Country

US Virgin Islands

First trip: 4 nights on St John for the national park and beaches (sleep on St Thomas only if St John is full), then 3 on St Croix by short flight or seaplane.

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2 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days

Key facts

Best months: Dec–Jul by month →
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Language: English
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: UTC−4 (Atlantic) all year

Month by monthIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 3Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…

Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…

Understand in one strip

Capital: Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas)
Language: English; Virgin Islands Creole; Spanish on St Croix
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Plugs: Types A and B; 120 V 60 Hz
Driving: Left-hand side, in mostly left-hand-drive US cars
Tipping: 15–20% as on the mainland
Emergency: 911
Time zone: UTC−4 (Atlantic) all year

The US Virgin Islands (St Thomas, St John and St Croix) are an unincorporated territory of the United States, so US entry rules apply; travellers flying back to the mainland go through a US customs check before departure. St Thomas has the main airport and cruise port, St John is mostly national park, and St Croix is larger and quieter. A day trip to the British Virgin Islands is an international crossing that needs a passport. Cars drive on the left here, and hurricane season (June–November) is the main planning constraint.

About US Virgin Islands

A US territory of about 87,000 people on three main islands, bought from Denmark in 1917. Tourism drives the economy; about 60% of St John is national park.

Where's good this month

Each region's weather and verdict, holidays, crowds

NovemberGo with a planCrowds medium· Prices medium

Rainy; hurricane season ends 30 Nov.

All three islandsSt Thomas, St John, St CroixPoor
Poorwet: daily rain
27–31 °C (81–88 °F) all year with trade winds; short showers, most rain September–November. Irma and Maria both struck in September 2017.81–88 °F (27–31 °C) all year with trade winds; short showers, most rain September–November. Irma and Maria both struck in September 2017.

Holidays and festivals in November

Liberty Day (D. Hamilton Jackson Day) · 1 Nov — Holiday.

Pick a route

Nights per stop, as the guide plans them

7 days10 days14 days

St John and St Croix

St John, 4 nightsNo guide yet
St Croix, 3 nightsNo guide yet

Fly home from St Croix or via St Thomas.

Three islands

Charlotte Amalie, 2 nightsArrival + day plans
St John, 4 nightsNo guide yet
St Croix, 4 nightsNo guide yet

Add a BVI day trip with passport.

USVI and Puerto Rico

San Juan, 4 nightsArrival + day plans
St John, 5 nightsNo guide yet
St Croix, 5 nightsNo guide yet

All within US entry rules.

Customize this route Explore cities

Top destinations in US Virgin Islands, ranked

For a first or second trip

St John for nature, St Croix for towns and reefs, St Thomas for the airport.

St John
No guide yet
National park beaches and trails.
4 nights in St John · Best Dec–Jun
St Croix
No guide yet
Towns, rum, Buck Island.
3–4 nights in St Croix · Best Dec–Jun
Charlotte Amalie
Arrival + day plans
History and gateway.
1–2 nights in Charlotte Amalie · Best Dec–Apr

Decide the trip

What the country is like, who it suits and how long to give it

Open Decide the tripClose Decide the trip7 partsUnderstand in one strip · At a glance · Understand · First vs second trip · Good for · Time math · Fit my nights

Understand in one stripCapital · Language · Currency · Plugs · Driving · Tipping · Emergency · Time zone8 parts

Capital: Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas)
Language: English; Virgin Islands Creole; Spanish on St Croix
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Plugs: Types A and B; 120 V 60 Hz
Driving: Left-hand side, in mostly left-hand-drive US cars
Tipping: 15–20% as on the mainland
Emergency: 911
Time zone: UTC−4 (Atlantic) all year

US Virgin Islands: open now, and what is next

2 regions planned

On this page

1 of 3 regions open, with where to sleep and for how long
1 trip line with arrival paths and day plans
How to split 4, 7, 10 days
Money: cash, cards and ATMs
Safety notes and the rules that apply on every page below

Coming as the guide grows

St John — Virgin Islands National Park, Trunk Bay and Cruz Bay · 3–5 nights
St Croix — Christiansted, Frederiksted, Buck Island reef · 3–5 nights

Meanwhile

Charlotte Amalie

At a glance

1–5, with the reason

Each bar is 1 to 5. Green means the score makes the trip easier, amber is middling, red is harder; the words next to each score say what that end of the scale means, so colour is never the only signal.

Cost4/5 · expensive

US prices plus island mark-ups.

Cash necessity2/5 · cards everywhere

Cards common; cash for safari taxis and tips.

English on the ground5/5 · widely spoken

English is the language.

Connectivity5/5 · fast everywhere

US carriers work as domestic.

Transport ease3/5 · middling

Frequent St John ferries; car needed otherwise.

Safety3/5 · middling

Crime in parts of St Thomas and St Croix; St John calm.

Heat / climate risk3/5 · middling

Warm with trade winds.

