Port of Spain

Trinidad_and_Tobago

Port of Spain, on the northwest coast of Trinidad island, is the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago. The city is famous for its carnival, second only to that of Rio in importance but preferred by many because of its perceptions of being safer. Port of Spain Harbour A bustling and friendly city, Port of Spain is a great place to spend a couple of days and is the hub for the Trinidad's famous carnival. It has been the capital since 1757 and is the main administrative center, although not the largest town.

The main shopping area is between Frederick Street and Charlotte Street, running south to Independence Square (Brian Lara Promenade). As well as the bricks-and-mortar shops, there are numerous stalls on the street selling everything from fruit to CDs.

In the evening Independence Square is full of locals liming - hanging around, chatting to their friends and sampling food from the stalls scattered throughout. Wandering through here is a great way to get a feel for what Trinidad is about.

Port of Spain enjoys warm temperatures all year round. It is slightly cooler in January and February.

The National Academy for Performing Arts

  • The beaches.
  • Carnival. The Trinidad Carnival is one of the best in the world and hotels can be guaranteed to fill up when it is held and double their rates! Taking place in the days before Lent it is a mixture of parades and music and calypso competitions. Participants wear elaborate costumes and parade dancing through the streets to the sounds of a steel band or a soca band. Each year on Carnival Sunday a competition is held to award the King and Queen of Carnival. On Carnival Monday and Shrove Tuesday, the bands compete to win the "Band of the Year" title. Everyone takes part, from young to old and rich to poor. In the weeks before the events the Steel Bands rehearse nightly at their Pan Yards. There may be several in one stretch of road, such as Western Main, and you can buy a beer and watch the rehearsals.
  • International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Rd. A major skyscraper development designed to revitalise the city's waterfront with the Hyatt Regency Trinidad at its heart. This is the only section of Port of Spain's waterfront which is accessible to the public.
  • National Academy for Performing Arts. Opened at the end of 2009, the construction of this building led to numerous allegations of corruption. The design is supposed to represent Trinidad's national flower but it has been much criticised as being out of keeping with the environment. "Copulating slugs" was perhaps one of the politer descriptions.
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Cotton Hill. Established in 1818, these are one of the oldest gardens in the Caribbean. 700 trees of which 13% are indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Royal Victoria Institute, Frederick Street. This is the National Museum and Art Gallery of Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1892, this striking colonial building houses an extensive collection of artifacts and antiques from throughout Trinidad's history
  • The Magnificent Seven Houses, Maraval Road. These seven buildings from colonial times have very interesting histories. Only one, Roomor, is still a private residence. The biggest, Queen's Royal College, is a major secondary school. Stollmeyer's Castle, a mansion built like Balmoral Castle in Scotland, was built on the money of an entrepreneur in the coconut water business called Conrad Frederick Stollmeyer.
  • Knowsley Building, City side of the Savannah. Built in 1902 by a wealthy merchant, Mr. William Gordon, this house features a veranda made of white marble, hand hewn yellow limestone bricks, and a staircase constructed from wood from Guyana.
  • Woodford Square. This central square overlooks the courthouse, the "Red House", the seat of Parliament and the Anglican church dedicated to the Holy Trinity. On the southwest side of the square is the national library building.
  • Independence Square. Some of the tallest buildings in the country, the Nicholas Tower and the Eric Williams Plaza are located on the southern side of Independence Square.

Colorful carnival goers

Carnival. The Trinidad Carnival is one of the best in the world and hotels can be guaranteed to fill up when it is held and double their rates! Taking place in the days before Lent it is a mixture of parades and music and calypso competitions. Participants wear elaborate costumes and parade dancing through the streets to the sounds of a steel band or a soca band. Each year on Carnival Sunday a competition is held to award the King and Queen of Carnival. On Carnival Monday and Shrove Tuesday, the bands compete to win the "Band of the Year" title. Everyone takes part, from young to old and rich to poor. In the weeks before the events the Steel Bands rehearse nightly at their Pan Yards. There may be several in one stretch of road, such as Western Main, and you can buy a beer and watch the rehearsals.

