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The capital, Charlotte Amalie, is the shopping center of the Caribbean, and duty-free bargains are a major draw. Your ship will dock at the West Indian Company Dock, where you can enjoy a great view of the harbor and the other cruise ships. Nearby is the tramway to Paradise Point. You can ride up 700 feet to Flag Hill, where the view of Charlotte Amalie’s harbor is breathtaking.Although it is the most urban of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas still has a number of historic buildings and sights that you’ll want to visit.

Photographers will delight in the Danish architecture and the breathtaking views of the surrounding islands. Dozens of handsome buildings line Charlotte Amalie’s Main Street. The nearby waterfront is dramatically framed by three sloping hills on one side and the harbor on the other. The harbor, a haven for ships since the 1600s, is flanked by 19th-century warehouses built on the sites of earlier buildings where the fabled treasures of marauding pirates were stashed centuries ago. Today, St. Thomas’ equally renowned duty-free shops are located in the same warehouses.

One of the most memorable buildings is Fort Christian, a Danish-built edifice that is immediately recognizable because of its imposing size and brick-red color. It’s the oldest building still in use on St. Thomas. The fort, which dates back to the 17th century, has served as a jail, a courthouse, a police station, a church, a rectory and the governor’s residence. Today it houses the Virgin Islands Museum. And the north facade and its clock tower are favorite subjects for photographers. On the harbor side of the fort, between Veteran’s Drive and the waterfront, is the lime-green Legislature Building. Its distinctive color and white shutters are typical of the graceful island architecture of a century ago. The building was originally erected as a barracks for Danish troops; later, it served as housing for U.S. Marines and as a public school. One of the high points in the old building’s history was its use in 1917 as the site of ceremonies transferring ownership of the Danish Virgin Islands to the United States.

On Norre Gade, just on the other side of the Grand Hotel, you’ll find the early-19th-century Frederick Lutheran Church. It occupies the site of two previous churches, built in 1750 and 1789. Of special interest are the antique chandeliers and the 19th-century plaques inscribed in memory of several Danish colonists. West of the church, uphill from the main post office, is the Hotel 1829. This fine example of island architecture, constructed in that same year, was built as a town home for a French sea captain named Lavalette. His initials can be seen in the wrought-iron grillwork on the balcony above the entrance. The Hotel 1829 restaurant is world-renowned.

Just east of the Lavalette house, you’ll come to a steep set of steps rising to the summit of Government Hill. These are the famed 99 Steps (actually, there are 103). This stairway and others on St. Thomas were built in the mid-1700s as a result of impractical planning by Danish engineers who had never set foot on the island. They decreed that the city be laid out in a neat, gridlike pattern, which meant building steps into nearly every hillside. Near the top of the 99 steps lie the remnants of Fort Skytsborg, the 17th-century fort that today is known as Blackbeard’s Castle. Its name refers to the pirate Edward Teach, who allegedly frequented the island hundreds of years ago.

East of the foot of the 99 Steps is Government House, the official residence of the governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Erected in 1867 as a meeting place for the Danish Colonial Council, this neoclassical brick-and-wood structure commands a magnificent view of the town and harbor below. Near the intersection of Raadets Gade and Crystal Gade is the Synagogue of Berecha V’Shalom V’Gemilath Chasidim, or “Blessing and Peace and Acts of Piety.” This is one of the most historically interesting––and best preserved––buildings on St. Thomas. The Western Hemisphere’s second-oldest synagogue (the oldest is on Curaçao), this temple was constructed in 1833 by Sephardic Jews. The original structure was built in 1796.

Just west of the coral-colored library on Main Street is Market Square, where African captives were once sold to the highest bidder. The auction blocks have been roofed, and now the square serves as an open-air  market for produce. On the north-central part of the island, just west of the junction of Magens Bay Road and Hull Bay Road, is Drake’s Seat, overlooking more than 100 Virgin Islands sprawled out in a turquoise sea where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean. The view of horseshoe-shaped Magens Bay is great.

Beaches:
Not far from the bustle of downtown Charlotte Amalie are some of the most splendid beaches in the West Indies.
Morningstar Beach, located at the Frenchman’s Reef hotel, has everything you need for a comfortable, fun day. Sapphire Beach offers a stunning view of the British Virgin Islands. This is a good spot for windsurfing, and the reef areas just off the beach are great for snorkeling. Amenities include a marina, restaurants and a beachside dive shop.

On the northeast side of the island is funky Coki Beach, a popular hangout for locals and a favorite for scuba divers and snorkelers. Located on St. Thomas’ north shore and deeded to the island as a public park, Magens Bay was named one of the world’s 10 most beautiful beaches by National Geographic. This shore features excellent swimming, snorkeling and sailing. Facilities include picnic tables, showers and dressing rooms, as well as a restaurant and bar and a shop featuring beachwear and souvenirs. A nominal fee is charged for admission.

Activities:
An island skirted by a dozen of the world’s most idyllic beaches is bound to have more than its share of water-sports facilities. And so it is with St. Thomas, where in addition to deep-sea fishing, yachting, sailing, snorkeling and scuba diving, you can try such exciting sports as windsurfing. Golfers and tennis buffs will be delighted with the excellent facilities and spectacular scenery offered by the Mahogany Run Golf and Tennis Resort. And for nature buffs, hiking is a wonderful way to experience the island’s beauty.

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