Understand

People, belief, history that matters on the ground

A US territory of about 87,000 people on three main islands, bought from Denmark in 1917. Tourism drives the economy; about 60% of St John is national park.

People: About 87,000; mostly Afro-Caribbean, with Puerto Rican and mainland communities.
Government: US territory with an elected governor and legislature; non-voting delegate in Congress.
Land: About 350 km² (135 sq mi).About 135 sq mi (350 km²).
Economy: Tourism, rum, government.

History that still shows on the ground · 7 dates

When	What happened	Where you meet it today
1493	Columbus names the Virgin Islands	Taíno and Carib presence.
1672–1733	Danish colony on St Thomas, St John and St Croix	Sugar and slavery.
1733	St John slave revolt	Among the region's first major revolts.
3 Jul 1848	Emancipation after the St Croix uprising	Emancipation Day.
31 Mar 1917	Sold to the US for US$25 million	Transfer Day.
1956	Virgin Islands National Park	Protects most of St John.
Sep 2017	Hurricanes Irma and Maria	Major rebuild.

Read or watch before you go

Tiphanie Yanique — Land of Love and Drowning (2014).

First trip vs second trip

Which regions, and what to leave

Trip	Go to	Why	Leave for later
First trip (7 nights)	St John 4 + St Croix 3	National park beaches and a quieter island.	Staying only in cruise-port Charlotte Amalie.
Short break (4 nights)	St John	Trails and snorkelling bays.	Driving without a 4x4.
Second trip	BVI by ferry or a sailing charter	Islands best seen by boat.	Forgetting your passport.

Good for…

Where each kind of traveller does best

Verdict is how well the US Virgin Islands work for that traveller.

US systems, English, no passport for US citizens.

1St John — easy nature.

Time math

How to split a stay, by total days in the country

4 days in total: St John 4 (ferry from St Thomas)
7 days in total: St John 4 + St Croix 3
10 days in total: St Thomas 2 + St John 4 + St Croix 4

Which regions fit my nights?

Tick the regions you are weighing up. The nights are the ranges this guide gives for each region.

Regions you want to see

St JohnVirgin Islands National Park, Trunk Bay and Cruz BayPage still planned3–5 nights
St ThomasMain airport, Charlotte Amalie and the cruise port1–3 nights
St CroixChristiansted, Frederiksted, Buck Island reefPage still planned3–5 nights

Nights you have

Tick the regions you are considering.

Cities

Regions, cities and the places between them

Open CitiesClose Cities5 partsRegions · Cities · Other destinations · See · Do

Regions

3 regions · 1 open

St Johnplanned

Virgin Islands National Park, Trunk Bay and Cruz Bay

3–5 nights in this region

St Thomaspublished

Main airport, Charlotte Amalie and the cruise port

1–3 nights in this region

Charlotte Amalie

St Croixplanned

Christiansted, Frederiksted, Buck Island reef

3–5 nights in this region

Cities

The ones to know; each says what Voykit has for it

Charlotte AmalieArrival + day plans

Capital, cruise port, Danish-era streets and steps.

Cruz BayNo guide yet

St John's village and ferry port; gateway to the park.

ChristianstedNo guide yet

St Croix's Danish-era town and boardwalk.

FrederikstedNo guide yet

St Croix's west-end town and pier dives.

Other destinations

Parks, bays, heritage sites, islands

Place	What	Getting there	Why go / verdict
Trunk Bay	Beach and snorkel trail	St John	Underwater trail in the national park.
Buck Island Reef	Reef monument	Boat from Christiansted	Snorkel trail over elkhorn coral.
Magens Bay	Beach	St Thomas	Calm bay.
Annaberg sugar mill	Ruins	St John	Plantation history.
Cruzan and Captain Morgan distilleries	Rum	St Croix	Tours and tastings.

See

By theme, not by list

Charlotte Amalie

Fort Christian · Downtown
Ninety-Nine Steps · Government Hill
Frenchtown waterfront · Frenchtown
Havensight waterfront · Cruise dock

Visit on non-cruise days.

Parks and reefs

Reef Bay Trail petroglyphs · St John
Buck Island · St Croix
Christiansted National Historic Site · St Croix

Book Buck Island boats early.

Do

Where, when, what it costs

Activity	Where	Best months	Cost (2026 estimate)	Verdict
Snorkelling	Trunk, Maho, Waterlemon (St John); Buck Island	All year	Free–US$150	Turtles and reef fish close to shore.
Hiking	Virgin Islands National Park	Dec–Apr	Free	Ram Head and Reef Bay trails.
Diving	Frederiksted Pier, Cane Bay wall	All year	US$100–180	Wall drop-off close to shore.
Day sail to the BVI	From St Thomas or St John	All year	US$150–250	Bring your passport.

Connect the cities

Ready-made routes, the route builder and the legs between cities

Open Connect the citiesClose Connect the cities2 partsItineraries · Route builder

Itineraries by length

Nights per stop (the number after each place); fly the long legs

Ferries to St John; flights or seaplane to St Croix.

