Flights to Basseterre

From the airport

The airport lies on the north-east edge of town. Taxis wait outside arrivals with fixed fares to Basseterre, Frigate Bay and the south-east peninsula, and hire car firms can issue the local driving permit you'll need. Minibuses leave from the bus station near the waterfront for villages around the island. They're cheap and frequent during the day but thin out in the evening, when taxis are the easier choice.

Around the capital

The Circus, a small roundabout with a Victorian clock tower, was modelled on Piccadilly Circus. Nearby, Independence Square was once the island's slave market and is now a quiet garden. The National Museum occupies the old Treasury Building on the waterfront, and St George's Anglican Church has stood in various forms since the 1670s. Port Zante, built on reclaimed land, has the cruise pier, a marina and duty-free shops. Bay Road, along the waterfront, has local restaurants serving stewed saltfish, coconut dumplings and spicy plantain, the national dish. The streets are easy to explore on foot in a morning.

Beyond Basseterre

Frigate Bay, about ten minutes south, has beach bars on the Caribbean side and a golf course behind the Atlantic shore. Romney Gardens, half an hour west, is home to a batik studio in an old estate house, and Brimstone Hill Fortress is a short drive further. The St Kitts Scenic Railway starts from a station near the airport.

When to book

December to April brings dry weather and the most cruise ships. The St Kitts Music Festival in June and the Christmas carnival are busy, so book flights early for those dates. Fares and hotel rates are usually lower from May to early December.

Planning a few nights on Nevis as well? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll fit the ferry around your flights.