St. Thomas, a primary island of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea, is a 32-square-mile volcanic island known for its stunning harbors and rugged, hilly terrain.
Located about 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, it features the territorial capital and bustling port city of Charlotte Amalie.
People born in St. Thomas are United States citizens at birth. As a constituent island of the U.S. Virgin Islands, an unincorporated U.S. territory, St. Thomas residents acquire statutory citizenship under the Immigration and nationality act.
St. Thomas is special because it perfectly blends Caribbean beauty with a cosmopolitan vibe.
As the gateway to the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is famous for its duty-free shopping, lively culture, and iconic spots like the horseshoe-shaped Magens Bay and historic Charlotte Amalie.
Shopping Capital: Charlotte Amalie is world-renowned as a duty-free shopping mecca, where visitors can score deals on jewelry, perfumes, and electronics.
World-Class Beaches: The Island features spectacular coastlines, most notably Magens Bay, known for its calm, crystal-clear waters and powdery white sand.
Visitors can explore centuries-old structures like Fort Christian (dating back to 1680) and the centuries-old St. Thomas Synagogue.
Easy Island Hopping: It serves as a prime, convenient base for exploring neighboring islands, including a quick ferry ride to the pristine beaches of St. John.
The island boasts an electric nightlife with beach bars, live steel-pan music, and local culinary staples like savory patties and kallaloo.
St. Thomas is home to roughly 42,000 residents. While English is the official language, a blend of West Indian dialects is widely spoken, and welcoming greetings like “Good morning” are heavily customary.
The island uses U.S. currency and operates heavily on tourism, welcoming close to two million visitors per year via major cruise ship ports like Havensight.
St. Thomas is home to a campus of the University of the Virgin Islands, which is renowned for its robust marine biology and environmental science programs due to the island’s unique coral reefs and diverse marine ecosystems.
We had a great stay in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. We had the pleasure of visiting,
Mountain Top: Located 1,500 feet above sea level, this is the island’s premier vantage point. From its expansive observation deck, you can see more than 15 surrounding islands, including St. John and the British Virgin Islands.
You basically drive to the top and then get a banana daiquiri ( soooo good!) and then go to the deck and admire the view.
It is also famous for its world-class duty-free shopping and signature banana daiquiris.
Paradise Point: For a slightly lower but incredibly iconic view, take the Skyride to Paradise Point tram.
Rising 700 feet above Charlotte Amalie harbor, it offers breathtaking views of the cruise ships, the historic downtown area, and the Caribbean Sea.
We had a pleasure of meeting 5 different vendors while we were at Paradise Point, we met Mr. Opal live steel-pan music, entertainer. Who was selling his CD’s with his steel-pan music, which he does for a living.
Mr. Opal was taught by his father how to play steel-pan, when he is not selling at his booth, he plays at restaurants and different locations throughout ST Thomas Island.
I donated $20.00 to him and told him to hold onto the CD’S as he had a very minimum stock to sell that day. I told him to play live so I can record on my video camera, so I can remember him. We also took a picture. It is always great to help local Artisan vendors who are struggling to make a living.
There were 5 other vendors selling souvenirs, like jewelry, shirts, homemade creations, and a person selling cold drinks.
(Famous Banana Daiquiri) at Mountain Top: We had Mrs. Blades Manager of Famous Banana Daiquiri, who made a Fresh Banana Daiquiri, with all the fresh indigridients, She made one for me which was a (Mocktail version Non-Alcoholic, due to my religious observance) .
It tasted fresh, you can taste the fresh bananas, with each sip you take. It was a very refreshing drink.
I asked and nearby tourist by the name of Ronald, who was from North Carolina, on Holiday with his wife.
I asked him if he would try The Alcoholic version, and give an opinion, he said he will be happy to. But was shy to come on Camera.
Once Roland tasted it. He immediately told me, wow this is a drink that is a thirst quencher, and it is so tasteful, you want to immediately take another sip. He went on to say you can taste the freshness and how it the bananas were infused with the ice and other indigridients in it.
When I asked Mrs. Blades the manager who made the drink, she said with a smile we cannot share the recipes and how we make it. They might be out of business very fast.