7 days

St John and St Croix

St Thomas → ferry St John → seaplane St Croix

St John4n
St Croix3n

Fly home from St Croix or via St Thomas.

10 days

Three islands

Charlotte Amalie → St John → St Croix

Charlotte Amalie2n
St John4n
St Croix4n

Add a BVI day trip with passport.

14 days

USVI and Puerto Rico

San Juan → fly St Thomas → St John → St Croix

San Juan4n
St John5n
St Croix5n

All within US entry rules.

Build a route

Days and interests in, cities, nights, transfers and cost out

Days in US Virgin Islands

Interests (optional)

Based on: Three islands (10 days, itineraries by length)

Charlotte Amalie2 nights
Transfer not on file yet: check the A-to-B tool.
St John4 nights
Transfer not on file yet: check the A-to-B tool.
St Croix4 nights

Add a BVI day trip with passport.

Open the trip planner

What this route costs

StyleTravelers

Charlotte Amalie2 nights · city pricesUS$1,200
St John4 nightsUS$3,000
St Croix4 nightsUS$3,000

Total, 2 travelers

US$7,500

Per person per day: US$400

2026 estimate (check): rooms for two, food, local transport and sights; international flights, visas and insurance excluded. Tweak it in the budget calculator.

This month

Weather and crowds by month

Open This monthClose This month2 partsYear at a glance · Climate

Year at a glance

Every month in one list: how it rates, how busy and pricey it is, and which holidays land in it.

Busiest or big holidays: Jan–Apr, Jul, Dec

Jan
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Three Kings Day (medium impact)
Feb
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
Mar
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday (medium impact)
- Transfer Day (low impact)
Apr
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday (medium impact)
May
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
Jun
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
Jul
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- Independence Day and St John Festival (high impact)
- Emancipation Day (medium impact)
Aug
CautionCrowds: lowPrices: low
Sep
CautionCrowds: lowPrices: low
Oct
CautionCrowds: lowPrices: low
Nov
CautionCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- Liberty Day (D. Hamilton Jackson Day) (low impact)
Dec
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Christmas and Christmas Second Day (high impact)

Climate by region and month

When each region works

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
All three islandsSt Thomas, St John, St Croix	best	best	best	best	ok	hot	hot	storm	storm	storm	wet	best

best: dry, mildok: workablehot: short walking windowswet: daily rainstorm: typhoon or flood risk

All three islands: 27–31 °C (81–88 °F) all year with trade winds; short showers, most rain September–November. Irma and Maria both struck in September 2017.81–88 °F (27–31 °C) all year with trade winds; short showers, most rain September–November. Irma and Maria both struck in September 2017.

December to April is dry and busy; May–July is good value; September–October is peak storm risk and some businesses close.

Cost

What a day costs, and how to pay

Open CostClose Cost4 partsMoney at a glance · Daily budget · Costs · Money & passes

Money at a glance

Cash or card, ATMs, a day's spend, tipping

Currency and cash

US dollar (USD)

Card-friendly; small cash for markets

Cash or card

Cards work in most places; carry cash for safari taxis, beach bars and tips.

A day, per person

BudgetUS$115–240
Mid-rangeUS$310–610
ComfortUS$750–1,500

Per person per day, bed included

What that covers ↓

Tipping

Restaurants: 15–20%; check for added service.
Taxis: 10–15%.
Boat crews: 15–20%.

Also

Tipping follows US practice.

Money & passes Card, cash or ATM: the cheapest way to pay Tipping calculator

Budget per day, per person

2026 estimate · converted to your currency · totals include a bed

Per person per day, sharing a room at mid and comfort. Flights not included. 2026 estimate.

Tier	Bed	Food	Transport	Sights	Extras	Total, bed included
BudgetCampground, cook shops, safari taxis	US$50–100	US$35–60	US$10–25	US$10–30	US$10–25	US$115–240
Mid-rangeHotel or villa, restaurants, jeep	US$130–250	US$80–130	US$40–80	US$40–100	US$20–50	US$310–610
ComfortResort, charters, fine dining	US$350–700	US$150–250	US$80–150	US$120–300	US$50–100	US$750–1,500

Costs per day

Per person, 2026 estimate

Budget

US$150–230

Campground or simple guesthouse, local food, safari taxis and ferries.

Per person per day · Includes a bed

Mid-range

US$300–500

Hotel or villa (shared), restaurants, jeep, one boat trip.

Per person per day · Includes a bed

Comfort

US$750+

Resort, private boat charters and fine dining.

Per person per day · Includes a bed

Typical price	Amount
Pate (pastry)	US$3–5
Restaurant main	US$25–45
Painkiller cocktail	US$10–14
Red Hook – Cruz Bay ferry	About US$8–10 — check
Trunk Bay entry	About US$5 — check
Buck Island snorkel trip	US$90–150

2026 estimate, per person. Groceries are 30–50% above mainland prices; hotel tax extra.

