Colourful and energetic, Port-au-Prince is home to many of Haiti’s national institutions, museums and galleries. It’s dotted with historic ruins, iconic gingerbread-style houses, leafy parks and vibrant handicraft markets.

Things to do

If you want to learn about Haitian history and culture, visit the Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien. Its chronological sections are divided by murals exhibiting scenes from different historical periods, with the flagship of Christopher Columbus a particular highlight.

Pick up traditional Haitian arts and crafts at the Iron Market, a 19th-century bazaar watched over by a clock tower and four minarets. It was originally built in France and was intended to be a Cairo railway station. The reason it ended up in Haiti is still somewhat of a mystery.

Want to dine at some of Haiti’s best restaurants? Head to the suburb of Pétionville in the hills to the east of Port-au-Prince. It’s home to the 1930s Club de Pétion-Ville, which boasts Haiti's only golf course, as well as some of the capital’s best bars and nightclubs.

For the best views of Port-au-Prince, make the short drive out to historic Fort Jacques, built following Haiti’s independence from France. Follow the trail that winds through pine forest to reach its atmospheric ruins, with cannons still aimed at the coastal plains below.

Getting around

Port-au-Prince International Airport is25 minutes’ drive north-east of the city centre, and buses connect Port-au-Prince to destinations across Haiti. Tap tap minibuses and taxis are the main means of getting around Port-au-Prince.