There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Guadeloupe each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1 : New Year's Day (national holiday) March or April: Easter Monday (national) May 1 : Labour Day (national holiday)On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. Many vendors occupy the pavement on that occasion!
May 8: Victory Day (national holiday)Commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.
May 27 : Emancipation Day (local holiday)Celebration eagerly awaited by all Guadeloupians and consisting in cultural encounters, exhibitions and remembrance marches, organised in memory of all victims of slavery.
June 21 : Fête de la Musique (celebrated nationwide)Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are organised across Guadeloupe's streets and parks, in a festive and friendly atmosphere!
July 14 : Bastille Day (national holiday)This holiday celebrates both the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution. It plays as a symbol of the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. In Guadeloupe, military parades take place each year on the occasion.
July 21 : Schoelcher Day (local event)Remembrance and celebration of the part played by Victor Schoelcher in the abolition of slavery in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin. Each year on this day, parades and other events are held.
Third weekend in September: European Heritage Days (celebrated nationwide)The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up sites and monuments such as castles and private collections, many of which are normally closed to the public. A great opportunity for a lovely stroll to admire some architectural treasures!
November 1 & 2: All Saints Day and All Souls Day (local holiday)On these days, cemeteries are lit with candles and families get together to clean gravestones and talk until the sun sets.
November 11: Remembrance Day (national holiday)On this day, citizens gather at the war memorial in Pointe-à-Pitre to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.
December 25 : Christmas (national holiday) December 31: New Year's Eve (national event)On the night of December 31st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre, with families and friends celebrating the new year.
| Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21/70 | 29/84 | 83/3.3 | Good period to go
|
| February | 20/68 | 29/84 | 60/2.4 | Good period to go
|
| March | 21/70 | 29/86 | 70/2.8 | Good period to go
|
| April | 22/72 | 30/86 | 96/3.8 | Good period to go
|
| May | 24/75 | 31/88 | 134/5.3 | Good period to go
|
| June | 24/75 | 31/88 | 108/4.3 | Good period to go
|
| July | 24/75 | 32/90 | 130/5.1 | Not the best period to go |
| August | 24/75 | 32/90 | 169/6.7 | Not the best period to go |
| September | 24/75 | 32/90 | 206/8.1 | Not the best period to go |
| October | 23/73 | 31/88 | 214/8.4 | Not the best period to go |
| November | 22/72 | 30/86 | 214/8.4 | Not the best period to go |
| December | 21/70 | 30/86 | 134/5.3 | Good period to go
|
The International airport of Guadeloupe Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet is located about 7km (4 miles) north of the city of Pointe-à-Pitre.
Public transport is not very well developed in Guadeloupe. Renting a car is a good way to get around. Bicycling and walking are also excellent options, in order to fully appreciate the awe-inspiring landscapes of the islands.
The Karu'lis bus network runs between Grand-Terre's main towns and cities. The S1 line, for example, will take you to Le Gosier and Sainte-Anne. It runs from 5 a.m. to 7.35 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 5 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. on Saturdays. A ticket from Pointe-à-Pitre to Le Gosier costs EUR 1.20, and Pointe-à-Pitre to Sainte Anne is around EUR 4. For more information, head to https://www.karulis.com.
Getting around by car is a good way of visiting Guadeloupe. The network is spread out, and the roads are numbered and well-maintained. Several car rental companies have counters in the airport and in Guadeloupe's main towns and cities (from EUR 15 per day). Free parking spots are available through town. For the others, parking starts at EUR 1 per hour.
There are taxi stands at the airport and in the cities of Pointe-à-Pitre and Basse-Terre (expect about EUR 1.50 per kilometre). Fares are higher at night and on Sundays and holidays (about EUR 2.25 per kilometre). If you will be moving around quite a bit, you will definitely want to consider renting a car instead.
Upon your arrival in Guadeloupe, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.
Comité du tourisme des îles de GuadeloupeOffers practical information (sightseeing, tours, heritage sites and cultural institutions, nights out on the town, etc.), maps and brochures for tourists about Guadeloupe.
The official tourism website of France has plenty of information available on Pointe-à-Pitre.
In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus
Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire
See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. There are a number of hospitals and health clinics in Pointe-à-Pitre, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Guadeloupe.
For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
Tap water is safe to drink in Guadeloupe.
Entry requirements for the French overseas departments (Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Mayotte) are different from those applicable in mainland France. Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation do not need to carry a visa. To view the list of other countries whose citizens or nationals may travel to Guadeloupe without a visa, or for information on the types of travel documents required, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/requesting-a-visa/
Contact information for the embassies and consulates of your country is accessible in the directory of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/
Travel advice
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Pointe-à-Pitre, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic French phrases that will make your stay in Guadeloupe a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Bonjour (morning)
Good evening: Bonsoir
Goodbye: Au revoir
Yes: Oui
No: Non
No, thank you: Non, merci
Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup
Please: S'il vous plaît
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas
Could you repeat?: Pouvez-vous répéter ?
What time is it?: Quelle heure est-il ?
Sorry: Pardon
Excuse me: Excusez-moi
Airport: Aéroport
Train station: Gare
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Hôtel
Hospital: Hôpital
Bank: Banque
Telephone: Téléphone
I'm (…): Je suis (…)
I'm looking for (…): Je recherche (…)
How much is (…)?: Quel est le prix de (…) ?
Do you have (…)?: Avez-vous (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Où puis-je trouver (…) ?
Where can I buy (…)?: Où puis-je acheter (…) ?
I'd like (…): Je voudrais (…)
Tipping?
In Guadeloupe like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.