Budget calculator

DaysTravellersStyleInternal flights

Beds1 room × 10 nightsUS$2,500
Food and drink2 × 10 daysUS$2,500
Local transport2 × 10 daysUS$1,400
Sights and tours2 × 10 daysUS$1,400
St Thomas – St Croix seaplane or flight (one way)2 × 1US$300

Trip total, 2 travellers

US$8,000

Per person per day: US$400

2026 estimate. Beds priced per room for two; international flights, insurance and visas excluded. Jeep rental is the main extra on St John and St Croix.

Money & passes

Cash necessity: 2/5 (5 means cash for most things)

Currency is the US dollar (USD).
Cards work in most places; carry cash for safari taxis, beach bars and tips.
Tipping follows US practice.

Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry

Getting in

Before you go, entry rules and the first day

Open Getting inClose Getting in5 partsBefore you go · Arrive · Entry · Documents · First 24 hours

Before you go

Dated steps for your passport

What to sort, and by when, before a trip to US Virgin Islands. Pick your passport and flight date; everything else follows.

My passportI fly on

Add your flight date to turn “weeks before” into dates.

US plugs fit
Sockets here: type A, B.
No arrival card
No arrival card from the mainland; CBP inspection on departure to the mainland.
No visa needed: Unlimited
Domestic trip; carry proof of citizenship. Return or onward ticket.
Entry rules ESTA (esta.cbp.dhs.gov) ↗

Passport valid long enough
90 days before
Valid for the stay; ESTA travellers need an e-passport.
Passport check
Travel insurance
30 days before
Buy cover that includes medical evacuation and your activities; save the policy number and the 24-hour line offline.
Insurance check
Vaccines and medicines
30 days before
Some vaccines need weeks or two doses; carry prescriptions in their boxes.
Health Medicine rules
Driving permit (only if you drive)(optional)
30 days before
Home licence valid for short stays.
Driving abroad
eSIM or roaming
2 weeks before
US carriers work as domestic; Liberty and Viya offer local plans.
eSIM finder
Cards and cash
2 weeks before
Card-friendly; small cash for markets (cash need 2/5). Tell your bank you are travelling, check foreign-fee-free cards and ATM limits, and carry a backup card kept apart.
Money & ATMs

Lead times are Voykit's safe margins, not official deadlines (check the official portal). The full countdown with calendar reminders: Before-you-go countdown · Passport check.

Arrive

STT

Cyril E. King (St Thomas)

About 30–45 min by taxi to Red Hook for the St John ferry; CBP customs check before flights to the mainland

STX

Henry E. Rohlsen (St Croix)

About 20–30 min to Christiansted

Entry: visas and borders

2026 rules — confirm on the official portal

The USVI uses US immigration rules. US citizens flying from the mainland need no passport, but everyone leaving for the mainland or Puerto Rico passes CBP inspection at STT or STX, where US citizens show a passport or other proof of citizenship with photo ID. Visa Waiver Program nationals need an ESTA (US$40 since 30 September 2025 — check), Canadians need neither ESTA nor visa, and most others need a US visa. A ferry to the British Virgin Islands is an international trip: passport, BVI entry and US re-entry (ESTA or visa) are required.

My passport

Visa-freeUnlimited

Domestic trip; carry proof of citizenship.

Cost: Free
Form to fill: Photo ID for flights; passport or birth certificate plus ID for the CBP check leaving the USVI.
Arrival card: No arrival card from the mainland; CBP inspection on departure to the mainland.
Passport: Valid for the stay; ESTA travellers need an e-passport.
Onward ticket: Return or onward ticket.

Passport needed for any BVI day trip.

ESTA (esta.cbp.dhs.gov) ↗

Who	Rule	Stay	Watch
US citizens	No passport needed from the mainland	Unlimited	Proof of citizenship at the CBP check on departure; passport for the BVI.
Visa Waiver Program nationals	ESTA	Up to 90 days (US total)	BVI trips count as leaving and re-entering the US.
Canadians	Visa-free	Up to 6 months	Passport required.
Most others	US B1/B2 visa	Set by the officer	Multiple-entry visa if visiting the BVI.

By land and river

Crossing	To / from	Mode	Visa there	Trap
Ferry Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie – Tortola / Jost Van Dyke; Cruz Bay – West End	British Virgin Islands	Ferry, 30–60 min	Passport; BVI entry rules; ESTA or US visa to return	A driver's licence is not enough; BVI charges entry/environmental fees — check.

US residents get a US$1,600 duty-free allowance from the USVI, double the usual — check limits.
USDA inspection of bags applies on flights to the mainland.

Documents checklist

Tick as you go; saved in this browser

0/4 ready

Passport or proof of citizenshipbefore bookingUS citizens: ID plus proof of citizenship for the departure CBP check; others: passport. Official site ↗
ESTA or US visabefore bookingFor non-US, non-Canadian visitors; multiple-entry for BVI trips.
Passport for BVIbefore any ferryRequired for everyone.
Driving licenceif rentingHome licence valid for short stays.

