There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Cayenne each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1 : New Year's Day (national holiday) January–February : Cayenne Carnival (local event)Carnival is the most important cultural event each year in Cayenne. From January to February, Cayenne's carnival draws thousands of visitors. Each weekend, the program of festivities includes music, processions, parades and masked balls, attended by the Touloulous, the queens of the carnival, dressed from head to toe!
March or April: Easter Monday (national holiday) May 1 : Labour Day (national holiday)On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. Many vendors occupy the pavement on that occasion!
May 8: Victory Day (national holiday)Commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.
June 10 : Abolition of Slavery Day (local holiday)On this day in 1848, slavery was abolished in French Guiana. Many events are scheduled to commemorate this anniversary across the country: theatre, music and dance performances as well as conferences.
June 21: Fête de la Musique (celebrated nationwide)Major popular celebration in Metropolitan France, overseas territories and abroad. Various free concerts take place all over French Guiana.
July 14 : Bastille Day (national holiday)This holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution. It plays as a symbol of the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. In Cayenne, a military parade is staged each year on July 14th.
August 15 : Assumption Day (national holiday)Still very popular in French Guiana, it is celebrated with numerous processions and religious ceremonies.
Third weekend in September: European Heritage Days (celebrated nationwide)The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public, such as castles and private collections. A great opportunity to visit the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, open to the public for the occasion.
October: Cayenne Festival (local holiday)Many events are organised as part of the Cayenne Festival throughout the month of October: a pageant to elect Miss French Guiana, a jazz festival, concerts, a flea market, dance parties celebrating Guianese Creole folklore, etc.
November 11: Remembrance Day (national holiday)On this day, French citizens gather at war memorials to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.
December 25 : Christmas (national holiday) December 31: New Year's Eve (national event)On the night of December 31st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Cayenne, with families and friends celebrating the new year.
| Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23/73 | 29/84 | 439/17.3 | Not the best period to go |
| February | 23/73 | 29/84 | 305/12.0 | Not the best period to go |
| March | 23/73 | 29/84 | 393/15.5 | Not the best period to go |
| April | 23/73 | 30/86 | 400/15.7 | Not the best period to go |
| May | 23/73 | 29/84 | 600/23.6 | Not the best period to go |
| June | 22/72 | 30/86 | 460/18.1 | Not the best period to go |
| July | 22/72 | 30/86 | 244/9.6 | Good period to go
|
| August | 22/72 | 31/88 | 165/6.5 | Good period to go
|
| September | 22/72 | 32/90 | 732.9 | Good period to go
|
| October | 22/72 | 32/90 | 82/3.2 | Good period to go
|
| November | 22/72 | 31/88 | 153/6.0 | Good period to go
|
| December | 23/73 | 30/86 | 359/14.1 | Not the best period to go |
The Cayenne Félix-Éboué International Airport is located approximately 17 kilometres (11 miles) from Cayenne.
The recommended way to explore Cayenne and the coast of French Guiana is by rental car.
Driving a car is the best way to get around Cayenne. All of the municipalities along the coast, from Cayenne to Saint-Laurent and including a number of those located a bit inland, such as Roura or Saint-Georges, are reachable by either national or departmental roads. Several rental car agencies are available in Cayenne and other big cities.
Five urban bus lines serve Cayenne's various districts and run from 6 a.m. to about 8 p.m. Tickets cost EUR 1.10, or EUR 9.30 for a book of 10 tickets. For further information, please visit odm973.com/cacl4/.
Upon your arrival in Cayenne, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.
Cayenne Tourist OfficeOffers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
The currency used in France is the Euro (EUR).
HKD 1 = EUR 0.11
EUR 1 = HKD 9.09
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus
Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire
See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Cayenne counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over one year of age.
For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
It is recommended to drink mineral water from sealed bottles in Cayenne.
Entry requirements for the French overseas departments (Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Mayotte) are different from those applicable in mainland France.
Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation do not need to carry a visa.
To view the list of other countries whose citizens or nationals may travel to French Guiana without a visa, or for information on the types of travel documents required, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/
Contact information for the embassies and consulates of your country is accessible in the directory of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/le-ministere-et-son-reseau/annuaires-des-ambassades-et-consulats-etrangers-en-france
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Cayenne, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic French phrases that will make your stay in Cayenne a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Bonjour (morning)
Good evening: Bonsoir
Goodbye: Au revoir
Yes: Oui
No: Non
No, thank you: Non, merci
Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup
Please: S'il vous plaît
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas
Could you repeat?: Pouvez-vous répéter ?
What time is it ?: Quelle heure est-il ?
Sorry: Pardon
Excuse me: Excusez-moi
Airport: Aéroport
Train station: Gare
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Hôtel
Hospital: Hôpital
Bank: Banque
Telephone: Téléphone
I'm (…): Je suis (…)
I'm looking for (…): Je recherche (…)
How much is (…)?: Quel est le prix de (…) ?
Do you have (…)?: Avez-vous (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Où puis-je trouver (…) ?
Where can I buy (…)?: Où puis-je acheter (…) ?
I'd like (…): Je voudrais (…)
Tipping
In Cayenne like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.
