The Best Places to Visit in Saint Kitts and Nevis
St Kitts and Nevis is a small twin-island country in the Caribbean, and is known for being very green and quiet on both of it’s two islands. The two islands are, believe it or not, called Saint Kitts, and Nevis. They each have volcanic mountains, rainforests, black-sand and white-sand beaches, and a strong sense of local pride. It’s not a typical Caribbean destination, as there isn’t parties or nightlife like some of the other islands. However, it is still a stop on many Caribbean cruises, so people do get to experience the beauty of the island.
Capital: Basseterre
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Language: English
When to visit: December to May
1) Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts is the larger of the two islands, and is the more popular destination out of the two (although they are just a short ferry apart). It’s filled with super lush rainforests across the central parts of the island, and stunning beaches which line the outskirts. It has a population of around 40,000, and the capital city is on the coast of Saint Kitts too.
Things to do:
The capital city of Basseterre is likely where you’ll enter through. It’s small, but you can walk through the streets and experience the local life, while checking out spots like Independence Square and the National Museum. In the northeast of the island is the incredible spot of the Brimstone Hill Fortress. It was built by the British in the 17th century, and it sits high up on the hill with excellent views of the island. This is a must visit for sure. South of the capital is the southeast peninsula of the island, which has some nice white sand beaches such as Cockleshell Bay, Gong Beach, and South Friars Bay. There is also a shipwreck on the southwest of the peninsula too. And finally, a main thing tourists like to do is the St Kitts Scenic Railway, which takes passengers on a 3 hour to loop the island and see the beauty of the Caribbean.
How to get there:
Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) has direct flights from a small selection of airports around the Americas.
Otherwise, many Caribbean cruises stop in Basseterre.
2) Nevis
The island of Nevis is the much smaller, ‘second island’ to St. Kitts and Nevis, with a population of not even 14,000 people. That doesn’t take away from the vibe at all of course. It still boasts sandy beaches and endless places to relax, as well as a big mountain in the island’s center. It is less developed than its counterpart, meaning significantly less crowds. An interesting fact is that the island was also the birthplace of historic figure, Alexander Hamilton.
Things to do:
The longest stretch of beach on the island is Pinney's Beach, which goes on for about 5km and is the perfect place to swim and chill. The capital of Nevis is Charlestown, which has some small shops and colonial buildings, but nothing crazy. Nevis may be better than St. Kitts for trails though, as you can do the hike to Nevis Peak which is about a 5 hour round trip. It’s a steep hike, but you’re climbing a dormant volcano after all. Both Lovers Beach and Oualie Beach are good too.
How to get there:
Simply take the passenger ferry from Basseterre to Charlestown.
Support the Site
If these guides have helped your travels, consider buying me a coffee ~ it helps keeps the content free!
buymeacoffee.com/roamingideas