Top St. Thomas Attractions -- What to See and Do in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

The duty-free shopping capital of the Caribbean features block after block (and alley after alley) of jewelry stores selling precious gems, watches, and more at bargain prices. You’ll also find the usual souvenir shops, and there’s a market along the waterfront with vendors selling jewelry, clothing, and knockoff designer handbags.

The island’s busiest road (Veteran’s Drive) separates downtown from the harbor, so this isn’t where you want to go for waterfront dining and drinking. However, the city’s narrow streets -- most with their original Danish names -- are home to a number of small, specialty restaurants, often housed in historic former warehouses and other buildings.

Historic sites include Fort Christian, which may or may not be open for tours (it’s currently undergoing renovations); the 99 Steps, built by the Danes in the mid-1700s using bricks transported as ships' ballast, and Blackbeard’s Castle. You can also catch a ferry from here to Cruz Bay, St. John, or a seaplane to St. Croix.