The Ultimate St. Thomas Travel Guide (Updated 2026)
Think gatorade blue water, lush tropical forest trails, incredible viewpoints, and beautiful resorts. St. Thomas is located in the West Indies and is home to the capital of the US Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie. In this St. Thomas Travel Guide we will go over the best things to do in St. Thomas, places to dine, where to stay, hidden gems, and more. Read on to discover everything you need to know before visiting the beautiful St. Thomas.
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Map Of St. Thomas
Best St. Thomas Hotels
Budget St. Thomas Hotel - Windward Passage
The Windward Passage Hotel is a budget friendly St.Thomas hotel located just a short drive from both the airport and downtown Charlotte Amalie (you can walk to Charlotte Amalie). I stayed here for one night and found everything to be perfect! It is affordable, the rooms are clean and actually pretty spacious, and the location is great!
Middle Range St. Thomas Hotel - At Home In The Tropics
At Home In The Topics B&B is a hidden gem hotel in St. Thomas. The small and secluded hotel is hidden in the hills of Charlotte Amalie and offers incredible views of the harbour and beyond. A homemade breakfast is made daily, the rooms are large and comfy - you really feel at home here! This is one of my favorite places I have ever stayed.
Luxury St. Thomas Hotel - Pink Palm Hotel
I didn't get the opportunity to stay at the Pink Palm Hotel as it was booked out during my time in St. Thomas, but based on the reviews and photos of the place I thought I would mention it. The Pink Palm Hotel is an adults only hotel located in Charlotte Amalie, it has that boho beach theme, and would be perfect for a girls trip to St. Thomas.
What To Do In St. Thomas
There is so much to do and see in St. Thomas, the island is rich in history and is home to incredible nature. You will always have something to do in St. Thomas.
Magens Bay Beach
Magens Bay Beach is definitely the most well known beach on St. Thomas, and maybe even all of the Virgin Islands. The picturesque beach is framed by mountains and offers calm blue waters. Magens Bay Beach is perfect for families due to the lack of strong currents and light waves.
Magens Bay can get crowded, especially when there are cruise ships docked, I would just avoid it all together when there is a cruise ship. The best time to go the Magens Bay is in the morning or for an early evening swim, to avoid crowds. I went for a swim during sunset and it was magical.
There is a restaurant and bar at Magens Bay as well! Magens Bay is definitely one of the best things to do in St. Thomas.
Explore Charlotte Amalie
Charlotte Amalie holds so much history and you will likely be staying in this area during your St. Thomas vacation. The first European sighting of the Islands was all the way back in 1493 and before that the Islands were home to indigenous tribes (Caribs and Arawaks). Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is home to the best historical sights on the Islands. Here are the best things to do in Charlotte Amalie.
Walk down Main Street to see the Danish architecture. Main Street, Charlotte Amalie is one of the most beautiful streets I have seen. Since the Dutch were one of the first countries to colonize the U.S. Virgin Islands you will find colorful dutch doors and buildings. I recommend visiting in the morning or late afternoon because the only shops offered on the street are jewelry stores. So unless you are looking for jewelry, the shopping is a bit boring.
Visiting Fort Christian is an absolute must in Charlotte Amalie, especially if you are a fellow history fanatic. Fort Christian is a Danish Fort that was built in the late 1600s, and was used as governor's office, jail, townhall, courthouse and church. It also offers amazing views of the city and harbour.
Take a quick stop at Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church is significant because it was one of the first churches in the "new world" as it was built in 1666. Located on Main Street Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church is an easy addition to your time in Charlotte Amalie.
The 99 Steps in Charlotte Amalie is a quick stop. The steps were built as an easier way to travel through the terrain of St. Thomas. The bricks that the steps are made of were brought all the way from Denmark!
Brewers Bay Beach
Brewers Bay is easily one of the best beaches in St. Thomas. The low-key beach offers incredible views of mountains on the right, and you can see the planes coming in at the airport on the left.
Brewers Bay Beach is a great place for families as well because of the lack of wave and strong currents. You will find an occasional food truck, but don't count on food and drinks at Brewers Bay Beach.
Do a Snorkeling Tour
One of the best things you can do while in the Virgin Islands is a snorkeling tour. I did this affordable snorkeling tour out of St. Thomas and we went to all of the very best St. Thomas snorkeling spots. We left out of Frenchman's Cove in Charlotte Amalie and visited Buck Island and snorkeled among sea turtles and tropical fish. Doing this snorkeling tour was one of my favorite experiences during my U.S. Virgin Islands trip.
🤿US Virgin Islands Snorkeling Tour
Day Trip To St. John
St. John is full of nature, laid-back locals, and is super easy to get to from St. Thomas.
There is a ferry every hour on the hour to St. John from Red Hook starting at 7 am and ending at 11 pm. The ferry from Red Hook is only about twenty minutes.
There is a daily ferry from Charlotte Amalie to St. John that leaves at 10 am. This ferry is about forty-five minutes. Both ferries arrive in Cruz Bay.
St. John is home to the Virgin Islands National Park where you can hike and find hidden beaches such as Honeymoon Bay Beach and Salomon Bay Beach.
You can also visit the world renowned Trunk Bay Beach on St. John.
🏖️Read Next - A Quick Guide To St. John
Drake's Seat
Here is a little hidden gem on your St. Thomas travel guide. Overlooking Magens Bay, Drake's Seat offers incredible views of the ocean, surrounding islands, and mountains.
The best way to get to Drake's Seat is by car. the view point has a bench and railing and a stone wall with a road in between. I liked the view from the stone wall better.
Paradise Point
I don't usually suggest touristy places on Daisies Abroad, but I made an exception for Paradise Point - it truly is a must on your St. Thomas itinerary. The view is incredible. To get to Paradise Point you have to take a gondola up to the top of the hill; the way up is beautiful as well.
