St Barth’s Town of Gustavia

As you approach the port of Gustavia by ferry boat you can see St Barts’ red-roofed capital in the distance. It is a small harbor town lined with chic boutiques, duty free shops, gourmet restaurants, and galleries. In the harbor, rustic fishing boats bob beside mega yachts. Restaurants and luxury duty-free shops greet travelers disembarking from the many cruise-ships that call here. For beautiful sightseeing views, visit Fort Gustav (the most important fort during the Swedish period), or head to the top of the 29 m hill for vistas of Shell Beach amid the few remaining stonewalls of Fort Karl.

History lovers can learn about the island’s past at Musée Territorial and the Wall House Museum, or by visiting the oldest building in Gustavia, the Vieux Clocher. Opposite St Bartholomew’s Anglican Episcopal Church, built in 1855, is an English anchor identified as the type used by British warships from 1700 to 1825. This 10-ton anchor was unwittingly hauled into Gustavia’s waters by a tugboat towing a barge. Shoppers will love the open-air market, Le Ti-Marché, where brightly dressed women sell arts, crafts, and fresh produce, plus locally made cosmetics.

In the evening you can enjoy the beautiful sunsets that highlight the skies over the yachts and smaller boats, while sipping a glass of wine at on the local bars or enjoying a stroll into town.