Port of Spain walking tour & city guide

Downtown and the Savannah

Downtown Port of Spain centres on Independence Square, a long boulevard with a pedestrian promenade named after the cricketer Brian Lara, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at its eastern end. Frederick Street, the main shopping street, leads north past Woodford Square, where the red-painted Red House holds the country's Parliament, and the Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Further north, Queen's Park Savannah is the city's great open space and the stage for Carnival. Along its western side stand the Magnificent Seven, a row of ornate early twentieth-century mansions, and beyond the park lie the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Emperor Valley Zoo. To the west, the Woodbrook district and Ariapita Avenue are known for their nightlife.

A classic walk: Independence Square to Queen's Park Savannah

Start in the morning at Independence Square near the cathedral, then walk up Frederick Street through the heart of the shopping district. Stop at Woodford Square to see the Red House and Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Keep going north to Queen's Park Savannah and walk along its western side past the Magnificent Seven, then into the Botanic Gardens. In the evening, the food vendors around the Savannah are a good place to try local snacks.

Good to know

January to May is the dry season, and Carnival takes place on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, usually in February or early March. Traffic drives on the left, and maxi taxis and route taxis are the local way to get around. Tobago, a short flight or ferry ride away, is the place for quieter beaches. Check current travel advice before you go.