4 to 5 hours ashore
Fort-de-France on foot
- Walk about 10 minutes into town from Pointe Simon.
- See the Schoelcher Library and St. Louis Cathedral.
- Coffee and pastries before heading back.
Rather book it? A short walking or food tour.
Martinique shore excursions
A French island with its own Caribbean rhythm: rum distilleries, rainforest gardens, and beaches a short ferry ride across the bay from the pier.
Getting ashoreShips dock in Fort-de-France at Pointe Simon, about a 10-minute walk from the center. When two ships are in, one may use Tourelles, about 2 km away in an industrial area.
Martinique port day essentials
read this before you book
Which pier you're at
Pointe SimonThe usual berth, next to the ferry terminal. The historic center is about a 10-minute walk.
TourellesAbout 2 km from the center in an industrial area. Used mainly when two ships are in.
Taxis
Taxis wait near the terminal but are expensive. Shared minibuses (taxis collectifs) cost much less but leave only when full.
Balata Garden is about 20 minutes away by taxi; Les Salines beach more than an hour.
Money
Euros. Cards are widely accepted.
Language
French. Basic English is spoken in shops and by many taxi drivers.
Ferries
Ferries to Anse Mitan and Trois-Îlets leave from beside Pointe Simon and take about 20 minutes.
Back on board
All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before sailing; your ship's daily planner has the exact time.
Be aware
- Prices are in euros, and where US dollars are taken, change comes back in euros. Bring a card or some euros.
- If your ship is at Tourelles, the center is a short taxi ride, not a walk.
Last checked November 2026. Prices change; confirm before you pay.
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Plan your day in Martinique
pick by your time ashore
6 to 8 hours ashore
Ferry to Anse Mitan
- Ferry from beside the terminal, about 20 minutes.
- Swim at Anse Mitan and have lunch by the beach.
- Catch an early afternoon ferry back.
Rather book it? A catamaran trip with a beach stop.
9 hours or more
Rum and Saint-Pierre
- Drive north to a rum distillery for a tasting.
- Continue to Saint-Pierre, destroyed by Mount Pelée in 1902.
- Stop at Balata Garden on the way back.
Rather book it? A north island tour that guarantees your return.
Times are approximate. Whatever you choose, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard. Compare tours for each idea below.
Compare Martinique tours
Start times and meeting points vary by tour. Check them against your ship's schedule before you book.
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Martinique tours from GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide's own search results for Martinique, in GetYourGuide's order. Check each tour's start time and meeting point against your ship's schedule.
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Martinique tours from Shore Excursions Group
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Scout's notes on Martinique
Short port days
Fort Saint-Louis, the Schoelcher Library and the cathedral are 5 to 15 minutes' walk from Pointe Simon. Or take the 20-minute ferry across the bay to the beach at Anse Mitan.
Long port days
Balata Garden, about 20 minutes inland, has rainforest gardens and rope bridges in the treetops. Farther afield, tours pair a rum distillery with Saint-Pierre, the town destroyed by Mount Pelée in 1902, or head to the south coast beaches like Les Salines, more than an hour away.
Getting back on time
Trips north or south use busy roads around Fort-de-France. For Les Salines or Mount Pelée, a tour that guarantees your return is the safest choice. Check the last ferry back from Anse Mitan.
From fellow cruisers
Tips from people who've been, read by us before they go up.
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