Capitals of North America

St. John’s

St. John's is the capital of the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. It is a popular port of call for cruise ships.

💡 Did you know? Antigua is said to have a beach for every day of the year: 365 of them.

Nassau

Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas and lies on the island of New Providence. In the 18th century it was a notorious pirate haven.

💡 Did you know? In the heyday of Caribbean pirates Nassau was a notorious free port.

Bridgetown

Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados, an island in the eastern Caribbean. Its historic garrison is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

💡 Did you know? The global pop star Rihanna comes from Barbados.

Belmopan

Belmopan is the small, purpose-built capital of Belize, inland. It replaced the coastal city of Belize City after a hurricane devastated it.

💡 Did you know? Belmopan was moved inland to be safer from hurricanes.

Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and lies on a river at the border of two provinces. Larger cities like Toronto are only the economic centres.

💡 Did you know? In winter the Rideau Canal in Ottawa turns into the world's longest natural skating rink.

San José

San José is the capital of Costa Rica and lies in a high valley at the country's centre. It is the economic and cultural centre.

💡 Did you know? Thanks to its altitude San José enjoys mild spring-like weather all year round.

Havana

Havana is the capital of Cuba and one of the largest cities in the Caribbean. Its old town with colourful colonial buildings and vintage cars is world-famous.

💡 Did you know? Havana's streets are famous for their colourful American vintage cars from the 1950s.

Roseau

Roseau is the capital of the small Caribbean state of Dominica. The island is known for its lush rainforest nature.

💡 Did you know? Because of its unspoilt nature Dominica is called the 'Nature Island of the Caribbean'.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and lies on the Caribbean coast. Its old town is the oldest permanent European settlement in the Americas.

💡 Did you know? Santo Domingo has the oldest cathedral and university in all the New World.

San Salvador

San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador and lies in a valley ringed by volcanoes. It is the country's economic centre.

💡 Did you know? San Salvador is overlooked by several volcanoes and repeatedly shaken by earthquakes.

St. George’s

St. George's is the capital of Grenada, an island in the southern Caribbean. Grenada is known as the 'Spice Isle' for its nutmeg.

💡 Did you know? Grenada is one of the largest producers of nutmeg in the world: the nut even appears on its flag.

Guatemala City

Guatemala City is the capital and largest city of Guatemala and of Central America. It lies in a highland valley ringed by volcanoes.

💡 Did you know? Guatemala City is the largest city in all of Central America.

Port-au-Prince

Port-au-Prince is the capital of Haiti and lies on a bay of the Caribbean. A severe earthquake destroyed large parts of the city in 2010.

💡 Did you know? In the 2010 earthquake much of Port-au-Prince was destroyed.

Tegucigalpa

Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras and lies in mountainous country inland. It is the political and economic centre.

💡 Did you know? Tegucigalpa is one of the few large capitals with no railway connection.

Kingston

Kingston is the capital of Jamaica and has one of the largest natural harbours in the world. The city is the cradle of reggae.

💡 Did you know? Reggae music was born in Kingston: the city is a UNESCO City of Music.

Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. It is built on the bed of a drained lake.

💡 Did you know? Because it stands on a former lakebed, Mexico City is sinking in places year by year.

Managua

Managua is the capital of Nicaragua and lies on the shore of a large lake. It is the country's economic centre.

💡 Did you know? Managua has been destroyed several times by severe earthquakes.

Panama City

Panama City is the capital of Panama and lies at the Pacific end of the famous Panama Canal. It combines an old colonial quarter with modern skyscrapers.

💡 Did you know? From the centre of Panama City you can watch ships entering the Panama Canal.

Basseterre

Basseterre is the capital of the small twin-island state of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. It is one of the oldest towns in the region.

💡 Did you know? Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in the Americas by both area and population.

Castries

Castries is the capital of the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. Above the island rise the famous volcanic twin peaks of the Pitons.

💡 Did you know? The pointed volcanic Pitons on Saint Lucia are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kingstown

Kingstown is the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, an island nation in the eastern Caribbean. It is a port and trade centre.

💡 Did you know? The island chain of the Grenadines is a popular sailing area in the Caribbean.

Port of Spain

Port of Spain is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago off the coast of Venezuela. It is famous for its exuberant carnival.

💡 Did you know? The steel drum (an instrument made from old oil barrels) was invented on Trinidad.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the capital of the USA and lies on the east coast on the Potomac. The White House, the Capitol and many government seats are here.

💡 Did you know? Washington belongs to no state but forms its own federal district.