First 24 hours

Tick these before you leave the airport

Do these on arrival.

Ferry: Taxi to Red Hook for St John; check last departure.
Evening boats are fewer.
Car: Book a jeep in advance for St John.
Winter shortages.
Documents: Keep passport or proof of citizenship for the departure CBP check.
Required for the flight home.

Getting around

Modes, times and the clock

Open Getting aroundClose Getting around2 partsGet around · Local time

Get around

Door-to-door, 2026 estimate

Mode	St Thomas → St Croix	Cost	Use it when	What breaks
Ferry Red Hook – Cruz Bay	About 20 min	About US$8–10 each way — check	The link to St John, roughly hourly.	Bag fees; last boats early evening.
Car barge Red Hook – St John	About 20–30 min	About US$50–70 return per car — check	Bring a rental car across.	Some St Thomas rental firms ban it — ask.
Seaplane or flight St Thomas – St Croix	About 20–25 min	US$100–150 one way — check	Fastest to St Croix; the seaplane flies harbour to harbour.	Bag weight limits.
Safari taxi (open truck)	Fixed routes	About US$2 per ride on set routes — check	Cheap and fun on St Thomas and St John.	Taxi rates per person for charter trips; agree first.
Rental car / jeep	Island-wide	US$70–120 a day	Needed on St John and St Croix.	Drive on the left; steep roads; book early in winter.
VITRAN bus	St Thomas and St Croix	About US$1 — check	Cheap but infrequent.	Irregular timetables.

Local time

What time it is there now, compared with the clock on your device.

Charlotte Amalie
…
Checking your clock…America/St Thomas

Practical

Money rules, safety, holidays, health, phones and phrases

Open PracticalClose Practical13 partsNext 90 days · Holidays · Safety & health · Safety · Safety by region · Health · Scams · Emergency card · Practical · Connect · Talk · Cope · Who travels

Holidays in the next 90 days

What closes, sells out or costs more

On now
Liberty Day (D. Hamilton Jackson Day)Minor
Nov 1
Holiday.
Dec 25
in 54 days
Christmas and Christmas Second DayBig impact
Dec 25–Dec 26
Closures.
Jan 6
in 66 days
Three Kings DaySome impact
Jan 6
Crucian Christmas Festival finale on St Croix.

The full holiday list Holidays on your dates Festivals by month

Holidays and festivals

Operational effect, not a calendar

When	What	Impact	What it does to a trip
6 Jan	Three Kings Day	medium	Crucian Christmas Festival finale on St Croix.
31 Mar	Transfer Day	low	Marks the 1917 sale from Denmark to the US.
Mar–Apr (varies)	Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday	medium	Closures; carnival season follows.
3 Jul	Emancipation Day	medium	End of slavery in 1848.
4 Jul	Independence Day and St John Festival	high	Cruz Bay parade and fireworks.
1 Nov	Liberty Day (D. Hamilton Jackson Day)	low	Holiday.
25–26 Dec	Christmas and Christmas Second Day	high	Closures.

Safety and health at a glance

Advice, risky areas, water, shots, numbers, scams

Emergency numbers

911Police, fire, ambulance

Where to take care

3/5 for a careful visitor · Crime in parts of St Thomas and St Croix; St John calm.

medium Charlotte Amalie back streets and some St Thomas estates · Robbery at night; taxis after dark.
medium St Croix (parts of Christiansted and Frederiksted at night) · Gun crime among residents; stay in busy areas.

Tap water

Most homes use cisterns; drink bottled or filtered. Tap water by country

Health

Main risks: Dengue, Sea urchins and coral cuts, Sun and dehydration, Medical care.

Top scams

1. Taxi fare confusion · Rates are per person and posted; confirm total before leaving.
2. Timeshare pitches · Decline.
3. Unlicensed boat charters · Book licensed operators with insurance.

Safety Stay healthy Emergency card Scam spotter Health check

Safety

Traffic drives on the left, although most cars are left-hand drive: take extra care at junctions and when overtaking.
Emergency: 911.
Crime is higher in parts of St Thomas and St Croix, especially after dark: use taxis at night.
Sun and sea: the sun is strong all year; watch for currents and rip tides on unpatrolled beaches, and swim where locals swim.
Hurricane season (Jun–Nov): follow local warnings and your airline; if a storm is forecast, leave early or shelter where your accommodation tells you.

The US Virgin Islands are a short ferry from the British Virgin Islands and a short flight from Puerto Rico.

What four governments say

Comparison not available yet for this country

Read each government's own advice: US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australia Smartraveller, Canada Travel Advice.

Strikes and disruptions

Official notices for the next 90 days. Open the full calendar.

No official-source strike or disruption notices for the next 90 days

That is not a promise that nothing is planned. This calendar lists only what a government or a public authority has published. Check US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australia Smartraveller, Canada Travel Advice and the transport operator for your dates.

