Shopping in Martinique

A trip to Martinique mixes the best of everything European and Caribbean, all on one island in the middle of the sea.  Shopping in Martinique is a great example of this dichotomy, where French products and locally produced goods are the best sellers.

The Goods

Shoppers in Martinique will find the best in French goods as they hunt through the boutiques on the island.  China, crystal, designer clothing, fashion accessories, liquor, perfume, and wine can all be purchased cheaply, and all are high in quality.

If you are on the look out for locally crafted goods, some of the best finds are bamboo crafts, dolls, handmade jewelry, pottery, rum, shell cafts, spices, tapestry, wood carvings, and woven straw goods.  Don't discount visual arts, such as paintings and sculptures as great souvenirs.

Where to Shop

The best shopping in Martinique can be found in Fort-de-France, where your shopping experience can be as diverse as you like.  Not only are there large malls in the city, but open air markets are popular as well.  The best roads to look for shops in Fort-de-France are  Rue Antoine Siger,  Rue Moreau de Jonnes,  Rue Schoelcher, and Rue Victor Hugo.  The three open air markets to be on the look out for are Big Market (also known as the Spice Market), Fish Market, and Vegetable Market.  At these markets, vendors set up booths to sell everything from spices to fresh produces and seafood, as well as handmade crafts, and more.

For a large concentration of arts and crafts, head to Grand Marche, a market situated between  Rue Antoine and Rue Blenac in Fort-de-France, or Place de la Savane, the famed craft market.

Point-du-Bout is another place to find streets lined with boutiques, and a large shopping mall is located in Lamentin.  Les Trois Ilets, meanwhile, is a great place to look for the top French fashions.  Much of the island's day-to-day shopping is done in Hillsborough, where there are a number of supermarkets.  

Duties, Taxes, and Tips

The official currency in Martinique, like in France, is the Euro (€).  The United States Dollar (USD), is accepted in many stores, however, change may be given in the Euro.  Major credit cards and traveler's checks are also widely accepted.  A 20 percent discount on luxury items is often offered to visitors with the use of traveler's checks and credit cards. 

The typical business hours of a shop in Martinique are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and sometimes for a few hours on Saturday morning.  Do not expect to get any shopping done on a Sunday, because most places will be closed. 

Whether you spend your shopping hours wandering through a craft market, browsing the racks of a French clothing store, or both, you are sure to find something interesting to take home with you from your trip to Martinique.