Martinique pairs French flair with Caribbean soul. The island’s story winds from Indigenous Amerindian routes and French colonization to the 1902 Mont Pelée eruption that reshaped Saint‑Pierre in a single morning. Today, you’ll find a lively capital, rum estates with AOC pedigree, black‑sand beaches in the north, and dreamy white‑sand coves in the south.

Expect stellar food: crisp accras (saltfish fritters), fragrant colombo, boudin créole, and ti’punch poured with pride. Martinicans switch with ease between French and Creole; the currency is the euro; driving is on the right. Pack reef‑safe sunscreen, a light rain jacket, and water shoes for reefy entries.

You’ll fly into Le Lamentin (FDF—Aimé Césaire International Airport), just east of Fort‑de‑France. This two‑week plan uses three bases—Fort‑de‑France, Les Trois‑Îlets, and Sainte‑Anne—so you spend time exploring, not repacking. Hurricane season runs roughly June–November; December–May brings drier skies and trade winds.

Fort-de-France

Settle into the capital’s waterfront where Fort Saint‑Louis guards the bay and the Schoelcher Library gleams with 19th‑century ironwork. Wander La Savane park, browse spices at the covered market, and sip a ti’punch as ferries shuttle across to the beaches beyond.

Use Fort‑de‑France as a springboard north: Jardin de Balata’s tree‑top walkways, Saint‑Pierre’s solemn ruins, and rum estates on the flanks of Mont Pelée. Evenings are for cuisine that’s as inventive as it is rooted—whether market‑fresh grilled fish or tasting menus with island terroir.

Days 1–4: Capital sights, Balata gardens, and the North (Saint‑Pierre and Pelée)

• Arrival via Le Lamentin (FDF): Taxis to central Fort‑de‑France take ~20–25 minutes (€25–35). Search long‑haul and regional flights on Trip.com or compare on Kiwi.com.
• City stroll and heritage: Visit the Bibliothèque Schoelcher, Fort Saint‑Louis ramparts, and the covered market for spices, cassava bread, and local hot sauces. Time your walk for sunset along the seafront.
• Jardin de Balata: Lush rainforest gardens and a canopy bridge circuit make a great morning escape; pair with a scenic drive up to Morne Rouge for mountain views if the sky is clear.
• North coast day (with guide): Explore Saint‑Pierre’s theater ruins and memorials, sip agricole at Depaz or Neisson, and wade a black‑sand beach under Mont Pelée. Consider this small‑group tour for a relaxed, story‑rich day:
  Caribbean Northern Circuit

  

• Eat & drink (specific picks): Splurge at La Table de Marcel (inside the Simon Hotel) for tasting menus spotlighting island produce; the brasserie Le Bateau à Quai next door is a great casual fallback. For a beach‑day lunch on your northern outing, aim for chef Guy Ferdinand’s beloved Le Petibonum in Le Carbet—grilled lobster, accras, and feet‑in‑the‑sand vibes. Mornings: grab croissants and espresso at Baguet Shop near the ferry pier.

Stay in Fort‑de‑France: Waterfront apartments put you steps from ferries and markets; hilltop neighborhoods like Didier bring breezes and views. Browse stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Food & culture tour (highly recommended): Taste local sweets, cassava, and street bites while decoding the city’s architecture and history:
Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour

Next base transfer (morning of Day 5): Take the passenger ferry from Fort‑de‑France to Bourg des Trois‑Îlets/Anse Mitan (~20 minutes, ~€7–9 one way). By road it’s ~45 minutes depending on traffic; a private transfer typically runs €60–80.

Les Trois‑Îlets

On the leeward coast, Les Trois‑Îlets anchors a necklace of beaches—Anse Mitan’s cafés, Pointe du Bout’s marina, and, just south, Anse Dufour and Anse Noire where turtles graze in the shallows. History buffs can visit the Pagerie Estate, birthplace of Empress Joséphine; makers gravitate to the Village de la Poterie for ceramics and leatherwork.

Days slip into a rhythm of morning swims, rum agricol(e) tastings, and golden-hour dinners. Offshore, Diamond Rock rises like a fortress—once a British “ship” of war—now a magnet for divers.

