9 Best Things to do in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

St. Thomas is the most visited island in the US Virgin Islands. If you’re planning a trip to the US Virgin Islands, it’s definitely worth spending a few days on St. Thomas. This island is very diverse and has something to do for every type of traveler. Whether you prefer relaxing on the beach, taking in mountain views, or spending your time out on the water, you’ll never be bored when traveling to St. Thomas!

I just spent 5 days traveling around the US Virgin Islands and spent most of my time on St. Thomas. Every day I spent on St. Thomas was packed full of adventure and I find it to be such an underrated destination!

One thing to know about St. Thomas is that it is a very popular cruise port so I highly recommend checking the cruise ship schedule when planning your itinerary. Some things on this list you may want to save for day when there are little to no cruise ships on the island. There was one day on my trip where there were five ships in one day and all the popular beaches were extremely crowded!

With that said, there are plenty of off the beaten path things to do in St. Thomas that are easy to add into your itinerary. While there’s an endless amount of things to do in St. Thomas, in this blog I’ll go over the top 10 things to do on the island that I personally think cannot be missed!

Explore all the best things to do in St. Thomas:

Know Before You Go

Before we dive in to the best things to do in St. Thomas, there are a few things you’ll need to know before going on your trip.

First, to make the most of your trip and experience all the best things to do in St. Thomas, I highly recommend renting a car for your trip. While taxis are widely available on the island, I found it much easier to have my own car so I could explore at my own pace and not have to worry about the stress of finding a taxi every time I wanted to go somewhere, especially to the more remote areas of St. Thomas.

Renting a car in St. Thomas is fairly easy and can be picked up when you land at the airport. If you are planning to drive on St. Thomas or any of the Virgin Islands, be prepared that they drive on the left side of the road here which can be difficult to get used to at first.

Best time to visit St. Thomas

The best time to visit St. Thomas or any of the United States Virgin Islands is from December to May. This is when the islands have the best weather. The downside of visiting St. Thomas during this time is that it tends to bring in the most crowds and the highest prices for flights and hotels.

I personally visited St. Thomas during March and the weather was perfect, only reaching around 80 degrees during the day and in the 70s at night. We experienced a few rain showers on our trip but they only lasted a few minutes before passing.

It is best to avoid the islands during hurricane season which typically runs from the beginning of June through the end of November for most Caribbean islands.

Where to stay in St. Thomas

St. Thomas has many options for accommodations, ranging from vacation rentals and hotels and resorts. Sapphire Beach and Frenchman’s Cove are two popular areas to stay on the island and a great place to base yourself in order to explore all the best things to do on St. Thomas island!

Best for luxury: The Westin Frenchman’s Reef, Marriott Frenchman’s Cove, The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, & Buoy Haus Beach Resort

Affordable Resorts: Margaritaville Vacation Club & The Pink Palm Hotel

Vacation Rentals: Sapphire Beach Condo – I stayed at this VRBO for the first part of my trip to St. Thomas and it was the perfect place to stay! The location was great right on Sapphire Beach walking distance to several restaurants and a quick drive over to the marina in Red Hook.

Vacation Rentals are probably the most popular form of accommodation on St. Thomas and are widely available on the island. I highly recommend browsing Airbnb and VRBO for options if you don’t want to stay at a hotel or if you have a large group!

Now that you know exactly how to plan your trip to the US Virgin Islands, let’s talk about all the best things to do on St Thomas!

1. Smith Bay & Lindqvist Beach

One of my favorite things to do in St. Thomas was spend the morning at Lindqvist Beach that is set on Smith Bay. This is a less busy and not as popular beach on St. Thomas and is a great thing to do on days where there are a lot of cruise ships on the island.

The water in St. Thomas is incredible but I think it was the absolute best here at Smith Bay!

Smith Bay does have an entrance fee of $7 per person and $5 for parking if you are driving a car. This is a pretty standard cost for paid beaches in the US Virgin Islands. I found this was pretty common across St. Thomas and St. John.

