St. Thomas Photo Gallery

Capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas possesses one of the loveliest harbors in the Caribbean, a naturally protected deep-water port framed by a handsome backdrop of mountains. The gateway has proven irresistible to million of visitors arriving by both air and sea.  

Heart-shaped Magens Bay on St. Thomas secured its title as one of the Caribbean's great beaches eons ago. The broad, postcard-perfect strand draws a substantial cruise-ship crowd most days.  

St. Thomas's Lindquist Beach (aka Smith Bay) is a sea-grape and palm-fringed shoreline that slumbers blissfully under the radar. It's a local's secret that is ideal for lovers seeking a hideaway.  

Although St. Thomas Harbor bustles with activity, it's still possible to take a kayak trip with Virgin Islands Ecotours to Hassel Island, a nearly uninhabited outpost with Danish ruins to explore.  

St. Thomas is rife with activities, most of them tied to the water, while parasailing along the coast provides airborne thrills.  

With more than 2,000 rooms, St. Thomas has a wide array of accommodations, catering to all budgets. The Ritz-Carlton beckons couples and families seeking extra pampering, while smaller inns like Mafolie Hotel reward with fine views of the harbor and Charlotte Amalie.  

Look closer at the bones of Charlotte Amalie, capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and discover romantic cobblestone alleyways and timeworn steps climbing the steep hillsides. Island business was originally centered on plantations and slave trading, but St. Thomas was declared a free port in 1766, allowing it to blossom into one of the Caribbean's most prosperous trading centers.  

The vivid architecture of Charlotte Amalie speaks to the island's history as a Danish colony. The beautiful St. Thomas Synagogue—second oldest in the Western Hemisphere—is one reason the town is on the National Register of Historic Places.  

With its striking harbor and the capital of Charlotte Amalie snuggled against the base of muscular mountains, the island of St. Thomas boasts one of the Caribbean's most dramatic settings.