Martinique is exclusively accessible by air for European travellers — there is no regular maritime passenger link from Europe, and cruise ships that call at Fort-de-France are not a practical mode of transport for a stay.
The Martinique Aimé Césaire international airport (FDF, IATA code), located in Le Lamentin 15 km south of Fort-de-France, is served by three main French companies from Paris: Air France (3-4 daily flights from Paris-Orly), Air Caraïbes (2 daily flights from Paris-Orly, Antilles specialist company often with the best rates) and Corsair (1-2 daily flights from Paris-Orly, competitive tariff alternative). The direct flight time is 8 hours outbound (headwind) and 7h30 return. Flights traditionally arrive in late afternoon (local time), departures are in late morning or early afternoon.
Rates vary considerably by season. In low season (May-June and September-October, off holidays), a Paris-Fort-de-France return can be found at €400-600 by booking sufficiently in advance. In high season (school holidays, end-of-year, February, Easter), rates climb to €800-1,200, even €1,500 for Christmas and New Year. The golden rule: book as early as possible (4 to 8 months before departure for tight periods), compare the three companies (Air France, Air Caraïbes, Corsair) which are the only ones offering direct flights, watch flash sales (notably at Air Caraïbes) and favour mid-week departures.
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- South Martinique: beaches and seaside resort — Les Salines, Le Diamant, Trois-Îlets: the tourist south with emblematic white sand beaches.
- Central Martinique: Fort-de-France and Caravelle — The economic capital, the covered market, and the wild Caravelle peninsula classified as a Nature Reserve.
- North Martinique: Saint-Pierre and Mount Pelée — The former capital destroyed in 1902, the volcano hike and the wild north Caribbean coast.
- Sainte-Anne: Salines and Anse Trabaud — The southernmost tip of the island and its world-famous beaches of Les Salines and Anse Trabaud.
- Saint-Pierre: the former capital — The ruins of 1902, the Frank Perret Museum and the hike to the summit of Mount Pelée.