12 beaches and bays on St. Thomas
This list covers beaches on St. Thomas itself. Honeymoon Beach on Water Island and Trunk Bay on St. John are separate trips by ferry and are not part of the count. The order reflects how many visitors use the beaches, not a measured ranking, and "best" always depends on what you want: calm water, snorkeling, facilities or space.
The territory tests the water of its beaches every week, and that matters here. A beach that is lovely one week can carry a swimming warning the next. The section on water tests below explains how to read the reports.
The seven main beaches (1 to 7)
These beaches have their own facts, fees or snorkeling notes.
1. Magens Bay
A paid park run by the Magens Bay Authority. Non-resident adults pay $7 per day, children under 12 enter free, and parking costs $2. The Authority lists daily hours of 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. Monthly passes cost $40 for a non-resident. Taxis from Havensight are published at $15 for one rider and $12 per person for groups, and from Crown Bay at $18 and $15.
Magens Bay guide →2. Coki Beach
At Coki Point, right beside Coral World. Lounger and snorkel gear rentals and snacks are available, but no single 2026 price list exists, so ask first. Coral World gives a parking pass to its ticket buyers, so get the pass before you head to the beach. The weekly tests rated Coki unsafe for swimming on 4, 11 and 18 September and on 2 October 2026, and it met the standard on 16 October.
Coki Beach guide →3. Sapphire Beach
Near Red Hook, with snorkeling entry from the beach. The rocky ends, especially the eastern edge, are the usual spots. Seagrass nearby is turtle habitat. Parking is listed as available, but no fee is published, so ask on arrival.
Sapphire Beach guide →4. Lindquist Beach
The beach of Smith Bay Park on the East End, run by the Magens Bay Authority, with the same $7 fee for non-resident adults, free entry for children under 12 and $2 parking. Toilets and picnic pavilions are on site. Sargassum closed the beach in early July 2026, and a swimming ban applied without lifeguards. The Authority's site mentions rentals such as loungers and kayaks, while the tourism board describes the beach without rentals or food, so bring what you need.
Lindquist on the Sapphire Beach page →5. Brewers Bay
Next to the University of the Virgin Islands campus and close to the airport. Seagrass beds are home to green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. Bring your own gear, because rentals are not listed there. Do not count on seeing a turtle.
6. Hull Bay
On the North Shore and open to the Atlantic side, with surfing and snorkeling. The tourism board names rougher water as the reason for the surf, so do not assume the bay is calm enough for small children.
7. Secret Harbour
An East End beach that you can visit without a resort day pass. Bring your own towels. The resort loungers, umbrellas and pool are for guests, and loungers may be rented separately at the dive shop.
St. Thomas beach and snorkeling trips
Snorkeling trips, catamaran sails and island tours with beach stops, with live prices and availability.
Five more bays on the water-test list (8 to 12)
These bays appear on the territory's list of St. Thomas swimming beaches. Check access, parking and facilities locally before you drive over.
8. Lindbergh Bay
A St. Thomas swimming beach on the weekly test list. It was rated unsafe for swimming on 2 October 2026 and met the standard on 16 October.
9. Vessup Bay
On the weekly test list. The tests rated it unsafe on 31 July and on 25 September 2026, and it met the standard on 16 October.
10. Bolongo Bay
On the weekly test list. It was rated unsafe for swimming on 31 July 2026 and met the standard on 16 October.
11. Bluebeard's Beach
Listed under this name in the territory's water tests. It was rated unsafe on 31 July 2026 and was not sampled on 7 August and 4 September, which means the result is unknown, not that the beach is closed.
12. Frenchman's Bay
On the weekly test list. The report of 9 October 2026 rated it unsafe, and it met the standard in the report of 16 October.
St. Thomas beaches at a glance
The first seven in short.
| Beach | Area | Fee in 2026 | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magens Bay | North side | $7 adult non-resident, parking $2 | A paid park beach |
| Coki Beach | Coki Point | – | Snorkeling next to Coral World |
| Sapphire Beach | East, near Red Hook | – | Snorkeling from the shore |
| Lindquist Beach | East End, Smith Bay Park | $7 adult non-resident, parking $2 | Picnics, toilets, pavilions |
| Brewers Bay | Near the university and airport | – | Seagrass with turtles, own gear |
| Hull Bay | North Shore | – | Surfing and snorkeling |
| Secret Harbour | East End | No day pass needed | Beach visit without a resort pass |
How the beach water tests work
The territory's natural resources department tests beach water for enterococci bacteria and cloudiness. A count of more than 70 colonies per 100 ml is marked as not safe for swimming. A beach listed as not sampled is simply unknown, which is not the same as failed or closed. A warning is also not a legal closure of the whole beach.
The report of 16 October 2026 listed Magens Bay, Coki, Sapphire, Lindquist, Brewers Bay, Hull Bay and Secret Harbour among the beaches meeting the standard. Water Bay and all St. John beaches were not sampled that week. A good weekly result does not cover heavy rain runoff, sewage, strong sargassum, discoloration or a bad smell, and the department advises staying out of the water in those cases.
Reef rules for any beach
USVI travel information lists oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene as banned and asks for mineral, non-nano sunscreen. Read the ingredients, because the National Park Service notes that a "reef safe" label alone is no reliable guarantee.
Look at corals and sea life without touching them. If you see a turtle, keep your distance and stay calm. Boaters are asked to stay at least 50 feet (15 m) away.
Beaches on other islands
Two famous beaches are not on St. Thomas.
St. Thomas beaches: frequently asked questions
What is the best beach on St. Thomas?
It depends on what you want. Magens Bay is the best-known and a paid beach park. Sapphire Beach and Coki Beach are popular for snorkeling. Lindquist Beach is a park on the East End with picnic pavilions. Hull Bay suits surfers more than small swimmers.
Which St. Thomas beaches charge an entry fee?
Magens Bay and Lindquist Beach charge $7 per day for non-resident adults, with free entry for children under 12 and $2 for parking. For other beaches, ask about parking and rentals on arrival.
Is it safe to swim at St. Thomas beaches?
Most weeks the listed beaches meet the standard, but warnings do occur. Several beaches had warnings between July and October 2026. Check the latest weekly report before you swim, and stay out after heavy rain.
Where can I snorkel from the shore?
Sapphire Beach is known for snorkeling from the shore at its rocky ends. Coki Beach and Hull Bay also offer snorkeling, and Brewers Bay has seagrass beds with turtles. Bring your own equipment where rentals are not listed.
Are there lifeguards on the beaches?
The Authority reported no lifeguards on duty at Lindquist during the sargassum closure in July 2026. For other beaches, do not assume a lifeguard is present, and ask on site.