Port of Spain travel guide

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.