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    Recommended Reviews - 99 Steps

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    At the top of the steps
    Patric C.

    A must-go if you're touring the Charlotte Amalie area! Very picturesque with pretty instagram-able moments on the steps. Also the view of the coastline and bay is very nice! I came here on a food and rum tour run by "Flavors of St. Thomas: Food & Cultural Tours". So we got a lesson on the history behind these steps: Apparently, the "99 Steps" were built so that the Danish colonists could reach a high vantage point (e.g. Blackbeard's Castle) to identify incoming ships or pirates. As for the destination at the top of the steps, Blackbeard actually never lived in Blackbeard's Castle, but he did visit the island. An interesting note that our guide mentioned - the "legend" behind the number 99. Supposedly, superstitious islanders believed that the number 99 would deter werewolves, so they named the steps "99 Steps"!

    View of St. Thomas near 99 Steps
    Jontue D.

    Breathtaking views of the city and beachfront near Blackbeards Castle. Easy access back to town.

    Nicole P.

    Historic Sight, and you will feel like the Carribean Rocky going up the steps. Just to be in the location our forefathers walked was an amazing experience. The steps lead to BlackBeards Castle (Closed from hurricanes) and towards the Oldest Synagogue on the Western Hemisphere.

    The journey up
    Berneta A.

    I am not sure of why they call this 99 steps, because I've counted 103 steps a few times. Maybe they've added a few over the past 336 years since its creation? Anyhow, 99 steps, which is the beginning of a pathway to Blackbeard's castle is part of my new favorite morning walk much to the disappointment of my fur baby, that likes to selectively participate in outdoor activity and has protested, vertical climbing exercises. 99 steps starts on Government Hill. While the stair part isn't that difficult, if you climb all the way up to Blackbeard's castle, you will break a sweat and get your heart pumping. I wouldn't say this is a must see, must do activity, although the street that it is on, is a beautiful duplication of European streets in the 1800's. If your cruise ship is docked on Tuesday or Wednesday, it may be worth it for you to do this and go to Blackbeard's castle which is only open on these two days from 9am-2pm. The views are beautiful from the top of the stairs and its a great selfie spot! You can see all of St. Thomas Harbor and Charlotte Amalie. 99 steps was created from the bricks that comprised of the ballasts of Danish ships in the 1600's. It was used by Blackbeard to get to his lookout tower (now deemed a castle) during his piracy exploits. For those that dislike vertical climbs like my fur baby, take a taxi to Blackbeards castle and walk down. It's $4-$6 from the docks and most areas in Charlotte Amalie. Parking is sparse as most of Government Hill parking is reserved for the Governor and his staff. Overall this can be a good mini scenic work out for you and its an excuse for me to reward my inner fat kid with carbs from Daylight Bakery which is 2 blocks away afterwards!

    Steps to climb
    Nicola L.

    I didn't quite get the hype, but it was good to be a part of something that's a landmark/history.

    Dominique N.

    Great photo op! Has picturesque stairs with colorful flowers. And actually had 103 stairs

    Had R.

    Hey it's a lot of steps and great views. Cool thing to do while you are in town. Use google maps and check out the parallel steps just east of these. They are a lot nicer walk and in better condition. They also bring you to the governor's office. I have heard from the guides that people charge anywhere from $12.50 to $55 a person to guide you or allow you to walk. If you just want to walk and see the sights just walk. No one asked us for money. If you are headed to Blackbeard's tower aka Castle! Check opening times its seems to only be open a few odd days a week.

    Arianne Victoria A.

    A nice stroll along the steps. Not too hard to climb. Great views for looking around and being a tourist. Also a great area for photo ops. Steps are historic and old, but beautiful nonetheless and leads to different parts like a restaurant, black beard's castle, or a rum store. There are actually 103 steps.

    Tyler C.

    The 99 (actually 103) Steps are an essential piece of historical architecture to check out in Charlotte Amalie and offer some breathtaking views of the city once you get to the top. If you're going up just for Blackbeard's Castle, just make sure it is open. Even if it's closed, though, I would say the view alone is worth the hike.

    Ry M.

    99 Steps (there are actually 103 steps) is a scenic stairway located off two small side streets south of Blackbeard's Castle. It is a U.S. National Historic Landmark - built in 1679 using ballast stones from Danish ships. Local legend has it that Blackbeard used the lookout for piracy. The steps aren't that steep and walking up them will lead you to breathtaking views of the bay. I would recommend walking to Blackbeard's Castle, just keep in mind their hours of operations.

