Why visit
Port-au-Prince is Haiti's capital, a city of markets, art, music, hills, and difficult recent history. Travel conditions have been highly unstable, but the city remains central to Haitian culture.
How to use this result
Use it as a capital-city prompt
Port-au-Prince is useful when you want a city-level starting point in Haiti. Check whether the capital is the best arrival city, a practical transfer point, or mainly a geography and planning reference.
Check practical trip fit
Before planning around Port-au-Prince, compare airport access, local transport, time zone, neighborhood choices, weather, safety guidance, and whether another city in Haiti better matches the trip style.
Port-au-Prince at a glance
City population
1.2 million
Elevation
27 m
89 ft
Time zone
UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST)
America/Port-au-Prince
Airport
PAP
Toussaint Louverture International Airport
Haiti at a glance
Country center
19.0°, -72.4°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
27,750 km²
10,714 mi²
Country population
11.6 million
417/km²
Subregion
Caribbean
Currency
Haitian gourde (G)
HTG
Dial
+509
Languages
French, Haitian Creole
Demonym
Haitian
Internet
.ht
UN
Member state
ISO code
HT / HTI
Where in the world
19.0° - -72.4°
Haiti
Open in Google Maps
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world - CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Port-au-Prince faces the Gulf of Gonave and is Haiti's largest city.
- The Iron Market is one of the city's best-known historic commercial landmarks.
- The city's ornate gingerbread houses, built around 1900, rode out the 2010 earthquake better than many concrete buildings.
- Haiti was the first Black republic in the world and the second independent nation in the Americas (1804), after the US.
- The Citadelle Laferrière is the largest fortress in the Western Hemisphere: built after independence to defend against French reconquest.
Bordering Haiti
Traveler notes
- Iron Market is one of the city's historic commercial symbols
- Haitian art and metalwork are major cultural strengths
- Petion-Ville sits uphill from the central city with restaurants and galleries
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
Explore more
Facts last reviewed June 2026 against GeoNames and national statistics sources. See the editorial policy for how destination data is maintained.
Frequently asked about Port-au-Prince
What currency is used in Port-au-Prince?
Port-au-Prince uses the Haitian gourde (G), ISO code HTG.
What languages are spoken in Haiti?
The primary languages are French and Haitian Creole.
What is the international calling code for Haiti?
The calling code is +509.
When is the best time to visit Port-au-Prince?
Dec–Mar. Check current weather and local events before booking.
What airport serves Port-au-Prince?
Toussaint Louverture International Airport (IATA: PAP).
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