10 Best Beaches in St Kitts and Nevis

Frigate Bay South is widely considered to be the most popular beach in St Kitts. It’s located east of Basseterre, on a wide, open bay. Frigate Bay South is best known for its nightlife and vibrant atmosphere. The beach is lined with hotels and resorts, beachfront bars and a variety of restaurants. It’s often busy from morning until after midnight, with a buzzing party vibe.

The beautiful white-sand beach is also popular for water sports such as swimming, windsurfing and jet ski riding. Over the weekend, the beach becomes the main nightlife hub on the whole island, with a string of bars known locally as The Strip. With plenty of people around, it’s never too difficult to find a taxi to and from Frigate Bay and anywhere else in St Kitts.

Banana Bay Beach is a secluded beach on the southeast coast of St Kitts. It offers a beautiful stretch of golden sand and crystal-clear water that is popular for those looking for a place to relax. However, it doesn’t quite feel as remote as it once did, with the development of the luxury Park Hyatt Resort and a few restaurants along the peninsula.

On a clear day, you can easily look straight across the Narrows to Nevis Island, with beautiful views along this stretch of sand. While Banana Bay requires a car to reach, it’s conveniently located among some other top beaches including Turtle Beach and Cockleshell Beach, if you want to hop from one bay to the next.

Cockleshell Bay Beach is the most visited of the beaches strung along the southeast coast of St Kitts. The protected bay is lined with white sand stretching for almost 3 km. It looks straight across the strait known as the Narrows to the sister island of Nevis. Cockleshell Bay is popular among both locals and tourists alike.

The beach is home to some restaurants and bars, including the famous Reggae Beach Bar at the eastern edge. It’s particularly common for locals to head there at weekends to party but is much more serene during the week. The clear water is also a great place to go for a swim on a warm day, with relatively shallow water.

South Friars Bay is a laidback beach running along the skinniest part of the southeast peninsula in St Kitts. It’s perfect for those looking for a more relaxing alternative to Frigate Bay as it’s just the next bay south and easier to access than the more secluded beaches further afield.

There are plenty of things to do at South Friars, with water activities and dining available. The coast is lined with restaurants and bars from budget shacks to higher-end dining experiences. It’s also a great spot to go for a swim and a snorkel, with calm, clear water. South Friars is not to be confused with North Friars on the Atlantic side of the coast, where the sea is much wilder and unsuitable for swimming.

Turtle Beach is a popular beach on the remote southeast peninsula of St Kitts. Its sandy shoreline stretches along a bay protected from the rough Atlantic Ocean. Similar to other beaches on the south coast, it looks straight across the Narrows to the island of Nevis. Access to Turtle Beach is via a dirt road, but it’s worth the effort to reach this secluded and pristine spot.

While generally ranked among the best beaches in St Kitts and Nevis, Turtle Beach is specifically one of the best beaches for swimming and snorkelling. Underneath the clear water, you’ll find a coral reef and an amazing variety of colourful fish. If you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins or whales in the bay, especially during winter.

Majors Bay is a large bay on the southeast peninsula of St Kitts. Located right at the end of the peninsula’s highway, it’s an easier beach to access than some of the others on the same coastline. Majors Bay is best known for being where the Sea Bridge ferry departs for Nevis. However, the beach is also appealing for relaxing and bathing.

Despite the presence of the ferry port, Majors Bay gets less crowded than nearby Banana Bay and Cockleshell Bay, but the long stretch of sand and calm, azure water is equally as good for a swim and sunbake. There are no facilities available on the beach, however, which is often the reason that people find it even more peaceful.

Oualie Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Nevis. Located towards the northern coast of the island, it faces the Narrows and looks across to the string of popular bays in St Kitts. The sandy beach is lined with palm trees and is great for swimming thanks to its beautiful blue water and a small pier.

You can join in some water sports with windsurfing, kayaking, yacht charters and diving from Oualie Beach. This section of coast is dominated by the Oualie Beach Resort, providing accommodation, food and entertainment for beachgoers. Otherwise, it’s easily accessed by road from other towns on the island.

Pinney’s Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean. The long, golden, sandy beach on the west coast of Nevis is located just north of the main town of Charlestown. It appears to stretch endlessly along the Caribbean coast with plenty of room to enjoy swimming, relaxing and walking.

The beach is lined with many bars, restaurants, and resorts, with many visitors to Nevis staying near here. It also has a reputation for attracting high-profile people and celebrities on holiday, with well-known high-end dining and cocktail bars overlooking the sea. Pinney’s is one of the best places to be at sunset, with striking, colourful sunsets and a lively atmosphere throughout the evening.