UltimateIsland Guide St Lucia
Our favourites
Soufrière and the Pitons from the hills above the town Soufrière and the Pitons from the hills above the town Soufrière town with the Pitons behind Marigot Bay on the west coast The view from Fort Rodney over the north of the island

The city guide to Saint Lucia

Best of St Lucia

Twin volcanic peaks rising from the sea, a drive-in volcano and warm waterfalls, cacao farms and rum, coral reefs below the Pitons and Friday nights in Gros Islet.

Where to eatWhat to see

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to St Lucia

St Lucia is a small island with a big landscape: the UNESCO-listed Pitons and the old town of Soufrière, the sheltered yacht harbour of Marigot Bay, the beaches and nightlife of Rodney Bay, and a quieter south and Atlantic east. We’ve checked every listing against its own website and the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s official listings, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

The Pitons and Soufrière in depth: volcano, waterfalls and the climb

In depth

The Pitons and Soufrière

Soufrière·In depth: the Pitons

What the UNESCO site protects, how hard the Gros Piton climb really is, the drive-in volcano, Diamond Falls’ royal baths, cacao country, and where to eat and stay below the peaks.

Read the guide

Start here: planning your St Lucia trip

New to St Lucia? Begin with the essentials, then choose your corner of the island.

The terminal at Hewanorra International AirportPlanBefore you goEntry form, money and drivingSoufrière town with the Pitons behindGetting aroundTaxis, minibuses and boatsAnd driving on the leftGros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsItinerarySeven days in St LuciaThe north, Marigot Bay and the PitonsFort-de-France, the capital of MartiniqueBeyond St LuciaIsland hoppingMartinique and the Grenadines

Dig deeper: the back stories

Our in-depth guides to the Pitons, Marigot Bay, Saint Lucian food, rum and cocoa, diving, festivals and history.

Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsIn depthThe Pitons & SoufrièreVolcano, waterfalls and the climbYachts at anchor in Marigot BayIn depthMarigot BayThe bay, the marina and the west coastCastries MarketFoodSaint Lucian foodCreole cooking and Friday nightsA cacao pod growing in Saint LuciaRum & cocoaA tasting trailDistillery, cacao farms and chocolateAnse Chastanet beach near SoufrièreDivingDiving St LuciaReefs, wrecks and wallsThe Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, CastriesFestivalsThe festival yearJazz, Carnival and Jounen Kwéyòl

St Lucia area by area

From the lively north to the Pitons and the quiet south.

Soufrière town with the Pitons behindArea guideSoufrière & the PitonsVolcano, waterfalls and the peaksMarigot Bay on the west coastArea guideMarigot Bay & the west coastThe yacht harbour and fishing villagesThe cruise port at CastriesArea guideCastries & Morne FortuneThe market, the square and the fortsSunset over Rodney BayArea guideRodney Bay & Gros IsletReduit Beach, the marina and Friday nightsThe view from Fort Rodney over the north of the islandArea guideCap Estate & the north tipGolf, cliffs and the AtlanticThe beach at Vieux Fort on the south coastArea guideVieux Fort & the southKites, fishing villages and the Maria IslandsDennery Bay on the east coastArea guideThe east coastThe wild Atlantic side

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St MichaelSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Oia’s white houses and blue domes on the rim of the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide The Blue Mosque at nightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide St Alexander Nevsky CathedralBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The spires of Zagreb Cathedral above the rooftopsCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The ramparts of Galle FortOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about St Lucia, its beaches, food, diving and festivals.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party

    This week's pick

    Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party

    Gros Islet·Weekly street party

    Every Friday from sunset, Gros Islet’s streets fill with grills, Piton beer and sound systems: the island’s most famous jump-up, running for more than 50 years. Go by taxi.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsItinerarySeven days in St Lucia: the north, Marigot Bay and the Pitons7 days, by car, taxi and boatSoufrière town with the Pitons behindItineraryA long weekend below the Pitons3 days, by car or taxiFort-de-France, the capital of MartiniqueItineraryBeyond St Lucia: 48 hours in Martinique by ferry2 days, by ferryAdmiralty Bay at Port Elizabeth, BequiaItineraryBeyond St Lucia: sailing south to Bequia and the GrenadinesAbout a week, by chartered yacht

    St Lucia area by area

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1DasheeneLadera · Soufrière · Fine dining between the Pitons
    2. 2Orlando’s Restaurant & BarBridge St · Soufrière · Caribbean tasting menus
    3. 3Rabot Restaurant & The Cacao BarRabot Estate · Soufrière · Cacao cuisine
    See all 36

