Frenchtown

US Virgin Islands


The island’s ‘Frenchies,’ aka Huguenots who emigrated to St Thomas from St-Barthélemy during the mid-19th century, populated this community of brightly painted frame houses on the harbor’s western side. Nowadays the fishers’ neighborhood has several good restaurants that overlook the water.

To get here from town, take a taxi (US$4 per person) or walk west on Waterfront Hwy past the Seaplane Terminal and turn left just past the post office. It's about a 1-mile jaunt from Emancipation Garden.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby US Virgin Islands attractions

1. St Thomas Synagogue

0.61 MILES

The second-oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere (the oldest is on the island of Curaçao), peaceful St Thomas Synagogue is a National Historic…

2. Emancipation Garden

0.72 MILES

Emancipation Garden is where the emancipation proclamation was read after enslaved people were freed on St Croix in 1848. Carnival celebrations and…

3. Fort Christian

0.73 MILES

Red-brick Fort Christian is the oldest Danish fortification in the Caribbean, dating to 1672. Over the years it has housed a jail, a governor’s residence…

4. Frederik Lutheran Church

0.73 MILES

Located near the fort, this is one of Charlotte Amalie’s architectural gems. During the 19th century the church had segregated congregations – one West…

5. 99 Steps

0.76 MILES

These stairs lead from Kongens Gade up into a canopy of trees at the foot of Blackbeard's Castle. The steps, of which there are actually 103 (though you…

6. Government House

0.81 MILES

Ascend the hill behind Frederik Lutheran Church and you’ll come to a grand white mansion housing the territorial governor's offices. It was built between…

7. Blackbeard’s Castle

0.82 MILES

Set atop Government Hill, this five-story masonry watchtower was said to be the lookout post of pirate Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard, in the 18th century…

8. Water Island

1.06 MILES

Sometimes called the ‘Fourth Virgin,’ Water Island floats spitting distance from Charlotte Amalie. But with only about 200 residents and very few cars or…

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