Turquoise, aquamarine, sapphire…St. Thomas beaches are a gorgeous medley of blues framed by white sand and green mountains. Whether you’re looking for snorkeling, swimming, amenities, a relaxing getaway, or a party vibe, there’s a beach here for you.
Use this St. Thomas beach hopping guide to discover the best beaches to visit based on your specific interests. This guide also covers what to pack and whether to use taxis or a rental car during your trip. Let’s get hoppin’!
Magens Bay Beach
Best for: Snorkeling, swimming, and amenities
Snorkeling: Magens Bay Beach is our favorite snorkeling spot in St. Thomas. Within seconds of entering the water and swimming out to the sea grass, we spotted a sea turtle and a sting ray! Along the rocky outcroppings on the eastern shoreline of Magens Bay, there is a reef teeming with corals, urchins, and tropical fish.
Swimming: The water is calm and the shallows are sandy so Magens Bay Beach is great for swimming.
Amenities: For seating, there are a few free picnic tables and lounge chairs available to rent. Kayak and paddleboards are available to rent as well. The bathrooms are well maintained.
Crowds: Magens Bay Beach is beautiful and serene, but only at certain times of day. We arrived on a Monday morning around 9am on a day with limited cruise ships in port, so there were only a few beachgoers. Other times, Magens Bay Beach can be mobbed. When choosing a day to visit, check the cruise schedule for when ships will be in port. The morning is the best time to visit this beach if you are looking for solitude.
Cost: There is a per person fee and a parking fee for Magens Bay Beach, though the snorkeling and serene beauty here is worthwhile.
Sapphire Beach
Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, amenities, beach bar, and music
Snorkeling: The sea grass areas and coral reefs right off the shore of Sapphire Beach are home to turtles, string rays, tropical fish, and other sea life.
Swimming: The shoreline is sandy, which is good for swimming without water shoes.
Amenities: Sapphire Beach Bar is right on the beach and is a fun place to grab a bite, sip a drink, enjoy the ocean views, and listen to some live music. There is a variety of seating options including cabanas. Lounge chairs are available to rent on the beach.
During our visit, a local band was playing at the beach bar. Towards the end of their set, the band asked if there were any musicians in the crowd and if so, they would love for them to come up and perform a song with them. We used to be in a casual rock band so we were tempted. It had been a LONG time since we performed, but how could we pass on the chance to jam at a beach bar in St. Thomas?! The sun and the drinks had set in so we went for it! We performed “Brown Eyed Girl” with Jordan singing and me on bass, and the tipsy older ladies in the crowd went nuts! And in that moment, we discovered our new plan for retirement.
Crowds: It was happy hour on a Monday when we arrived and it was hoppin’!
Cost: Parking is free.
Coki Beach
Best for: Snorkeling, swimming, amenities, and beach bar
Snorkeling: Coki Beach has great snorkeling. The reef on the rocky areas leading up to the Coral World Observatory to the east are swarming with colorful tropical fish. The rocky outcroppings to the west don’t have quite as much coral and tropical fish, though turtles frequent the area.
Remember to maintain distance from sea turtles. Do not chase or touch them. Sea turtles are a protected species.
Swimming: The shoreline at Coki Beach is sandy and good for swimming.
Amenities: Refreshments can be purchased at the smoothie stand and bar. When we arrived, a guy from the smoothie stand handed us rum smoothie samples – not a bad start! The music from the bar is bumpin’ and can be heard on the beach. Lounge chair rentals are available.
Crowds: Coki Beach was fairly crowded when we visited, but the crowd fits with the festive beach bar vibe.
Cost: There is a parking fee.
Pacquereau Bay Beach
Best for: Swimming, night kayaking and SUP, ocean mats, and resort amenities
Tucked into the hillside of Pacquereau Bay, the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove is the ideal place to stay while visiting St. Thomas. The resort is ocean-front and conveniently located near Charlotte Amalie. We were fortunate enough to stay at the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove Resort while visiting St. Thomas and can’t recommend it enough.
Snorkeling: The reef at Pacquereau Bay Beach in front of the Marriott Frenchman’s Cove Resort begins close to shore, making this an ideal spot for beginner snorkelers. Facing away from the resort, there is an outcropping of rocks to the right that has a nice section of coral.
Swimming: There is a reef in the shallows directly in front of the Marriott Frenchman Cove Resort. It is best to enter the water just to the right of the dock where there are a few smooth rocks to step over (water shoes still recommended for those with sensitive feet). Just beyond the shallow reef, the ocean floor is sandy and the water is still shallow enough to stand in. Further from shore, there are three large water mats that are available to lounge and play on.
