White sand and turquoise water at Trunk Bay, St. John
America’s Caribbean

U.S. Virgin IslandsSt. Thomas · St. John · St. Croix

No passport needed for U.S. citizens. Duty-free shopping in Charlotte Amalie, national-park beaches on St. John, and Danish colonial towns on St. Croix.

Before you go: U.S. citizens need no passport arriving from the mainland. Bring one if you plan to visit the BVI. Currency: U.S. dollar.

Beachfront stays, private-island hideaways, and easygoing hotels.

Resorts & hotels

See all resorts
Charlotte Amalie harbor on St. Thomas
Luxury

The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

Great Bay, St. Thomas

Polished oceanfront resort on the east end with a lagoon-side pool, spa, and views toward St. John.

Website
Frenchman’s Reef resort on a hillside above the harbor
Family friendly

Frenchman’s Reef

Morningstar Beach, St. Thomas

Reopened clifftop resort complex with The Westin and Margaritaville Vacation Club, minutes from Charlotte Amalie.

Website
How to hop between islands by ferry, car barge, and seaplane.

Ferries & getting around

See all ferries
Boats in the harbor at Red Hook, St. Thomas
Most popular

Red Hook ↔ Cruz Bay passenger ferry

St. Thomas ↔ St. John

The main hop to St. John: about 20 minutes, departing roughly hourly through the day. Pay at the dock.

Website
Cruz Bay town and harbor on St. John
From downtown

Charlotte Amalie ↔ Cruz Bay ferry

St. Thomas ↔ St. John

A longer, scenic ride from the downtown waterfront, handy if you are staying near town or the cruise piers.

Bareboat and crewed yachts, catamaran day sails, and snorkel trips.

Boat & sailing charters

See all charters
Charter boats moored at Red Hook
Crewed & bareboat

Island Yacht Charters

Red Hook, St. Thomas

Long-running charter company offering crewed and bareboat yachts for multi-day Virgin Islands cruising.

Website
Boats in Charlotte Amalie harbor
Bareboat

CYOA Yacht Charters

Frenchtown, St. Thomas

Bareboat and crewed sailboats and catamarans based at Frenchtown Marina, close to the airport.

Website
Island classics, waterfront dinners, and toes-in-the-sand bars.

Restaurants & beach bars

See all restaurants
Main Street in Charlotte Amalie
Local classic

Gladys’ Cafe

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Downtown institution for West Indian cooking: saltfish, conch in butter sauce, and famous hot sauces.

Charlotte Amalie harbor at dusk
Date night

Oceana Restaurant

Frenchtown, St. Thomas

Waterfront fine dining in a historic villa with sunset harbor views.

The beaches, reefs, ruins, and viewpoints worth planning around.

Beaches & attractions

See all attractions
Magens Bay beach seen from above
Beach

Magens Bay

North shore, St. Thomas

A mile of calm, sheltered sand often ranked among the world’s best beaches. Small entry fee.

Website
Trunk Bay’s white sand and turquoise water
National park

Trunk Bay

Virgin Islands National Park, St. John

Postcard beach with an underwater snorkel trail. Arrive early; park fee applies.

Website
Local know-how

USVI travel tips

Drive on the left

Cars are left-hand drive, but traffic keeps left. Go slow on steep, winding roads.

Book St. John early

Villas, rental Jeeps, and the car barge fill up in winter and holiday weeks.

Reef-safe sunscreen

Oxybenzone sunscreens are banned in the USVI. Pack a mineral formula.