    Cafés & Chocolate

    1. 1Café OléRodney Bay Marina · Waterside café
    2. 2Cacoa Sainte LucieBelvedere · Canaries · Chocolate maker & café
    3. 3Howelton EstateMorne Fortune · Castries · Chocolate, batik & gift shop
    See all 7

    Bars & Rum Shops

    1. 1Saint Lucia Distillers: the Rhythm of Rum tourRoseau Valley · Rum distillery tour
    2. 2Kabawé KrawlGros Islet & Vieux Secrieux · Guided rum-shop night
    3. 3Antillia Brewing CompanyCruise Port · Castries · Craft brewery
    See all 19

    Nights Out

    1. 1Gros Islet Friday Night Street PartyGros Islet · Weekly street party
    2. 2Dennery Seafood FiestaDennery · east coast · Saturday-night seafood lime
    3. 3Rodney Bay VillageRodney Bay · Restaurant & nightlife strip
    See all 7

    Hotels & Resorts

    1. 1Jade MountainAnse Chastanet estate · Soufrière · Luxury resort
    2. 2Anse ChastanetSoufrière · Resort
    3. 3Sugar Beach, A Viceroy ResortVal des Pitons · Soufrière · Luxury resort
    See all 31

    Things to Do

    1. 1The Pitons Management Area (UNESCO)Soufrière · UNESCO World Heritage Site
    2. 2Gros Piton Nature TrailNear Soufrière · Guided summit climb
    3. 3Petit Piton climbSoufrière · Technical scramble
    See all 29

    Beaches

    1. 1Reduit BeachRodney Bay · Beach
    2. 2Pigeon Island BeachPigeon Island National Landmark · Beach
    3. 3Vigie BeachCastries · Beach
    See all 18

    Heritage & Art

    1. 1Pigeon Island National LandmarkGros Islet · National landmark & forts
    2. 2Morne Fortune & Fort CharlotteCastries · Historic fort & viewpoint
    3. 3Derek Walcott SquareCastries · Historic square
    See all 16

    Golf & Sport

    1. 1Point Hardy Golf Club, Cabot Saint LuciaPoint Hardy · Cap Estate · Coore & Crenshaw golf course
    2. 2Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country ClubCap Estate · 18-hole championship course
    3. 3Daren Sammy Cricket GroundBeausejour · Gros Islet · International cricket ground
    See all 9

    Boats & Diving

    1. 1Scuba St. LuciaAnse Chastanet · Soufrière · Dive centre
    2. 2Dive Fair HelenCastries · Dive centre
    3. 3Eastern Caribbean DivingRodney Bay · Dive centre
    See all 24

    Spas & Wellness

    1. 1Kai En Ciel Spa at Jade MountainJade Mountain · Soufrière · Spa
    2. 2The Rainforest Spa at Sugar BeachVal des Pitons · Soufrière · Spa
    3. 3Stonefield Villa Resort spaStonefield Estate · Soufrière · Spa
    See all 10

    Hospitals & Clinics

    1. 1Owen King EU HospitalMillennium Heights · Castries · Main public hospital
    2. 2St Jude HospitalVieux Fort · Public hospital
    3. 3Tapion HospitalCastries · Private hospital
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1Pointe SeraphineCastries · Duty-free shopping & cruise port
    2. 2Baywalk MallRodney Bay · Shopping mall
    3. 3Castries Market craftsCastries · Market crafts
    See all 10

    Supermarkets & Markets

    1. 1Massy StoresIsland-wide · Supermarkets
    2. 2Castries MarketCastries · Public market
    3. 3Vieux Fort Town & MarketVieux Fort · Town market
    See all 3

    Luxury Lifestyle

    1. 1IGY Rodney Bay MarinaRodney Bay · Marina & superyacht berths
    2. 2Marigot Bay Yacht HavenMarigot Bay · Superyacht marina
    3. 3Signature Aviation UVFHewanorra International Airport · Vieux Fort · Private-jet terminal
    See all 6

    Property

    1. 1Doubloon Real EstateRodney Bay · Estate agent
    2. 2Paradise PropertiesSaint Lucia · Estate agent
    3. 3Cap Estate (St. Lucia) Ltd.Rodney Bay · Land developer
    See all 7

    Getting There & Around

    1. 1Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)Vieux Fort · International airport
    2. 2George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU)Vigie · Castries · Regional airport
    3. 3FRS Express des Îles: ferry to MartiniqueCastries · Inter-island ferry
    See all 20

    Motoring

    1. 1Driving in Saint LuciaIsland-wide · Rules of the road
    2. 2Courtesy Car RentalsSaint Lucia · Car hire
    3. 3Cool Breeze Car RentalSoufrière · Car hire
    See all 7

    The ULTIMATE letter

    St Lucia in your inbox

    An occasional email with new places, events and our latest in-depth articles. No spam, ever.