Pointe-à-Pitre is the main town and major port of Guadeloupe, at the junction between Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre: a trading town, rebuilt several times after earthquakes, fires and hurricanes, that can be visited on foot in half a day or a day. People come for the Mémorial ACTe, dedicated to the slave trade and slavery, Place de la Victoire, the markets, the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church with its metal framework, and the Saint-John-Perse and Schœlcher museums. This Pointe-à-Pitre travel guide offers a route, the month-by-month climate from Météo-France and the official entry rules.
For the rest of the archipelago, see our guide to travel in Guadeloupe, the calendar for when to go to Guadeloupe, the map of Guadeloupe and the page on car rental in Guadeloupe.
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Pointe-à-Pitre at a glance
- Time zone UTC−4, no daylight saving; 4 hours behind London in winter (5 in summer); the same time as New York in winter and 1 hour ahead in summer
- Climate highs of 29 to 32 °C (84 to 90 °F) all year; September to November are the wettest months (Météo-France, 1991–2020)
- Entry up to 90 days visa-free for US and UK citizens; US passport valid at least 6 months, UK passport valid at least 3 months after departure (travel.state.gov, last updated September 09, 2026; GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026)
- Currency the euro
- Main sights Mémorial ACTe, Place de la Victoire, the spice market, the darse (harbour basin), Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church, museums
What to see in Pointe-à-Pitre: the highlights
The Mémorial ACTe
The Mémorial ACTe, the “Caribbean Centre for Expressions and Memory of the Slave Trade and Slavery”, stands on the site of the former Darboussier sugar mill, on the port’s roadstead. Designed by the Guadeloupean studio BMC (Berthelot / Mocka-Célestine), it opened in 2015 and presents itself as a place dedicated to the collective memory of slavery and the slave trade, open to the contemporary world. It is the town’s main visit: allow half a day and check opening hours and closing days on the Memorial’s official site before setting out.
Place de la Victoire and the darse
The historic heart of the town, Place de la Victoire holds the war memorial known as “La Douloureuse”, whose pedestal bears the word “Karukera”, the Amerindian name of the island. It looks onto the darse, the harbour basin, where a market is held. The ferry terminal, close to the centre, serves coastal and cruise services.
The markets
The spice market hall on Rue Frébault is a listed historic monument; spices are among the things sold there. The darse market, on the waterfront, completes the visit. Come in the morning if you can, before the afternoon heat.
Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church
In the heart of the old town, Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church dates from the 1850s. Its metal structure was made by the Joly firm of Argenteuil, which also designed the one for the Halles de Paris; it is thanks to this framework that the building withstood the 1897 earthquake. It has been a listed monument since 1978.
The Saint-John-Perse and Schœlcher museums
The Saint-John-Perse museum, dedicated to the poet Saint-John Perse, and the Schœlcher museum, dedicated to Victor Schœlcher, a key figure in the abolition of slavery in 1848, are both listed monuments. They are a useful complement to the Mémorial ACTe.
A town marked by disasters
Founded in the 18th century on the marshy shores of the Petit Cul-de-sac Marin, Pointe-à-Pitre was largely destroyed by the 1843 earthquake, followed by a fire, then rebuilt thanks to a national subscription. After the 1928 hurricane, the architect Ali Tur built several public buildings there between 1930 and 1935, including the courthouse and the fish market. Colonial facades therefore stand beside modern buildings: it is this mix to look at as you walk.
Pointe-à-Pitre in one day
- Morning: spice market and darse market, then Place de la Victoire.
- Late morning: Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church and the Saint-John-Perse or Schœlcher museum.
- Afternoon: Mémorial ACTe, then back to your accommodation before nightfall.
