Fort Christiansvaern at Christiansted National Historic Site.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Christiansted National Historic Site

Top choice in St Croix


This historic site includes several structures. The most impressive is Fort Christiansvaern (1749), a four-point citadel occupying the deep-yellow buildings on the town’s east side. Built out of Danish bricks (brought over as ships’ ballast), the fort guarded against pirate onslaughts, hurricanes and slave revolts. Cannon on the ramparts, an echoey, claustrophobic dungeon, and latrines with top-notch sea views await inside. The fort entrance has brochures for self-guided exploration of the other nearby historic buildings.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby St Croix attractions

1. Steeple Building

0.07 MILES

The white building with the Georgian steeple was St Croix' first house of worship. Lutherans erected the edifice between 1750 and 1753, adding the steeple…

3. Protestant Cay

0.17 MILES

This small oval cay, located less than 200yd from Kings Wharf, is a little oasis. It’s the site of a mellow resort with a sandy beach and bar-restaurant…

4. Hibiscus Beach

2.55 MILES

Sand seekers hit palm-fringed Hibiscus Beach, 2 miles west of Christiansted off Rte 75/Northside Rd. There's good snorkeling at the beach's western end…

5. Salt River Bay National Historic Park

4.52 MILES

About 4 miles west of Christiansted, Salt River Bay holds prehistoric archaeological ruins and is the only documented place where Christopher Columbus…

6. Captain Morgan Rum Distillery

5.38 MILES

Captain Morgan opened its shiny distillery on St Croix in 2010. The visitor center offers 30-minute tours. Expect multimedia films, self-guided…

7. Buck Island Reef National Monument

5.95 MILES

For such a small landmass – 1 mile long by half a mile wide – Buck Island draws big crowds. It’s not so much what’s on top but what’s underneath that…

8. Cane Bay

7.37 MILES

A long, thin strand along Rte 80 about 9 miles west of Christiansted, Cane Bay is deservedly venerated. It provides easy access to some of the island’s…