Bargaining is recommended at the
Iron Market, where both good- and bad-quality local items can be bought, including carvings, printed fabrics, leatherwork, paintings (particularly in the
naïf style, for which Haiti is famous), straw hats, seed necklaces and jewelry, cigars and foodstuffs. Port-au-Prince has a good selection of
shops and
boutiques selling a wide range of local and imported items.
Bargaining is an accepted practice.
Shopping hoursMon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1600, Sat 0800-1200.
Currency Information:CurrencyGourde (HTG) = 100
centimes. Notes are in denominations of HTG500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of HTG5 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes. Most establishments price items in the unofficial currency, the Haitian Dollar (1 Haitian Dollar = HTG5). US currency also circulates.
Currency ExchangeUS Dollars are accepted and exchanged everywhere. Other foreign currencies are accepted for exchange only by some banks.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMsCredit cards are widely accepted. At least one local bank chain has ATMs in Port au Prince, but they are frequently out of order and there have been reports of over charging accounts.
Traveller's ChequesApart from at banks, these are often difficult to exchange. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.
Banking HoursMon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1700. Some banks open Sat 0900-1300.
Exchange Rate Indicators| Date | Jan 09 |
| £1.00= | HTG57.85 |
| $1.00= | HTG39.43 |
| €1.00= | HTG52.75 |
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