When to go to Pointe-à-Pitre: climate month by month
Météo-France’s Le Raizet station, at the airport, is representative of the urban area. The heat varies little; it is the rain and thunderstorms that change with the season. The table combines the official normals with our calculations.
| Month | Avg. max | Avg. min | Rain | Rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | Day/night gap | Sunrise / sunset (15th) | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29.1 °C (84 °F) | 20.9 °C (70 °F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 15.7 | 8.2 °C (15 °F) | 6:37 am / 5:53 pm | 11 h 16 min |
| February | 29.1 °C (84 °F) | 20.9 °C (70 °F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 12.8 | 8.2 °C (15 °F) | 6:31 am / 6:08 pm | 11 h 37 min |
| March | 29.6 °C (85 °F) | 21.1 °C (70 °F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 11.4 | 8.5 °C (15 °F) | 6:14 am / 6:16 pm | 12 h 02 min |
| April | 30.2 °C (86 °F) | 22.4 °C (72 °F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 12.2 | 7.8 °C (14 °F) | 5:51 am / 6:21 pm | 12 h 30 min |
| May | 30.8 °C (87 °F) | 23.7 °C (75 °F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 12.7 | 7.1 °C (13 °F) | 5:35 am / 6:29 pm | 12 h 53 min |
| June | 31.4 °C (89 °F) | 24.5 °C (76 °F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 13.2 | 6.9 °C (12 °F) | 5:33 am / 6:39 pm | 13 h 05 min |
| July | 31.6 °C (89 °F) | 24.5 °C (76 °F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 15.3 | 7.1 °C (13 °F) | 5:41 am / 6:42 pm | 13 h 00 min |
| August | 31.8 °C (89 °F) | 24.3 °C (76 °F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 16.4 | 7.5 °C (14 °F) | 5:50 am / 6:30 pm | 12 h 40 min |
| September | 31.6 °C (89 °F) | 24.0 °C (75 °F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 16.1 | 7.6 °C (14 °F) | 5:54 am / 6:08 pm | 12 h 14 min |
| October | 31.3 °C (88 °F) | 23.5 °C (74 °F) | 203 mm (8.0 in) | 16.6 | 7.8 °C (14 °F) | 5:58 am / 5:45 pm | 11 h 47 min |
| November | 30.5 °C (87 °F) | 22.6 °C (73 °F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) | 17.0 | 7.9 °C (14 °F) | 6:09 am / 5:31 pm | 11 h 23 min |
| December | 29.6 °C (85 °F) | 21.6 °C (71 °F) | 127 mm (5.0 in) | 16.4 | 8.0 °C (14 °F) | 6:26 am / 5:36 pm | 11 h 10 min |
Reading the table: it rains often, but briefly: there are 11 to 17 rainy days a month all year. The real difference is in heavy rain: days with more than 10 mm (0.4 in) go from 1.1 in February to 6.3 in October. February is the driest month (58 mm / 2.3 in); September and October exceed 195 mm (7.7 in).
Thunderstorms and heavy rain: the Météo-France calendar
| Month | Thunderstorm days | Days with rain ≥ 10 mm | Sunshine (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.3 | 1.8 | 201 |
| February | 0.1 | 1.1 | 191 |
| March | 0.2 | 1.7 | 214 |
| April | 1.0 | 2.6 | 209 |
| May | 2.1 | 3.2 | 215 |
| June | 3.0 | 3.1 | 210 |
| July | 4.3 | 4.2 | 214 |
| August | 5.8 | 5.0 | 223 |
| September | 9.1 | 5.8 | 199 |
| October | 8.6 | 6.3 | 198 |
| November | 3.7 | 5.0 | 182 |
| December | 0.8 | 3.0 | 192 |
Our reading: from December to March there is less than one thunderstorm day a month; in September and October there are 9.1 and 8.6. To visit the town on foot without thunderstorms, the “carême” (January to April) is the most favourable. In the hurricane season, follow Météo-France warnings and those of the prefecture. The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026) says the hurricane season in Guadeloupe normally runs from June to November.
Getting to Pointe-à-Pitre and getting around
Guadeloupe Pôle Caraïbes airport, in the suburbs of Pointe-à-Pitre in the municipality of Les Abymes, is the archipelago’s main airport and the only one able to handle long-haul flights; it is run by the chamber of commerce and industry. Check its website and the airlines’ sites for routes from your departure city. The ferry terminal, close to the centre, handles cruises and inter-island services. Private buses link Pointe-à-Pitre with the other municipalities: the Bergevin bus station serves Basse-Terre.