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    Closed for repairs currently (Dec 2024), unclear for how long and when it will reopen

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    Review Highlights - 99 Steps

    A beautiful scenic stairway to Blackbeard's tower.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Three Queens - The Three Queens Sculpture

    Three Queens

    4.0(3 reviews)
    0.1 km

    The "Three Queens of the Virgin Islands" statue is located on Government Hill at the foot of the…read morestairs leading down from Blackbeard's Castle. The bronze plaque shows the following incription: "In 1878 three former slave ladies on St. Croix led an insurrection against the Danish Government for improved working and living conditions. During this action, a major portion of Frederiksted was destroyed by fire. This revolt is known today as "FIREBURN" and the ladies are renowned as "Queen Mary, Queen Agnes and Queen Matilda" - The Three Queens of the Virgin Islands." It was cool to see it during Women's History Month. It was also interesting to hear that slavery was abolished in the Danish West Indies back on July 3, 1848, although they were still bound to plantations by yearly contracts. Is that really free? Flash forward to the Fireburn protest after 30 years of contracts. It was led by the Three Queens on Contract Day (October 1, 1878) in St. Croix due to poor working conditions, unfair treatment, and low wages. These ladies are memorialized in this sculpture by Richard Hallier. It depicts Queen Agnes lifting a lantern, Queen Mary holding a torch and a cane knife, and Queen Matilda raising the torch high and strong. A great symbol of strength & resilience! Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to contemplate the image of it. We did get a thorough summary of the significance of this rebellion against the Danes. It's all very meaningful, and a great tribute. I'm so glad that we were able to see it on this beautiful day in Charlotte Amalie.

    I've always wondered of what that the 3 queens were ( I've seen the sign by 99 steps and government…read morehill) and didn't know that it was a statute monument that is on the way to Blackbeard's Castle. If you are hiking from 99 steps and government hill this is quite a steep trek. I work out almost every day and this hike always makes me work up a good sweat. You might need to stop to catch your breath for the few moments so you might as well take a look at the monument before heading up to Blackbeard's Castle, it is in a very pretty setting that has grown back after the hurricanes. The reason of why it's called is 3 queens is because of the three women that lead a rebellion during the Danish colonial times due to the mistreatment of plantation workers after slavery was abolished. The women in the statues are holding machetes and torches because they burned down 50 plantations on St. Croix. Overall it's a nice tribute erected by the government and gives travelers a little insight into St. Thomas history. #St.Thomas #USVI

    Photos
    Three Queens - The Three Queens Sculpture

    The Three Queens Sculpture

    Three Queens - The Three Queens Sculpture

    The Three Queens Sculpture

    Three Queens - The Three Queens Sculpture

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    The Three Queens Sculpture

    Drake's Seat - The view from Drake's Seat

    Drake's Seat

    4.2(29 reviews)
    1.2 km

    It was one of our tour stops before heading to Blackbeard's Castle. Our group of 16 were all seated…read morecomfortably in Alvin's "Love Chariot" (an open-air safari bus/taxi). He gave us a great tour as we headed up the hill from the Havensight terminal. It was a fun & breezy ride! We stopped at the overlook which is technically a small rest stop, at a bend in the road, with a few parking spaces. The green seat that's named after Sir Francis Drake is across the street. It was built by Arthur Fairchild in 1933 for weary travelers walking up the hill. I was hoping to find a link between Arthur (the wealthy philanthropist) and David Fairchild (the famous Botanist), but there's no such connection. Apparently, the view at the overlook in the parking area is much better than the seat. This is where we stopped to see that beautiful view of Magens Bay, the shoreline, and some of the islands & cays that are the VI. It's such a great panoramic look from the north side of the island. I give it 5 stars because it's free to the public, and there's no one trying to sell you something here. It allows you to enjoy that beautiful view without interruptions. Is it worth a stop? It all depends on how you're getting there. There are just too many vehicles stopping at the bend and trying to make their own parking spots in tight spaces. IMO, just leave those worries to an expert who knows this place well.

    It was actually suggested by a local guy after a couple of drinks the kind of island advice you'd…read morebe foolish not to take. "You gotta go see Drake's Seat," he said. So we grabbed a cab, and honestly, the ride up the hills of Saint Thomas might have been the best part. Our cab driver looked like he'd been doing this since pirates were still parking ships in the harbor dark hair, big glasses, this mischievous grin, and a thick island accent. The guy had jokes for days. At one point he glanced in the mirror and said, "You know why island taxis don't need GPS? Because if we get lost, we just call it a scenic tour and charge extra!" Then he laughed so hard he almost missed the turn. By the end of the ride he'd basically turned the whole thing into a narrated comedy tour, and later that night we even ran into him again and shared a couple drinks like old friends. And then you get to the top and wow. The view from Drake's Seat is pure Caribbean theater. From that little overlook you're staring down at Magens Bay, a perfect turquoise crescent framed by lush green hills, with islands scattered across the horizon like jewels dropped in the sea. Legend says the infamous English privateer Sir Francis Drake once used this very vantage point to watch for Spanish treasure ships sailing through the Caribbean, and whether that's myth or not, you can see why someone would keep lookout here. The overlook itself was created in 1933 as a scenic rest stop, and today it's still one of the most famous viewpoints on the island. It's the kind of place where you step out of the cab, the breeze hits your face, the water sparkles below... and you suddenly understand why people fall in love with the Virgin Islands in the first place.