Days 5–9: Beaches, turtles, pottery village, and the south coast

• Lazy beach days with a twist: Snorkel at Anse Dufour and Anse Noire (gentle entry, expect turtles; go early). Paddleboard off Anse Mitan or take a short coastal cruise at sunset.
• Culture and shopping: Tour the Musée de la Pagerie (Joséphine’s childhood) and browse the Village de la Poterie for ceramics you can actually pack.
• South coast loop: Drive to Le Diamant for Diamond Rock views and the moving Cap 110 memorial at Anse Cafard, commemorating a 19th‑century shipwreck with monumental white statues.
• Wildlife on the water: Join a small‑boat outing to swim with turtles and explore coves on the Caribbean side:
  Discovery and snorkeling with sea turtles

  

• Eat & drink (specific picks): For a feet‑in‑the‑sand lunch, Ti Sable at Grande Anse d’Arlet serves grilled fish, ceviche, and a great rum list with reggae sunsets. Le Zandoli (at La Suite Villa) is a destination dinner—creative plating, panoramic bay views. On Anse Mitan, Le Mabouya sur la Plage is a long‑time favorite for French‑Creole plates; Le Kano brings beach‑club energy and punchy cocktails. Mornings: espresso and warm pastries at Baguet Shop (Anse Mitan).

Stay in Les Trois‑Îlets: Choose beachy apartments near Anse Mitan/Pointe du Bout for walkable cafés and boat shuttles, or hillside villas for breezes and quiet. See options on VRBO and Hotels.com.

Side note (Le Lamentin connection): If you need a mid‑trip errand day, Le Lamentin’s commercial zone is the island’s hub for larger supermarkets and services, ~30–40 minutes by road.

Next base transfer (morning of Day 10): Drive from Les Trois‑Îlets to Sainte‑Anne in ~45–55 minutes along the N5 (budget €70–100 for a pre‑booked taxi; a rental car gives you maximum beach freedom).

Sainte‑Anne

Welcome to the island’s postcard south: Les Salines’ mile of powdery sand, the wild headlands of Savane des Pétrifications, and kiteable lagoons at Anse Michel. From here it’s an easy hop to Le François for the “fonds blancs” sandbars and rum estates set in elegant old habitations.

Afternoons drift between sea and shade, with dinners on the water and starry walks along Pointe Marin. Add a distillery visit or a hike and you’ve got a perfect balance of soft and active days.

Days 10–14: Les Salines, Josephine’s Bath, rum estates, and coastal hikes

• Beaches to bookmark: Les Salines for classic Caribbean calm; Pointe Marin for sunset swims and beach bars; Anse Michel for steady trade winds and beginner‑friendly kite sessions.
• Josephine’s Bath (fonds blancs): Spend a half day wading in waist‑deep turquoise on the Atlantic side, with stops at tiny islets and a rum punch on board:
  Bathtub of Josephine and Islands Half day Boat trip

  

  Departures are typically from Le François (~20–25 minutes’ drive from Sainte‑Anne).
• Rum & gardens: Tour Habitation Clément in Le François—both a storied rum estate and an outdoor art park set among century‑old trees. If time allows, add a south‑coast agricole stop at Trois Rivières or La Mauny for tastings.
• Hike & coast: Walk the Savane des Pétrifications loop for lunar landscapes and blowholes, then cool off at Anse Trabaud or the quieter coves east of Cap Chevalier.
• Eat & drink (specific picks): In Sainte‑Anne, La Dunette sets tables on a long jetty—go for grilled octopus or tartare and stay for live music. Nearby Sainte‑Luce has two standouts: Case Coco (market‑driven French‑Creole, great wine list) and Le Zanzibar (romantic deck over the sea; book for sunset). For breakfast, hit local boulangeries in town or detour to the closest Baguet Shop (Sainte‑Luce) for espresso and still‑warm pains au chocolat.

Stay in Sainte‑Anne: Waterfront studios near Pointe Marin are ideal for car‑free beach time; villas slightly inland give space for families and friends. Compare options on VRBO and Hotels.com.

Optional wildlife add‑on: If you didn’t snorkel with turtles earlier, book a morning boat from the Caribbean side during this block so the ocean is calmer and visibility higher. Or watch for dolphins off the leeward coast on a small‑group cruise:
Discovery of dolphins on the Caribbean coast

Departure day: Sainte‑Anne to the airport in Le Lamentin is ~40–60 minutes by car depending on traffic. For outbound flights, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Why these 14 days work

You get the island’s full spectrum: capital culture, rainforest gardens, and Saint‑Pierre history up north; easy beach days and turtle coves in the central south; and classic Atlantic “fonds blancs,” rum estates, and hiking in the deep south. Travel between bases is short and scheduled for mornings, so afternoons stay free for the sea.

For flexibility, many travelers rent a car for Days 3–14; otherwise, combine ferries, taxis, and guided day tours. Keep cash on hand for beach shacks and market stalls; cards are widely accepted elsewhere.

Handpicked tours to book early

• Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour

  

• Caribbean Northern Circuit

  

• Discovery and snorkeling with sea turtles

  

• Bathtub of Josephine and Islands Half day Boat trip

  

Trip summary: In two weeks you’ll taste, hike, and swim your way across Martinique—from Fort‑de‑France’s heritage streets to the south’s most photogenic bays. With only two intra‑island moves and plenty of sea time, this itinerary delivers maximum Caribbean joy with minimum logistics.