When you get to the top of Paradise Point you will be greeted with jaw dropping views of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, surrounding Islands, mountains, and Charlotte Amalie.
Go Ziplining
St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands in general are mountainous and full of nature, making it the perfect place to go ziplining. This ziplining tour in St. Thomas is perfect for adrenaline junkies. There are eight different platforms that will take you through the Caribbean rainforest.
Go On a Food Tour
One of the best ways to see and learn about a new place is by doing food tours. Not only will you have a local guide take you to all of the hidden gems but also you will get to see the island while doing it. I loved this St. Thomas food tour because of the fellow travellers I met, the things I learned about the Island, and the delectable food I ate.
Our guide was so fun and knew a lot about St. Thomas, so try to do this tour if it's not booked.
Explore Red Hook
This St. Thomas vacation guide would not be complete with a mention of Red Hook! Red Hook is located in the eastern part of St. Thomas and is known for its natural beauty, restaurants, and easy access to St. John. I recommend stopping in Red Hook for breakfast or dinner on your way to or from St. John.
For breakfast try Lattes In Paradise!
Best Tours To Take In St. Thomas
🚗ATV Adventure - See a different side of St. Thomas on this two hour ATV adventure. This highly rated tour a knowledgeable tour guide takes you to all of the best viewpoints on St. Thomas.
🚗USVI Private Boat Charters - Explore the best of the USVI on this highly rated private boat charter. The Captain of your boat will take you to all of the most beautiful spots on St. Thomas and St. John. You can fit up to 12 people on the high speed boat.
🚗Paradise Taxi & Tour - Taxi Tours are huge on St. Thomas, mainly because they are the best way to get around the Island. This budget friendly Taxi tour will take you to all of the most beautiful places in St. Thomas.
Hidden Gems In St. Thomas
St. Thomas is an island full of hidden gems and secret spots! Here are a few that I stumbled upon during my trip to St. Thomas:
Mermaids Chair - The Mermaids Chair is a hiking area located on the westernmost part of St. Thomas. The reason it is called 'Mermaids Chair is because it looks like the tail of a mermaid. There is a little sand bar that connects mainland St. Thomas to a small uninhabited island with hiking trails and hidden beaches. This place was honestly so beautiful - the only problem is that it's a little out of the way (you have to hike to get there + on the western part of the island that doesn't have much going on). But, if you are looking for an adventurous day in St. Thomas - this is the perfect secret spot for you!
Secret Harbour - There are so many hidden beaches in St. Thomas - but Secret Harbour really caught my eye. Located in the small village of Nazareth (right next to Red Hook), Secret Harbour is a calm swimming area perfect for snorkeling or kids as the currents are calm. The water is clear and beautiful and the place itself wasn't busy at all. There is a hotel right next to it - Secret Harbour Beach Resort, perfect if you are looking for a hidden gem hotel in St. Thomas!
Where To Dine On St. Thomas
Best Coffee Shops On St.Thomas
☕Stir It Up Coffee - Stir It Up is a laid back coffee joint in Charlotte Amalie offering delicious lunch, breakfast, pastries, and coffee. Located right at the cruise port and next to Paradise Point, Stir It Up, is a must visit for fellow coffee lovers.
☕Lattes In Paradise - Lattes In Paradise is perfect if you are in Red Hook and looking for some coffee before the ferry to St. John or a day at the beach. You will find carefully crafted coffee and pastries at Lattes In Paradise.
Best Restaurants On St. Thomas
🍴Blue 11 - Blue 11 is a high end restaurant that focuses on seafood. If you are looking for a fancy dinner on St. Thomas checkout Blue 11.
🍴Sea La Vie - Sea La Vie serves Caribbean cuisine and offers a fun environment that is perfect for families or anyone looking for a fun night in St. Thomas.
🍴Greenhouse - Located in Charlotte Amalie, Greenhouse is an affordable restaurant that serve something for everyone. Greenhouse is a great place to go if you are with a family or are in Charlotte Amalie.
Getting To and Around St. Thomas
There is no uber or lyft in St. Thomas so unless you are renting a car you will have to rely on taxis. Taxis are easy to find and affordable.
The two ways people get to St. Thomas is via cruise ship or plane. I arrived at Charlotte Amalie Airport (Cyril E. King Airport) by plane. The airport is close to everything on the island, as St. Thomas is small. As soon as you exit the airport there will be tons of taxis waiting.
You can find direct flights to St. Thomas from New York, Newark, Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, Chicago, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.
✈️Checkout The Latest Fares To St. Thomas here
St. Thomas Travel Guide FAQs:
How many days do you need in St. Thomas?
I would give yourself at least four days in St. Thomas! There are so many hidden beaches and things to do on St. Thomas. Give yourself a week if you are hoping to visit St. John or St. Croix.
What do I need to know before going to St. Thomas?
Well, you should know where the best beaches are, cool things to do, the best hotels, and where to dine (all covered in this article).
What is the best month to travel to St. Thomas?
I visited St. Thomas in March and loved it! For the best weather visit in the spring/winter (March - May).
Do I need a passport for St. Thomas?
If you are a US Citizen you do not need a passport to visit St. Thomas.
A Complete St. Thomas Travel Guide Wrap Up
I hope that this post all about your St. Thomas Travel Guide helps you plan the best Caribbean getaway ever. St. Thomas is honestly such an amazing adventure + beach destination, it has something for everyone - you will love it! If you have anything to add or any questions please leave me a comment, we love hearing from you all. If you liked this post check out my Quick Guide To St. John and our 4 Day USVI Itinerary.
Happy Travels,
Daisy
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