St Kitts and Nevis Travel Essentials

St Kitts and Nevis are 2 tropical islands in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean, part of the West Indies and forming a country that is a Commonwealth realm. St Kitts is the largest island and is home to the capital, Basseterre. Old Town Road, overlooking the namesake bay, is home to a few significant landmarks such as a manor museum and the ruins of an old sugar plantation. On Nevis, New Castle on the northern coast is home to the island’s airport as well as historical landmarks. Charlestown, Nevis’ capital, lies on the southwestern coast.

Basseterre

As the capital of St Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre is home to Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport and serves as the main gateway to the islands. Most of the nation's popular attractions are in and around Basseterre, including South Friars Bay, a national museum, national park, and an abundance of historical landmarks and heritage sites.

Old Town Road

Old Town Road was settled in 1624 by explorer Thomas Werner, who made it the first English colony in the Caribbean. The settlement established sugar and tobacco plantations and prospered over the next century. It’s home to the Romney Manor historical and educational site, the ruins of the Wingfield Estate Sugar Plantation, as well as several historic Carib petroglyphs.

Charlestown

The capital of Nevis island, Charlestown on the southwestern coast of the island is home to a variety of attractions such as Fort Charles, Nevis hot springs, Nevis’ artisan village, and the Museum of Nevis History. It’s also bordered by the beautiful sands of Pinneys Beach to the north and Gallows Bay to the south.

New Castle

New Castle is a village on the northernmost point of Nevis and is home to the island’s modest Vance W. Amory International Airport. Besides also being home to small and secluded Caribbean coasts such as Oualie Beach and Lovers Beach, New Castle has historical sites such as the early 19^th-century Cottle Church to discover.

• Thanks to its tropical climate, the islands of St Kitts and Nevis experience hot and humid weather year-round. Average temperatures range between 25°C and 28°C.
• The rainiest months are from July to November with an average of 14 days of rain per month. The driest months are from February to April with an average of 2 rainy days a month. Hurricane season in St Kitts and Nevis is typically from June to November.
• The rainy season in St Kitts and Nevis runs from June to November, but these are also the hottest months with temperatures averaging 28°C. It gets relatively cooler and drier from January to April, with temperatures averaging 25°C.
• December–April is generally considered St Kitts and Nevis’s busy tourist season, with peak hotel prices coinciding with the Carnival season. The best time to visit St Kitts and Nevis is May and June – months with generally pleasant weather for most outdoor and beach activities yet with generally friendlier rates after the winter crowd thins out.

• Plug type: D and G
• Electricity: 230 V – 60 Hz
• Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar ($)
• International dialling code: +1 869
• Emergency telephone number: 911

Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport is the main international gateway to St Kitts and Nevis, located right in the heart of the capital, Basseterre. The town on the south coast of St Kitts also has a cruise terminal, Port Zante, overlooking the namesake bay. Adjoining it are a ferry terminal and a marina for yachts. Nevis’ modest airport, Vance W. Amory International Airport, has flights to and from other Caribbean destinations. You can get to and from both islands by the Sea Bridge drive-on, drive-off ferry between Majors Bay and Cades Bay, which runs daily across the shallow strait known as The Narrows.

Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB)

The main gateway to St Kitts and Nevis, Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, serves several international and regional airlines. These include Air Canada Rouge (from Toronto), British Airways (from London), American Airlines (from Miami and New York), Delta Air Lines (from Atlanta and New York), and United Airlines (from Newark). Flights from other Caribbean destinations such as Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Anguilla, and Antigua are served by Seaborne Airlines, Sky High, and Trans Anguilla Airways.

Upon arrival, minibus taxis are readily available to take you to your hotel or resort. There’s a taxi stand at the airport (+1 869-465-1719 or +1 869-465-8487) – taxis are unmetered, with fares based on fixed rates and distances, and all are quoted in Eastern Caribbean dollars. If you’re staying on Nevis, and depending on your hotel arrangements, you’ll most likely be escorted by taxi from the airport to Cockleshell Beach, then hop on a boat/water taxi for a 10-minute transfer to Oualie Beach on Nevis.

Vance W Amory International Airport (NEV)

The small and modest Vance W Amory International Airport is your gateway to the island of Nevis, but only if you’re flying in on a smaller private or regional aircraft. The airport lies just west of New Castle, in the parish of St James Windward, on the northern tip of the island. The US and Puerto Rico-based airline Air Sunshine has the most frequent flights to NEV and connects to various other Caribbean destinations. These include Anguilla, Dominica, Saint Martin, and the US and British Virgin Islands. Seaborne Airlines and Tradewinds Aviation fly smaller planes.

Most resorts on Nevis provide private transfer options, either by taxi or limousine, from the airport. There’s a taxi stand (+1 869-469-9790) at the airport – most taxis are in the form of minibuses and fares are fixed and quoted in Eastern Caribbean dollars.

Port Zante

If you’re headed to the islands on a cruise ship, Port Zante will be your port of call for St Kitts and Nevis. The port can even dock the largest of cruise ships. If you’re arriving by yacht, the marina has 36 wet berths available. The port area is filled with places to shop and eat, and there are several interesting sights right after you alight, such as The National Museum of St Kitts and Berkeley Memorial. There are minibus taxi stands (+1 869-465-9053 or +1 869-466-6999) right outside the arrivals building in Port Zante, ready to take you around the island.