Amenities: The beach has many lounge chairs and two hammocks that are available for resort guests at no charge. The bar and infinity pool overlooking the ocean are just steps away from the beach. Night kayaking and SUP tours take off from the dock at the beach in front Marriott Frenchman’s Cove.
Crowds: There were plenty of beach lounge chairs available each day of our trip. Not many people were in the ocean and we had the water mats to ourselves most of the time. More resort guests were using the pool area rather than the beach area.
Cost: The resort can be pricey without a deal, however, the resort amenities and picturesque beach make for an incredible Caribbean vacation.
Brewers Bay Beach
Best for: Proximity to airport, snorkeling, swimming, no crowds, and local vibe
Snorkeling: Brewers Bay Beach is a great snorkeling spot to see sea turtles. We spotted three turtles feeding on the sea grass here.
Swimming: The Brewers Bay Beach shoreline is sandy and good for swimming.
Amenities: There is often a food truck here. No other amenities are available.
Crowds: Brewers Bay Beach is not crowded. The beachgoers here are mostly local. This beach is 6 minutes away from the airport, which is on the southwestern side of the island. This is a great spot to go if you have time before your flight.
Cost: Parking was free. Park along the side of the road.
Hull Bay Beach
Best for: No crowds, sea glass, local vibe, and fish tacos
Snorkeling: The snorkeling at Hull Bay Beach wasn’t anything to write home about, though it was fun to search the shoreline for sea glass.
Swimming: The shoreline is a mixture of sand and pebbles. If you have sensitive feet and want to swim or search for sea glass, bring water shoes.
Amenities: When we visited, there were a few plastic Adirondack chairs that someone kindly left on the beach for public use. After lounging on the beach, we headed to the local beach bar across the street. Two guys sitting next to us had just come back in from spearfishing and handed over their enormous Caribbean lobster for the bar to cook for them. A few minutes later, their catch was served – talk about fresh eating! The bar also serves good fish tacos, no spearfishing required.
Crowds: Hull Bay Beach is west of Magen’s Beach and other major tourist areas so there are only a handful of people here, mostly locals.
Cost: Parking was free.
Lindbergh Bay Beach
Best for: Proximity to airport, swimming, and amenities
Snorkeling: Lindbergh Bay Beach does not have reefs or beds of sea grass so fish, turtles, and other sea life aren’t as prevalent here.
Swimming: The shoreline is sandy and good for swimming.
Amenities: Lounge chairs are available to rent. Bathrooms and other amenities are available via the nearby Emerald Beach Resort. Jet ski rentals are available here.
Crowds: The Emerald Beach Resort is located on the east side of Lindbergh Bay Beach so there are more people on that side. The west side of the beach is empty. This beach is right next to the airport along Airport Road on the southwestern side of the island. This is a great spot to go if you have time before your flight.
Cost: Parking was free. Park along the side of the road.
Essential Beach Gear
Be sure to pack these essential beach items for your trip to Saint Thomas:
- Reef-safe Sunscreen: During your visit, remember to use reef-safe sunscreen to help keep the reefs healthy and beautiful.
- Rash Guard: Wearing a rash guard helps to further protect skin from the sun and is also reef-friendly!
- Snorkel Gear: We invested in snorkel gear many years ago, and we have found that it has definitely been worthwhile to buy versus rent for two main reasons – convenience and quality. The quality of snorkel gear makes a huge difference in the snorkeling experience. We own dry snorkels, which is a type of snorkel that has a valve at the top that closes when you go underwater so the tube doesn’t fill water. I originally had an old semi-dry snorkel and although it had a splash guard, I got water in the tube all the time. Many rental shops only carry classic snorkels or semi-dry snorkels. When purchasing a snorkel gear set, a dry snorkel is the way to go.
- Waterproof Pouch: Keeping your belongings and valuables with you while swimming is recommended rather than leaving them on the beach or in a car where they are more likely to be stolen. A waterproof pouch with a waist strap can be used to hold belongings such as a cell phone, wallet, and keys and keep them dry while swimming and snorkeling.
Car Rental vs. Taxi
Beach hopping is a great way to experience the variety of beaches in St. Thomas. If you plan to visit only a few beaches, using taxis may make more sense for your trip. We planned to visit many beaches each day and were traveling with family so renting a car was more convenient and cost effective (most taxis charge per person).
If you decide to rent a car, the roads to all of the beaches in this post are paved so a 2WD sedan is all that is needed. Keep in mind that driving in St. Thomas is on the left side of the road. Also, vehicles are typically left hand drive like the remainder of the U.S. so it feels particularly odd to be driving on the left side of the road. Coming off the plane and hopping into the rental car, it was a brain teaser to take tight left turns and wide right turns, but we quickly got used to it.
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