Practical information

To travel to Martinique, you'll need a passport valid for at least 3 months.

Travelers from mainland France: a valid identity card will suffice.

In the event of a stopover in a foreign country, you'll need a valid passport.

If you are coming from a territory outside France and the French Overseas Departments and Territories and are planning a stay of more than 3 months:

• Residents of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), Andorra, Monaco and Switzerland: identity card,
• As Martinique is not part of the Schengen area, holders of a Schengen visa will need to obtain the DOM (Départements d'Outre-Mer) VISA extension,
• Citizens of the United States and Canada: passport required and visa if stay exceeds 3 months.
• Inhabitants of Saint Lucia and Dominica: visa required for a stay of more than 15 days,
• For departure from the following destinations, a valid passport is sufficient: Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, South Korea, Vatican City, Singapore, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela.
• If you don't tick one of the above categories, you'll need a Visa. If necessary, check on the site: France-visas.gouv.fr
   

No vaccinations are required to enter Martinique. However, some are recommended if you live in a high-risk country (hepatitis and yellow fever).

Sanitary restrictions linked to COVID 19 no longer apply since August 2022. Thus, no tests or vaccinations are required to enter the country.

Martinique is a French department. The Carte Vitale works, and your mutual insurance companies usually operate on the island, even if reimbursements and rates depend, as in France, on the status of the doctor (conventionné secteur 1, 2 or 3).

You'll find numerous pharmacies all over the island, particularly in the center of the island towards Fort de France and Le Lamentin.

Tap water is drinkable everywhere.

The risk of theft or assault is very low in Martinique. Despite this, it's a good idea to keep in mind some common-sense rules to avoid unpleasant surprises:

• Don't leave any visible objects in cars, 
• Avoid withdrawing large sums of money from ATMs,
• On the beaches, theft is extremely rare, so you can leave your belongings on the sand with valuables safely stowed away without fear, always keeping an eye out.

The main risks are related to heat and sun, mosquito bites, poisonous plants and unsupervised swimming in the sea.
 

In Martinique, the climate is tropical. The temperature is around 28 degrees all year round, rising to 31 degrees in the dry season or dropping to 22 degrees at night in winter.

There is a 5-hour time difference between France and Martinique in winter and 6 hours in summer. When it's noon in Paris, it's 6 a.m. in Fort de France.

In Martinique, French is the common language and Creole the regional language.

Martinique has every means of communication: wifi, telephone, fax, international network access, mobiles...

The Internet network is powerful and most hotels and restaurants offer wifi access, also available at the airport. Telephone numbers in Martinique all have 10 digits and start with 05 96 for landlines or 06 96 for mobiles.

For calls abroad, simply dial the country code of the destination number. For example, if you're in Martinique and want to call the USA, you'll need to dial +1 followed by your recipient's phone number.

In Martinique, the currency is the same as in mainland France: it's the Euro.

The dollar is generally accepted in shops and cabs. Dollars can be converted into Euros at exchange offices in downtown Fort-de-France and at the airport. ATMs are open 24 hours a day all over the island.
Payment by credit card is widely recommended.

All shops accept Visa and Mastercard, some accept American Express. Small stores and street stalls may only accept cash, but this is uncommon. 

The North, bordered on the West by the Caribbean Sea and on the East by the Atlantic Ocean, is the most natural, authentic and wild part of Martinique. Less touristy than the south, there are fewer hotels to choose from in this part of the island. A paradise for those who want to stay in the heart of nature.

The more idyllic and lively South offers incredible beaches of fine white sand, numerous water sports activities such as snorkeling, and a wide range of establishments and accommodation of all kinds. The choice of hotels, restaurants and activities is wider in the larger towns and more touristy areas.

Some hotels benefit from a car rental service, offer and house incredible gourmet or traditional restaurants, offer an airport shuttle service or even a spa and wellness area.

In Martinique, the ranges of services are very different and are expanding year on year. There are currently six 4-star hotels and one 5-star hotel on the island, and new concepts are emerging with establishments dedicated to families, others aimed at itinerant backpackers, or even unusual or charming accommodations.

The best way to get around Martinique is by car. You can rent a car anywhere on the island! There are rental agencies at the airport, but many are also available online so you can make your reservations in advance.

Martinique has a very good road network. As the island is full of relief, the roads are sometimes winding and steep. Two-wheelers are not recommended for novices.

Martinique has a fairly weak bus network in the north and center of the island. In the southwest, you'll find a larger network serving 12 communes, between Trois-Ilets and Sainte-Anne.

Think also of the Vedettes Tropicales, the boats that link Trois-Ilets, Pointe du Bout and Anse à l'âne to Fort-de-France every day of the week? Tickets cost €5 one way and €7 round trip. Tickets can be purchased on site, near the boat dock.