Safety by region

Risk to a careful visitor, not a crime index

St John is calm; crime concentrates in parts of St Thomas and St Croix.

Region	Risk	What to watch
Charlotte Amalie back streets and some St Thomas estates	medium	Robbery at night; taxis after dark.
St Croix (parts of Christiansted and Frederiksted at night)	medium	Gun crime among residents; stay in busy areas.
St John	low	Car break-ins at beaches; steep roads.

Stay healthy

Risk	Where / when	Do this
Dengue	All islands	Repellent.
Sea urchins and coral cuts	Snorkel spots	Water shoes; do not stand on reefs.
Sun and dehydration	Trails and boats	Water, shade.
Medical care	Hospitals on St Thomas and St Croix; clinic on St John	Serious cases fly to Puerto Rico or Florida.

Scams and overcharges

Trap	Where	Defence
Taxi fare confusion	Airport, cruise docks	Rates are per person and posted; confirm total before leaving.
Timeshare pitches	Havensight, resorts	Decline.
Unlicensed boat charters	Red Hook docks	Book licensed operators with insurance.

Emergency card

Numbers, disasters, who to call

US Virgin Islands emergency numbers — screenshot this card

911

Police, fire, ambulance

Territory-wide

Schneider Regional Medical Center (St Thomas); Juan F. Luis Hospital (St Croix)

Hospital

Check

Natural and on-the-ground hazards

Hazard	When / where	Do this
Hurricanes	Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct	Follow VITEMA and NWS San Juan.
Earthquakes and tsunamis	Any time	Move to high ground if the sea withdraws.

Alerts and apps

VITEMA alerts; NWS San Juan.

Police, embassies, paperwork

Serious cases evacuate to Puerto Rico or Florida.

Insurer and 24-hour linePolicy numberWhere I'm staying

Kept only in this browser; nothing is sent anywhere.

Emergency card · US Virgin Islands

911Police, fire, ambulance

My passport: — · find my embassy
Insurance: —
Staying at: —

Hospitals with emergency care

Schneider Regional Medical Center · Charlotte Amalie (Sugar Estate), Charlotte Amalie
Private urgent-care clinics · Downtown and other parts of St Thomas, Charlotte Amalie

Emergency numbers, every country

Practical

Plugs, water, tips, hours

AtypeBtype

120 V · 60 Hz

US standard.

Tap water: Most homes use cisterns; drink bottled or filtered.
Toilets: Beach facilities in the national park; restaurants.
Weekly closing days: Many businesses close in September–October.

Tipping by situation

Situation	What locals do
Restaurants	15–20%; check for added service.
Taxis	10–15%.
Boat crews	15–20%.

Opening hours

What	Typical hours	Watch
Shops	Mon–Sat 09:00–17:00Mon–Sat 9:00 AM–5:00 PM	Cruise-day hours in Charlotte Amalie.

Connect

US carriers work as domestic; Liberty and Viya offer local plans.

Google MapsA ferry schedule or operator appA weather app with hurricane alerts

Numbers: Area code +1 340.
Payments: Cards and USD cash.

Talk

English is the language, with a lilting local Creole; Spanish is common on St Croix.

Where	Lingua franca	English	Note
All islands	English and Virgin Islands Creole	Native	Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican community on St Croix.

'Good day' before anything else.

Cope

Embassies, laundry, lockers, media, lost things

Consulates: None; foreign nationals use consulates in San Juan or embassies in Washington — check.
Pharmacies: On St Thomas and St Croix; limited on St John.

Travellers with specific needs

Short and factual

Traveller	On the ground	Do this
Solo women	Generally safe; normal care.	Taxis at night.
LGBTQ+	US law applies; welcoming in tourism.	Some conservative attitudes.
Families	Calm beaches and easy snorkelling.	Trunk Bay underwater trail.
Wheelchair users	Steep roads and ferries; ADA applies.	Choose resorts with accessible transfers.

Culture and food

Rules, manners, what to eat, where to sleep and what to buy

Open Culture and foodClose Culture and food6 partsRules · Respect & laws · Eat · Drink · Sleep · Buy

Country rules

Inherited by every page below

Entry follows US rules: international visitors need a US visa or ESTA as for the mainland. US citizens need no passport from the mainland, but must clear customs when leaving for the mainland.
The British Virgin Islands are a separate British territory: a ferry trip there is an international crossing and needs a passport.
Protect the reefs: do not stand on coral, and follow national park rules on St John.

Etiquette

Beachwear is for the beach: cover up in towns and shops.
Greet people before asking for anything; 'good morning' and 'good afternoon' are expected.
Share-ride safari taxis stop on request: signal clearly and pay as you get off.

St Thomas Carnival (usually after Easter): Charlotte Amalie is busy; roads close for parades.
Crucian Christmas Festival (late December–early January): St Croix's carnival; hotels fill.
Hurricane season (Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct): Storms can close airports and ports for days; ferries and small flights are cancelled first.