Smith Bay DOES NOT have any food or drink options available like some of the others. If you plan to visit Smith Bay and stay awhile, I recommend bringing a cooler with your own food and drinks!

2. Go on a snorkel trip

Going on a snorkel tour on your trip to St. Thomas is an absolute must! Viewing the Virgin Islands from the water is a view you don’t want to miss. There’s plenty of beaches in St. Thomas where you can snorkel right off the beach for free, but I think spending a day out on the water is one of the best parts of visiting the US Virgin Islands!

Pro Tip: Bring your own snorkel gear so you can snorkel off the beach/have your own if you decide to book a tour

On my trip to St. Thomas, I booked a half day snorkel trip that took us snorkeling off the coast of Lovango Cay which is located between St. Thomas and St. John. The water here was clear and we saw some tropical fish, a sea turtle, and some other people in our group even swam with a nurse shark!

When looking for snorkel tours to book, I highly recommend booking a tour that makes a stop at Lime Out VI! Lime Out is a floating taco bar off the coast of St. John and is a great addition to a St. Thomas snorkel tour.

I booked THIS snorkel tour that departed from The Westin Frenchman’s Reef in St. Thomas and included snorkeling at Lovango Cay, a one hour boat tour around St. John, an open bar on board, and 2 tacos for lunch from Lime Out VI with some time to hang out around the floating taco bar!

3. Sapphire Beach

Sapphire Beach is another must-visit beach on your trip to St. Thomas! This beach has the softest white sand and crystal clear blue waters. If you’re trying to decide where to stay on your trip to St. Thomas, Sapphire Beach is a great location on the island!

Sapphire beach is one of the more popular beaches in St. Thomas so I recommend arriving early to secure your spot. It is a free to visit Sapphire Beach but chair rentals are available for a fee. There are also cabanas available for rent at the beach club.

Sapphire Beach has a beach bar, pizza restaurant, coffee shop (make sure to grab one of their delicious breakfast sandwiches!), and a seafood restaurant called SeaSalt which also offers brunch every Saturday.

4. Red Hook

Red Hook is a small town on St Thomas island, and is a must-visit on your trip, especially if you are looking for good food. Not only does Red Hook have some of the best dining options on the island but its also a good place to do some souvenir shopping and take in the views of the marina.

If you’re looking for some places to grab dinner in Red Hook, check out Agave Tequila Bar and Mexican Kitchen. This was probably one of my favorite restaurants that I ate at on my trip to St. Thomas!

Red Hook is also a great place to go if you’re looking for somewhere to have brunch. On my last morning in St. Thomas, I had brunch at Hook’d. This restaurant is right on the water with perfect views of the marina! They also had delicious french toast and banana pancakes!

If you don’t want a sit-down breakfast, stop by Lattes in Paradise! This is a coffee bar right next to the water where you can grab a coffee and breakfast to go or sit at one of the tables overlooking the marina!

5. Coki Beach

If you’re looking for a spot where you can have lunch right on the beach, head over to Coki Beach! Coki Beach is one of the most popular beaches on St. Thomas so make sure to get there early if you want to have a spot or visit on a day that doesn’t have many cruise ships on the island.

Coki Beach is free to visit but it does cost $5 to park in the parking lot if you aren’t able to find parking on the street which fills up quickly. Beach chairs and umbrellas are also available on Coki Beach for additional costs.

There is a beach bar and restaurant on Coki Beach that has a wide variety of food and drinks. From sandwiches and wraps to seafood and jerk chicken, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for on the menu! You can grab a seat inside the restaurant or have them bring it out to your chairs as they have a server walking around the beach and taking orders.

Coki Beach is also home to Coral World Ocean Park however, I highly advise against visiting Coral World because it keeps captive dolphins which is an unethical tourism practice. There are plenty of opportunities in St Thomas to interact with marine life in wild and in a more ethical way.

