Day Trips from Old Road Town, St Kitts

November 7, 2026

Old Road Town is a small village, so most visitors treat it as a stop on a wider island day rather than a base. The upside is position: it sits on the west coast between Basseterre and Sandy Point, with the fortress, the volcano and the capital all within easy reach. Taxis are unmetered with government maximum fares, so agree the price first. Public minibuses run along the main road and take cash.

Brimstone Hill Fortress (half day)

The fortress stands above Sandy Point, about 10 minutes north-west by road. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built from 1690 over about a hundred years by enslaved Africans working under British military engineers.

Hours: open daily, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Entry: US$15; children 12 and under pay half price; residents pay EC$10 with ID.
Tip: go early or late in the day to avoid cruise groups. See the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park site .

Basseterre (half day)

The capital is about 10 to 11 km by road, around 15 to 20 minutes by taxi. The 2021 government fare schedule sets the Basseterre to Old Road taxi fare at US$16 for up to 4 people. In town, see the Circus with the Berkeley Memorial, a clock and drinking fountain erected in 1883; Independence Square, renamed in 1983 and once Pall Mall Square; and the National Museum in the old Treasury Building near the waterfront.

Mount Liamuiga summit (full day)

At 1,156 m (3,792 ft), Liamuiga is the highest peak in the Leeward Islands, with a crater at the top. The hike is steep, muddy and full of roots and boulders, and round trips commonly take 4 to 7 hours. Hikes usually start on the north-western slopes near St Paul’s. Go with a licensed guide, wear boots, carry plenty of water and pack rain gear, because cloud can close in fast. The volcano is classed as potentially active and is monitored by the UWI Seismic Research Centre.

Nevis (full day)

Passenger ferries cross from Basseterre to Charlestown in about 45 minutes. Fares are reported at roughly EC$25 to EC$30 each way; buy at the terminal and carry cash. A car ferry, the Sea Bridge, runs from Major’s Bay at the southern tip of Saint Kitts, but many rental contracts do not allow hire cars on board.

Southeast Peninsula beaches (full day)

For swimming, head south to Cockleshell Bay or South Friars Bay, where the water is usually calmer than at Old Road’s fishing shore. Lifeguards are not guaranteed on any beach, and the UK government warns that currents can be stronger than they look.

Scenic Railway (half day)

The 3-hour train and bus circle leaves from Needsmust station near Basseterre; details are on the Scenic Railway site .

Practical notes

Saint Kitts and Nevis is rated Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) by the US State Department.
Drive on the left, and buy the temporary licence (EC$62.50 for 3 months) through your hire company.

To compare guided volcano hikes, search GetYourGuide for Mount Liamuiga hikes .