Woodbrook
Bars, foodAround Ariapita Avenue.
City guide
Things to do in Port of Spain
Trinidad's capital and the home of the Caribbean's biggest carnival: steelpan in the panyards, doubles for breakfast, bars along Ariapita Avenue, scarlet ibis at Caroni Swamp and bake and shark on Maracas Bay.
8–9 Feb
Carnival 2027
3
Days
Carnival headquarters
Port of Spain is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, on the Gulf of Paria in Trinidad's north-west. It is a busy, working city rather than a resort, and its people, food and music reflect a mix of African, Indian, European, Chinese and Middle Eastern heritage.
It is the centre of Carnival, which builds from January with fetes, calypso shows and steelband rehearsals, and peaks on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday with J'ouvert at dawn and the parade of the mas bands. Steelpan, the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, was born in the city's yards.
The best day trips are close: Maracas Bay over the Northern Range, and Caroni Swamp for the scarlet ibis at dusk. Give Port of Spain three days, or a week at Carnival.
Where to base yourself
Woodbrook, around Ariapita Avenue, for bars, food and guesthouses; St Clair and the area around the Savannah for quieter streets.
St Clair
QuietLeafy streets west of the Savannah.
Savannah area
CentralAround Queen's Park Savannah.
Maraval
Quiet, hillsNorth of the city, towards Maracas.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Port of Spain
Walk around the Queen's Park Savannah, the heart of Carnival, past the Magnificent Seven, a row of grand colonial mansions, and into the Royal Botanic Gardens. Climb to Fort George for views over the city and the gulf.
Visit a panyard to hear a steelband rehearse, especially in the weeks before Carnival. Eat your way through the city's street food, and spend an evening on Ariapita Avenue.
Take a boat through Caroni Swamp at dusk to watch thousands of scarlet ibis, the national bird, fly in to roost. Drive over the mountains to Maracas Bay for a swim and bake and shark, and visit Chaguaramas for its boardwalk and boat trips to the islands Down the Islands.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The Savannah, the Botanic Gardens and the Magnificent Seven are free to see. Listening to panyard rehearsals costs nothing.
Maracas Bay is a public beach, with a small parking fee.
Caroni Swamp tours, fetes and Carnival bands charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Doubles, curried chickpeas between two pieces of fried bara bread, cost €1 to €2 and are eaten for breakfast; ask for slight pepper. Try roti, pholourie, corn soup at night around the Savannah, and bake and shark at Maracas Bay for €5 to €8.
Restaurant mains cost €12 to €25.
The local drinks are Carib and Stag beer, rum punch and anything with Angostura bitters. A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual in restaurants; check the bill first, as some add a service charge.
Nightlife
Going out
Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook is the bar and restaurant strip, busy from Thursday to Saturday. In Carnival season, from January, fetes, large outdoor parties with soca, run most weekends; many are all-inclusive.
A beer costs €2 to €4.
Carnival tickets and fetes sell out fast; buy through official sellers.
Getting around
Getting around
Piarco International Airport is about 30 to 60 minutes from the centre, depending on traffic. Use a registered airport taxi or a pre-arranged driver.
Maxi taxis (minibuses colour-coded by route) and route taxis (shared cars with H number plates) are cheap; avoid unmarked cars. Take arranged transport after dark.
The inter-island ferry and flights connect with Tobago.
Costs
What Port of Spain costs
Guesthouse rooms and the few hostel beds start at around €25 to €50 a night, outside Carnival. Doubles cost €1 to €2, and a local meal €5 to €10.
A Caroni Swamp tour costs about €12 to €20, fetes €50 to €125 each, and a Carnival costume €380 to €1,000. At Carnival, rooms cost several times more and book a year ahead.
The currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$); prices here are converted to euros at roughly TT to €1. Cards work in most places; carry cash for street food and maxi taxis.
Safety
Safety and scams
Trinidad has high levels of violent crime, mostly between gangs, but visitors can be affected. Avoid Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots and the east of the city, do not walk around at night, and use arranged transport after dark. A state of emergency was in place for much of 2026; check the latest advice.
At Carnival, crowds are huge and pickpockets work them; carry little and stay with friends. Rip currents at Maracas Bay are strong; swim near the lifeguards.
Tap water is generally safe, but many people drink bottled water, especially after heavy rain. In an emergency, call 999 for the police, 990 for the fire service or 811 for an ambulance.
Worth the trip
Birds, beaches and the Northern Range.
Maracas Bay
Beach and bake and shark.
Grande Rivière
Leatherback turtles.
Tobago
Beaches and reefs.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Carnival and the festival calendar.
8 to 9 February 2027
Carnival
Port of Spain
J'ouvert at dawn, then two days of mas bands.
Saturday before Carnival
Panorama finals
Queen's Park Savannah
The national steelband competition.
1 August
Emancipation Day
Port of Spain
Processions and celebrations.
October or November
Divali
Nationwide
Lights across the country.
When to go
January to May is the dry season, and Carnival falls in February or March. June to December is wetter. Trinidad lies south of the main hurricane belt and is rarely hit.
Jan
Fete season
Feb
Carnival (2027: 8–9 Feb)
Mar
Dry
Apr
Dry
May
Rains start
Jun
Wet
Jul
Wet
Aug
Emancipation Day
Sep
Wet
Oct
Wettest
Nov
Divali
Dec
Parang
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Hot all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Port of Spain prices.
Treat these as a guide. Carnival prices are far higher.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Port of Spain questions
The ones we get asked most.
When is Carnival?
On the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday; in 2027, 8 and 9 February.
How far ahead should I book for Carnival?
A year ahead for accommodation.
Is Port of Spain safe?
Take care: avoid certain areas, do not walk at night and use arranged transport.
Where can I see scarlet ibis?
At Caroni Swamp at dusk, on a boat tour.
What are doubles?
Curried chickpeas in fried bread, the national breakfast.
How many days do I need?
Three, or a week at Carnival.
When is the best time to visit?
January to May.
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