The north
Cap-Haïtien is Haiti's second city and the main gateway for visitors, with a working international airport, a colourful old town and beaches to the west. Above the nearby town of Milot, the Citadelle and Milot area holds the Citadelle Laferrière and Sans-Souci Palace, the country's great UNESCO World Heritage site. Most visitors base themselves here.
The southeast
Jacmel is the country's art town, famous for papier-mâché carnival masks, iron balconies and the turquoise pools of Bassin Bleu. The road from the capital passes through dangerous areas, so plan the journey with great care.
The far south
Port-Salut and Île-à-Vache are the quiet beauty of the south: long golden beaches, a car free island and Haiti's largest waterfall nearby. Domestic flights to Les Cayes have been the safer way in.
The capital
Port-au-Prince is Haiti's cultural heart and the centre of its current security crisis. Read our honest summary before any visit.
How to combine them
With roads through the capital unsafe, most trips now stay in one region. A week in the north, with Cap-Haïtien, the Citadelle and the coast, is the simplest first visit. Use the free trip planner to shape it.