Haiti

Haiti's mountainous landscape and Creole culture carry a resilience shaped by being the first nation in the Americas to win independence through a slave revolt. The Citadelle Laferriere, a mountaintop fortress built in the aftermath, remains one of the hemisphere's most striking monuments, and Haitian art and rara music have an intensity and color rarely matched elsewhere. Ongoing instability has made conventional tourism largely impractical for now, and current safety advisories should guide any travel planning.

Why go thereCulture & heritage Castles & palaces Art museums Nightlife & music Rural traditions Beaches Nature & landscapes Food Mountain hiking

Main destinations

Food & drink to try

Griot

Pork marinated in sour orange, braised then fried, served with pikliz.

Soup joumou

Pumpkin and beef soup eaten every New Year to mark independence, once forbidden to the enslaved.

Diri ak djon djon

Rice cooked in black mushroom water until the grains turn grey and smoky.

Food & drink to try

Griot

Pork marinated in sour orange, braised then fried, served with pikliz.

Soup joumou

Pumpkin and beef soup eaten every New Year to mark independence, once forbidden to the enslaved.

Diri ak djon djon

Rice cooked in black mushroom water until the grains turn grey and smoky.

Tassot

Goat or turkey marinated, dried and twice-fried until chewy and intensely savoury.

Legim

Aubergine, cabbage and chayote cooked down with meat into a thick vegetable mash.

Pikliz

Cabbage and carrot pickled with scotch bonnet in vinegar, served with everything fried.

Bannann peze

Green plantain smashed and fried twice, salted and eaten as a side or a base.

Akra

Grated malanga root fried into crisp fritters, sold hot on the street.

Poul nan sos

Chicken browned and stewed in a tomato and pepper sauce, served with rice.

Lanbi

Conch stewed or grilled with creole sauce, tenderised by long cooking.

Diri kole

Rice and red beans cooked together, the everyday plate under any sauce.

Pen patat

Sweet potato and banana pudding baked dense with coconut and spice.

Kremas

Thick rum, coconut and condensed milk liqueur poured at Christmas.

Clairin

Raw cane spirit distilled in village mills, unaged and fiercely aromatic.

Entry & health

Set your passport

travel.state.gov police-station.com en.wikipedia.org

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Tipping & local customs

Service is often not fully passed to staff, so it's customary to tip around 10% in restaurants even if a service charge appears on the bill, and tips for taxi drivers and hotel porters are discretionary but appreciated. Tipping local guides is especially encouraged, as they earn little and gratuities make a real difference.

Greet people first with a handshake or verbal hello before starting a conversation or making a request — skipping the greeting is considered rude.
Dress modestly, especially in churches and rural communities.
Ask permission before photographing people or their property.
In restaurants, summon waitstaff with eye contact rather than waving or calling out their name, which is seen as impolite.
At home dinners, it's bad form to leave the table mid-meal, and more senior guests should enter the dining area first.
Learning a few Haitian Creole or French phrases (e.g., 'Bonjou', 'Mèsi') is warmly received as a sign of goodwill.

Advisory only — AI + web search, may be out of date. Confirm official sources before you travel.

Before you go

Stay connected

Get an eSIM for Haiti — mobile data the moment you land.

via Airalo

Travel insurance

Cover trip cancellation, medical care and delays.

via EKTA