RELAX & EXPLORE
The Best Beaches in St. Thomas
St. Thomas may be small but it's stacked with beaches, more than forty of them, from the mile-long sweep of Magens Bay to hidden coves you have to hike to reach. Some are calm and family-friendly, some are wild and local, some are pure snorkel heaven. Here are our honest favorites, sorted by area so you can find your perfect stretch of sand.
There's a Beach for Every Mood
From quiet solitude to live music and beach bars, each one has its own character
Northside
Lush, breezy & a little on the wild side
Magens Bay
North Shore · calm, family-friendly, world-famous
The one everyone means when they say "St. Thomas beach." A mile-long ribbon of soft sand on a calm, protected bay, consistently ranked among the most beautiful in the world. AVOID ON A CRUISE DAY
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Great for: swimming, families, paddleboarding and easy calm water
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Getting in: $5 entry, $2 to park
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Amenities: restrooms, showers, lifeguards, chair, kayak and SUP rentals, plus a beach bar and cafe
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Nearby trail: the Magens Bay Nature Trail, an easy shaded boardwalk through the arboretum
Hull Bay
North Shore · local, laid-back, good surf with a North swell.
The anti-Magens. A rugged, super-local beach where fishermen dock and surfers chase the winter swell, with a mellow beach bar and zero pretense. Perfect hiding spot from the cruise ship crowds.
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Great for: surfing, snorkeling at the point, fishing and a low-key local day
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Getting in: free
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Amenities: The Hull Bay Hideaway beach bar and grill, casual and cash-friendly
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Nearby trail: no official trail, but the rocky point is worth exploring on foot
Mandahl Bay
Quiet, local, off-the-radar
A calm, low-key bay tucked past Mandahl, backed by a mangrove salt pond that draws birds and turtles. Uncrowded and very local.
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Great for: a quiet swim, snorkeling and escaping the crowds
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Getting in: free, local neighborhood access
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Amenities: none, bring your own everything
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Nearby nature: Mandahl Pond, a mangrove salt pond and birding spot right behind the beach
Neltjeberg
Hidden, hike-in, adventurous
A secluded beach you earn on foot, down an old estate trail past stone ruins. Empty sand, good snorkeling and total quiet as your reward. If you have a guide, tell them to take you HERE!
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Great for: snorkeling, solitude and a little adventure
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Getting in: free, but it is a hike down and back up
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Amenities: none at all, pack water, food and shade
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Nearby trail: the Neltjberg trail, winding past the ruins of an old Danish estate
Caret Bay
Secluded, calm, local
A quiet residential cove, calm and shallow with easy snorkeling close in. The kind of spot most visitors never find.
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Great for: a calm swim, easy snorkeling and a peaceful day
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Getting in: free, tucked into a residential area so park respectfully
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Amenities: none, come fully stocked
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Nearby trail: none official, but the rocky ends are fun to explore
East End
Snorkeling, vibes and a excursions
Sapphire Beach
East End · lively, snorkel, resorts & excursions
One of the prettiest beaches on island, powder-soft sand and calm turquoise water with St. John right across the channel. Snorkel the point, grab a drink at the beach bar and settle in. Also, our HOME :)
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Great for: snorkeling, families, watersports and beach-bar days
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Getting in: free, ample parking at the resort
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Amenities: beach bar and food, chair and watersports rentals, restrooms
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Good to know: live music every Sunday & monthyl full moon parties
Coki Beach
East End · lively, local, snorkel
Hands-down some of the best snorkeling on island, fish swarm the reef the second you wade in. A lively, local, music-and-food-shack kind of beach right next to Coral World. AVOID ON CRUISE SHIP DAY.
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Great for: snorkeling, a lively scene and an easy beach day with kids
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Getting in: free, small paid lots nearby
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Amenities: food shacks, drinks, chair and gear rentals, restrooms
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Right next door: Coral World Ocean Park, the marine park and aquarium
Secret Harbour
East End · calm, snorkel, sunsets
A protected little beach that's ideal for swimming and snorkeling right off the sand, with a beachfront restaurant and some of the best sunset views on the East End.
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Great for: easy snorkeling, families, couples and sunsets
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Getting in: free, parking at the resort
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Amenities: beachfront restaurant and bar, dive shop, chair rentals, restrooms
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Good to know: the reef starts just steps from shore, so bring a mask
Lindqvist Beach
East End · pristine, calm, protected
A postcard-perfect stretch inside a protected park, soft white sand, calm clear water and far fewer crowds. So pretty it has starred in commercials.
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Great for: swimming, families, photos and a calmer day
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Getting in: $5 entry per adult
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Amenities: restrooms, picnic areas, weekend lifeguards, bring your own chairs and food
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Nearby nature: it sits inside a protected coastal park with shady walking paths
Vessup Beach
East End · mellow, close to marina, local
A calm, breezy bay right by Red Hook, more locals than tourists. Mangroves at the edges and easy flat water make it a neighborhood favorite.