Respect and laws that surprise

What gets visitors fined, refused or arrested

Topic	The rule	What happens
Greetings	Greet first.	Cool response.
National park	No coral touching, anchoring only on moorings, no taking shells.	Fines.
Dress	Cover up off the beach.	Frowned on; some towns fine it.
Local history	Danish colonial names are everywhere; emancipation history matters to residents.	Offence.

Everyday manners

Situation	Do	Avoid
Greeting	Good morning / good afternoon	Opening with a question
Safari taxis	Buzz or signal to stop; pay on exit	Assuming it's a private ride
Dress	Cover up in town	Swimwear in shops

Eat

Regional food, diets, allergy card

Virgin Islands food mixes African, Danish, Puerto Rican and wider Caribbean cooking: fish and fungi, kallaloo, pates and johnnycakes, goat water and saltfish, with rum everywhere.

Region	Style	Order this
All islands	Local cook shops, beach bars, food trucks	Pates, fish and fungi, johnnycake

Dish finder

Region

Diet

11 of 11 dishes

Fish and fungiAll islands
Fish and fungi
Stewed fish with a cornmeal and okra loaf.
Lunch · Usually has fish/seafood
KallalooAll islands
Kallaloo
Greens stew with okra, fish, pork and crab.
Old Year's Night · Usually has fish/seafood, pork
PateAll islands
Pate
Fried pastry filled with beef, chicken or saltfish.
Snack · Usually has beef, chicken, fish/seafood · vegetarian version exists — ask
JohnnycakeAll islands
Johnnycake
Fried dough bread.
Any meal · Usually has milk · vegetarian version common
Saltfish and dumplingAll islands
Saltfish and dumpling
Salt cod with onions and peppers, boiled dumplings.
Breakfast · Usually has fish/seafood
Goat waterAll islands
Goat water
Spicy goat stew.
Festivals · Usually has lamb
Conch in butter sauceAll islands
Conch in butter sauce
Conch stewed in butter and herbs.
Dinner · Usually has fish/seafood, milk
RotiSt Thomas, St Croix
Roti
Flatbread wrap with curried chicken, goat or potato.
Lunch · Usually has chicken · vegetarian version exists — ask
SouseAll islands
Souse
Lime-cured pork soup.
Weekend · Usually has pork
Red groutAll islands
Red grout
Guava and tapioca pudding.
Emancipation Day · No meat or fish in the usual version · vegetarian version common
BenyeSt Croix
Benye
Sweet fritters, often with banana.
Festivals · Usually has egg, milk · vegetarian version common

Tags describe the usual recipe, not every kitchen. Stocks and sauces hide animal products: ask, or show the allergy card below.

Table manners

Food trucks and cook shops sell out by mid-afternoon.

Allergy / diet card — show it, do not say it

I have a severe allergy to ___. Please tell me if this food has ___ in it or is cooked with it.

“English is the local language; show it to your server.”

Peanuts: peanuts
Tree nuts: nuts
Shellfish: shellfish (conch, crab, lobster, shrimp)
Fish: fish / saltfish
Milk: dairy / butter
Egg: egg
Wheat / gluten: flour / wheat
Pork: pork

Diets: the reality

Diet	On the ground	Do this
Vegetarian / vegan	Options in Cruz Bay and Christiansted.	Veg roti or potato pate.
Gluten-free	Understood in restaurants.	Fungi is cornmeal.
Allergies	English spoken.	Kallaloo mixes fish, pork and crab.

Drink

Laws, what to order, what it costs

Legal age: 18.
Drink-driving: 0.08% limit.

Drink	What it is	Typical price
PainkillerPainkiller	Rum, pineapple, orange, coconut cream and nutmeg.	US$10–14
Cruzan rumCruzan	St Croix rum.	US$6–10 a drink
MaubiMaubi	Fermented bark drink.	US$3–5
Local beerSt John Brewers	Island craft beers.	US$7–9

Open-container rules are relaxed on beaches but check signs.

Sleep

Types, registration, booking

Type	Price (2026 estimate)	Use it for	Watch
Campground / eco-tent	US$80–200	Cinnamon Bay (St John)	Book months ahead.
Guesthouse / villa	US$150–400	Cruz Bay, Christiansted	Steep driveways; car needed.
Resort	US$400–1,200+	St Thomas east end, St John	Resort fees.

Booking reality

Winter and holiday weeks fill early; many places close Sep–Oct.

Buy

Tax-free, bargaining, customs

Duty-free shopping in Charlotte Amalie; local rum and crafts.

Prices and bargaining

Not done in shops.

What to bring home

Item	Where	Watch
Rum	St Croix distilleries	USVI-made spirits have higher allowances for US residents — check.
Local hot sauces and crafts	Cruz Bay, Christiansted	Buy local.

Customs allowances on arrival

What	Limit or rule
Duty-free allowance (US residents)	US$1,600 — check

Deep dive

Questions, where next, photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive3 partsGo next · Deep dive · Sources

Go next

St Thomas

Airport island

Region page.