7 million Famous Banana Daiquiri’s sold and it is safe to say this iconic location is the Banana Daiquiri capital of the world. Should you be in St Thomas, do stop by Famous Banana Daiquiri at Mountain Top ask for Mrs. Blades and tell her (The Doc). Sent you, to get a deep discount.
Just as I said good bye to Mrs. Blades, Ronald came over and said, I want to get another for me and my wife. It was so good. I thanked him and wished him the best as I left.
Coki Beach: Coki Beach (sometimes called Coki Point), one of the most popular and vibrant spots in St. Thomas, USVI. Famous for crystal-clear water and world-class shore snorkeling, it features a lively Caribbean atmosphere with local food stands, beach vendors, and reggae music.
Widely considered the best shore snorkeling on the island. The shallow, calm waters on the right side are teeming with colorful tropical fish (like yellowtail snapper and sergeant majors) and coral.
Visitors can rent beach chairs and umbrellas, and grab fresh seafood and tropical drinks right on the sand.
Yes, Coki Beach in St. Thomas is completely free to access. However, if you drive a rental car, you will need to pay a small cash fee of $5 to park in the nearby dirt lot.
It is famous for crystal-clear water and exceptional snorkeling. Dive shops on the beach rent equipment and offer diving lessons.
The beach is lined with local vendors offering cold drinks, fresh smoothies, and Caribbean food.
We stayed on the beach, for good 2 hours, it was very crowded the weather was very hot in the 90’s.
We mostly walked on the beach, it was very clean, a lot of people sunbathing, some sitting in their deck chairs and reading as their children were swimming in shallow end of the beach.
We tried a fresh snapper, at one of the food booths on the beach. It tasted well. The fish was heavy and not cooked well done as we told the chef to make it that way.
So I would say, in our opinion fish was not what we wanted. But we did enjoy a Pina Colada each (Virgin). Which tasted very fresh and was very filling.
Downtown Charlotte Amalie, Duty Free Shopping Capital in the Caribbean: The epicenter of Caribbean luxury. Wander down Main Street (Dronningens Gade) and the nearby alleys for high-end retailers, or check out the open-air Palm Passage for unique boutiques.
Havensight Mall: Located directly at the cruise ship docks, this area is highly accessible and features well-stocked stores for jewelry, sunglasses, and souvenirs.
Yacht Haven Grande: Within walking distance of the Havensight docks, this prestigious complex offers high-end designer boutiques, fine dining, and complimentary luggage checks.
Duty-Free Allowances: U.S. residents can bring back $1,600 worth of goods per person, including 5 liters of liquor tax-free (provided at least one liter is produced in the U.S. Virgin Islands).
Main Street (Dronningens Gade): Lined with historic buildings previously used as pirate warehouses, this cobblestone street is packed with jewelers (like Diamonds International and Cardow Jewelers), high-end watches, perfumes, and liquor.
If you want to skip the high-end jewelry for more authentic, artisanal goods, visit these spots:
Zora’s: Located near the downtown area, famous for custom-made leather sandals and locally crafted goods.
Tillett Gardens: An arts and crafts oasis where local artists make and sell pottery, silk-screened fabrics, and paintings.
I always look for local Artisanal vendors, making there own products and selling them for a good prices.
Yes I see so many luxury Stores, here in New York City (Shopping Capital of the World).
Then again people like to shop, at a company there are familiar with back home and they see a same company at another destination, they like to attend and shop there. Which is known as brand loyalty.
That day I was window shopping, as I had helped Opal our CD Friend. I always like to help people who are struggling and trying to make a living in an honorable and honest way. I make sure that I do that every time I go on vacation.
I have been around 30 Countries worldwide so far, and plan on doubling that in the next few years. As I love to travel.
Sky ride to Paradise Point: The Experience: This aerial tramway features open-air gondola cars that pull visitors about 700 feet up to the summit of Flag Hill in just about 5-7 minutes.
The base station is conveniently located right across from the Havensight cruise ship dock in Charlotte Amalie.
At the Top: The summit offers panoramic views of the harbor, St. Thomas, and the cruise ships. It features gift shops, restaurants, and a bar.
We had a great time in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Tour May 2026, if you are interested in learning more about Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, click here.
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