Top Things to do in St. Thomas
The 10 Best Things to do in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Like all of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas has plenty of opportunities to lounge on the beach, splash in the sea, or amp it up with watersports. It also boasts a bountiful duty-free shopping scene – just be prepared to brave the cruise ship crowds. Charlotte Amalie swells with Danish colonial architecture and pirate legend. Shiver ye timbers at Blackbeard’s Castle, then work up an appetite by climbing the historic 99 Steps, constructed from the ballast bricks of 18th century Danish ships.
Restaurants in St. Thomas
1. Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 174 reviews
We are open on Thursday, Friday, Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00-4:00. We look forward to sharing Phantasea with our visitors and locals. The garden is full of beautiful blooming orchids, bromeliads, lilies, palms, and more. . Come and relax in the calming serenity of nature as lizards scurry about and butterflies and birds fly throughout the garden. Stop and rest in our Balinese gazebo or at our other seating areas. Visit our resident wildlife - parrots, tortoises, peacocks and chickens - and learn about the garden plants and inhabitants with our interpretive signs. Approx. 45 minutes - one hour average time to visit. Great for children and families. Cold water, tropical juices and snacks for sale. Blooming orchids and tillaandsias (air plants) also for sale. Cash and credit cards accepted. Easy to find, just follow the signs posted along the roadways , or use Google maps.(DO NOT use GPS!)
Reviewed By O1172QQamyt
This is a beautiful tropical garden with views overlooking the water. Make sure to use Google maps to find it! The current hours are weekends only (which we didn't know until we called on a Monday), but the owner was close by and actually let us come in for a private experience! The owner was so friendly and accommodating, sharing her love for gardening and knowledge of plants. You'll also get to spot some local birds, banaquits and hummingbirds. Such a beautiful place, I would definitely recommend visiting on your next trip to St. Thomas!
2. Water Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 499 reviews
The fourth largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, this quiet 492-acre island, located in Charlotte Amalie harbor, beckons those who want to stroll its beaches, bike amid its green hills, and view birds, iguana, turtles and other wildlife that make this lovely paradise their home.
Reviewed By cwD7581YP - Bear Creek, United States
We have been coming to St Thomas for years, but this was the first year visiting Water Island. It is a short ferry ride from Crown Point harbor (ferry fills up fast so get in line early)......the island itself is nice, with a free shuttle to the beach and convenient golf cart rentals right at the pier. The golf cart is worth it if you want explore the island - there are great spots for panoramic pics from the higher parts of the island, as well as an old unfinished fort at the very top. The beach is great, with chairs/umbrellas and 2 different spots to to purchase food/drink. We will definitely be adding this as one of our regular spots for future visits.
3. Drake's Seat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 443 reviews
The vantage point where Sir Francis Drake was supposed to have looked for enemy ships of the Spanish fleet, this lookout includes a panoramic view of the Virgin Islands where the Atlantic Ocean joins the Caribbean Sea
Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States
Located just minutes from the Charlotte Amalie Lookout, this breathtaking scenic point provides panoramic views of Magens Bay and the islands. There are a limited number of parking spots available. The green weathered bench seat is across the street (be careful crossing the road). The local legend is that Sir Francis Drake used this vantage point to watch his fleet and be on the lookout for the enemy. It is a great story, but the truth is that Drake’s Seat was built in 1933 by Arthur Fairchild. Mr. Fairchild was a former wall street genius, philanthropist (he is the one that gifted the land at Magens Bay to the people) and longtime island resident. Back in the 1930s, travelling the hilly terrain of St. Thomas was by horse or foot. The location of Drake’s Seat was the perfect place to rest and gaze down at Megans Bay. And it still is today! You’ll get a more expansive panorama from Mountain Top, but I love this view too. The Charlotte Amalie Lookout, Drake’s Seat, Mountain Top and Megans Bay can all be visited in the same trip.
4. Brewer's Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 131 reviews
Take the West End to Brewers Bay, a lovely white-sand beach popular with the locals.
Reviewed By michaeljohncummins - Brook Park, United States
I bought the wife a very nice mask and snorkel so she could try it. She did great once she got comfortable breathing. She held my hand and I pulled her along with me. We saw many turtles and I saw a big ray. She also did some searching for sea glass. If you want to find some this is the beach for it. Make sure you buy a beverage from the wonderful older lady in the grey food truck. She is a real sweetie.
