Location: Port-au-Prince
Top Things to do in Port-au-Prince
Top 10 Things to do in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Port-au-Prince (/ˌpɔːrtoʊˈprɪns/; French pronunciation: [pɔʁopʁɛ̃s]; Haitian Creole: Pòtoprens; Haitian Creole pronunciation: [pɔtopɣɛ̃s]) is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,310 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The metropolitan area is defined by the IHSI as including the communes of Port-au-Prince, Delmas, Cite Soleil, Tabarre, Carrefour, and Pétion-Ville.
Restaurants in Port-au-Prince
1. Papillon Enterprise
Overall Ratings
5 based on 93 reviews
Papillon Enterprises is a socially & ecologically conscious business with a Mission of stimulating the Haitian economy by selling and marketing Haitian artisan goods. We offer a beautiful and safe shopping experience with a variety of locally made products. Grab a fresh made smoothie, or coffee drink while you shop.
Reviewed By haiti2016 - Burlington, Canada
Everything about this store/cafe/pizzeria makes me happy. The people, the history, the products. I would suggest if you take a "team" you make enough time to give them some information about how Papillon came to be and educate them on why keeping families together is so important. The products are well-made and great quality. I have been ordering online in between my trips and paying to have products shipped to Canada because they make great gifts!
2. Musee du Pantheon National Haitien
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 197 reviews
Reviewed By Frantz Gabriel N - Port-au-Prince, Haiti
At the Mupanah one get a real glimpse of the diversity of Haitian history. Pre-Colombus history, the genocide of the natives, the slave trade, the battle for independence and the different period (monarchy and republic). One gets a little idea of the diversity of the haitian art in a part of this museum.
A tour at Mupanah rich in history and a memorable moment
3. Sprinteur PTS
Overall Ratings
5 based on 32 reviews
Sprinteur Personal Touring Services, an all around touring and transportation services company, Based in Port-au-Prince Haiti, with an appetite for the "personal touch". Arrive as our customer, depart as a new friend...
Reviewed By Briana A - Perrysburg, Ohio
You would be crazy to travel to Haiti and not use Mitch for your transportation needs! He not only made us feel incredibly welcome, but most importantly, very safe. Mitch has a warm, calming disposition that makes anyone feel at home... first time traveling abroad, cautious or seasoned traveler... he quickly puts at ease. Highly recommended!!!
We arrived in Port au Prince with 12 large bags in toe. He brought a vehicle big enough and did not change the price when I told him we have lots of luggage. Mitch was waiting patiently for us with a clear and visible sign with our names. It was hard to distinguish at first who was working with him, as the airport "helpers" all have "official" looking badges and say they work with Mitch. He was incredibly kind and professional in all of his interactions with us as his clients, and all other encounters as well.... local or foreign... Mitch consistently showed deep respect for all people. He told us those guys weren't actually with his company, and not to let them help us with our bags unless we wanted to pay them.
He stopped at a very comfortable gas stations for bathroom breaks as we drove to Les Cayes, and even shared pate's with us during the ride (local cuisine!) On the way back to the airport, we planned to leave at 7 am, to which he arrived early and prompt. Mitch was very informative of the culture and history of Haiti, educating us along the way, and was very helpful with any questions we had. His fluency in English, among several other languages, is also a huge bonus.
We will absolutely use his company in the future. Couldn't have had a better experience! Thanks Mitch!!!
4. Port-au-Prince Taxi and Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 37 reviews
We offer prompt, vetted and reliable drivers to safely transport you and your group to anywhere in our beautiful country of Haiti. 24 hour safe and reliable service to and from the airport as well as to anywhere in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding country. Fluent English and Haitian Creole speaking drivers.
Reviewed By John H
All-in-all, this company were excellent, looking after me from the airport, and then a city tour. Unfortunately, as I was there over Christmas the museum was closed, and there was not so much else to see, other than craziness, poverty and earthquake damage. The guides English was excellent, and they took me to a lovely crafts shop. I would avoid going into the local market. It was non-stop hassle, but the craft shop was terrific. The view over the city from the top of the hill was tremendous.
5. Marche de Fer
Overall Ratings
4 based on 102 reviews
This is not the Marche de Fer in Port-au-Prince. I've tried to add this listing and some idiot keeps on sending me a link saying it's been added, linking to the Marche de Fer, PaP.There used to be dozens of these all over Haiti, but now only a few still exist. Jacmel's, similar to the one in Cap Haitian, is hidden away in the central colonial zone. If you don't make your way up the steep, windy and narrow streets, you'll miss it. Unlike the market in Port-au-Prince, there aren't any tourists here, as it is used for the same reason it was built 150 years ago, Haitians selling basic needs, like food and clothing, to other Haitians.