Puerto Rico

30-min flight

Also US territory.

Saint Martin

Short flights

French and Dutch sides.

Antigua and Barbuda

Flights via San Juan or regional hops

Separate entry rules.

Caribbean

Subregion

Compare islands.

Sources compared: Wikivoyage — United States Virgin Islands · Wikitravel — US Virgin Islands. Section coverage was checked against these community guides (CC BY-SA) as secondary sources; the text on this page is Voykit's own, with facts cross-checked against the official sources above.

Deep dive

3 min read · 5 chapters

This deep dive is for the traveller curious why a US territory has Danish street names, drives on the left and celebrates its own Emancipation Day. Three small islands carry a long story of sugar, revolt and a 1917 sale, and today most of St John is a national park.

1The Danish West Indies1 min

Taíno and Kalinago peoples lived on the islands before Columbus named them after Saint Ursula and her virgins in 1493. After Spanish raids emptied them, Denmark settled St Thomas in 1672, St John in 1718 and bought St Croix from France in 1733.

Charlotte Amalie became a free port and trading hub, and St Croix was covered in sugar plantations worked by enslaved Africans. The 1733 revolt on St John held the island for about six months before French troops crushed it.

On 3 July 1848, thousands of enslaved people gathered at Frederiksted, and Governor Peter von Scholten declared emancipation to avoid bloodshed. The islands mark the date as Emancipation Day.

Danish St Thomas: 1672
St John revolt: 1733
Emancipation: 3 July 1848

See itFort Christian, Charlotte Amalie →Ninety-Nine Steps, Charlotte Amalie →

2Sold to the United States1 min

Sugar declined after emancipation, and the 1878 Fireburn labour revolt on St Croix, led by women including 'Queen' Mary Thomas, showed how little had changed for workers. Denmark tried to sell the islands for decades.

Worried about German submarines during the First World War, the US bought them for US$25 million in gold; the flag changed on 31 March 1917, now Transfer Day. Residents gained US citizenship in 1927 and an elected governor in 1970.

Like Puerto Rico, the USVI is an unincorporated territory: residents cannot vote for president and have a non-voting delegate in Congress. Driving on the left is a Danish-era habit that never changed.

Fireburn: 1878
Transfer Day: 31 March 1917
Price: US$25 million

See itFrenchtown waterfront, Charlotte Amalie →

3A park, a reef and the sea1 min

Laurance Rockefeller bought much of St John and gave it to the US; Virgin Islands National Park opened in 1956 and now covers about 60% of the island plus surrounding waters, with trails past plantation ruins and petroglyphs.

Buck Island Reef National Monument off St Croix protects elkhorn coral and an underwater snorkel trail. The Cane Bay wall drops to deep water within swimming distance of shore.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck within two weeks in September 2017, damaging reefs, forests and buildings; recovery took years.

National park founded: 1956
Share of St John in park: About 60%
Irma and Maria: September 2017

See itTrunk Bay, St JohnBuck Island, St Croix

4Fungi, quelbe and carnival1 min

Fish and fungi, a cornmeal and okra loaf, is the territorial dish, and kallaloo is eaten on Old Year's Night. Pates, johnnycakes and roti fill food trucks; St Croix's distilleries make much of the rum sold in the US.

Quelbe, the official music, is played by scratch bands with a gourd, banjo, flute and steel. Carnival on St Thomas after Easter, the St John Festival around 4 July and the Crucian Christmas Festival bring parades, mocko jumbie stilt-walkers and food fairs.

Official music: Quelbe
Territorial dish: Fish and fungi

See itHavensight waterfront, Charlotte Amalie →

5Visiting the USVI today1 min

US entry rules apply: no passport for US citizens from the mainland, ESTA or visa for most others. Leaving for the mainland, everyone passes a CBP customs check, and a ferry to the British Virgin Islands needs a passport.

Ferries link St Thomas and St John roughly hourly; seaplanes and short flights reach St Croix. Rent a jeep, drive on the left and dial 911 in an emergency.

Emergency: 911
Currency: US dollar
Driving: Left

See itCharlotte Amalie →

Read, watch, wordsReading · Glossary · Sources3 parts

Reading

Land of Love and Drowning — Tiphanie YaniqueA St Thomas family across the 20th century.

Glossary

Term	Local	Meaning
safari		Open-sided shared taxi truck.
fungi		Cornmeal and okra side.
mocko jumbie		Stilt-walking masquerader.
Crucian		Person from St Croix.
Transfer Day		31 March, the 1917 handover from Denmark.

Read for this deep dive

Background reading only: the text above is written by Voykit, not copied from these pages.

Sources

secondaryWikivoyage — United States Virgin Islands
officialUK FCDO travel advice: USA (covers the US Virgin Islands)
officialUS ESTA application (official)
officialVirgin Islands National Park (NPS)
officialCBP — travelling from the US Virgin Islands

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