5. Honeymoon Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 828 reviews
Reviewed By Fdough1 - Bel Air, United States
Wife and I were staying at Marriott Frenchman’s Cove and were given a tip to visit Honeymoon Beach on Water Island. A short taxi ride to Crown Bay Marina (right outside of Tickles pub) to pickup the Water Island ferry and a peaceful 15 ferry ride to the beach. Ferry was $10 per person round trip. There was a bus that took us to Dinghys on the beach. Chairs and umbrella were free. Beautiful beach that was not too crowded even though there were two cruise ships were in. Food and drinks at Dinghys were reasonably priced. Not much to see snorkeling but lounging on the beach was great. We will return to this beach on our next visit.
6. Secret Harbour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 732 reviews
Reviewed By debbiel256 - Smith Bay, Caribbean
Calm water, great snorkeling, great restaurant, good drinks, beach chairs $10, free parking Paddle board $30 per hour
7. St. Thomas Synagogue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 357 reviews
Reviewed By gec345 - Houston, United States
What a lovely experience this was. Docent Agi Rampino shared so much of the history of this place. It felt like a giant step into another era, and yet this is still a working congregation. The sand floor was unique and the Torah from the Holocaust still with the numbers the Nazis wrote on it to catalog artifacts from a deceased race sent shivers down my spine. Agi Rampino spent a lot of time sharing her stories. We visited a lot of places on our cruise, but seeing this was the most meaningful.
8. Pirates Treasure Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 169 reviews
Set sail and discover the Pirates Treasure Museum! Experience hands-on, interactive exhibits that share the tales and treasures of deep-ocean exploration. Expansive selection of authentic shipwreck coins and themed gift items. Visitors will delve into a fascinating bounty of pirate legend and historical fact and re-live the heroic passenger accounts of surviving storm-tossed seas and sinking ships. Climb aboard and prepare for an exciting journey! Also offering private party bookings.
Reviewed By MyNameIsNot
My wife and I visited the pirates treasure shipwreck museum as there is only one cruiseship in town. We were welcomed in a very open-armed fashion. We were guided into a little cubicle (hope it is an accurate desription) with a total of 6 rows of benches to watch a brief intro movie of what to expect in the museum. After this we were “let loose” on the museum floor. The two guides that at our visit were present, Ryan & Thea, were very knowledgeable about the things on display. The stories they could tell were very in depth and enlightning. I as a Dane even learned that our Governor harboured pirates. Not a story we are told in school. And the story of the SS Republic that sank but all aboard survived was an excellent part too. For those who require a little action when visiting a museum there are a hurricane survival “simulator” you can experience winds up to 85 mph. As I understood that was 500 times less than some of the strongest passing the USVI, please correct me if I got that wrong. An ROV ( Remote operated vehicle) is placed for people to try how to operate under water to catch coins. Shake some chests and try to guess what is inside, results may surprise you. As we were the only patrons, we almost got a private guided tour through the museum both Ryan and Thea did a great job making this in the top of our experience this vacation.
9. Mountain Top
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,342 reviews
This cafeteria and bar claims not only spectacular views from its 1,500 feet perch on the summit of St. Peter Mountain, but is the inventor of the famous banana daiquiri.
Reviewed By bthslayr
Amazing view of Magen's Bay and the other VI, amazing banana daiquiri, great prices for the widest selection of souvenirs on the island!
10. 99 Steps
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 637 reviews
Step streets used by the residents of Charlotte Amalie, these historical 99 steps (the actual count is 103) were built from the ballast bricks of the tall ships coming from the old world, which would then return to Europe loaded with products from the islands.
Reviewed By reedmangreg - Chicago, United States
I would not call it a must but if you like walking and sightseeing this area of St Thomas has quite a few points of interest along the way; starting from Fort Christian, you can then go up using 99 Steps to arrive at to at Hotel 1829 and Blackbeard's Castle (unfortunately closed during our June 2020 post COVID trip) where you will also bump into Three Queens Statue. (the yellow steps in front of the Hotel 1829 aren't the 99 steps - so don't get disappointed at first, like we did hehe) It's a very safe area with many governmental buildings, some buildings are renovated in the area to still preserve that colonial vibe - probably the best well preserved "old Caribbean town" I have seen in our many trips to this amazing part of the world. TIP: there is a paid parking right by the Fort, in front of the police department where you can start the walk up or continue along to shore to check other stuff as well