    Photos
    Drake's Seat - View of Magens Bay

    View of Magens Bay

    Drake's Seat - Magens Bay from Drake's Seat

    Magens Bay from Drake's Seat

    Drake's Seat

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    City Of Charlotte Amalie

    City Of Charlotte Amalie

    3.1(7 reviews)
    0.2 km

    Cute tourist spot with dozens of little shops and bars to spend your money in. Absolutely paradiseread more

    Charlotte Amalie is the Capitol of the U.S Virgin Islands and a lovely city to visit while touring…read moreSt. Thomas. Some of the Architecture and streets sorta reminded me of New Orleans' French Quarter. There are a few landmarks in the area, 99 Steps, being one.. I'm a foodie and a sucka for a water / oceanview, so I was happy to find eateries located right across from the gorgeous waterfront!! I came across a few upscale jewelry and clothing stores while strolling the area on foot and while driving. But I wasn't there to shop, I was more interested in sight seeing and indulging in food from the local eateries on the island. The waterfront is very lively in the day time and filled with plenty tourists, locals, music and food stands..the entryway to some alleyways leading to restaurants were filled with music blasting, tourists dancing and drinking @ nearby bar booths. Walking thru is quite the experience lol.. the food aroma in the air from the locals grilling was also very enticing! My 1st day in town driving thru, I noticed there was a car show taking place at a spot across from the waterfront and a local mentioned of scheduled boat races for that weekend, but I did not witness..I had other places that I wanted to see, couldn't spend all my time in C.A. Bottom line, you can't come to St. Thomas and NOT visit Charlotte Amalie or the Waterfront! It's "Lit"! Lol

    Photos
    City Of Charlotte Amalie
    City Of Charlotte Amalie
    City Of Charlotte Amalie

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    Pirates Treasure Museum - View from across the street

    Pirates Treasure Museum

    4.5(34 reviews)
    1.4 km

    This was better than I thought! Came here as a combo ticket with the skylift (found no savings by…read morebuying the combo). The museum starts either a quick video explaining what you're about to see. Then the doors open and you walk into a well done exhibit hall. Exhibits include vases, weapons, tools and coins found from various shipwrecks. The centerpiece is the Odyssey which is an in underwater robot used to collect artifacts. There is a second floor accessible by a slow elevator or stairs which tells a little bit about some of the pirates in the area. There are a few photo spots, hands on exhibits and a hurricane simulator with wind speeds up to 75 mph. I felt the $20 admission fee was reasonable compared to the $30 for the skylift. The museum is located next to the skylift and about a 15 minute walk from the cruise ships.

    Fun museum if you like pirates and treasures. We had fun very educational with two levels and…read more interactive activities to explore. Loved dressing up in the pirates attire. The museum guide lady was very helpful and answered any questions that was needed. It's actually a small museum but we stayed there a bit longer than most. They had a hurricane simulator booth which we had fun with. Also had a gift shop which I picked up a St.Thomas Christmas ornament. To take back home for my Christmas tree. We enjoyed our visit. I recommend checking them out if this is your sort of thing.

    Photos
    Pirates Treasure Museum
    Pirates Treasure Museum
    Pirates Treasure Museum - Relics recovered

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    Relics recovered

    Alvaro de Lugo Post Office - Cashier windows

    Alvaro de Lugo Post Office

    3.0(4 reviews)
    0.1 km

    First class! This is one of the most distant United States…read morePost Offices I've ever been to! It looks old and historic, but is still part of the USPS. Be sure to check out the murals inside- they depict some historic scenes of the island, with cannons and tropical scenery. The clerk was extremely friendly and courteous. I managed to get some postcard stamps, and they even were nice enough to hand-cancel the stamps showing the USVI cancellation on them. Parking is easy with spaces right out front of the post office. Be sure to check out the back gate to the post office- it has a big metal eagle in the ironwork. The post office is named after the first postmaster general of the island. Imagine what a great deal it is to be able to send a postcard for under a dollar, from here, all the way to US Samoa, on the other side of the world. What a deal!

    Wow, this is possibly the worst post office in the USA! We arrived on a cruise and went there to…read moremail my daughter a postcard. There were two clerks working, if you could call it that. One female and one male. The female clerk took a break when I got to the front of the line and the other clerk allowed someone to cut in front of us. He was very rude. It wasn't busy, but it still took 20 minutes to buy a stamp and mail a card. After the male Clerk finally called me to the counter, the female clerk came back to handle other customers. She made it a point to let us know that she was not going to help us. Customer service here is a sad joke! This was a terrible experience after we were treated so wonderfully in Dominica and Antigua.

    Photos
    Alvaro de Lugo Post Office - Mural

    Mural

    Alvaro de Lugo Post Office - Outside

    Outside

    Alvaro de Lugo Post Office - Nice building

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    Nice building

    99 Steps - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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