15 experiences on St. Thomas and nearby
This is an editorial selection, not a measured ranking. It starts with seven beaches, moves on to six sights in and around Charlotte Amalie and the Coki Point area, and ends with two islands you reach by ferry. St. John and Water Island are separate islands. You visit them as excursions from St. Thomas, so they come last.
All prices are in US dollars for adults, as published in October 2026, and can change. Opening hours often differ on holidays, so check before you go. This page is about St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
Beaches and bays (1 to 7)
The island has many beaches. These seven are the ones most visitors start with. The beaches page lists twelve.
1. Magens Bay
A paid beach 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. A taxi from Havensight is published at $15 for one rider or $12 per person for groups.
Magens Bay guide →2. Coki Beach
The beach at Coki Point lies right beside Coral World. Lounger and snorkel gear rentals and snacks are available, but there is no single price list for 2026, so ask before you rent. The territory's weekly water tests rated Coki unsafe for swimming on 4, 11 and 18 September and on 2 October 2026. The report of 16 October met the standard.
Coki Beach guide →3. Sapphire Beach
Near Red Hook. Snorkeling is best at the rocky ends of the beach, especially the eastern edge. The seagrass nearby is turtle habitat, but sightings are never guaranteed, and the water is not always calm.
Sapphire Beach guide →4. Lindquist Beach at Smith Bay Park
The East End park is run by the same Authority as Magens Bay: $7 for non-resident adults, free for children under 12, $2 for parking. It has toilets and picnic pavilions. Sargassum closed the beach in early July 2026, so check conditions before a long drive.
Lindquist Beach on the Sapphire page →5. Brewers Bay
A beach next to the University of the Virgin Islands campus and close to the airport. Seagrass beds hold green and hawksbill turtles. Bring your own snorkel gear, because rentals are not listed there.
6. Hull Bay
On the North Shore and open to the Atlantic side, with surfing and snorkeling. The water is rougher than in sheltered bays, so check conditions before you let children swim.
7. Secret Harbour
An East End beach where you do not need a resort day pass for the beach, the restaurant or the water sports. Bring your own towels. The resort loungers and pool are for guests, and loungers may be rented separately at the dive shop.
Our picks: things to do
Kayaking and snorkeling, Coral World and an evening on the water.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Two-hour champagne sunset sail
An open bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, appetizers and an onboard restroom are included. Hotel transfer and tips are not.
Check availability →
Mangrove kayak, hike and snorkel
Water, snorkel, kayak and safety gear, lockers, a changing room and a restroom are included. Bring hiking shoes, sunscreen and a towel, and tip your guide separately.
Check availability →
Coral World Ocean Park admission
Regular park admission only. Transport, food and drinks, and extras such as Sea Trek, Snuba and animal encounters are not included.
Check availability →Things to do with a guide on St. Thomas
Island tours, snorkeling trips, sailing and day trips, with live prices and availability.
Sights in Charlotte Amalie and at Coki Point (8 to 13)
Most of these are within a few minutes of each other in the old town.
8. Coral World Ocean Park
A marine park next to Coki Beach. Tickets cost $29 from age 13, $17 for ages 3 to 12, and children under 3 are free. Guests aged 65 and older get 10 percent off. The park opens at 9:00 am and closes at 4:00 pm, with the ticket desk closing at 3:00 pm. From October to April and in July it opens daily. In May, June, August and September it is closed on Sundays and Mondays. A few single days in October are listed as closed, so check the date.
Coki Beach and Coral World →9. Skyride to Paradise Point
A gondola ride above Charlotte Amalie harbor to a viewpoint, about 7 minutes. A round trip costs $34.95 for adults and $24.95 for children. Reservations are not needed, and tickets are sold at the ticket desk or through your cruise ship. The ride usually starts at 9:00 am on ship days and can stop in strong wind or lightning.
