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Definitely recommend coming here if you are in St Thomas on a cruise. It's a beautiful white sand beach with lush green cliffs on both sides. There are plenty of facilities, food, and a bar. This is a great place to relax as there are not many activities. Some negatives, the food was ridiculously pricey even for tourist trap standards and they charged $40 for 2 chairs which is more then most carribean tourist beaches. Next time I will walk to the quieter side and find a bench or put down a towel, mostly everyone stays around the bar area
Really enjoyed our time at Magens bay. I only got a view from far away, and then none while we were actually on the beach or in the water. But we snorkled there. Lots of fish and sea turtles. A lot of people on the beach and the umbrellas and chairs were sold out but we still enjoyed the water and views.
I love this beach its always picture perfect. You don't have to shell out $30 for a chair & umbrella but that's how much it costs along with $7 entry per person. They have a bar and food that's pretty dang good. I tried the Salmon sandwich it was delicious. They have 2 bathrooms and a changing area if you need it and taxis that come through often.
Listed as a world renowned beach and I can understand why... after going thru the heck jn station where you pay for entry. It was $16 for the two of us. Parking was ample even though the beach seemed busy. We get our gear and walk the short path to feet to the beach and it's one of those moments where you wonder why you live anywhere else but here in Saint Thomas. It's just so pretty. The white sands and clear blue waters you read about are pretty much all true. Albeit the water wasn't that clear but it sure was pretty. Beauty of this beach is that there is really no drop off to worry about. The water is somewhat shallow for a good amount of distance out. I didn't see any fish but the beach was kind of crowded so maybe they like their space like myself? Bathrooms were big and clean, the folks working here are super nice even though the busy. As noted, there is a bar that you can eat/drink at. We had packed our snacks and water so didn't even adventure that way. The have taxi services right at the entry to parking so getting back to port would have been easy if we didn't have our rental car. Would i go back here? Maybe. If I had a choice of here or Lindholz? Depends? Do i need a bar/eatery? People watching? Shallow warmer waters? I'd go here. If I wanted deeper waters, waves, pack my own food/drink. Seeing more fish right off the beach. That's Lindholz beach. It's all about perspective. Either way, you get to have your feet in the sand and sun warming you up. What else could you ask for. Enjoy the adventure.
Magens Bay is probably the best known beach in St Thomas. This is for good reason. You'll find a very long expanse of sandy beach. It will take you a long time to walk from one end to the other. Most of the time, the water is crystal clear with minimal waves (if any). It's the type of beach where you can chill out in the water and swim as if you're in a natural swimming pool. The beach also has a restaurant, bar, gift shop, changing rooms, rinse showers, and bathrooms. These are all adequate if you're here for a day. But, the food is a bit pricey. Be prepared to pay a small admission fee to enter the beach. This fee is used to maintain the beach/fqcility. Overall: recommended. Even locals often pick this beach out of all the choices here. Tip: If there's a lot of cruise ships, maybe think twice about Magens if you don't like crowds. Otherwise, go for it. It's best when there's few ships or none!
Beautiful beach! The water looks beautiful! They have an option to rent a beach chair & umbrella for $20. We setup under a tree and it was perfect for us. There is a bar and take-out restaurant. This beach is amongst the top 10 beaches of the world and it's a must-see if you are in the area. We came in a cruise and purchased a shopping/beach and sightseeing of historical landmarks excursion for $64.99 - totally worth it.
This is one of our favorite beaches in St. Thomas. It has a beautiful white sand beach that is spacious enough to provide seating for large crowds, along with crystal blue waters. We usually attend on days when cruise ships are not in, which makes it nice and peaceful without crowds. The shallow sandy beach does not require water shoes, as there are few rocks or coral in the wading areas. They have public bathrooms, a gift shop, and a place to get drinks and food. We had plenty of space to lay towels out in the shade of the nearby trees, but they also provide seats and umbrellas for a charge. Also, there is a charge for adults visiting the beach plus they charge for parking. I think our party of 5 with parking was around $40. For those who think the snorkeling is not great, I think they may have missed where the action is. I'd recommend walking to the end of the beach on the northern part and swim along the rocky coastline to see some great aquatic life. The south rocky coastline also has good snorkeling. The sandy beaches make the visibility not the best at times, but we saw some turtles and a good variety of fish. Definitely worth the visit next time you're in St. Thomas!
