Cheap flights to Port of Spain
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Quick summary
Country
Trinidad and Tobago
Continent
North America
Airport
POS
Currency
Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Time zone
UTC-4 (no daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to Port of Spain
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
An airport south-east of the capital, about three quarters of an hour away
Piarco International (POS)
Piarco International Airport, code POS, is the main airport of Trinidad and Tobago and lies south-east of Port of Spain. Distances differ between sources: 17 km for Wikipedia (FR) and Wikivoyage (FR), 27 km for Wikipedia (DE) and Wikivoyage (DE). Wikivoyage (EN, ES) says it is about 45 minutes to the centre, longer in the evening rush.
Distances differ between sources (17 km or 27 km): rely on travel time, which varies with traffic. We do not quote fares: check the transfer before you travel.
Port of Spain is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, on the north-west of Trinidad, facing the Gulf of Paria between the Northern Range and the Caroni Swamp (Wikipedia FR). The city itself had about 37,000 residents at the 2011 census, but the wider urban area counts several hundred thousand (Wikipedia FR, EN).
Buses, taxis and ferries
Wikivoyage (EN, ES) mentions an airport coach to the City Gate station on weekdays only; the information is undated, so check it. The authorised airport taxi remains the simplest option with luggage. Ferries to Scarborough on Tobago leave once or twice a day (Wikipedia FR); Wikivoyage (EN, ES) also mentions a flight of about twenty minutes.
Entry rules
Entry rules depend on your nationality: check official websites before you book.
Landmarks
A hilltop fort, the Savannah, colonial mansions and the harbour
Port of Spain is best seen in stages: the centre around Woodford Square and the Red House, the big lawn of the Savannah, then the mansions of Maraval Road. A Spanish garrison was posted near the Laventille Hills in 1560; in 1757 Governor Pedro de la Moneda made it the seat of government, the British took it in 1797 and a great fire ravaged it in 1808 (Wikipedia EN, ES). From 1958 to 1962 it was the capital of the West Indies Federation (Wikipedia FR).
Fort George and the view over the city
Built in 1804 on the heights, the fort looks over the city, the port and the Gulf of Paria; on a clear day you can make out the mountains of Venezuela (Wikipedia DE). Cannons lined up on the ramparts recall its defensive role. It is reached by a narrow road: check the route before you go.
Queen's Park Savannah
The Savannah is a vast open space of about 110 hectares with a circuit of about 3.5 km (Wikipedia EN), a former sugar plantation turned sports and festival ground (Wikipedia DE). Carnival parades pass in front of its Grand Stand. It is busiest in the late afternoon (Wikivoyage DE).
The Magnificent Seven and the Archbishop's Palace
On Maraval Road, seven mansions of the late Victorian and early twentieth-century period line the Savannah: Queen's Royal College, Hayes Court, Mille Fleurs, Roomar, the Archbishop's Palace, White Hall and Stollmeyer's Castle (Wikipedia EN, Wikivoyage EN, DE). The Archbishop's Palace, with its red-brick arcades and crenellated tower, is one of the most photographed.
Stollmeyer's Castle
This yellow-brick house, with its turrets and battlements, looks like a small storybook castle. Like the other Magnificent Seven it is best seen from outside: Wikivoyage (DE) says only Queen's Royal College is open to the public, an undated statement to check.
White Hall
A white building on several levels, with balconies and a broad entrance stair, White Hall completes the Magnificent Seven. Its pale facades, arches and balustrades show the eclectic taste of the period.
The port and the waterfront
Port of Spain is also the island's largest container port, and cruise ships call here (Wikipedia EN). The centre holds the stock exchange, the Central Bank and the headquarters of major companies, which makes it the country's commercial capital.
Cathedrals, Red House and gardens
Two neo-Gothic cathedrals stand in the centre, Holy Trinity (1823) and the Immaculate Conception (1832) (Wikipedia DE). The Red House, seat of Parliament, dates from 1907 (Wikipedia DE); a visit needs to be arranged in advance (Wikivoyage DE, undated). The Royal Botanic Gardens and the Emperor Valley Zoo lie just north of the Savannah (Wikipedia EN).
Museums and culture
Carnival, steelpan and the national museum
Port of Spain's culture comes from its mix of peoples and its music. Here are the main points; always check opening hours and admission before you go, as we do not quote prices.
National Museum and Art Gallery
Housed in the Royal Victoria Institute, founded in 1892, it is the country's national museum (Wikipedia EN, Wikivoyage EN, DE). Fort San Andres, in the centre, hosts a branch museum (Wikipedia EN).
Carnival
Wikipedia (EN) calls Port of Spain the centre of one of the largest Carnivals in the world. It takes place in the days before Lent: parades, calypso and soca competitions, a King and Queen of Carnival and band contests (Wikivoyage EN, ES). The dates change every year, and accommodation must be booked early and costs more.
