Charlotte Amalie is the historical heart of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. There is nearly 400 years of recorded history not including the hundreds of years the island was inhabited by Tainos and Caribs.
The history of the island is everywhere if you know where to look. Although the history is often obscured by the plentiful shopping, bars, distilleries, museums and galleries.
So whether you are coming on a cruise ship (they all dock within a cannonball shot’s distance of Charlotte Amalie) or staying on island you must make a stop in the cultural center of St. Thomas. And if you are coming for the day or just a few hours, these are the must-do stops in your itinerary.
1. Tour a distillery
You don’t have to be a drinker to appreciate the craft and artistry of a distillery. Your first stop in Charlotte Amalie (or your last stop or you can make multiple stops) should be 3 Queens Distillery. The distillery is just one street over from Main Street…taking you off the beaten path into a less seen and visited quarter of Old Town.
Once inside the distillery you are transported back in time to a quieter and more meaningful time. The bustling tourist traps and street harassers…sorry I meant barkers, fade away as you are surrounded by oak barrels full of rum, and walls steeped with history.
You can learn about the rum-making process, taste rum, make your own painkiller cocktail and relax in the tropical garden in the back. There is a lot of shaded seating to relax and enjoy your drink or just to sit for a spell surrounded by palm trees, orchids and tropical fauna.
And if that wasn’t enough there is also a hot sauce kitchen and coffee roastery onsite for more tasting or to take home a souvenir.
But wait, there’s more.
What makes the distillery an absolute must-do is that within the same building and woven through the walls and rooms there is a goldmine of artifacts and island history. That’s because the building that houses the distillery is also a museum – 13 Wimmelskafts Slave House and Museum.
So now you can basically kill a bunch of birds with one stone. Drink rum. Relax. Buy a souvenir. Learn and see history.
Admission is free but rum tastings start at $10 and you can make your own painkiller at the diy drink station – bring on the rum baby!
2. Get ice cream and explore the streets and alleys
Head over to Banana Split and grab an ice cream cone. They also have coffee drinks, milkshakes and snacks. You can enjoy your cone or drink in the air-conditioning or you can hit the streets.
There are other cafes around town but this is the simplest, cutest and all the food is baked by the owner. I like that. I love her meat pies – try the sausage, pepper and onion!
Banana Split is just a 100 feet off Main Street so close to everything.
3. Go shopping
I recently took a cruise ship group on a historic walking tour in Charlotte Amalie. It was a private group with three teenage boys. We were about 30 minutes into the tour when the boys got super excited…and it wasn’t about pirates. Our tour stopped in front of a perfume/cologne shop.
We spent the next 20 minutes spraying and smelling. Apparently that wasn’t enough time because after the tour I walked them back to the store so they could sample some more.
The point is, there are hundreds of shops in Charlotte Amalie for all tastes. Boutiques, jewelry stores, souvenir shops, coffee roasteries, liquor stores and everything you can imagine.
You can find local goods but you have to be discerning. So many of the supposedly “local” products are made elsewhere and then pawned of as being made here. So check the small print on the label and avoid stuff that says “bottled in New Jersey” or “produced in Wisconsin”.
4. Try local food
You’ll find food trucks, sit-down restaurants and walk-up windows throughout downtown. The majority of restaurants in Charlotte Amalie serve good ol’ American fare – burgers, fries, chicken tenders and pepperoni pizza, etc. No harm in that.
If you’re coming off a ship, you probably aren’t as interested in American cuisine. You can head back to the ship and gorge on all the good stuff you already paid for in the buffet line.
But if you want to taste some island food, I would recommend getting a Pate or Roti. They are hand-held and easy to grab and go. They are also fast so you aren’t sitting for an hour waiting for your food and then the check. A pate or roti is quick and you can keep touring town or find a curb or bench to devour these local favorites.
For a more in-depth look at local food, check out Local Foods to Try in St. Thomas. or Charlotte Amalie Restaurant Guide.
5. Play video poker
In my old age I enjoy slot machines more than the tables when visiting a casino. Not having to think and a little less human interaction is nice sometimes. Here in the Virgin Islands video poker is allowed. The machines are old and antiquated, but the thrills are the same.
You can head over to Taphus for some screen time and also grab a drink.
They take care of the payouts right there at the bar so if you hit a jackpot they’ll hand over the cash.
6. Tour Jewish Synagogue
On most days you can visit the Jewish Synagogue in town and it is open to the public. Usually there is a parishioner there for a short tour of the structure. See the torah scrolls and learn about the artifacts and history of Jews in St. Thomas.
Similar to #1 above, this is a place to sit for a spell in the pews to soak up some history and relax. The rabbi is often around the property and super friendly and happy to share the history of the building.
Aside from the fact the synagogue is one of the oldest in the New World, the floor of the worship room is covered in sand. One of the few in the entire world with a sand floor – I’ll let you figure out why when you visit.
7. Art Galleries and Museums
Not known for a huge art scene, there are several galleries worth a look on your visit to St. Thomas.
My favorite is The Creative Native. Ama is the proprietor and artist behind the photography. Her images celebrate the beauty of the island and local culture. She is full of stories and folk history and is happy to spin a story or share a family anecdote about island life. Her work is stunning and captures the culture of the island.
As mentioned above, there’s a small museum collection at The Slave House at 13 Wimmelskafts (also the home of 3 Queens Distillery). See the collection of old photos, maps and memorabilia from the islands’ past. Learn about slavery, rum-making, music, folklore and more. Educational yes, boring no.
If there is a single spot that has dedicated itself to Caribbean-inspired art, look no further than 81C. This little gallery hits way above its weight class. Hosting local and regional artists, 81C is a real gem here in St. Thomas – the owners Zack and Joseph are almost always on property to share their love of art. It’s just around the corner from Main Street and worth the short walk over from the tourist dens.
8. Cocktails in historic Hotel 1829
One of the grandest properties in Charlotte Amalie – Hotel 1829 sits on a small hill looking down over the streets of town. Soak up the history of this beautiful old hotel while sipping on some delightful cocktails. Dating back 200 years and full of historical items and photos, Jessica is the owner and proprietor. She is happy to share the hotels history and make your stay pleasant and relaxing.
The bar is one of the better spots to relax with lovely views of town and the harbor.
9. Fort Christian
Fort Christian is the oldest and most imposing structure in all of Charlotte Amalie. It’s also the easiest to find as it is a massive military fortification with red walls. The oldest building and the most impressive you can take in the front entrance and grab a quick photo. Or you can pay the admission fee of $10 and walk inside.
While there are some cool features in the dungeon and lower levels, my favorite spot is on the top of the parapet. You get a true feeling of what soldiers saw and experienced when ships entered Charlotte Amalie Harbor. From the raised vantage point you can also see much of downtown below.
Only open during the week and closed on weekends and holidays, you should plan your trip to include a visit.
10. 99 Steps
Everything you could ever hope from a flight of stairs.
Each step is slightly higher than the next. So with each step you get higher and higher. Miraculous.
But they are pretty iconic and are one of the most beautiful examples of a step street.
If you come to St. Thomas and don’t visit 99 Steps, you can’t really claim to have seen one of our most identifiable spots in all of the Virgin Islands.
Honorable Mention
11. Take a walk along the waterfront
There is a large apron next to Charlotte Amalie Harbour. It isn’t covered but you can enjoy the ocean breezes while watching the boats and occasional sea turtle. The apron is usually pretty empty making this activity pair well with #2 or #4 above.
When visiting St. Thomas you should schedule at least 3-4 hours in Charlotte Amalie to see one of the most beautiful and picturesque towns in the Caribbean.
