Trinidad and Tobago
Phone Code
+1
Capital
Port of Spain
Population
1.5 Million
Native Name
Trinidad and Tobago
Region
Americas
Caribbean
Timezone
Atlantic Standard Time
UTC-04:00
On This Page
Trinidad and Tobago is the southernmost twin-island nation in the Caribbean, sitting just 11 km off the Venezuelan coast at the mouth of the Orinoco. Trinidad, the larger and more populous island and home to the capital Port of Spain, is the cultural and economic heart of the country — the birthplace of three of the Caribbean's defining exports: calypso, soca and the steelpan, the only acoustic instrument family invented in the 20th century. Tobago, the smaller island 30 km to the northeast, is the beach-and-reef destination, with the Buccoo Reef–Nylon Pool marine park, Pigeon Point, Englishman's Bay and Charlotteville. The country has been a republic within the Commonwealth since 1976, was an independent realm under the British Crown from 1962, and grew out of Spanish, French and British colonial layers — but the demographic and cultural mix runs much wider than that: African, Indian (the largest Indo-Caribbean population in the Americas, around 35% of the country), European, First Peoples, Chinese and Lebanese-Syrian heritages share daily life, and the official calendar reflects all of it with Christmas, Eid, Diwali and the national-holiday Carnival that ranks among the largest pre-Lenten festivals in the world. About 1.4 million people live across the two islands. Piarco International Airport (POS) outside Port of Spain is the main international gateway, and A.N.R. Robinson International Airport (TAB) on Tobago handles direct international and inter-island flights for the smaller island.
Visa Requirements for Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has a relatively open tourist entry policy. Citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, the EU and Schengen states, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most CARICOM member states can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. Nationalities that need a visa can apply through the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of National Security e-visa portal before travel. Passports must be valid for at least six months from entry, with at least one blank page per stamp. Onward or return tickets and proof of sufficient funds may be requested at the border, and the entry stamp issued at immigration is the document that any later extension is granted against — extensions of the initial 90-day period are processed at the Immigration Division in Port of Spain. Travellers carrying more than USD 5,000 (or TTD 20,000) in cash must declare it on entry and exit. Different visa categories apply for business, study, work and long-term residence; those are processed through the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in the applicant's country or directly through the Immigration Division.
Common Visa Types
Visa-Free Entry (Tourism, up to 90 days)
Tourism, family visits, Carnival travel, beach and birding tours, and short business meetings for citizens of the US, UK, EU/Schengen, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most CARICOM states.
Tourist Visa (Beyond 90 Days or Visa-Required Nationalities)
Stays longer than 90 days, or any tourism for nationalities that require a visa in advance.
Business and Study Visa
Business meetings, conferences, commercial activities, academic exchange and study programmes at Trinidad and Tobago institutions.
Work Permit / Residence Permit
Employment with a Trinidad and Tobago employer, long-term professional assignments and residence.
Essential Trinidad and Tobago Travel Information
Travel Guide
Travel in Trinidad and Tobago revolves around two very different islands. Trinidad is the cultural island: Port of Spain Carnival — the inspiration for London's Notting Hill Carnival and Toronto's Caribana, and the model for Caribbean carnival traditions across the diaspora — runs in the two days before Ash Wednesday, with mas (masquerade) bands, panyards practising overnight in the run-up, j'ouvert celebrations from 4 a.m. on Carnival Monday and the all-day Tuesday Parade of the Bands through the Queen's Park Savannah. Outside the Carnival weeks, Trinidad's flagship draws are the Asa Wright Nature Centre — a rainforest research station whose hummingbird veranda, oilbird caves and 400-plus bird species put the island on every serious birder's list — the Pitch Lake at La Brea (the world's largest natural asphalt deposit, used to surface roads from Buckingham Palace to Manhattan), and the Caroni Bird Sanctuary at sunset for the daily return of the Scarlet Ibis flocks. The wild north-coast surf beaches of Maracas, Las Cuevas and Blanchisseuse anchor weekend Trinidadian life, with bake-and-shark stands at Maracas serving the country's signature beach lunch. Tobago, 30 km to the northeast, is the beach-and-reef island: Pigeon Point with its thatched jetty, Castara and Englishman's Bay on the calm Caribbean side, Pirate's Bay above Charlotteville on the rougher Atlantic side, and the Buccoo Reef–Nylon Pool marine park where glass-bottom boats visit shallow coral gardens. Tobago's small interior holds the oldest legally protected forest in the western hemisphere — the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, set aside in 1776 — with the Argyle Falls and the Gilpin Trace through old-growth rainforest. The country's food culture is unmistakably Caribbean-Indian: doubles (curried-chickpea and bara flatbread), roti, bake-and-shark, callaloo, pelau, and pholourie are all street-stand staples. Best months are January–May (dry season, peak Carnival period); June–November is wet, though Trinidad and Tobago lie south of the main Atlantic hurricane belt and rarely take a direct hit.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Port of Spain Carnival in February or March is the cultural anchor — pan yards practising into the small hours from January, soca fêtes filling every weekend through the run-up, dawn j'ouvert mud-and-paint on Carnival Monday and the full mas Parade of the Bands through the Savannah on Tuesday. Outside Carnival weeks, the steelpan birthplace heritage is celebrated year-round at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) and at panyards in Laventille, Woodbrook and St James, where visitors are welcome to listen during practice. Tobago Heritage Festival in late July adds a quieter, village-rooted celebration of folk traditions, story-telling and cuisine.
The Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad's Northern Range is the global pilgrimage site — its hummingbird-feeding veranda alone records more than a dozen species; the Dunston cave on the property is one of the few accessible oilbird colonies anywhere. The Caroni Bird Sanctuary at sunset for the Scarlet Ibis return, the Nariva Swamp wetlands on the east coast, and the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve (1776 — oldest legally protected forest in the western hemisphere) round out a country that sits on the South American mainland's bird list rather than the Caribbean's, with more than 470 species recorded.
Pigeon Point and the lagoon, Castara and Englishman's Bay on the Caribbean side, Pirate's Bay above Charlotteville on the Atlantic side, and Mount Irvine Bay for surf are the island's classic beaches. The Buccoo Reef–Nylon Pool marine park has shallow coral gardens reachable by glass-bottom boat. Speyside in the northeast is the dive base for Little Tobago and Goat Island, with manta-ray-and-tarpon shoals, drift dives along the Sisters Rocks, and one of the largest brain coral colonies in the Caribbean.
Trinidad's food is street-stand defined: doubles (curried chickpeas in two thin bara flatbreads) for breakfast, bake-and-shark from the Maracas stalls at the beach, roti at any time, pelau at gatherings, and pholourie with tamarind sauce as a snack. Pitch Lake at La Brea — the world's largest natural asphalt deposit — has guided walks across the slowly mobile surface and a small visitor centre. The Caroni Bird Sanctuary, the Nariva Swamp, the Hindu temple complex at Waterloo (built into the sea on Carapichaima beach) and the colourful Boissière House and Magnificent Seven mansions around the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain anchor a half-day cultural circuit.
Money & Currency
Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD)
Currency code: TTD
Practical Money Tips
Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD) — the local currency for everyday spending; USD is widely accepted in Tobago tourism but TTD is expected for transport, doubles stands, supermarkets and shared taxis; Republic Bank, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and First Citizens handle exchange
The Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) is the local currency. The TTD floats but tracks the US dollar in a relatively narrow range and current rates should be verified before travel. USD cash is accepted at many Tobago resorts, dive operators, marinas and some Port of Spain hotels — useful at the margins, but TTD is expected for shared taxis (maxi taxis and route taxis), doubles and bake-and-shark stands, supermarkets, market vendors, ferry tickets and most everyday transactions. Republic Bank, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and First Citizens are the four largest banks and operate exchange counters at Piarco International Airport (POS), Crown Point on Tobago and city branches; rates outside the airport are generally better. Travellers with USD in cash get the smoothest exchange; EUR and GBP are accepted at major bank branches but with thinner spreads. Carrying over USD 5,000 or TTD 20,000 in cash requires declaration on entry and exit.
ATMs widely available in Port of Spain, San Fernando, Scarborough and Crown Point — Republic Bank, RBC, Scotiabank and First Citizens networks accept Visa and Mastercard; some accept Maestro and Cirrus; rural ATMs scarcer; withdraw before going to inland villages or Carnival fete locations
ATMs are reliable in Port of Spain (along Independence Square, Frederick Street and the major shopping centres), San Fernando, Arima, Chaguanas, Scarborough on Tobago and Crown Point near the airport. Republic Bank and RBC Royal Bank have the densest networks; Scotiabank and First Citizens are common alternatives. Most accept Visa and Mastercard; Maestro and Cirrus work at many machines but not all. Per-withdrawal limits are typically TTD 2,000–5,000 and machines often charge a fixed fee on international cards. Wise and Revolut multi-currency cards substantially reduce ATM and conversion fees compared with home-bank debit cards. Outside the cities and main tourist nodes, ATMs thin out — withdraw enough TTD before heading to inland villages, Maracas Beach, Asa Wright in the Northern Range or remote Tobago bays.
Cards work at hotels, supermarkets and large restaurants — Visa and Mastercard mainstream, AmEx accepted at upmarket hotels; contactless POS becoming common in chains; Apple Pay and Google Pay limited and inconsistent; carry TTD cash for street food, taxis and Carnival
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at all hotels, supermarkets (Massy Stores, JTA Supermarkets, Tru Valu), large restaurants and the major chains. American Express works at upmarket Port of Spain and Tobago hotels but less commonly elsewhere. Contactless card payments at POS terminals are increasingly common in Port of Spain chains and tourist areas; Apple Pay and Google Pay support is patchy — some merchants accept, many don't, do not rely on a phone-only setup. Doubles and bake-and-shark stands, route taxis and maxi taxis, market stalls, panyards during Carnival and most beach bars are firmly cash-only. If a terminal offers to charge in USD or your home currency rather than TTD (Dynamic Currency Conversion / DCC), always choose TTD — DCC adds a hidden 3–8% markup.
Carry small TTD bills for street food, taxis, ferries and Carnival — doubles, bake-and-shark, route-taxis, maxi-taxis and panyards are cash; tipping not expected (often included as service charge) but rounding-up appreciated; Inter-Island Ferry tickets payable in TTD
TTD cash in small denominations (TTD 20, 50 and 100 notes) is the practical baseline for everyday Trinidad and Tobago travel. Doubles for breakfast, bake-and-shark at the Maracas stalls, roti at any time of day and pelau at gatherings are all cash-only at the stand. Route taxis (the inter-city shared cars marked with the route on top) and maxi taxis (the larger shared minibuses with coloured stripes per route) take cash only — agree the fare before getting in; common short-hop fares are TTD 8–25. The TT Inter-Island Ferry between Port of Spain and Scarborough on Tobago takes TTD or card at the terminals. Tipping in restaurants is often built in as a 10% service charge — check the bill before adding extra; for taxis, tour guides and hotel staff, rounding up or TTD 20–50 is appreciated. Carnival fete and panyard tickets are usually paid online before the event but on-the-night cash is sometimes needed for last-minute drinks and food.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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