General & Geography
According to abbreviationfinder, Martinique is a state between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The island is one of the so-called islands over the wind and belongs to the Lesser Antilles region.
The closest neighboring islands are Dominica and Saint Lucia. Since Martinique and its capital Fort-de-France, like Guadeloupe, form an overseas department of France, the island state is also part of the European Union.
The euro is therefore also the official currency in Martinique, which is home to around 400,000 residents. The island has a length of around 72 kilometers and measures around 39 kilometers at its widest point.
Martinique is very mountainous and is shaped in the north by the 1397 meter high volcano Montagne Pelée. The most important export goods are still bananas today, around 12 percent of the island’s area is used for agriculture.
The international airport of Martinique is traditionally served mainly by French airlines via Paris-Orly. In the meantime, other European airlines (including Condor from Frankfurt) have started direct flights, especially in the winter season.
Climate in Martinique
The Martinique climate is typical of the region and can undoubtedly be described as tropical. Above all, this means warm temperatures all year round with only minor fluctuations and a comparatively high level of humidity. Classic seasons, however, are not to be found in Martinique.
Even on hot days, the regular Alizés breeze from the northeast ensures a slight cooling so that the temperatures are never perceived as uncomfortable. The touristically popular south of Martinique is significantly drier than the lush, green north of the island.
Brief tropical showers can occur all year round, but the period from June to around the end of November records as the rainy season in Martinique an increased amount of precipitation. In addition, there is also a low risk of tropical cyclones during this time (hurricane season).
When is the best time to visit Martinique?
In general, the beautiful island of Martinique is worth a visit all year round, but the rainy season mentioned can sometimes cause some restrictions, especially for a beach holiday. Even for active vacationers, the rainy season on Martinique can lead to slippery or even impassable paths and hiking trails.
We therefore particularly recommend the period from the end of November to the end of April as the best time to travel to Martinique. The transition month of May is still a very suitable travel time, despite increasing humidity and sometimes very humid evenings, and interesting low-season prices are now attracting visitors.
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Fort-de-France (Martinique)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 28 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 30 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 28 ° C |
| Night temperature | 22 ° C | 21 ° C | 22 ° C | 22 ° C | 23 ° C | 23 ° C | 23 ° C | 24 ° C | 24 ° C | 23 ° C | 23 ° C | 22 ° C |
| Water temperature | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 27 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 106 | 78 | 64 | 92 | 132 | 181 | 245 | 232 | 253 | 227 | 203 | 137 |
| Rainy days | 17 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| Hours of sunshine | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Sunrise | 6:35 | 6:30 | 6:10 | 5:50 | 5:35 | 5:35 | 5:40 | 5:50 | 5:55 | 5:55 | 6:05 | 6:20 |
| Sunset | 17:55 | 18:10 | 18:15 | 18:20 | 18:25 | 18:35 | 18:40 | 18:30 | 18:05 | 17:45 | 17:35 | 17:35 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Fort-de-France is 25.7 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is August (26.5 ° C), coldest month of February with averages of 24.3 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Fort-de-France is 28 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All months have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 1950 mm on 200 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. The months of June, July, August, September, October and November are considered the rainy season, as more than 175 mm of precipitation can be expected per month. Overall, about 1341 mm of precipitation can be expected in the rainy season. You cannot expect snow in any month in Fort-de-France.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, March is the sunniest month with an average of 8.6 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year the sun shines 8 hours a day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