Transfer, bus or rental car?
For the town alone, a taxi or a transfer from the airport is enough, and the centre can be covered on foot. For the archipelago, a car is the most flexible solution: see our page on car rental in Guadeloupe. Before booking a rental or a transfer, compare the direct rental company and resellers: insurance, excess, cancellation terms, airport pick-up point. The U.S. Department of State notes that driving is on the right and that seatbelt laws are strictly enforced; the UK FCDO says French driving rules apply and that you may need an international driving permit as well as your UK licence.
Where to stay: in town or nearby?
The town is easily visited in a day from accommodation elsewhere in the archipelago. Staying in town or near the airport remains practical for a first or last night, or to catch an early boat at the ferry terminal.
Entry requirements and safety
Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France, so it is part of France and the EU. We read the following sources on 26 October 2026:
- US citizens: according to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, French West Indies page, last updated September 09, 2026), you must have a U.S. passport with at least 6 months’ validity. No visa is required for stays up to 90 days if you have an onward or return ticket, confirmation of accommodation, and can show evidence of your ability to support yourself.
- UK citizens: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026), your passport must have an expiry date at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Guadeloupe, and you can visit without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business.
- Food: you cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries, with some exceptions such as powdered baby milk (UK FCDO).
- Crime: petty street crime, including purse snatching, does occur: do not leave valuables unattended in public areas or visible in vehicles, and avoid carrying large amounts of cash (U.S. Department of State).
- See also our guide to entry requirements.
Staying connected
Check with your mobile provider what your plan covers in the French overseas departments. An eSIM can serve as a back-up: see our travel eSIM guide.
If you… then…
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Have only half a day | Mémorial ACTe, then Place de la Victoire and the spice market |
| Want to avoid thunderstorms | Come from December to March: less than one thunderstorm day a month (Météo-France) |
| Plan to go on to other islands | Stay near the ferry terminal the night before an early departure |
| Like history | Combine the Mémorial ACTe, the Schœlcher museum and Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church |
| Plan to rent a car | Compare the direct rental company and resellers: insurance, excess, cancellation terms |
| Travel in hurricane season (June to November) | Check the weather warnings and your insurance cover |
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Pointe-à-Pitre in one day?
The spice market and the darse in the morning, Place de la Victoire, Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church, a museum, then the Mémorial ACTe in the afternoon.
Do you need a passport to go to Pointe-à-Pitre?
Yes. US citizens need a passport valid for at least 6 months (U.S. Department of State, September 09, 2026) and UK citizens a passport valid at least 3 months after departure (UK FCDO, 22 October 2026); both can stay up to 90 days without a visa.
What is the weather like in Pointe-à-Pitre?
Hot all year: a 29.1 °C (84 °F) high in January and 31.8 °C (89 °F) in August (Météo-France, 1991–2020). It rains most from September to November.
What is the driest month in Pointe-à-Pitre?
February, with 58 mm (2.3 in) and 12.8 rainy days on average (Météo-France, Le Raizet, 1991–2020).
What is the Mémorial ACTe?
A centre dedicated to the memory of the slave trade and slavery, opened in 2015 on the site of the former Darboussier sugar mill.
Do you need to stay overnight in Pointe-à-Pitre?
Not necessarily: the town can be visited in a day. A night on site or near the airport is practical at the start or end of a stay.
Our sources
- UK FCDO, Guadeloupe foreign travel advice (GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026): entry requirements, safety and security; read 26 October 2026
- U.S. Department of State, French West Indies country information (travel.state.gov, last updated September 09, 2026): entry and exit requirements, safety and security, transportation; read 26 October 2026
- Météo-France, climate sheet Le Raizet Aéro (97101015), 1991–2020 statistics
- Wikipedia (French): “Pointe-à-Pitre” and “Mémorial ACTe”
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of Pointe-à-Pitre (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
Opening hours and prices may change: check on site before you go.