International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Rd. A major skyscraper development designed to revitalise the city's waterfront with the Hyatt Regency Trinidad at its heart. This is the only section of Port of Spain's waterfront which is accessible to the public.

National Academy for Performing Arts. Opened at the end of 2009, the construction of this building led to numerous allegations of corruption. The design is supposed to represent Trinidad's national flower but it has been much criticised as being out of keeping with the environment. "Copulating slugs" was perhaps one of the politer descriptions.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Cotton Hill. Established in 1818, these are one of the oldest gardens in the Caribbean. 700 trees of which 13% are indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago.

Royal Victoria Institute, Frederick Street. This is the National Museum and Art Gallery of Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1892, this striking colonial building houses an extensive collection of artifacts and antiques from throughout Trinidad's history

The Magnificent Seven Houses, Maraval Road. These seven buildings from colonial times have very interesting histories. Only one, Roomor, is still a private residence. The biggest, Queen's Royal College, is a major secondary school. Stollmeyer's Castle, a mansion built like Balmoral Castle in Scotland, was built on the money of an entrepreneur in the coconut water business called Conrad Frederick Stollmeyer.

Knowsley Building, City side of the Savannah. Built in 1902 by a wealthy merchant, Mr. William Gordon, this house features a veranda made of white marble, hand hewn yellow limestone bricks, and a staircase constructed from wood from Guyana.

Woodford Square. This central square overlooks the courthouse, the "Red House", the seat of Parliament and the Anglican church dedicated to the Holy Trinity. On the southwest side of the square is the national library building.

Independence Square. Some of the tallest buildings in the country, the Nicholas Tower and the Eric Williams Plaza are located on the southern side of Independence Square.

  • The Queen's Park Savannah. more usually, known as, just the Savannah is a large park in the middle of the city. It has a circumference of 3.5 km and is a popular spot around sunset for joggers and walkers. With one-way traffic circulating clockwise, it claims to be the world's largest roundabout or traffic circle.

The Queen's Park Savannah. more usually, known as, just the Savannah is a large park in the middle of the city. It has a circumference of 3.5 km and is a popular spot around sunset for joggers and walkers. With one-way traffic circulating clockwise, it claims to be the world's largest roundabout or traffic circle.

There are many types of traditional and Trinidad food that must be tried, some of these include:

  • Roti
  • Doubles
  • Bake and Shark
  • Chow (e.g. Mango/Pineapple Chow)
  • West Indian Style Curry
  • Jerk Chicken/Fish

Western Main Highway at St James is a popular night spot with a long stretch of bars and eateries. There are also many food stalls selling Rotis, Doubles, and other local delicacies.

A local flour and chick peas delicacy called Doubles (available all over the island, even just outside the airport). There are several stalls on Independence Square can get these for 5TT each - make sure to get their early though as they tend to sell out pretty quickly.

American fast food chains like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Burger King (try the totally local fast food chain Royal Castle!)

Ariapita Avenue, in the Woodbrook neighborhood of Port-of-Spain, is a popular dining and nightlife area with a good selection of mid-range restaurants.

To eateries like - Benihana and many others available at Trincity Mall, 15 mins from Piarco Airport

  • Prime (BHP Billiton Building): One of the top steakhouse in Trinidad, look to spend around USD200++ and above.
  • Chaud (2 Queen's Park West): Specialises in fusion cuisine, excellent location at Savanna and food. USD100++ and above.

Prime (BHP Billiton Building): One of the top steakhouse in Trinidad, look to spend around USD200++ and above.

Chaud (2 Queen's Park West): Specialises in fusion cuisine, excellent location at Savanna and food. USD100++ and above.

Beer is a little expensive, priced around 9 TT (1.5 USD) at grocery stores and 15 TT (2.5 USD) at restaurants for a 275mL bottle. The local brew consist of Carib and Stag (lager). Rum is widely available and the local distiller Angostura is among one of the top producers in the region with its Royal Oak line.

