Popular with cruise passengers too! 11 Recommended Tourist Spots in St. Thomas Island, Caribbean

St. Thomas Island, located at the heart of the Virgin Islands floating in the Caribbean Sea, is a wonderful tourist destination with beautiful beaches waiting for you!
This volcanic island is filled with mountains and hills, offering plenty of scenic spots where you can overlook the beaches and the surrounding islands.

One of the highlights of St. Thomas Island is that it's a major port of call for cruises departing from the United States. About 150 cruise ships dock here annually, and once they arrive, the island quickly fills with tourists pouring in from the ships.

This lively island isn’t just about nature—it also offers plenty of activity spots.

Now, let’s introduce 11 recommended places to visit on St. Thomas Island!

1. Mountain Top

St. Thomas Island is known for its steep and rugged terrain. Why not head to the highest peak on the island? There, you'll find a shopping mall as well as an observation deck.

The view from the observation deck is a must-see! This is one of St. Thomas' top tourist spots, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Magens Bay Beach, ranked among the world's top 10 most beautiful beaches. You'll be amazed by the bright white sand and the ocean that looks as clear and blue as soda jelly! You can even catch sight of the Lesser Antilles from here.

And if you visit Mountain Top, you definitely have to try their Banana Daiquiri. Mountain Top is said to be the birthplace of the banana daiquiri! Enjoy this fruity cocktail made with rum and bananas at the observation deck bar. Many tourists are already relaxing with a cocktail in hand, even in the early afternoon.

It’s easy to drink, but be careful—the alcohol content is pretty strong! Be mindful so it doesn’t affect the rest of your sightseeing.

2. Magens Bay Beach

After enjoying the stunning view from Mountain Top, why not head down to the beach itself? This is a must-visit spot for any St. Thomas Island tour.

There’s an entrance fee, but thanks to that, the beach is well-maintained. It’s equipped with picnic areas, toilets, changing rooms, and showers, making it super comfortable! There are also souvenir shops and snack stands. You can enjoy snorkeling or rent a kayak for some extra fun.

If you rent a beach chair, you can relax in the shade of the palm trees. The sand here is soft with no shells or stones, so feel free to run around barefoot. It’s a safe beach for kids too.

However, it’s also known as a secret nude beach—so you might be surprised by what you see!
By the way, public nudity is illegal in St. Thomas!

3. Paradise Point

A recommended tourist spot for families too! This place has even been chosen as one of the best tourist attractions.

Hop on the Skyride, a cable car that takes you up 700 ft, and you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views! St. Thomas Island is a major cruise port for ships departing from the U.S., and from the Paradise Point observation deck, you’ll have a perfect view of the luxurious cruise ships below.

You can also clearly see the nearby islands. After enjoying the scenery, make sure to have a refreshing cocktail at the bar—it's a highlight of this place! Visiting at sunset is also a great idea. Watch the sun set over the Caribbean Sea and enjoy the view of Downtown Charlotte Amalie bathed in golden light. It's one of St. Thomas Island’s most popular sightseeing spots!

If you’re arriving by cruise ship, you can walk from the port to the Skyride station. And here’s a tip: admission is a little cheaper on Wednesday nights!

4. Shopping in Charlotte Amalie

For shopping lovers, this is a must-visit spot! Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the Virgin Islands. St. Thomas Island is known as a tax haven, and its downtown area, Charlotte Amalie, features around 350 shops along Main Street!

As soon as the cruise ships arrive, this tourist area comes alive with people shopping.

Highly recommended items are diamonds and other precious gems—you'll likely find them at much better prices compared to mainland U.S.! Be sure to check it out. Aside from jewelry, there are souvenir shops, high-end brand stores, watches, tobacco, perfumes, and more. Why not bring back something special as a memory of your trip?

Since St. Thomas Island was once a Danish territory, you can also enjoy sightseeing the Danish-style buildings while shopping!

5. Coral World

This is an aquarium featuring marine life from the Caribbean Sea, offering experiences you can't easily have out in the open ocean.

The top recommendation is swimming with sea turtles in the pool. You can even touch them! Their large, gentle movements are truly soothing and impressive.

Another fun activity is Sea Trek! You’ll wear a special helmet that lets you breathe underwater while you take a walk along the ocean floor right next to the sea. Even kids can safely enjoy interacting with marine life this way. You'll find lots of colorful fish swimming around you!

For those looking for a little more adventure, try SNUBA. It’s similar to scuba diving, but you’re connected to a surface air supply via a rope, which makes it feel safer and easier.