Steelpan and pan yards
Before Carnival, steelpan bands rehearse in the evenings in pan yards; Wikivoyage (EN) says you can buy a drink and listen. Woodbrook is the Carnival district, with its costume workshops (Wikivoyage DE).
Performing arts
The National Academy for Performing Arts rounds out the cultural offer of the centre (Wikivoyage EN).
Food and drink
Doubles, roti, bake and shark and local rum
Specialities
The cooking blends African, Indian, Creole and Chinese influences. Doubles, a fried bread filled with chickpeas, are sold in the morning on Independence Square and sell out fast; also try roti, bake and shark, chow and West Indian curry (Wikivoyage EN, ES).
Drinks
Wikivoyage (EN, ES) lists Carib and Stag beer, sorrel, mauby, peanut punch and rum among the local drinks, with Angostura among the big producers.
Neighbourhoods
Woodbrook, with Ariapita Avenue, and St James concentrate restaurants and bars (Wikivoyage EN, ES). We do not recommend a specific address: ask your host.
Getting around
On foot by day, fares agreed in advance, maxi-taxis and buses
On foot
The centre can be walked by day; Wikivoyage (EN, ES) advises against walking alone at dusk.
Taxis
Taxis have no meter: agree the fare before you get in (Wikivoyage DE). Wikivoyage (EN) advises checking for a licence plate starting with H and booking through your accommodation.
Maxi-taxis, buses and ferry
Buses and maxi-taxis, minibuses with colour stripes by route, leave from City Gate (Wikivoyage DE, ES). City buses do not take payment on board (Wikivoyage EN, ES, undated). The ferry to Tobago leaves from the centre, near City Gate (Wikivoyage DE). Traffic is heavy on the main roads (Wikipedia DE).
Budget and precautions
A medium to high price level, no ranges published
Price level
Trinidad and Tobago is a medium to high price destination according to our research on the country. The currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar. We publish no ranges because we could not confirm them on two independent sources; cards work in hotels, but keep some cash for taxis and street food.
Flights
The flight is the most variable item in the budget. SniperAir tracks prices to POS and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets.
Safety
The guides we read describe high crime in the country, while noting that visitors are less exposed; they recommend staying in the main areas, avoiding dark backstreets at night, not displaying valuables and booking taxis through your accommodation. Official advice differs by country of departure: check your own government's before you go.
Weather
According to our sources the country lies outside the main hurricane tracks, but tropical storms can affect the region during the June to November season: follow forecasts and keep your dates flexible.
When to go
Drier from about January to May, wetter from June to December
January to March
Mostly dry and sunny; Carnival falls in the days before Lent, often in February or March.
April to May
End of the dry season: stronger heat, rain still limited.
June to September
Start of the rainy season; showers become more frequent, with a peak in June and July at the airport station (Wikipedia DE).
October to December
Rain still present before the dry season returns, around January.
Wikipedia (FR) gives, for the Piarco station, about 1,800 mm of rain a year and more than 2,700 hours of sunshine. Wikipedia (DE) gives mean highs of 30.4 degrees Celsius in December to 32.2 in April. The rainy season is placed from May to January, May to December or June to December depending on the source: we use a dry season of about January to May.
By length of stay
What to do in Port of Spain depending on how long you stay
The centre and the Savannah
A day between Independence Square, Woodford Square, the Savannah and the Magnificent Seven, with doubles for breakfast; Fort George late in the afternoon for the view.
Museums, gardens and evenings
The national museum, the Botanic Gardens and the zoo, then an evening in Woodbrook or at a pan yard before Carnival.
Beyond the capital
The city as a base for the north coast, Maracas Bay and Trinidad's nature, or for a flight to Tobago.
In pictures
Port of Spain in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Port of Spain
How long does it take to get from Piarco airport to Port of Spain?
Allow about 45 minutes by road according to Wikivoyage, longer in the evening rush. The distances quoted differ between sources, from 17 to 27 km.
What is there to see in Port of Spain?
Queen's Park Savannah, the Magnificent Seven on Maraval Road, the Red House, the cathedrals, the Botanic Gardens, the Emperor Valley Zoo and Fort George for the view.
When is Carnival in Port of Spain?
In the days before Lent; the dates change every year. Book early, as accommodation fills up and prices rise.
What should I eat in Port of Spain?
Morning doubles, roti, bake and shark, West Indian curry, and sorrel, mauby or a local rum to drink.
Is Port of Spain a beach city?
No: it is an urban and cultural capital. The beaches, such as Maracas Bay, are on Trinidad's north coast, and Tobago's are reached by ferry or plane.
Is Port of Spain safe?
The guides describe high crime in the country and advise staying in the main areas, avoiding dark backstreets at night and booking taxis through your accommodation. Official advice varies by country of departure: check your own.
How much does a flight to Port of Spain usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Port of Spain drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Port of Spain as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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