Travel tips

The ubiquitous minibus taxis are the preferred way for getting around St Kitts and Nevis, and they’re readily available in major towns as well as at the airports and around the Circus and marina area of Basseterre. You could also rent a car for further convenience and can easily cross between the islands using the daily drive-on, drive-off ferry service. Private boat companies are also available on both islands for even faster transfers. If you’ve arrived on a cruise, exploring the capital of Basseterre is an hour's easy walk – everything’s laid out in square blocks, making it easily navigable.

Taking a taxi

The minibus taxis on St Kitts and Nevis are mostly privately owned but government-licensed. They run at fixed rates from the airport and are unmetered. The ‘taxi’ minibuses have a yellow licence plate starting with the letter ‘T’. The similar ‘bus’ ones have a green license plate and start with the letter ‘H’ – you can flag either down on any street. The green-plated buses are usually much cheaper than the yellow-plated taxis, but only operate outside the main areas.

Around the main towns, the taxis are widely accessible and if you’re looking for a quick tour, the drivers can double as your tour guide – remember to negotiate the hourly rates beforehand. In any case, clarify the fare before hopping in for the ride (particularly whether it’s quoted in Eastern Caribbean or US dollars). There’s usually a surcharge between 10 pm and 6 am. For assistance, you can contact the St Kitts Taxi Association at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (+1 869-465-8487).

Renting a car in St Kitts and Nevis

Renting a car on St Kitts and Nevis is a great way to explore the islands independently. Vehicles range from luxury cars and vans to SUVs and motorbikes. Arranging for an airport pick-up further adds to the convenience as you'll be able to start exploring right after you land. You’ll need to obtain a driver’s permit (available for 3 months or 1 year) from the Traffic Department (most major car rental companies can assist you with this) before you can drive around the islands, even if you’re an international driver’s license holder. You drive on the left-hand side of the road in St Kitts and Nevis. Seatbelts are mandatory.

Among the notable car rental companies on St Kitts are Avis (+1 869-465-6507), Bullseye Car Rental (+1 869-662-1168), Thrifty (+1 869-662-1168), Hertz (+1 869-465-7822), ABC Car Hire (+1 869-466-9284), and Courtesy Rent A Car (+1 869-465-0073).

Crossing by Sea Bridge ferry

The Sea Bridge ferry service between St Kitts’ Majors Bay and Nevis’ Cades Bay can take you across The Narrows between 8 am to 7 pm on any day. It’s a drive-on, drive-off ferry that's efficient and affordable if you’re driving a car on the islands. The bays are just under 6 km apart and the journey between them generally takes about 15 minutes, travelling at about 12 knots.

Scooters and bicycles in St Kitts and Nevis

Getting around and exploring St Kitts and Nevis on a pair of wheels can be a fun and immersive way to see the islands’ highlights, with some trails traversing the coast with scenic seascapes. On St Kitts, there’s Sunny Blue Scooter Rental (+1 869-664-8755) for fully automatic 150cc mopeds, quad bikes, and even dune buggies. For regular bikes, on Nevis’ Oualie Beach there’s Bike Nevis (+1 869-664-2843).

St Kitts Scenic Railway

Although not a public means of transport in the usual sense, the historic and privately-owned St Kitts Scenic Railway is a 29-km-long sightseeing railway line that runs along the northeastern coastline of St Kitts that offers a memorable ride. The original track was laid back in the early 1900s to transport sugarcane from the plantations to the mill in Basseterre. The train started its second life as a tourist attraction in early 2003, taking visitors on a 2-hour scenic and historical sightseeing ride. The train passes beautiful countryside and seascapes and the tour conductor will point out old sugarcane estates with their abandoned windmills and chimneys along the way.

St Kitts And Nevis Carnival

• November–January
• The largest event on the islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis’ National Carnival, also known as Sugar Mas, takes place over the Christmas and New Year holiday seasons. It features brightly costumed dancers and stiltwalkers in a street parade, as well as live music and food. On 2nd January, the last day, the Carnival closes with a final parade.
• Where: Throughout St Kitts and Nevis

St Kitts and Nevis Music Festival

• June
• St Kitts and Nevis Music Festival is a popular annual music event usually held in June on St Kitts. In addition to the music, festival-goers can enjoy plenty of side events such as local concerts, Caribbean beach parties, boat rides, and official after-parties.
• Where: Kim Collins Athletic Stadium, Basseterre, Saint Kitts

Nevis Culturama Festival

• July–August
• This annual Nevisian festival of culture and heritage is held in late July or early August and is meant to celebrate Nevisians who have returned to their homeland to party with friends and family. Expect nightly parties with live music and food festivals, as well as concerts and a parade through downtown Charlestown.
• Where: Charlestown and throughout Nevis

Berkeley Memorial

This central landmark stands at the Circus in Basseterre, the capital of St Kitts and Nevis. The landmark features a fountain as well as a clock with 4 faces, each facing 1 of the major streets from the Circus.

Fairview Great House

A historical landmark in Basseterre that features a botanical garden and offers lush scenery. It has an apiary where you can learn about beekeeping and honey extraction, with honey available for purchase.

The War Memorial

A memorial featuring a tall obelisk in a scenic seaside park in Basseterre. It remembers the servicemen and servicewomen from St Kitts and Nevis who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

Cottle Church

An Anglican Church on Nevis built in 1822 by a namesake Nevisian lawyer. It was opened 2 years later as the first church on the island to welcome anyone to worship, including slaves at the time.