| Time difference / local time |
GMT -4 hours
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| Language |
English
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| Currency |
East Caribbean dollar. US dollars are also accepted.
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| Highlights |
St Kitts
Brimstone Hill Fortress
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was designed by the British military and built by African slaves, and has incredible views over mountains and islands.
Charles Fort
Dating back to 1670, this fort is named after King Charles II.
Rail Track & Way Station
Take a scenic tour of the island on this narrow gauge railway dating back to the early 1900s, one of the Caribbean’s last working rail tracks.
Sugar Factory & Compound
Opened in 1912, this factory rescued the sugar industry. Still in use, today it’s a national treasure.
Spooner’s Ginnery
Take in beautiful views of the surrounding countryside at the ruins of this ginnery, which dates back to at least 1753 when it was a sugar mill.
Great houses
Visit Shadwell Great House, built in the 1700s by British commissioner George Fleming; and the 18th-century Lodge Great House, built by planter and politician Samuel Crooke.
Religious sites
Visit Springfield Cemetery, established during the 19th-century cholera epidemic; and St George’s Anglican Church, whih dates back to 1844.
Half-Way Tree Cistern
This is a beautiful example of the island’s village cisterns, made out of cut stone.
Nevis
Charlestown
Explore this colonial town, riddled with Georgian-style buildings from the 1700s and 1800s.
Christena Memorial Plaque
This touching landmark honours the 233 Kittians and Nevisians who tragically lost their lives when a government ferry sank in 2001.
Hamilton Estate
Explore the ruins of this former sugar plantation and take in breathtaking views of Charlestown and St Kitts.
New River & Coconut Walk Estates
Discover the ruins of these two estates, which still contain fascinating relics of the past.
Jewish Cemetary & Jews’ Walk
See tombstones dating back as far as 1769 and follow the narrow path leading to the site where it’s thought a synagogue may once have stood.
Eden Brown Estate
Once a sugar plantation, this estate is steeped in legend and believed to be haunted.
Botanical Gardens
Peruse stunning gardens of roses, cactuses, fruit trees and orchids. You’ll be blown away by the Tropical Rainforest Conservatory, which emulates the one at England’s Kew Gardens.
Plantation Inns
Visit five wonderfully restored sugar plantations – Montpelier Plantation Inn, Hermitage Plantation Inn, Old Manor Hotel, Golden Rock Plantation Inn and Nisbet Plantation Beach Club.
Cottle Church
Discover the ruins of this 19th-century church, built in the early 1800s by John Cottle, a former president of Nevis.
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| Beaches |
Both St Kitts and Nevis boast stunning beaches perfect for swimming, watersports, picnics and relaxing.
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| Transport |
Rent a car, take a taxi or hop on a bus (Nevis). Ferries are available to take you between the two islands.
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| Events and festivals |
April
Nevis International Triathlon
Watch participants swim, cycle and run in the island's beautiful setting.
June
St Kitts Music Festival
Watch performances from acclaimed artists - past guests include Shaggy, Busta Rhymes and Wyclef Jean.
May
Nevis Film Festival
Celebrate Caribbean and international film, with short films, documentaries, dramas and more.
July
Nevis’ Culturama Festival
Discover important cultural traditions and folk dance at this vibrant festival.
December-January
St Kitts Nevis Carnival
Join in the fun with horse-racing, a parade and a beach party.
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| Shopping |
Peruse hand-made local crafts and browse markets for spices, hot sauces and local produce.
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| Flying time to destination |
9 hours
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| Sports |
Go snorkelling and diving, try thrilling watersports and play golf.
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| Eating/Drinking |
Food
Restaurants serve a range of West Indian and international cuisine.
Drink
Stick to bottled water.
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| Good to know |
Religion
Christianity
Dialling code
+1 869
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| Clothing |
Nudity is forbidden on all beaches. Don’t wear swimwear or scanty outfits in towns and villages.
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| Museums |
Alexander Hamilton Museum, Nevis
This Georgian-style building was the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the US Treasury. Learn about his life and Nevis’ wonderful culture.
Horatio Nelson Museum, Nevis
This museum commemorates British Naval Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, who visited Nevis in the late 1700s and married a local widow. You can also visit the site of their wedding.
Nevisian Heritage Village
Learn about Nevis’s social history as you browse replicas of houses on the island dating from the Carib-Indian era, including a blacksmith’s, rum shop and shoe-maker’s premises.
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| Excursions |
Explore St Kitts by railway and bicycle, on horse-back or from the air on cable lines. On Nevis, go on nature trails and hikes, hire a bicycle or ride in a plantation carriage.
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| Tipping |
If a service charge isn’t added to the bill, tip 10-15%.
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