Holidays in St. Kitts & Nevis 2024/2025

Even if military relics aren’t your thing, the sheer size of Brimstone Hill Fortress will leave a lasting impression. It’s an enormous British-built hilltop compound, with its citadels, bastions, barracks and ramparts forged from volcanic limestone over a period of around 100 years. It’s a UNESCO-listed monument that has been so well preserved it’s like a 17th-century time capsule, a place seemingly unchanged since it was guarded by soldiers. When you stroll its 800ft-high walls it becomes obvious why this spot was chosen – the views are stupendous, with a panorama of St. Kitts’ untamed rainforest and some of the region’s smaller islands bobbing in the shimmering Caribbean Sea beyond.

If you’re itching to peel yourself off the beach, then challenge yourself to a hike up Nevis Peak (3,232ft). From the ground, it’s a picture-perfect volcanic cone carpeted in emerald jungle and hazed in clouds at the summit. Accompanying a guide is essential to help navigate the trails and while the ascent is tough, the enchanting scenery more than makes up for it. Trumpet trees and ferns are among the lush foliage that cover its slopes, a playground for wild goats and vervet monkeys to scamper around. It goes without saying – the sight from the summit is eye-popping, with the beautiful entirety of Nevis on display, with St Kitts sprawling away nearby. On a good day, you can even see Antigua, Montserrat and other Caribbean gems in the distance, too.

While St. Kitts has Brimstone Hill Fortress as its historic gem, Nevis’ pint-sized capital Charlestown is a gorgeous colonial throwback. The pastel-coloured Georgian houses and palm-shaded gardens that line its labyrinthine streets give it a toytown feel, making a simple stroll here a real pleasure. Its quiet setting means its gingerbread-style houses, which date back to the 18th century, have retained their quaint splendour. If you fancy delving deeper, the Museum of Nevis History charts the island’s past as well as doubling as the birthplace of great American statesman Alexander Hamilton – the subject of popular stage show Hamilton.

For something you'll hardly find anywhere else in the Caribbean, hop on St. Kitts’ greatest ride. The St. Kitts Scenic Railway is the last railway in the West Indies, carrying visitors around the same route it traced when ferrying sugar cane from the plantations to the sugar factory in Basseterre in the early 20th century. It’s a great way of seeing St. Kitts at its best, crossing canyon-spanning steel bridges, trundling past unspoilt volcanic beaches and spying said sugar cane fields while circling the slopes of Mount Liamuiga.

Renowned for their sugar cane plantations, St. Kitts and Nevis give you an immersive opportunity to explore historic and traditional distilleries whilst sampling deliciously flavoured coffee, vanilla, and of course, mango rums!

No vaccinations are recommended for St. Kitts & Nevis but the country is regarded to have a risk of contracting the Zika virus. However, please consult your GP at least four to six weeks prior to travel for current advice.

The time difference is GMT -4 hours.

The flight time from London to Basseterre is about 10 hours, with a touchdown in Antigua & Barbuda.

The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, although US dollars are also widely accepted.

British passport holders don’t need a visa to travel to St. Kitts & Nevis.