US Virgin Islands

The United States Virgin Islands are an unincorporated US territory of three main islands — Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix — bought from Denmark in 1917, which is why the towns are Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted. Roughly sixty per cent of Saint John is national park.

Known for Virgin Islands National Park, Danish colonial towns, Trunk Bay, Charlotte Amalie harbour and drive on the left.

Highlights

  • Virgin Islands National Park, Saint John: Covers about three fifths of Saint John along with surrounding waters, including sugar plantation ruins at Annaberg and an underwater trail at Trunk Bay.
  • Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas: The capital, a Danish colonial port built up a steep harbour, with 99 Steps and Blackbeard's Castle among the streets above the waterfront.
  • Christiansted, Saint Croix: A Danish West Indian town preserved as a national historic site, with the yellow Fort Christiansvaern above the wharf.

Places in US Virgin Islands

Getting around

VITRAN, part of the territory's Department of Public Works, runs the public buses on St Thomas, St Croix and St John. The fare is US$2.00 in exact change — the buses give none — and seniors and people with disabilities ride free with photo identification. Most visitors' longest hop is on the water: the Red Hook ferry reaches St John in about twenty minutes for US$8.15, roughly hourly from 5:30am to 11:30pm, and a slower boat from Charlotte Amalie takes about forty-five minutes for US$13.