Trinidad is the busier of the two islands, with Port of Spain, the Carnival before Lent, the birdlife of Caroni Swamp and the Asa Wright Nature Centre, and the beach at Maracas Bay. Tobago, a short flight or ferry ride away, is quieter, with Pigeon Point, Buccoo Reef and the Main Ridge rainforest. Trinidad and Tobago is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM roams there at its operator's own rates.
Key facts for Trinidad and Tobago
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: varies by plan
- Emergency numbers: police 999; ambulance 811 or 990; fire 990
- Embassies: in Port of Spain
Port of Spain and the state of emergency
Coverage is strong across Port of Spain and most of Trinidad. Violent crime, including gang-related shootings, is high, and the UK urges extra caution in and around downtown Port of Spain, Carenage, Sea Lots, Belmont, Laventille, Morvant, Beetham, Barataria, Cocorite and the interior of the Queen's Park Savannah. The US advises travellers to reconsider travel because of crime, and the government declared a nationwide state of emergency in March 2026, which lets the police search and arrest more easily. Do not walk alone or at night, avoid deserted beaches and isolated areas, and be wary of new acquaintances, as criminals have used bars, nightclubs and dating apps to target visitors. Use well-lit cash machines in daylight, withdraw small amounts and watch for card skimming.
Carnival
Carnival, in the days before Ash Wednesday, fills Port of Spain with huge crowds, and robberies and opportunistic crime increase. Leave jewellery and valuables at your hotel, plan how you will get back before you go out, and agree on a meeting point with your group, as mobile networks can slow down in the densest crowds.
Tobago, the sea and the weather
Coverage is good around Crown Point and Scarborough but can weaken in Tobago's forested north-east. Do not swim at unmarked, unpatrolled beaches, where undercurrents can be dangerous, and check the safety record and insurance of any operator offering boat trips, water sports, quad biking or horse riding. The islands are rarely hit by hurricanes, but severe storms can strike between June and November, and earthquakes are possible.
On the road
High-speed accidents on Trinidad's main highways are often fatal, drink-driving is a problem, including on the airport road, and some roads are unlit at night with pedestrians walking on them. Use established taxi firms rather than lifts in private cars or maxi taxis.
Laws to know
Possessing up to 30 g of cannabis is decriminalised, but smoking it in public or while driving is not allowed. In March 2025, consensual same-sex activity was reinstated as a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, although the law has not been enforced recently. Wearing camouflage clothing, or bringing it into the country, is an offence, even for children.
Paying
The currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar. Cards are accepted in many shops and restaurants in the towns, but less often outside the cities and tourist areas, and robberies often happen near cash machines, so carry some cash and withdraw it with care.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up at home connects on landing at Piarco, and your home SIM stays on for texts and bank codes. A Caribbean plan also covers Barbados, Grenada and Saint Lucia.
Local SIM cards from bmobile or Digicel are sold at the airport and in malls, and you need your passport to buy one.
Consular protection: who to call in Trinidad and Tobago
- Call 999 for the police, 811 or 990 for an ambulance and 990 for the fire service.
- Embassies are in Port of Spain. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If your EU country has no embassy or consulate in Trinidad and Tobago, any other EU country's embassy must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- English is the official language, so you can explain an emergency in English.
Trinidad and Tobago travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Trinidad and Tobago
Does my EU plan work in Trinidad and Tobago?
No. The islands are outside Roam Like at Home, so your operator charges its own roaming rates.
Is Port of Spain safe?
Violent crime is high in some districts. Avoid walking alone or at night, and take taxis from established firms.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Trinidad and Tobago?
It depends on the plan, and all plans use 4G where available.
What are the emergency numbers?
999 for the police, 811 or 990 for an ambulance and 990 for the fire service.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, stay out of the high-crime districts and off the streets at night, plan your way home during Carnival, use established taxis, and save 999 and 811.
See plans for Trinidad and Tobago →
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