The most obvious day trip from Saint-Pierre is the ascent of Mont Pelée itself. The volcano stands at 1,397 metres and is still considered active; the last significant eruption was in 1932. Several trails lead to the summit from different starting points, the most popular being the trail from the Aileron car park on the south side. The round trip takes four to six hours and involves steep, sometimes muddy terrain. The views from the summit — on clear days extending to Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Guadeloupe — are extraordinary. Start early before cloud covers the upper slopes. Proper walking shoes and rain gear are essential regardless of the morning weather.
Le Carbet, a small village 6km south of Saint-Pierre, is the location where Paul Gauguin lived for five months in 1887 before returning to France and later departing for Tahiti. A small museum there covers his time in Martinique, including some of the landscapes he painted along this exact stretch of coast. The drive between Saint-Pierre and Le Carbet passes through coastal scenery that has changed relatively little since Gauguin's day.
Fort-de-France, the capital and largest city on the island, is 25km south. It holds the Bibliothèque Schoelcher — a striking iron-and-glass building originally constructed for the 1889 Paris Exposition — and the market at La Savane, as well as most of the island's restaurants and nightlife. Saint-Pierre makes a practical base for day trips south if you prefer a quieter place to sleep.