Reviewed By RichardQ_11 - Blainville, Canada
This is a special market! One place to visit for sure in Port au Prince without any doubt. This place is a real Caphanaüm but the people and vendor a real negotiators. We visited in February 2017 and it's a real eye opener for us. There's a lot of Haitian artwork but everything seems to repeat itself from aisle to aisle.
6. Barbancourt Rum Distillery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Tours are offered of the factory where this famous rum is manufactured.
Reviewed By Jason H - Denver, Colorado
Best rum on the planet bar none.
I was deployed with the United States Army during Operation Uphold Democracy May 31= November 1995. Drank Barbancourt on several occasions while ¨¨in country¨¨ It is delicious rum with Coca Cola. The classic Cuba Libre drink world famous in Cuba.
It is made out of sugar cane! Delicious.
The 5 star rhum is aged 12 years.
BEST RHUM in the entire world.
7. Voyages Lumiere
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Oceans242 - Frankfurt, Germany
Voyages Lumiere was offering a variety of organised tours for the participants of the Caribbean Studies Association's annual conference in Port-au-Prince. As such, I participated in the day tour to Jacmel in southern Haiti.
Booking the trip was made very easy, via e-mail, to which I received a prompt reply. Pick up was on time, and I was looking forward to a great day.
Unfortunately, the rest of the day was not as organised. The bus trip from Port-au-Prince to Jacmel, which Google Maps clocks at 2.5 hours, took over four hours. On the way to Jacmel this was caused by frequent stops: for getting fuel, because the bus had arrived with insufficient in the tank; for repairing a faulty tire; for having to change from a small bus that picked us up at the hotel to a bigger one because they had got the numbers wrong.
Communication was difficult, as most conference participants spoke English only, and the driver spoke Creole only. The main guide, who did speak English, was in another bus.
When we got to Jacmel, the guide for the city tour did not appear very knowledgeable about the place. His signature move was to point at a building and say, "This is an old building." But even when asked, he could not say how old, or what its original purpose had been. All in all, he seemed to be far more interested in getting us into the "artisan" market - surely to score his commission with the vendors. We therefore got to see very little of this beautiful town, and what we saw was rushed.
For lunch we were taken out of the beautiful town, unfortunately, to a nearby hotel. The buffett was plentiful and at $20 not overpriced, though as a fellow Caribbean citizen, I was shocked at the size of the lobsters they served. In my country, serving such undersized crawfish would be illegal (where they would also be currently protected by a closed season). In fact, I do not recall ever seeing lobster that small, not even on the occasions I went fishing for them myself.
Because of the long drive in the morning, our stay in Jacmel had to be cut short. The drive back took very long, too, but this time because of traffic for which the tour company clearly is not at fault. At this point, I must say that some of the non-Caribbean guests put unfair blame at the drivers, and spoke to them very condescendingly. I felt shame.
Some more observations: 1) their bus cannot make it up the mountain with the air conditioning on, so it had to be turned off. 2) Pretty much everybody on the tour, all participants at the same conference, had been charged a different price.
8. Comite Artisanal Haitien
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By 68WorldTraveler68 - Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
Been here originally in 2001 and it is still the best place to buy original, well made arts and crafts: stone carved objects, baskets, papier mache, metal works, etc. You are given an itemized receipt and payment in US dollars is accepted. Closed on Sundays.
9. Champ de Mars
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By Ana C - Brooklyn, New York
Don't expect much. And depending on the time of day, it's going to be very crowded with lots of street vendors. Listen, it's one of the last nice areas of the city, so do stop by. But don't expect much.
10. Notre Dame Cathedral Ruins
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By Jen S
It's worth walking around the building to find the east side of the Cathedral. It has a porch that is still open to the public though the main building is sealed off. I'd only recommend this for people who are comfortable navigating PaP in a vehicle, and who are comfortable in large crowds. There is a large market in front of the Cathedral and the side streets have shanties built up in them. You'll be followed around by children asking for handouts and food, so there isn't much place for quiet contemplation. Having said all that, the Cathedral is breathtaking. Large cement blocks are still hanging from steel girders, pillars and half arches are still standing though they look like they should come down. It's an awe filled place to contemplate what it must have been like to be in the earth quake. I am not sure how many died in the Cathedral, but it does still maintain the solemn air of a tomb.
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