36 Hours in... St Kitts

Explore the beautiful Caribbean island of St Kitts with this quick quide to seeing its highlights in 36 hours. 

Why go now?

For instant warmth and sunshine. St Kitts offers all the classic joys of a Caribbean holiday, but with the bonus of stimulating sights and activities that will appeal to travellers who like to do more than flop on a beach. These include a delightful scenic railway, a monumental fortress that is a World Heritage Site, challenging rainforest hikes, a championship golf course, and the chance to visit its enchanting sister isle of Nevis.

Getting there

British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) flies from London Gatwick to St Kitts’s Robert L Bradshaw International Airport, which is in the centre of the island. Departures are on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the flight includes an hour-long stop in Antigua each way (you do not have to leave the plane). 

Where to stay

Special treat

Ottley’s Plantation Inn (1) is a 23-room plantation-style hotel with bags of Caribbean charm. Rooms from US$336/EC$907 (£234). Read the full review

Mid-range

Popular with North Americans, the 394-room St Kitts Marriott Resort (2) comes with a virtually private beach, a breezy golf course, several restaurants, a spa and a casino. Rooms from US$166/EC$448 (£115). Read the full review

On a budget

Timothy Beach Resort (3) is set beside a lively beach with a run of rum bars and casual restaurants known as “The Strip”. It’s a good option for sociable travellers. Rooms from US$158/EC$426 (£110). Read the full review

On arrival

You might get time for a swim; if not, go straight for that reviving rum cocktail. All the above hotels have restaurants that are fine for your first night (at the Marriott, book a table at Blu before you fly in).

Day One

This first day concentrates on what makes the island stand out: its historic sights and scenic landscapes. It starts in the capital, Basseterre, then tours the main bulk of the island in a clockwise direction. A hire car will give you flexibility, and I suggest you take a picnic lunch, which can be ordered from your hotel or bought in Basseterre – or there is a snack bar at Brimstone Hill Fortress. Local taxi drivers also give tours. A three-and-a-half hour island trip, not including the south-east peninsula, costs US$80/EC$216 for up to four passengers, excluding admission charges and tip.

9am

After breakfast, head to the centre of Basseterre (4), which has a friendly if dishevelled air. Key historic buildings and spaces to seek out are St George’s Anglican Church (at the top of Church Street), Independence Square and the National Museum, which is housed in the 1894 Old Treasury Building in Bay Road. If there’s a cruise ship in port, the shops and Amina craft market at Port Zante will be in full swing.

11am

Head west along the island’s south coast to Old Road Town. Here, just inland, lies the Wingfield Estate (5) where you can visit the ruins of a sugar mill, the gardens of Romney Manor and the Caribelle Batik store (closed weekends if no cruise ships are in port). There is a small admission charge and you can get drinks and snacks at the Rainforest Bar.

12.30pm

Continuing west along the coastal road, look for the sign for Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park (6), a World Heritage Site with a colossal fort dating from the 1690s. It’s a steep drive up, and remember to pick up an audioguide (US$5/EC$13, no credit cards) and map on buying your ticket. Parking is in the old Parade Ground, where you can have a picnic after touring the museum and fortifications, or the Skyline Canteen is close by.

3pm

Continuing west along the coastal road to Sandy Point, you’ll find the Amazing Grace Experience on Crab Hill (7) (001 869 465 1122; amazinggraceexperience.com). This tells how St Kitts played its part in the creation of the famous hymn, which was composed by the reformed slave trader John Newton.

4.30pm

The drive around the north-west coast of St Kitts is a scenic delight, with views out to sea and inland to the forest-cloaked volcanic peak of Mt Liamuiga. Taxi drivers generally stop for photo opportunities at Black Rocks. Further down the coast, look for a sign on the right for Ottley’s Plantation Inn, a grand hotel set on a 35-acre hillside estate. If you are not staying here, call into its Royal Palm restaurant (8) for tea or a cool drink.

7pm

Have dinner on the veranda of Serendipity (9) (001 869 465 9999; serendipitystkitts.net) in Fortlands, Basseterre. Local dishes include a Caribbean bouillabaisse and mahi mahi. Main courses cost from US$34/EC$92, closed Sunday.

8.30pm

Make for the beach bars and casual restaurants of “The Strip” (10) on South Frigate Bay Beach. The party mood peaks on Friday nights.

Day Two

St Kitts is shaped like a paddle, and now it’s time to explore its topsy-turvy handle, edged with attractive beaches. A hire car is best for this, or a taxi to Cockleshell Bay (11) will cost around US$24/EC$65 one-way. Take everything you need for a lazy time by the beach.

10am

It’s a six-mile drive to the island’s south-east corner, from where there are exhilarating views of neighbouring Nevis. On the way, stop for a look at South Friars Bay beach (12), or further on Sand Bank Bay is on the windy Atlantic side and good for a walk.

11.30am

Cockleshell Bay is arguably the island’s best beach. At either end there are bars with good restaurants, and you can rent loungers and watersports equipment. Have lunch at easy-going Spice Mill (001 869 661 5906; spicemillrestaurant.com), where the menu includes wood-fired pizzas (from US$13/EC$36) and crab and lobster burger (US£25/EC$67).

This itinerary is part of the Telegraph Travel app, available free from the App Store. Our expert, Nigel Tisdall, helps you explore this wonderful Caribbean island, having reviewed and recommended his favourite restaurants, bars and beaches.

You can access the app offline, and because it relies on GPS to track your movements, there is no risk of expensive roaming charges. There are easy-to-use interactive maps and clear and simple categories to help you make your choices.

In short, it is your passport to a better trip and, best of all, it’s completely free. To download the app, simply go to telegraph.co.uk/travelapp. 

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