Great but with some frustrations During our cruise stop in April 2025, my family visited Magens Bay Beach. Soft sand, crystal-clear warm water, picturesque views, and even some snorkeling opportunities on the right edge make it an excellent destination for anyone looking for a great beach in St. Thomas. The right side of the beach (facing the sea) was packed with people, umbrellas, and loungers. This is where taxis drop off passengers, and getting a lounger there was a frustration. $40 gets you either an umbrella with two loungers or just two loungers, but the rental process was very slow and inefficient. Each person had to wait while an attendant searched for available umbrellas with no guarantee he would find one by the time it was finally your turn. After 30 minutes in line, we were told no umbrellas were left. Couldn't they have told us earlier? Ultimately, we settled for loungers at the very back, near the road where taxis pull in. There was a food and drinks shack on this side of the beach, but it had 20+ min wait times. Losing precious beach time just to grab a few drinks felt quite frustrating. More bartenders or additional drink/food stations could easily solve this and make the Magens Bay Beach experience more enjoyable. The left side of the beach (facing the sea), however, was peaceful, quiet, and spacious, with natural shade from the trees. It had picnic tables, but no loungers, umbrellas, or food/drink vendors (why not open one?). I wish we'd known about this contrast in advance - we would've opted for left side. If you can skip a lounger, use natural shade, and don't mind taking a walk for food and drinks, I'd highly recommend to stay on the left side of the beach for better experience.
This is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to. There is an entrance fee of $7 and you can rent chairs and umbrellas ($40 for two chairs sharing an umbrella). Food and drinks are available at a restaurant and bar ( a little pricey though). The bathrooms ( one on each end of the beach) are clean. Unlike other Carribean beaches, no one hassles you to buy anything. This beach is definitely worth a visit if you ever find yourself in St Thomas.
Gorgeous soft sand beach on the north side of the island of St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. We took a shuttle from the cruise port costing $15 one-way per person. It now costs $7 for non-locals for entry ($2 if local). Since it's a paid beach, most people were tourists coming from the boats, all various ages. The beach runs from Southwest to Northeast at the end of Magens Bay, and the waves are very gentle throughout. It is not particularly wide or deep, so it's an easy walk to get from the parking lot to the water's edge. We got dropped off at the NE end and I took a long beach walk to the other end (taking about 25 minutes). The beach is kept very clean, has good permanent facilities, and saw plenty of lifeguard stations, most of them being manned. They rent chairs and umbrellas from the building located in the middle, which also houses a beach restaurant. I can see how the beach can get really crowded, with the great sand, warm water, and good facilities.
The water is super clear here!!! It rained a bit but only when we were about to leave. The sand is super soft like mashed potatoes and it was the perfect mix of shade and sun. The water was cold because it was overcast but lovely beach. Not busy at all and we went on a Sunday. read more
3 years ago
We loved Magens Bay but so do many other people. We paid $5 per person to enter + $2 to park a car. I would recommend getting there early to get a spot, as this beach is popular especially mid day. The views are gorgeous, the sand is soft and pristine, and the water is clear as can be. There is some sea grass out a bit farther in the water where you can snorkel to and see some turtles if you're lucky! There is a beach bar and restroom amenities which is nice, but not mandatory for me -- I just love the beach! read more
Magens Bay is probably one of the most beautiful places in the world. It's still a bit primitive and rustic at the locals end and has a bit more amenities down by the taxi/tourist side. If you're driving yourself you'll pay a small fee, have cash. Ask to go to the left and drive all the way down till you see green picnic tables and the public restrooms. Set up for the day here. Definitely walk the length of the beach to see the flora and fauna growing off the rocks. Watch the pelicans swoop down for their lunch. On the other end of the beach there is a bar and you can rent chairs, but it's a bit busier down there on cruise days. An open air taxi/truck back in forth is about $20 each way for 2. A must see! read more
3 years ago
This place looks like true paradise with all picnic tables under luscious trees, and the clear aquamarine water a few steps away. The taxi charged $12 per person to take us from the cruise ship to this beach, and the same going back. The beach charges $5 per person, but totally worth it! The water is so calm, clean and clear, you could see the fishes swimming with you. Also, you could go pretty deep and the water is still only at your waist. Great place to spend a few idyllic hours under the sun in the Caribbean. read more
Everyone at the hotels and restaurants hyped this beach up so much that I was disappointed when we got here. It was just like every other beach I've been to. It was nothing special. It was a long drive. Many other beaches on the island were so much better. They served good drinks. It was a pretty beach but nothing like the beaches of St. John. The swimming was nice. No coral. There was very little to no fish or animals. read more
