What to see in U.S. Virgin Islands: 10 must-sees
Discover what to see in U.S. Virgin Islands: 10 must-see destinations, from Virgin Islands National Park to Trunk Bay and its underwater trail. Predominantly beach and city; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
Beach(2)
Swim at the beach that appears on every Caribbean postcard: an arc of white sand, turquoise water, and the famous underwater trail, with submerged signs guiding your snorkel over live coral. Follow the 20 underwater plaques among parrotfish and green turtles, climb to the tollbooth overlook for the full view, and arrive early before the cruise ships. It's the most accessible snorkeling experience in the U.S. Caribbean.
Swim in the heart-shaped bay that National Geographic ranked among the world's best beaches—a kilometer of sand between two green peninsulas and calm, wave-free water. Rent a lounge chair under the sea grape trees, swim out to the pelicans' islet, head up to the Mountain Top lookout for the full experience, and try a bushwacker at the beach bar. It's the must-do stop in St. Thomas.
City(2)
Climb the 99 steps of the historic staircase up to the Skytsborg Pirate Tower—today Blackbeard's Castle—and take in the most-visited port in the Caribbean, with its cruise ship bay and the islands in the distance. Stroll along Main Street past jewelry shops and colorful Danish colonial houses, visit the 1833 synagogue with its sand floor, and see Government House. It's the commercial capital with the most history per square meter.
Wander the main town of the territory's greenest island, with its wooden shops, its laid-back street life, and the ferry dock for Red Hook. Have fish with johnnycake at the waterfront restaurants, head up to Annaberg with the ruins of its sugar windmill, and end the day at Hawksnest Beach at sunset. It's the most charming town in the Virgin Islands.
Natural(2)
Stop at the lookout where Francis Drake is said to have watched for enemy ships, with views over Magens Bay and the British islands of Tortola and Jost Van Dyke in the distance. Then drive the north road past Christmas cactus and plantation ruins to Hull Bay, the beach favored by local surfers. It's the Virgin Islands' postcard panorama in a five-minute drive.
Reach the easternmost point of the United States, where the Millennium Monument faces the nation's first sunrise and the cliffs drop into the Caribbean. Then head down to Isaac Bay beach, reachable only on foot via the East End trail, with its protected reef and 17th-century stone tower. This is where the United States sees the light first.
National Park(1)
Explore the protected two-thirds of St. John, where 20 trails cross sugar plantation ruins, white-sand bays, and tropical forests with deer and mongooses. Drive the North Shore Road between the beaches of Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay, climb to the Caneel Hill overlook, and gaze at the British islands across the channel. It's the park with the most photogenic beaches in the U.S. national park system.
Natural Heritage(1)
Sail 45 minutes from Christiansted to the uninhabited island JFK protected in 1961, with its legendary underwater trail among elkhorn coral and the barrier reef that rings the island. Snorkel over the turtle grass beds, hike to the ridge overlook with the whole island at your feet, and swim at the pristine west beach. It's the most celebrated reef in the American Caribbean.
reserva(1)
Walk the longest beach in the Virgin Islands, a national refuge where hawksbill turtles nest between April and July and where the sunset over the Caribbean is unbroken. Visit the spot where the turtle movie was filmed and the lighthouse at the island's west end, and look for the season's marked nests on open weekends. It's the strictest nature sanctuary in the territory.
UNESCO Heritage(1)
Explore the National Historic Site that preserves the 18th-century Danish trading port: Fort Christiansvaern, the Customs House, the Danish West India Company Warehouse, and the Scale House. Climb the fort's ramparts with their original cannons, stroll along the yellow waterfront, and learn why Alexander Hamilton spent his youth here. It's the best-preserved Danish colonial complex in the Caribbean.
New destinations and itineraries, by email
Subscribe to receive newly published destinations and itineraries, plus seasonal travel ideas. One email, only when there is news.
Anything to correct or add about U.S. Virgin Islands?
If you have spotted incorrect or outdated information, or want to suggest additional details about destinations in U.S. Virgin Islands, leave us your comment. We review every one personally.