Travel advisory · HaitiGovernments advise against all travel to Haiti.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Bel Air · avoid all travel · Germany, Italy
- Cité Soleil · avoid all travel · Germany, Italy
- Martissant · avoid all travel · Germany, Italy
Also named by one government: Artibonite Department (France), Bas-Delmas (Germany), Carrefour (Germany), Carrefour Drouillard (Germany), Champs-de-Mars (Germany), Cité Militaire (Germany), Croix-des-Bouquets (Germany), Delmas 31 (Italy), Fontamara (Germany), Gran Ravine (Italy), Jean-Marie Vincent (Germany), Port-au-Prince road entry and exit (France), Portail Leogane (Italy), Saint Marc–Les Gonaïves road (RN1) (France), Santo (Germany), Ti Bwa (Italy), Torcelle (Germany), Tortue Island (France), Toussant Brave (Germany), Village-de-Dieux (Germany), Wharf Jeremie (Italy), Zone between Croix-des-Bouquets and Étang Saumâtre (incl. Thomazeau, Ganthier) (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Level 4: Do Not Travel | Jul 10, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid all travel to Haiti | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Reisewarnung: vor Reisen nach Haiti wird gewarnt | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Do not travel (level 4 of 4) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Formellement déconseillé : ensemble du pays | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien is a northern Haitian port city where travelers come for the Citadelle Laferrière fortress, the ruins of Sans-Souci Palace and an old town shaped by colonial and revolutionary history.
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Cap-Haïtien is a port city on the north coast of Haiti. Under French rule it was called Cap-Français and served as the main city of Saint-Domingue, a wealthy plantation colony. Much of it was destroyed in 1793 during the Haitian Revolution. Today it is Haiti's second-largest city.
The main reason to visit is the Citadelle Laferrière and the Sans-Souci Palace, both built under King Henri Christophe in the early 1800s and listed by UNESCO. The fortress sits high in the mountains above Milot, about 20 km south of the city, and the palace ruins lie near it. Plan two or three days to cover the city and the day trip. The drier months from January to April suit sightseeing best, while hurricane season runs from June to November. Check current government travel advisories for Haiti before you book.
Cap-Haïtien in five
- Get a driver for the CitadelleThe Citadelle and the Sans-Souci Palace are at Milot, a short drive south of the city. Ask your lodging for a driver who knows the road, and agree the price and return time before you leave.
- Carry gourdes and small US dollar notesMany hotels quote in US dollars, but small purchases are easier in gourdes. Change some before you leave the city.Money and costs
- Set up a phone plan before you arriveDigicel and Natcom are the main mobile networks in Haiti. Download offline maps before you leave.Phones and eSIM
- Check travel advice before you bookConditions in Haiti change quickly. Read your government's current advice and confirm in writing that your policy covers Haiti.Travel insurance
- Book flights with the road north in mindCap-Haïtien has fewer flights than Port-au-Prince, so check schedules first. If you fly to the capital, plan the road north as a separate leg.Getting around
Things to do in Cap-Haïtien
See all attractions in Cap-Haïtien
Need to know
- Currency
- Gourde (HTG); US dollars widely quoted
- Entry
- Visa rules vary by passport; check with a Haitian embassy or consulate
- Emergency
- 114 police; ask your lodging for ambulance and fire numbers
- Tipping
- Small cash tips for drivers and guides; check the bill for a service charge
- Time
- UTC-5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryDry season
- FebruaryDry, pleasant
- MarchDry, pleasant
- AprilDry, pleasant
- MayDry, getting hot
- JuneRains begin
- JulyHurricane season
- AugustHot, humid
- SeptemberHurricane season
- OctoberHurricane season
- NovemberRains, storms
- DecemberDry season
Right now in Cap-Haïtien
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 65%
Cap-Haïtien
03:40 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°23°65%Monday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 65%.
- Tue30°24°48%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 48%.
- Wed29°24°59%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 59%.
- Thu29°23°92%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Fri29°23°51%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Sat30°21°41%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sun30°23°34%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 34%.
Updated 11:54 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 131 HTG
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Milotabout 30 to 45 min by carThe Citadelle, a hilltop fortress, and the Sans-Souci Palace are the main reason to leave the city.
Before you go to Cap-Haïtien
Rules for Cap-Haïtien, checked
- Check whether your passport needs a visa for Haiti before you book, on the website of the Haitian embassy or consulate for your country.
- Carry your passport or a copy when you travel outside the city.
- Drugs are illegal in Haiti.
Plan around Cap-Haïtien
Regions, entry and money for a Haiti trip
Read the guideGetting around HaitiFlights, roads and drivers for the trip north
Read the guideMoney and costsGourdes, dollars and typical prices
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules to check before you book
Read the guideWhere to staySmall hotels and guesthouses in the city
Read the guideCap-Haïtien FAQ
Is Cap-Haïtien safe for tourists?
Conditions in Haiti change quickly, so read your government's current travel advice before you go. Ask your lodging about the road to Milot and the city at the time you travel.
How do you get to Cap-Haïtien?
Flights to Cap-Haïtien are fewer than to Port-au-Prince, so check schedules first. If you fly to the capital, you will need a driver or private car for the road north.
Is the Citadelle worth visiting?
Yes if you want a hilltop fortress built in the early 1800s and the palace at Milot nearby. Go early, bring water and agree the driver's return time before you set off.
How many days do you need in Cap-Haïtien?
Two or three days covers the city and a day trip to Milot. One day is enough for the Citadelle only if you start early from the city.
When is the best time to visit Cap-Haïtien?
January to April is the dry season, the most comfortable time for walking and day trips. June to November is hurricane season, so check forecasts before you book.
Can you use US dollars in Cap-Haïtien?
Many hotels and some shops quote in US dollars. Small purchases are easier in gourdes, so keep some local currency for markets and small fares.
How do you get to the Citadelle from Cap-Haïtien?
By private car or driver, since the Citadelle is at Milot, a short drive south of the city. Arrange the driver through your lodging and agree the price and return time first.