National Museum; and places to relax and
enjoy the atmosphere, like Queen's Park Savannah, Brian Lara
Promenade, and The Market at the Normandie Hotel. The Market, along
with Western Main Road, promises the best shopping in Port of
Spain, and is a great place to pick up souvenirs.
Port of Spain also makes an excellent base for
discovering attractions a little further afield, like the coconut
estates of Manzanilla and Mayaro, the Nariva Wetlands, and the Bush
Bush Sanctuary.