Honestly one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to. If you go to the USVI and don't visit this bay, you are missing out. Parking is abundant, and it's not crowded. There's a really good bar right on the beach so you can sip frozen drinks while hanging out on the sand. The water is crystal blue without any algae or seaweed. The sand is powdery white. All in all, we never wanted to leave, and during our trip, we referenced this bay many times. read more
5 years ago
Oh we had soooooo much fun here! Some of the best fun our whole trip. It's a must to snorkel so many things to see Under the water. Its$10 to snorkel with a $20 deposit. I recommend a floating device of some sort while you Snorkel if you're a newbie like us. The beach is a public beach so it's $5 but it's worth it. They have a bartender walking around taking drink orders tons of activities and good times. read more
5 years ago
Do not miss this stunning beach. Absolutely breathtaking + the travel there is gorgeous. A few tips: -There's a $5 entry fee -There are umbrella/chairs/gear rentals -Taxis stop coming to the beach at sunset - so plan ahead! -Once you pay you cannot exit and come back, so come prepared, and stop at those fruit stands before heading to the beach! -Go earlier to avoid tourists -Ask locals if the water is choppy/murky that day! read more
5 years ago
Lovely beach however bring cash just in case the car reader isn't working. Beach has alot of places for you to choose from to sit down and relax, shaded and unshaded. I would definitely recommend taking a stroll down the beach. The beach bar has food and drink option. Cost for entry is $5 per person plus vehicle charge. Definitely visit Magens Bay. read more
5 years ago
The beach it self is not bad. Customer services sucks. If you renting chairs and umbrella, bring cash, you need cash for the deposit and the rental fee you can pay using card. The old old hag, is very unpleasant. Everything you ask her, she annoyed. It's obviously it's generalized behavior/attitude, as she was treating the customer after us the same. Make sure you have cash as you are on your own setting up your chair and umbrella..... the beach is 3/5 star... yellow sand The customer service is -5 stars. Just an FYI this reviews is for the gift shop. The bar is 4/5 star. Drinks are good and service is good. read more
Though many jaw-droppingly beautiful beaches dot the islands in these parts, Magens stood out to me as best in class, meriting two day-long visits during my 9-day stay. Once on a weekend and once mid-week - but never when a cruise ship was in town - Magens was my idea of perfection. Pristine and immaculate, I call Magens the crown jewel of St Thomas. The water isn't aquamarine, as it is at many beaches in these parts, but the immaculate beach, warm water, and dreamily elegant setting more than offset that fact. What else do you need to know?: * When cruise ships are in port Magens may draw crowds but the beach is 1-mile long so a bit of planning should ease that situation. * $5 per person to enter plus $2 per car is money well spent. Especially when you learn that someone walks up and down the beach taking and delivering drink orders (full bar), there's good food available ("famous slice" pizza, $5, is delicious), lifeguards aplenty, and that 2 chaise lounges and a beach umbrella can be rented for around $12. * Picnic/party areas get rented out on weekends and blare amplified music. Move to the far end of the beach (no lifeguards) if you want to escape it. * Weekend or not, late afternoon in October I felt like I owned the beach. Mostly empty, the place is drop-dead gorgeous at this time. * On weekends (or cruise ship days) kayaks and paddleboards can be rented at the end of the beach nearest the entry. * I can't tell you how many times I went back to float around in that water, in that setting. Many. Spending my final day here as the sun grew low was the defining memory of this trip. Beware though, as the sun grows low the no-see-ums come out and bite you to near death, an itchy souvenir that will last days after you return home. Still... Magens Bay. read more
5 years ago
5 years ago
Beautiful beach. However, it was pretty crowded. (But that's expected when it's listed as one of the prettiest beaches) It's $5 a person, and that have rentable chairs and umbrellas. Lots of room on the beach to spread out. Very kid friendly. They had a little gift shop (shirts, hats, sunscreen). They had a "snack bar" that had good pizza, French fries, salads, hot dogs, all that normal beach food. Then they had a bar. It was probably the least exciting snorkeling we experienced on the island. So if you're looking for a snorkeling spot OR your kiddos want to snorkel, this isn't it. Beautiful beach!!! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Went to Saint Thomas with a group of friends. One day we took a taxi to Magens Bay. This beach was absolutely gorgeous!! There is a bar that serves a variety of drinks. The staff was amazing! read more
3 years ago
It is a nice beach but gets crowded. Looks better from the aerial view. We preferred some of the other smaller beaches as they were not as crowded. read more
