Ben Whitney, Public domain
St Thomas
St Thomas is one of the United States Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, with the harbour town of Charlotte Amalie and beaches such as Magens Bay.
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Where to stay, by what matters to you
Best things to do in St Thomas
The one thing not to miss
Take the ferry to St John, where about 60 per cent of the island is Virgin Islands National Park. Wikipedia says the most frequent ferries leave from Red Hook, roughly hourly.
A day trip to St John-
Ben Whitney, Public domain 1. A day trip to St John
The neighbouring island is mostly protected: Virgin Islands National Park, created in 1956, covers about 60 per cent of it, and Trunk Bay lies inside the park. Ferries reach Cruz Bay from Red Hook about hourly and from Charlotte Amalie about three times a day.
We have not confirmed current ferry times, fares or park fees; check with the operators and the National Park Service before you go.
11,165 readers a month
2. A day trip to Tortola
The largest of the British Virgin Islands, with beaches on the north coast such as Cane Garden Bay and Long Bay, and Sage Mountain, the highest point at 530 m. Several ferry companies run from Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook to Road Town or West End.
This is a trip to another territory. Wikipedia does not cover passport or entry rules; check official government sources before booking.
8,811 readers a month
Sources
3. Charlotte Amalie
The capital, founded in 1666, and one of the Caribbean's busiest cruise ports. Fort Christian, begun in 1672, is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands, and Emancipation Garden sits at the heart of downtown beside the Vendors' Market.
We have not confirmed whether Fort Christian is open to visitors; check before you go.
7,388 readers a month
4. Virgin Gorda and The Baths
The Baths, on the island's southern end, is a pile of huge granite boulders on the beach that form grottoes open to the sea, and one of the British Virgin Islands' major draws. Ferries serve Virgin Gorda from Tortola, St Thomas and St John.
This is a trip to another territory. Wikipedia does not cover passport or entry rules or ferry times; check official sources first.
3,324 readers a month
5. Water Island
A small residential island in Charlotte Amalie harbour. A passenger ferry runs from Crown Bay on St Thomas to Phillips Landing in about 10 minutes, and golf carts can be rented at the landing. Honeymoon Beach on Druif Bay is the main attraction.
We have not confirmed ferry times or fares; check before you go.
1,588 readers a month
Legis auf English Wikipedia, Public domain 6. Jost Van Dyke
A small British Virgin Island of fewer than 300 residents. Great Harbour has a strip of small bars and restaurants, and White Bay is lined with beach bars. Reached by ferry from Tortola, St Thomas and St John, or by private boat.
This is a trip to another territory. Wikipedia does not cover passport or customs rules or ferry times; check official sources first.
1,576 readers a month
Sources
7. Magens Bay
A beach of nearly three quarters of a mile on St Thomas's north shore, run by the Magens Bay Authority. Wikipedia says it draws about 300,000 visitors a year, and lists entry at $7 for visitors with children under 12 free, plus a parking fee.
The entry fee quoted here comes from Wikipedia and may be out of date; confirm it with the Magens Bay Authority.
1,105 readers a month
Sources
Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain 8. St Thomas Synagogue
The Reform congregation was founded in 1796 by Sephardic Jews, and the present building dates from 1833. Wikipedia calls it the second-oldest synagogue in the United States.
Wikipedia gives no visiting hours or tour details; check with the congregation before you go.
518 readers a month
9. Hassel Island
A small island in Charlotte Amalie harbour, once a peninsula of St Thomas. Most of it belongs to Virgin Islands National Park, and it holds ruins of Danish and British forts and the Creque Marine Railway, a steam-powered ship railway from the 1840s. Limited guided kayak and hiking tours are offered.
Wikipedia does not say how to reach the island; check with a tour operator or the National Park Service.
319 readers a month
Just missed the list: Coral World Ocean Park (10th by readers; not checked for current opening); Coki Beach (11th by readers; a beach on St Thomas's east end)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. A day trip to St John leads with about 11,165 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.