St Kitts & Nevis: A 7-Night Itinerary

St. Kitts and Nevis are two miles apart and, for most UK visitors, effectively one trip rather than two separate island holidays. This itinerary treats them that way – seven nights based on St. Kitts and one full day across the water in Nevis, which is close enough that it never feels like a detour.

Before you go

Fly into St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, just outside Basseterre.

This is a small airport and the arrival procedures generally run pretty smoothly. Across multiple visits, I’ve made it from tarmac to my waiting transfer in approximately 30 minutes maximum.

Valid UK passport holders are required to present an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) on arrival. This is straightforward to apply for via the St. Kitts and Nevis e-Border app (Android/iOS) or at www.knatravelform.kn.

Ferries to Nevis run regularly from Basseterre, taking 25–45 minutes depending on the boat. Faster water taxis (6–15 minutes) run from Cockleshell Beach or Christophe Harbour to Oualie Beach on Nevis — worth knowing about if you’re staying on the southeast peninsula.

Driving is on the left.

Day 1 — Arrive, Frigate Bay

Settle in and ease into island time. Frigate Bay makes a good first base — restaurants and beach bars right on the sand for an easy first evening.

Where to stay in Frigate Bay

Three options, depending on what you want from the stay:

St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort, Casino & Spa – the full resort experience: multiple restaurants, a spa, a casino, three pools. I stayed here myself — good for anyone who wants everything on-site and doesn’t mind a bigger, busier property. Rooms can be interconnected, which makes it a solid pick for extended families travelling together.
Royal St. Kitts Hotel – quieter and more self-catering, with full kitchens in most rooms. I visited on a site inspection; a good fit if you’d rather cook some meals or want more space than a standard resort room. They’ve recently added a handful of villas too, if you want something a bit more high-end without leaving Frigate Bay.
Timothy Beach Resort – the smaller, more affordable option, right on the Caribbean side of Frigate Bay. I’ve stayed here too – a good middle ground if neither the full-resort scale of the Marriott nor the self-catering setup of Royal St Kitts is quite what you’re after.

All three sit within easy reach of the restaurants and beach bars in Frigate Bay itself, so the choice comes down to style of stay rather than location.

To help you decide between the Marriott, Royal St Kitts, or Timothy Beach Hotel, grab my free pre-booking checklist first – it details the questions I ask before recommending any property, it’s built from years working inside hotel PR.

Day 2 – Basseterre & Brimstone Hill Fortress

Spend the morning in Basseterre – Independence Square, the Berkeley Memorial Clock, the local markets – before heading to Brimstone Hill Fortress in the afternoon. The UNESCO-listed fortress is the single attraction on this island I wouldn’t skip; on a clear day the views stretch across to neighbouring islands.

Day 3 – The Scenic Railway & Old Road Rum

Spend the morning on the Scenic Railway, built originally to move sugar cane and now a relaxed way to see plantations, rainforest, and coastal viewpoints most visitors never reach on foot. In the afternoon, Old Road Rum Distillery at Wingfield Estate – the oldest surviving rum distillery site in the Caribbean, dating to 1681, with ruins to walk through and a proper tasting at the end.

Day 4 — Beach day: South Friars Bay & Cockleshell

A slower day. South Friars Bay for calm water and beach bars, Cockleshell Beach in the afternoon for views across to Nevis itself – a good preview of tomorrow.

Day 5 — Full day in Nevis

Take the morning ferry to Charlestown, Nevis’ small, walkable capital – the Alexander Hamilton Museum and the Botanical Gardens are both an easy morning. In the afternoon, Pinney’s Beach: four miles of golden sand, with Sunshine’s Beach Bar at one end for the island’s famous Killer Bee rum punch. If time allows, the Bath Village hot springs – volcanic pools on the grounds of a historic 1778 hotel – are worth the short trip from Charlestown. Return on the evening ferry, or stay overnight in Nevis if you’d rather split the pace properly.

Note: the last public ferry back to St. Kitts typically runs by early evening — check the current schedule before you commit to a full day, especially if you’re not staying over.

Day 6 — Hike Mount Liamuiga or adventure activities

For anyone up for it, the guided trek up Mount Liamuiga, St. Kitts’ highest peak, through rainforest and volcanic terrain. Prefer something lower-key — snorkelling, an off-road buggy tour, or a catamaran cruise are all easy alternatives for the day.

Day 7 — Last beach morning, departure

One final morning at whichever beach you liked best, before heading to the airport.

Best time to go

December–April for the most reliable weather. Outside that window, prices drop but you’re into hurricane season, same trade-off as the rest of the Caribbean.

Rum Punch & Rainforests

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