For non-alcoholic drinks, Trinidians in general favor a sweeter flavor. Some of the local beverages can be found in the list below:

  • Sorrel, a sweet dark pink beverage made from the Roselle plant
  • Mauby, a bitter sweet drink with a herbal flavor made from the bark of a local tree
  • Peanut Punch, a drink made from peanut butter, milk and sugar

SIM cards are easily available.

Trinidad has a bad reputation (it has a shockingly high murder rate), but if you are sensible and stick to the main areas, you shouldn't have a problem and will find the locals incredibly friendly. Avoid any ostentatious display of wealth, and don't wander down dark backstreets at night on your own, and you shouldn't experience any problems at all.

Wear sunblock, even in early morning or late afternoon, since Trinidad is very close to the equator.

  • Australia Australia, 18 Herbert Street, St Clair, +1 868 822-5450. The High Commission is also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.
  • Barbados Barbados (Consulate), 12 Mayfair Gardens, Lower Santa Cruz, +1 868 638-8431.
  • Canada Canada, Maple House, 3-3A Sweet Briar Rd., St. Clair, +1 868 622-6232, +1 868-O-CANADA.
  • China China, 39 Alexandra St, St. Clair, +1 868 622-6976.
  • France France, 7 Mary St, St Clair, +1 868 628-1931. By appointment only. Foreigners who are legally resident in Trinidad and Tobago must apply at the Embassy of Spain in Port-of-Spain for Schengen visas for travel to main destination France in the Schengen zone. Other visa applications (Long Stay and for travel to the French Overseas Departments and Territories) must be made at the French Embassy in Castries, St. Lucia.
  • Guyana Guyana, 12 Alexandra St, St Clair, +1 868 628-2616, +1 868 622-2913.
  • Netherlands Netherlands, 69-71 Edward St, +1 868 625-1210, +1 868 625-1722. M-F 09:00-12:00
  • Spain Spain, 7th Floor, Tatil Building, 11 Maraval Road, +1 868 625-7938.
  • Suriname Suriname, 5th Floor, Tatil Building, 11 Maraval Road, +1 868 628-0704.
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom, 19 St Clair Ave, St Clair, +1 868 350-0444. M-Th 09:00-16:00 and F 09:00-13:00.
  • United States United States, 15 Queen's Park W, +1 868 622-6371.
  • Venezuela Venezuela, 16 Victoria Ave, +1 868 627-9821. M-F 09:00-14:00.

Australia Australia, 18 Herbert Street, St Clair, +1 868 822-5450. The High Commission is also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

Barbados Barbados (Consulate), 12 Mayfair Gardens, Lower Santa Cruz, +1 868 638-8431.

Canada Canada, Maple House, 3-3A Sweet Briar Rd., St. Clair, +1 868 622-6232, +1 868-O-CANADA.

China China, 39 Alexandra St, St. Clair, +1 868 622-6976.

France France, 7 Mary St, St Clair, +1 868 628-1931. By appointment only. Foreigners who are legally resident in Trinidad and Tobago must apply at the Embassy of Spain in Port-of-Spain for Schengen visas for travel to main destination France in the Schengen zone. Other visa applications (Long Stay and for travel to the French Overseas Departments and Territories) must be made at the French Embassy in Castries, St. Lucia.

Guyana Guyana, 12 Alexandra St, St Clair, +1 868 628-2616, +1 868 622-2913.

Netherlands Netherlands, 69-71 Edward St, +1 868 625-1210, +1 868 625-1722. M-F 09:00-12:00

Spain Spain, 7th Floor, Tatil Building, 11 Maraval Road, +1 868 625-7938.

Suriname Suriname, 5th Floor, Tatil Building, 11 Maraval Road, +1 868 628-0704.

United Kingdom United Kingdom, 19 St Clair Ave, St Clair, +1 868 350-0444. M-Th 09:00-16:00 and F 09:00-13:00.

United States United States, 15 Queen's Park W, +1 868 622-6371.

Venezuela Venezuela, 16 Victoria Ave, +1 868 627-9821. M-F 09:00-14:00.

  • Chaguaramas
  • Arima
  • Crown Point (Trinidad and Tobago)