Coki Beach Snorkel Experience:

6. Charlotte Amalie

If you’re looking for free things to do in St Thomas, walking around Charlotte Amalie and taking in the historical sites is a great way to spend your time! Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the US Virgin Islands and it’s also the cruise port on St. Thomas so it does tend to get crowded, especially when the cruise ships come in.

Charlotte Amalie not only has the best shopping in St Thomas, but it’s also rich with history and has beautiful Danish colonial architecture! You’ll also find a large selection of bars and restaurants in addition to souvenir shops and even some brand name stores. Charlotte Amalie is a perfect stop on your itinerary when heading back to the cruise ship or even the airport.

Try taking a Charlotte Amalie Food Tour!

7. Magens Bay

Magens Bay is located on the Northern coast of St. Thomas and is by far the most popular beach on the island. Magens Bay is a must visit on your trip to St. Thomas, but you’ll definitely want to check the cruise ship schedule before you go as this is a popular spot for cruise ship passengers.

Magens Bay is not a free beach and it does cost $7 per person for the day. You can also buy your passes online before you arrive. Magens Bay has hiking trails, a beach bar and restaurant, shed and chair rentals, and water activity rentals such as paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkel gear.

Magens Bay may be a popular beach, but it is also 1 mile long giving plenty of space for visitors to spread out. It tends to get the most crowded near the restaurant and bar but if you go all the way to the end of the beach, you may end up having it all to yourself!

8. Mountain Top

Mountain Top is probably one of the most unique St Thomas activities that you have to do on your trip! Mountain Top is a large souvenir shop located at 1500 ft which is the highest point on St. Thomas!

Not only is this souvenir shop located at the top of the mountain, it also features a bar inside which is home to their world-famous banana daiquiris! Once you grab a banana daiquiri from the bar at the back of the store, you can walk out to their outdoor patio/observation deck which overlooks Magens Bay, St. Thomas, and 15 of the Virgin Islands!

The banana daiquiris are delicious, but the view from the observation deck at Mountain Top is something you do not want to miss on your St. Thomas vacation! This is also a great place to grab some souvenirs!

9. Day Trip to St. John

If you’re planning a trip to the US Virgin Islands, St. John is a MUST visit on your trip! St. John was my favorite part of my trip even though I did stay on St. Thomas for my whole trip. Luckily, it’s extremely easy to travel from St. Thomas to St. John on the ferry and it’s only about a 15 minute ride.

If you have a rental car, you can go over with your car on the car ferry or you can just take the passenger ferry and take taxis around the island. Personally, I recommend having your own car to explore at your own pace. The only downside to that it that you have to leave earlier to get back to St. Thomas because there are not as many ferry options available.

St. John has some incredible beaches including Trunk Bay which was rated the number one beach in the world for 2024! It also has great snorkeling and the island is mostly National Park so you can really explore the outdoors when visiting St. John!

FAQ

How many days do I need in St. Thomas?

If possible I recommend at least a week in St. Thomas. This would give you enough time explore the whole island plus go over to St. John for a day and possibly even hop over to the British Virgin Islands if you bring your passport! I personally spent 6 days in St. Thomas and got a good feel of the island during that time.

Is it safe to drive in St. Thomas?

Yes! It is safe to drive in St. Thomas but it is a little different than driving in the States because they do drive on the left side of the road which can be difficult to get used to at first. St. Thomas is also a mountainous island so the roads can be pretty steep and bumpy. If you want the most flexibility with driving I would get a Jeep but I was fine with just using a regular car during my trip!

Can you drink the water in St. Thomas?

Yes, the water in St. Thomas is safe to drink but bottled water is always better. I did drink the tap water a few times on my trip and didn’t have any issues. I always recommend bringing probiotics to take everyday of your trip when traveling anywhere just to be safe! You can also bring a long a filtered water bottle just to give yourself extra peace of mind when drinking the tap water in a new location.