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Great for: kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling and a laid-back day
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Getting in: free, small local lot
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Amenities: none, BYO everything, low-key except Sundays
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Nearby nature: mangroves line the bay, a nursery for baby fish and rays
Cowpet Bay
East End · calm, quiet, residential
A quiet, calm bay tucked by the yacht club, mellow and rarely crowded. A local-feeling spot for an easy swim away from the busier beaches.
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Great for: a calm swim, quiet and a low-key day
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Getting in: free, residential access so park respectfully
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Amenities: on site restaurants & watersports rentals
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Nearby: St. Thomas Yacht Club and Elysian Beach Resort
Southside
Resorts & close to cruise ports and town
Bolongo Bay
South Side · casual, beach-bar, resort
A laid-back palm-lined bay anchored by Bolongo Bay Beach Resort and the legendary Iggie's Beach Bar. Easy swimming, watersports and live music make it a fun all-day hang.
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Great for: easy swimming, watersports, families and beach-bar days
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Getting in: free, resort parking
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Amenities: Iggie's Beach Bar and Oasis grill, watersports rentals, chairs, restrooms
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Good to know: Iggie's does live music and beach parties, so check the schedule
Limetree Beach
South Side · calm, family, mellow
A gentle, palm-shaded beach with calm swimmable water, tucked past Bolongo. Quiet and easy, a favorite for families who want soft sand without a scene.
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Great for: calm swimming, families and a relaxed day
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Getting in: free, resort-adjacent parking
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Amenities: limited, some resort food and rentals nearby, otherwise bring your own
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Good to know: it sits by the Limetree and Bluebeard's Beach Club properties
Abi Beach
South Side · secluded, dog-friendly, 4WD
A hidden little beach you can only reach with four-wheel drive, which keeps it wonderfully empty. Dog-friendly, shady in spots and known for gorgeous winter sunsets.
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Great for: solitude, dogs, sunsets and getting away from everyone
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Getting in: free, but four-wheel drive only, the road is rough
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Amenities: none, a few chairs sometimes, no restrooms, bring everything
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Good to know: one of the rare dog-friendly beaches on island
Morningstar Beach
South Side · soft sand, Buoy Haus, cabana rentals
A pretty stretch of soft sand right below Frenchman's Reef, just minutes from town and the cruise ports. Small waves make it fun for boogie boarding, with snorkeling at the rocky ends.
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Great for: body surfing, snorkeling the ends, cruisers and an easy day near town
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Getting in: free, resort access at the Westin and Morningstar
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Amenities: resort beach bars and rentals, chairs, restrooms
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Good to know: the closest good beach to the cruise ports, an easy taxi from the ships
West End
Quiet, nature, close to airport
Brewers Bay
West End · local, mellow, food-trucks, known for turtles
A long, laid-back local beach past the university and airport, shaded by sea grape trees. Calm water, resident sea turtles and johnnycake vans parked in the sand make it a real slice of island life.
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Great for: snorkeling, turtle-spotting, families and cheap local eats
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Getting in: free, roadside parking
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Amenities: food and drink vans, some shade, otherwise bring your own
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Good to know: planes come in low overhead, which the kids usually love
Lindbergh Bay
West End · convenient, calm, near airport, new Lime Out
A calm palm-lined bay tucked right by the airport and Emerald Beach Resort. Gentle water and quick access make it the perfect last swim before a flight or an easy in-town beach day. Home to Lime Out STT
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Great for: calm swimming, families and a quick beach fix
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Getting in: free, resort-adjacent parking
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Amenities: resort bar and restaurant, chairs, restrooms
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Good to know: closest beach to the airport, great for a layover or your last day
Sandy Bay *Mermaid's Chair
West End · remote, pristine, snorkel
One of the most beautiful and untouched beaches on island, out on the far west end by the Botany Bay preserve. Crystal water, great snorkeling and a gorgeous empty stretch of sand.
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Great for: snorkeling, photos and getting completely away
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Getting in: access runs through the gated Preserve at Botany Bay, so call ahead. Shuttle stops at 4pm
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Amenities: none, pack in and pack out
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Good to know: remote and undeveloped for now, a proper adventure beach
Santa Maria
West End · secluded, wild, quiet
A tucked-away beach on the northwest end that rewards the effort to find it. Undeveloped and often empty, with good snorkeling when the water is calm and a proper away-from-it-all feel.
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Great for: solitude, snorkeling and a wild, quiet day
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Getting in: free, but access is tricky, ask a local for directions
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Amenities: none, bring absolutely everything
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Good to know: surf can pick up, so go on a calm day
Honeymoon Beach on Water Island
West End · ferry ride from Crown Bay, fun, watersports
A palm-fringed favorite on Water Island, a short ferry from Crown Bay. Floating mats, kayaks, snorkel gear and Dinghy's Beach Bar make it a whole day-trip vibe just off St. Thomas.
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Great for: watersports, beach-bar days, snorkeling and a mini adventure
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Getting in: ferry from Crown Bay, then a short walk or shuttle
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Amenities: Dinghy's Beach Bar, watersports and chair rentals, restrooms
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Good to know: the ferry ride is half the fun, check the schedule both ways