Pointe-à-Pitre
Travelers come for Creole markets, gwoka music and a working port city that works well as a base for beach and rainforest day trips.
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Pointe-à-Pitre is the largest city in Guadeloupe, a French overseas region in the Caribbean, and the main commercial center of Grande-Terre, the eastern of the archipelago's two main islands. It is a working port more than a resort town. Creole townhouses, concrete blocks and busy streets sit side by side, and the covered market is where daily island life is easiest to see.
The city was badly damaged by the 1843 earthquake and rebuilt afterward, so much of what you see is later architecture. Its history is tied to the sugar trade and slavery, and the Mémorial ACTe, a museum on that history, is a stop for many visitors. Expect Creole food, gwoka music and drumming, and easy access to Grande-Terre's beaches and to Basse-Terre's rainforest and volcano across the channel. A two- or three-day stop suits travelers who want city life before a beach stay. The dry season, roughly December to May, is the most comfortable time to visit.
Pointe-à-Pitre in five
- Check your passport against French entry rulesGuadeloupe is part of France, so French entry rules apply, and some nationalities need a visa. Check the Visas and entry page before you book the flight.Visas and entry
- Set up an eSIM before you landInstall the eSIM before your flight so you have data at the airport. Check that the plan lists Guadeloupe as a covered destination.Phones and eSIM
- Carry euro cash for markets and small stallsThe currency is the euro. Market stalls and snack counters often take only cash, so keep small notes and coins with you.Money and costs
- Rent a car for the beachesThe town centre is walkable, but the beaches and the other side of the island are a drive away. Traffic keeps to the right, as in mainland France.Getting around
- Read the storm clause before you buy insuranceThe Atlantic hurricane season covers the summer and autumn months. Check whether your policy covers trip cancellation and changes caused by a named storm.Travel insurance
Things to do in Pointe-à-Pitre
See all attractions in Pointe-à-Pitre
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- EU ID card for EU citizens; passport and French entry rules for most others Read more
- Emergency
- 112 general emergency; 17 police, 15 ambulance, 18 fire
- Tipping
- Service usually included in bills; rounding up is customary
- Time
- UTC-4 all year (Atlantic time), no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryDry, cooler
- FebruaryCarnival season
- MarchDry, breezy
- AprilDry, warm
- MayWarm, showers
- JuneStorm season starts
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustPeak storm risk
- SeptemberPeak storm risk
- OctoberLate storm risk
- NovemberStorm season ends
- DecemberDry season starts
Right now in Pointe-à-Pitre
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
30
- Feels like
- 34°
- Humidity
- 65%
- Wind
- 21 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 85%
Pointe-à-Pitre
04:41 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°26°85%Monday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 85%.
- Tue31°25°75%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Wed30°25°29%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Thu30°25°29%Thursday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Fri31°24°51%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Sat31°25°71%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Sun31°24°75%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 75%.
Updated 01:31 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Basse-Terreabout 1 hour by carRainforest, the Soufrière volcano and waterfalls on the western half of the island.Read the guide
- Sainte-Anneunder 1 hour by carBeaches on the south coast of Grande-Terre, and a quieter day than the town.Read the guide
- Marie-Galanteabout 1 hour by ferry from Trois-RivièresA slower island reached by ferry, with sugar-mill ruins and small beaches.
Before you go to Pointe-à-Pitre
Rules for Pointe-à-Pitre, checked
- Check entry for your passport on France-Visas before you book. Guadeloupe follows French entry rules, so some nationalities need a visa.Source
- Check the French customs site before you bring food, plants or medicines into Guadeloupe, since some items are restricted.Source
- Traffic keeps to the right. Carry your licence and read the insurance terms in the rental contract, since they vary by company.
- During hurricane season, follow the official weather alerts and the instructions from your hotel or host.
Plan around Pointe-à-Pitre
The island around Pointe-à-Pitre: beaches, former cane fields, the east coast.
Read the guideVisas and entryWhich passports need a visa for French entry, and what to check.
Read the guideMoney and costsEuro cash, card use and typical prices by day.
Read the guideGetting aroundRenting a car, buses and taxis on Grande-Terre and to Basse-Terre.
Read the guideGuadeloupe travel guideBasse-Terre, Marie-Galante and the rest of the archipelago.
Read the guideCulture and foodGwoka music, Creole cooking and everyday island customs.
Read the guidePointe-à-Pitre FAQ
Is Pointe-à-Pitre worth visiting?
Yes, as a city base on Grande-Terre and for the Mémorial ACTe, a centre on slavery and its legacy. It is a working town rather than a resort, so pair it with a beach day on the island.
How many days do you need in Pointe-à-Pitre?
One day covers the town centre and the Mémorial ACTe. Two days add a beach trip on Grande-Terre. A third day suits a trip to Basse-Terre, which is about an hour by car.
Do you need a car in Pointe-à-Pitre?
Not for the town centre, which you can walk. You need one for beaches and day trips, and it is the simplest way to reach Basse-Terre.
What language is spoken in Pointe-à-Pitre?
French is the official language. Guadeloupean Creole is common in markets and everyday conversation, and you will hear both.
When is Carnival in Guadeloupe?
Carnival runs in the weeks before Lent, so it falls in February or March, and the dates change each year. Check the local tourism office for exact dates before you book.
Can you visit Pointe-à-Pitre as a day trip from Basse-Terre?
It is possible but tight. Basse-Terre is about an hour by car away, so a day trip leaves little time for both sides of the island. Stay at least one night.