Port of SpainCapital
Trinidad and Tobago · Country profile
Port of Spain is the vibrant capital of Trinidad, the bustling, music-filled metropolis of the southern Caribbean that spreads its dense downtown, its colonial squares and its busy waterfront across the western harbour of the island, between the green hills of the Northern Range and the Gulf of Paria. The capital of the republic since the eighteenth century, when the Spanish founded the town and the British made it the capital of the colony, it is the political, the commercial and the cultural engine of the twin-island nation, famous around the world for the carnival that explodes through its streets each February. The Savannah with its gardens and its statues, the markets and the historic buildings of the downtown, and the museums of the nation anchor the essential visits, while the beaches, the villages and the swamps of the surrounding island fill the excursions of the region. Hot, gregarious and endlessly rhythmic, Port of Spain is the beating soul of the carnival nation.
About Port of Spain
Port of Spain is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago. The city's documented population is around 49,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1868. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Piarco International Airport.
The Great Savannah and the Mansions of the Gingerbread
Port of Spain is a compact, energetic capital where the essential circuit moves between the great Savannah of the city, the markets and the historic landmarks of the downtown, with the waterfront and the nearby hills framing the days. The Savannah with its gardens, its statues and its botanical heart, the downtown with its colonial and its modern architecture, and the museums of the country anchor the essential visits, while the market of the city with its tropical produce and the food stalls of the street carry the daily Caribbean life. The hummingbird-rich swamps and the beaches of the western coast, the pitch lake and the villages of the south, and the whole carnival heritage of the nation fill the excursions and the events beyond the capital.
The Steel of the Pan and the Carnival of the City
The climate of the capital is the warm Caribbean tropical, with the heat and the humidity of the year, the two rainy seasons of the island, the brief green and the drier, sunnier months of the early year that coincide with the great festival season. The dollar of the country is the currency, with the English the language of the city and the patois of the islands the everyday speech of the streets. The Savannah, the downtown and the waterfront make the core circuit, and the outdoor wonders of the island lie a short drive beyond the town. Light cotton clothing, sun protection and insect protection for the evening hours complete the sensible preparation for the Caribbean capital.
The Lake of the Pitch and the Beaches of the Maracas
The great Savannah of the capital, the enormous green park of the city with its statues of the national heroes, its botanical gardens and its famous racecourse, is the ceremonial heart of the town, hosting the festival of the carnival, the parades and the kites of the year, and ringed by the magnificent gingerbread mansions of the colonial era. The museum of the national art, with its extraordinary paintings and the heritage of the islands, the cathedral of the town and the historic red house of the parliament anchor the civic centre, while the market of the government quarter with its enormous produce and its fruit stalls carries the daily commerce of the metropolis. The sacred drumming of the steel pan, born in the yards of the capital and now the soul of the whole world of the carnival, sounds through the streets of the city, and the beaches, the swamps and the savannah of the island complete the essential, rhythmic circuit of the carnival capital of the Caribbean.
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- Country
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Population
- 49,000
- Coordinates
- 10.5954, -61.3372
- Capital
- Port of Spain
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1868
- Country code
- TT
Getting to Port of Spain
Airports we list for Port of Spain:
Frequently asked questions
Is Port of Spain the capital of Trinidad and Tobago?
Yes — Port of Spain is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.
What currency do I need in Port of Spain?
The local currency is the Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD). Languages spoken in Trinidad and Tobago include English.
What is the dialling code for Trinidad and Tobago?
The international dialling code for Trinidad and Tobago is +1868.
Which airport should I fly into for Port of Spain?
Piarco International Airport (POS) is the airport we list for Port of Spain.
Flying out of Port of Spain? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.