Ahh paradise. That word doesn't necessarily have to entail a beautiful beach with white sands and clear waters, but I suppose that's the easiest way to describe it. Magens Bay falls into that definition quite well. Is it perfect? Nah, but it comes pretty darn close. MB has that "private beach" feel to it, though there are enough people (cruise-goers and island-stayers) that it loses that aura a tad. You'll still get plenty of glorious photo opportunities so have no fear, Instagram-users. To get to Magens Bay, it might be a bit of an adventure, especially if you're one of those aforementioned cruise-goers (like myself, mother, and girlfriend were). A trip up the mountainous terrain and back down will get you to said paradise, though it might not be the smoothest ride for those with a sensitive stomach. Once there, you'll pay a small price to enter and then it's all systems beach! Well you might want to lay back on something. Worry not! Magens has plenty of rentals including lounge chairs, beach chairs, floating mats, and even a few fun things for the water (snorkel, flippers, etc.). They charge a rental price but will refund a portion of it upon return. We asked for one lounge chair and the guy divvying them out was a cool gent and gave us a second chair for free. Nice! Feeling parched? Head up to the covered bar area where you'll find plenty of tropically original mixed drinks (the Frozen Bushwacker was awesomely tasty) as well as some local craft beer (Virgin Islands Summer Ale for me!). Prices were totally on point. The only thing that wasn't "with it" were the food options. You'd think a caribbean-esque location would feature some culturally island-ish selections, but instead they offered up American fair only. Pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers, fries, burgers...basically things you could get anywhere, and someone with enough Yelp sense like myself knows that this isn't the type of food you'd necessarily want or expect in St. Thomas. What makes matters worse is there wasn't really anywhere else to get grub from so you're stuck with this stuff until you head out of the bay. There is a separate Yelp page for the actual food, drink (and little gift shop), but I thought I'd mention it here because really it is part of the Magens Bay experience. Overall, Magens Bay hits on basically all cylinders (especially from a relaxing standpoint). You don't need to dine while here because it's really all about the beach. From that standpoint, things are 5-star calibur. Keeping that in mind, you'll definitely enjoy your time in this paradisiacal spot. read more
How often does one get to sing classic Kenny Nolan's lyrics "I like dreaming. Coz dreaming can make you mine. We walked along St. Thomas beach a million times." Whilst walking and snorkeling on St. Thomas beach? Good heavens I know I am lucky to be able to do what I do. I'm from a little island so everything about Magen's Bay was familiar and second nature for me. So I get it. I loved every second I had. What I liked was there was no long walk from the road to the water. The warmth of the sun and cooling water. I didn't have to look far to see little fish swimming about coz the water is clear. Walking along this beach and interacting with the people was just fantastic. There's a snorkeling section which is nice to be able to do in calm waters. I also miss SUP'ing and the water is just perfect to do that all day. You can SUP the entire bay if you wanted. There's cafe's along the beach and some vendors. Showers and restrooms available too. What a way to spend a day. Safe environment to recharge and heal oneself. I took part of some self-care here I'll always remember. Mel M Yelp 20:10 read more
2 years ago
Entrance fee - Cash only. My favorite beach on St Thomas!!! Check the cruise ship website to see when ships are in port. I would highly recommend going when no ships are on the island as this is a highly popular cruise excursion. read more
4 years ago
Best beach on St. Thomas! Unfortunately cruise ships usually bring their folks over so before you go, be sure there isn't a ship docked. This beach costs $5 per person plus $2 if you park your car. The bay has land on three sides so the water isn't as impacted by weather as some of the other bays. We saw a turtle and some fish. There are showers and a beach bar with pizza. We had a great time! read more
3 years ago
Our place was right next to this beach, so not only was it convenient, but it was also gorgeous! There is plenty of sand and clear water to snorkel and suntan. There's also a food stand, bar, and restrooms to use while you spend the day there. read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
The view cannot be beat! It's BEAUTIFUL. We did not spend the entire day at the beach, we pulled up around 6:00 PM just to watch the sunset. At that point, you did not have to pay to park and you could just go right in. The bar was closed though so no drinks or food was available. The sunset was beautiful to watch and it was not crowded at all. We were told it is a prime spot for snorkeling. We visited in March and there are sand fleas so bug spray would be a good idea. Would definitely recommend visiting this gem while you are on the island! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
After hearing that Magens Bay is one the worlds prettiest beaches, I knew I had to check it out during my short stint in Saint Thomas. Once arriving to the port, I walked past the shops and found the taxi stand. They had a list of set prices to get to several areas on the island. I hopped on the taxi for about a thirty minute ride to the Northside of the island. It took a stop at the downtown area before arriving. You pass some incredible views and it's worth going just for that. It costs $5 to enter. At Magens Bay, the water is crystal clear and the white sand is so soft. There are bathroom facilities and a bar onsite so it makes it easy to spend the day there. You can rent chairs and umbrellas but from other people talking around me, it sounded kind of expensive. I just threw my towel and enjoyed the view. As you would expect, the beach got very crowded due to a few cruises at the dock that day. If you go further away from the restrooms and bar, it's not so bad. The views are beautiful. To get back to the ship dock, just head to the taxi stand. Plenty of taxis to go to the downtown area or port. Again, it costs $10 to head back so be prepared To have cash readily available. All in all, the views are very pretty and I loved the scenic views from the south to the Northside. Go early if you don't like crowds. read more