Cruise port guide →10. Fort Christian
A museum in the red fort on the waterfront, built between 1672 and 1680, with a clock tower added in 1874. Entry is $10 per person, usually Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with possible changes. A public meeting in June 2026 covered plans for a new permanent exhibition, so check the current opening status. Parking next to the fort costs $2 per hour, up to $10 per day. Do not confuse it with Fort Christiansvaern on St. Croix.
Charlotte Amalie guide →11. The 99 Steps
A historic stairway from the 18th century on Government Hill, built with Danish ballast bricks. The count is a nickname, because the tourism board gives 103 steps. There is no lift or step-free route. Blackbeard's Castle, a watchtower from 1679 up the hill, is listed by its operator at $15 with daily hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, but tourism articles describe it as closed. Ask the operator about your date.
12. Emancipation Garden
A park in the center of town that remembers the freeing of the enslaved people of the island in 1848. A statue with a conch shell and a pavilion mark the spot. It sits across from Fort Christian, so you can combine the two in one walk.
13. St. Thomas Historical Trust Museum
A small museum in the old town at 5332 Raadets Gade, listed as open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Entry is free and donations are welcome. Tourism pages ask visitors to arrange a visit in advance, so call ahead. It is separate from the Fort Christian museum.
What the main attractions cost in 2026
Adult prices as published in October 2026.
| Experience | Adult price | Children | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magens Bay | $7 non-resident | Free under 12 | Parking $2 |
| Lindquist Beach | $7 non-resident | Free under 12 | Parking $2 |
| Coral World | $29 | $17 (ages 3 to 12) | Under 3 free |
| Skyride round trip | $34.95 | $24.95 | Pay at the desk or through your ship |
| Fort Christian | $10 | – | Parking $2 per hour |
| Historical Trust Museum | Free | Free | Donations welcome |
| Ferry to St. John from Red Hook | $8.15 one way | $1 (ages 2 to 11) | Under 2 free |
| Ferry to Water Island | $10 one way | $5 one way | Rates since 1 February 2025 |
Two islands by ferry (14 and 15)
Both are real day trips. Plan a full day for St. John and a half day for Water Island, and note the departure pier.
14. St. John
Passenger ferries run from Red Hook (about 20 minutes) and from Charlotte Amalie (about 45 minutes) to Cruz Bay. The adult non-resident fare is $8.15 one way from Red Hook and $13 from Charlotte Amalie. Children aged 2 to 11 pay $1 from Red Hook and $3.50 from Charlotte Amalie. A special Red Hook schedule applies until 31 October 2026. The fee at Trunk Bay is $5 from age 16 and is paid by card only since 1 October 2026.
15. Water Island
The ferry leaves from the Crown Bay Marina, not directly from the cruise pier, and takes about 10 minutes. Adults pay $10 one way or $20 round trip, children $5 or $10. Honeymoon Beach is within walking distance of the landing. It is a different beach from Honeymoon Beach on St. John.
Plan the rest of your trip
These pages help you fit the list into your days.
Things to do in St. Thomas: frequently asked questions
What is there to do in St. Thomas in one day?
A common plan is a morning in Charlotte Amalie with Fort Christian, the 99 Steps and Emancipation Garden, then an afternoon at a beach. Magens Bay is a taxi ride from Havensight, published at $15 for one rider. Add the Skyride if you have the time.
Which beaches charge an entry fee?
Magens Bay and Lindquist Beach charge $7 for non-resident adults, with free entry for children under 12 and $2 for parking. Coral World charges a separate park ticket. For other beaches, ask about parking and rentals on arrival.
Is Coral World open every day?
Not all year. From October to April and in July the park opens daily. In May, June, August and September it is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Opening hours on open days are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Can I visit St. John in a day?
Yes. The ferry from Red Hook takes about 20 minutes, and a day gives you time for a beach such as Trunk Bay. Check the return ferry times before you go, because the timetable changes after 31 October 2026.
Are St. John and Water Island part of St. Thomas?
No. Both are separate islands. St. John is its own island in the US Virgin Islands, and Water Island is a small island just off the coast of St. Thomas. You reach both by ferry, which is why they are listed as excursions here.