Charlotte Amalie
History, foodThe capital and harbour.
Island guide
Things to do in St Thomas
The busiest of the US Virgin Islands: the Danish-built harbour town of Charlotte Amalie, Magens Bay and Coki Beach, views from Mountain Top, bars in Frenchtown and Red Hook, and ferries to St John and the British Virgin Islands.
1
Hostels in the city
10.0
Average, from 35 reviews
1917
Bought from Denmark
2–3
Days
The gateway island
St Thomas is the most developed of the US Virgin Islands and the one most visitors arrive on, through the airport or the cruise port. Its capital, Charlotte Amalie, climbs steep hills above one of the Caribbean's finest natural harbours, with Danish colonial warehouses, stone steps and red-roofed houses from the time the islands belonged to Denmark, before the US bought them in 1917.
The island is hilly and green, with beaches on its north and east coasts. Magens Bay is the best known, a sheltered curve of sand and calm water. Red Hook, on the east end, is where the ferries leave for St John and the British Virgin Islands.
St Thomas is busy on cruise days and quieter in the evenings. Give it two or three days, and pair it with St John.
Where to base yourself
Charlotte Amalie and Frenchtown for history and food; Red Hook and the East End for beaches and the St John ferry.
Frenchtown
Bars, restaurantsWest of the harbour.
Red Hook
Ferries, nightlifeThe east end, for St John.
East End
BeachesSapphire and Lindquist beaches.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 1 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do on St Thomas
Walk Charlotte Amalie's Main Street and alleys, climb the 99 Steps, and see Fort Christian, the oldest building in the territory, and Emancipation Garden. Drive up to Mountain Top or along Skyline Drive for views over the harbour and the islands.
Spend days at Magens Bay, Coki Beach (good snorkelling), Lindquist Beach and Sapphire Beach. Take the short ferry from Crown Bay to Water Island, the territory's quiet fourth island.
Take the ferry from Red Hook to St John's national park, or a day trip to the British Virgin Islands, such as Jost Van Dyke; you need a passport for the BVI.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Walking Charlotte Amalie, the 99 Steps and Emancipation Garden is free. Most beaches are public and free, including Coki, Lindquist (with a small parking fee) and Brewers Bay.
The views from Skyline Drive cost nothing.
Magens Bay, Coral World and boat trips charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Try johnny cakes and pates (savoury turnovers) from stands for €3 to €6, and fish and fungi, the local dish of fish with cornmeal and okra. Food trucks serve full plates for €10 to €17, and restaurants €25 to €45 a main.
Frenchtown and Red Hook have the best concentration of restaurants.
The local drink is the painkiller, a rum cocktail with pineapple, orange and coconut. Tipping works as in the US: 15 to 20 per cent in restaurants and bars, on every round.
Nightlife
Going out
Red Hook has bars by the ferry dock, busy in the evenings with island workers and visitors. Frenchtown has restaurants and bars in Charlotte Amalie, quieter when no cruise ships are in.
A beer costs €4 to €7 and a cocktail €9 to €14, plus tips.
Open containers are legal in public, unlike most of the US.
Getting around
Getting around
Cyril E. King Airport is about 10 minutes from Charlotte Amalie. Safari taxis (open trucks with benches) run set routes at fixed per-person fares; regular taxis charge set rates, so agree the fare first.
Driving is on the left, in left-hand-drive American cars, on steep, winding roads. Ferries to St John leave Red Hook roughly hourly and take about 20 minutes; ferries to the BVI leave from Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie.
St Croix is a short flight or seaplane away, with some ferries at weekends.
Costs
What St Thomas costs
Guesthouse rooms start at around €50 to €130 a night; there are few dorms. Food truck meals cost €10 to €17.
The St John ferry costs about €7 each way, Magens Bay entry a few euros, and a BVI day trip €80 to €150.
The currency is the US dollar; prices here are converted to euros. US cards and phone plans work normally.
Safety
Safety and scams
Visitor areas are generally safe, but St Thomas has a higher violent crime rate than the US mainland, mostly away from tourist areas. Avoid unlit parts of Charlotte Amalie at night, take taxis after dark, and never leave anything in a parked car at beaches or viewpoints.
Currents can be strong off headlands, and many beaches have no lifeguards.
Much of the water comes from desalination or rain cisterns, so many people drink bottled or filtered water. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Islands near and far.
St John
National park beaches and trails.
St Croix
Danish towns and reefs.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Carnival and holidays.
April and May
St Thomas Carnival
Charlotte Amalie
Parades, calypso and food fairs.
3 July
Emancipation Day
Territory-wide
Marks the end of slavery in 1848.
31 March
Transfer Day
Territory-wide
The 1917 transfer from Denmark.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated places to stay in St Thomas, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is the dry, busy season. Hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking in September, when some businesses close. Carnival fills April and May.
Jan
Dry, busy
Feb
Driest
Mar
Dry
Apr
Carnival
May
Carnival, shoulder
Jun
Hurricane season opens
Jul
Emancipation Day
Aug
Hot
Sep
Highest risk
Oct
Quiet
Nov
Reopening
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Warm all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on St Thomas prices.
Treat these as a guide. Add 15 to 20 per cent tipping to food and drink.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
St Thomas questions
The ones we get asked most.
Do I need a passport?
Not if you are a US citizen arriving from the mainland; others need an ESTA or US visa.
Which beach is best on St Thomas?
Magens Bay for calm water; Coki for snorkelling.
How do I get to St John?
By ferry from Red Hook, about 20 minutes.
Which side do they drive on?
The left, in left-hand-drive cars.
Is St Thomas safe?
Visitor areas are generally safe; take taxis at night and leave nothing in cars.
How many days do I need?
Two to three.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare places to stay across the US Virgin Islands: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.