7 years ago
A little piece of heaven! While visiting St Thomas as a part of cruise itinerary, we were recommended to take a trip to Magens Bay Beach. Little did we know that this beach is a part of a maintained park--resulting in the cleanest beach I have ever seen in the Caribbean! It costs $5 USD per person to enter the park, plus an additional $2.00 to park your car. We got to the beach at 10:00 am on a Monday morning and it was practically empty. There is a bar with a little restaurant and the option to rent some beach chairs/umbrellas. The bar sells ridiculously overpriced beer ($5 USD for a small can of Carib), but their rum punch is well worth the money. Bonus points for serving rum punch with turtle-friendly straws. I will forever day dream of the crystal clear water at Magens Bay! read more
10 years ago
Wildlife isn't so bad, if a stranger came into my house with delicious smelling food and drinks I'd demand some of it for me too. Magen's bay is filled with wildlife that want your lunch and have trained on thousands of tourists to open styrofoam containers, ziploc bags and even go through purses. It's a catch 22, the food sold on the beach is wicked expensive and not so good, so you have no choice but to bring yummy snacks and food from elsewhere that seagulls, pelicans, and iguanas smell from yards away. The fish must also smell the food coming out of your pores because they just swim right up, bump into you and hang out. Wildlife aside, this to me is one of my favorite beaches on St. Thomas to just be. You can seriously gaze out onto the blue horizon and crystal clear waters all day. The beach isn't rocky and has some of the finest softest sand on the island. Waves are pretty much non-existent so you can see to the bottom of the ocean clear as day. The hubby and I like to sit in about a foot and a half of water, in our beach chairs all day, and order a ridiculous amount of drinks from the cocktail servers that runs orders to patrons on the beach. I'm not one that drinks a lot during the day.....hot sun+booze=me very cranky and tired, but I can tell you that the virgin icy drinks are delicious, refreshing cups of sugar and fatty calories. I haven't had a bad drink here yet. The life guard on duty will keep you from swimming past the buoys,( a lot of people complain about that) which are 25-30 feet out. There is good snorkeling further out, but the bay does have sharks and you're out of the life guards line of sight that far out, so if you're interested in keeping all of your limbs don't go past the buoys. As far as the beach goes facilities are top notch, with nice bathrooms, shower stations, foot rinsing areas, lots of parking and a stand that rents non motorized beach equipment. You can rent lounge chairs for $7 a day and the large covered hut area with tables, chairs and grills for $100 all day. Admission is $2 per car, $4 for non residents, $2 for residents. I'd highly recommend not going here when a cruise ship is docked, you'll just be frustrated, so check out the cruise ship schedule http://www.vinow.com/cruise/ship-schedule/8-2016/ before planing a trip here. See you out there! read more
Magens Bay is a beautiful beach in St. Thomas. It's one of the most popular beaches so if you don't arrive early, especially on a day with multiple cruise ships in port, it's going give crowded. However, even when crowded you can easily find a more speculated area by walking down toward the left side (south). read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Amazing beach. As you can see from the pictures the place is great. You can rent beach chairs for $7 a day from the stand in the middle of the beach. Not a bad deal at all. If you check out the rocks and cliffs on the edge you might see an iguana or some other wildlife hanging out. I came to the beach from a cruise ship along with a few hundred other people, the beach is large but can get a little busy later in the day or when ships are in port, but still enjoyable. read more
11 years ago
Just beautiful. No other words, Yelp. I often wonder why do we as Americans spend so much money traveling to other parts of the world when we have plenty of paradise in our own backyard? Yes...it's good to see the world, but make sure you see all of your country too! Screw Paris. Holla at The U.S. Virgin Islands. We outchea read more
An excellent beach with huge change rooms, picnic tables, shallow clear water, a bar, fast food counter, and gift shop. They also rent beach lounges and other items. The parking lot is very close to the beach. We had a really nice time but started to get eaten alive in the late afternoon by mosquitos. read more
More info about Magens Bay
St Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802
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(340) 777-6300
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http://www.magensbayauthority.com/
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Review Highlights - Magens Bay
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