There’s also a touch pool where you can interact with sea cucumbers and starfish, as well as a shark pool. Plus, there’s an on-site restaurant with a beautiful view, making this a perfect all-day attraction on St. Thomas Island.

6. Coki Beach

The water here is so clear it’s hard to believe! Just step into the sea, and you’ll easily spot plenty of fish swimming around.

Coki Beach is located right next to Coral World, and most of Coral World’s ocean activities take place in these waters. It’s one of the best-known tourist spots on St. Thomas Island for seeing a wide variety of marine life.

You can rent snorkeling gear here, and they even give you fish food so you can enjoy snorkeling while feeding the fish. Beautiful tropical fish will come right up to you!

You’ll also often see wild iguanas wandering around the area. They’re gentle and friendly, so don’t forget to snap a photo with them as a souvenir!

7. 99 Steps

The 99 Steps are a historical staircase located on a hill in Charlotte Amalie, the downtown area of St. Thomas Island. It’s situated in the area called Government Hill and consists of exactly 99 stone steps. Why not get a bit of exercise while sightseeing? Although the steps are well maintained, there are also steep paths in the area, so it’s recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

Look for the slightly mysterious pink hotel—that’s the landmark marking the start of the climb. First, be sure to take a photo with the stylish sign that says "99 Steps." Both sides of the staircase are lined with palm trees, tropical flowers, and fruit-bearing plants, creating a rich island atmosphere.

St. Thomas Island is known for its hilly terrain, so as you climb, you can enjoy the charming houses built on the slopes.

And your reward at the top? A stunning view of the blue sea stretching out below! You might even catch a glimpse of cruise ships docked in the harbor.

8. Blackbeard’s Castle

After sweating your way up the 99 Steps, why not visit Blackbeard’s Castle next?

This structure is designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Built in 1679, it originally served as a watchtower to protect the harbor. Back then, it was known as Skytsborg Tower, meaning "protection tower," and was used by Danish soldiers to spot enemy ships.

Later on, the infamous pirate Edward Teach—better known as Blackbeard—took over the tower for his own use. Eventually, it became known as Blackbeard’s Castle, named after his notorious nickname.

Today, it’s surrounded by hotels, and the area is part of popular walking tours. It’s easy to understand why pirates would have loved this spot—the view from here is absolutely breathtaking!

9. Atlantis Submarine Trip

Experience one of the most popular tourist activities on St. Thomas Island! In 2005, it was even awarded Best Local Tour in the Virgin Islands.

From the port of St. Thomas, you’ll take a boat ride for about 20 minutes before boarding a special submarine. Over the course of about an hour, you’ll be able to view coral reefs, colorful fish, and even sharks from beneath the sea. Experienced staff will provide detailed explanations about each of the sea creatures you encounter.

Once you descend about 30 meters underwater, you’ll be amazed at the deep blue color of the ocean—it’s a breathtaking sight! You don’t even have to get wet to explore the ocean world, making it a popular activity for young children (ages 4 and up). It’s also a great option for those who aren’t into marine sports.

Because this is such a popular activity, advance reservations are highly recommended.

10. Fort Christian

Fort Christian was used as a fortress during the period of Danish rule from 1672 to 1680. It is the oldest existing building in the Virgin Islands.

At one point, there were as many as 21 buildings within the fort complex, and it continued to expand between 1724 and 1745, serving an important role as a government building. One of its highlights is its incredibly thick walls, ranging from 90 cm to 180 cm, which were built to protect against raiders.

You can enjoy learning about the history of St. Thomas Island while admiring this beautiful European-style architecture. However, note that Fort Christian is sometimes closed, so if this spot is a priority for you, be sure to check ahead.

11. Zipline

Take in the breathtaking views of St. Thomas from a zipline adventure!

With six different ziplines, you’ll fly through the air while overlooking the deep blue sea, Magens Bay Beach, the BVIs (British Virgin Islands), and other famous sights around St. Thomas Island. It’s guaranteed to be a full-on adrenaline rush!

Why not experience the stunning views of St. Thomas—ranked among the world’s Top 10 by National Geographic—on the Caribbean’s only zipline? It will be a memory you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

◎ Summary

We’ve introduced some of the best spots to visit on St. Thomas Island.

Not only does it offer beautiful beaches, but also historical buildings, exciting activities, and plenty of shopping. You can easily visit by taking a cruise from the U.S. that docks at St. Thomas. There’s a once-in-a-lifetime view waiting for you here—you don’t want to miss it!

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Popular with cruise passengers too! 11 Recommended Tourist Spots in St. Thomas Island, Caribbean