Virgin Islands Guide

U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Guide

By Ziv KahanaUpdated

Painted island harbor with a ferry and green hills; conceptual illustration

The short answer

The U.S. Virgin Islands are a U.S. territory in the northeastern Caribbean, about 40 miles east of Puerto Rico. The three main islands are St Thomas, St John and St Croix. Start with the island that fits your trip, then check ferries, travel documents and safety.

Islands

Plan Your Trip

What and where are the U.S. Virgin Islands?

Painted aerial view of two neighbouring islands, one with a harbour town, one forested

The base decides how much of the trip is spent crossing between the islands.

St Thomas, St John and St Croix are the three main U.S. Virgin Islands. They sit in the northeastern Caribbean, east of Puerto Rico. Charlotte Amalie, on St Thomas, is the territory's capital.

St Thomas is the main arrival and activity base in this guide. St John offers beaches and Virgin Islands National Park, reached from St Thomas by boat. St Croix is a separate island with its own towns and airport.

This site covers St Thomas and St John in depth. For St Croix, start with our St Thomas to St Croix connections guide. An official USGS regional map is linked in the sources below.

Choose Your Base

Painted aerial view of two neighbouring islands, one with a harbour town, one forested

The base decides how much of the trip is spent crossing between the islands.

Our launch coverage focuses on St Thomas and St John. Decide whether your priority is a convenient arrival base, a nature-led stay, or a short visit from a cruise ship. St Croix appears here only for the ferry and flight connections from St Thomas.

Ferries and Getting Between the Islands

Painted passenger ferry crossing a channel seen from the end of a wooden dock

The crossing is the short part; terminals and onward rides take the rest.

A crossing costs more than the minutes on the water. Add the journey to the terminal, the ticket, boarding and onward transport, then work backward from your real deadline.

Which guide you need depends on what you are moving. Foot passengers cross between St Thomas and St John through the day, from Red Hook or from downtown. Vehicles use a separate car barge to a separate terminal. One passenger ferry, on set days, reaches St Croix.

Before You Go: Documents and Safety

Painted passenger ferry crossing a channel seen from the end of a wooden dock

The crossing is the short part; terminals and onward rides take the rest.

For U.S. citizens arriving from the mainland or Puerto Rico, a passport is not required for the USVI. Flights still require an accepted ID, and a BVI side trip changes the document rule. Read the USVI passport guide before booking an international crossing.

Beach conditions, weather and transport affect the plan on the ground. Use the USVI safety guide to check the practical steps before a day out.

Sources and Last Checked