British Virgin Islands

Top things to do & see in the BVI

A maze of boulders

Snorkel the Baths of Virgin Gorda. The massive, smooth boulders rise from aqua-hued waters to create a maze of grottoes, caves and shallow pools.

Hike the heights

Take in the view from the crest of Tortola’s 1,710 foot Mount Sage and the winding Gorda Peak trail in Virgin Gorda. The latter is a doozy; if you drive, be aware the roads wind dramatically.

See the sea

Watch the shifting tides from a seaside hammock or a barstool at the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke Island. There are only two bars on this quiet island, and while people-watching is great sport, sometimes it’s best to sit and be at one with the ocean.

Explore shipwrecks

You can dive the more than 300 shipwrecks off Anegada Island where flocks of flamingos skim the water. The RMS Rhone shipwreck of 1867 off the coast of Salt Island has ruins made cinematically famous in "The Deep."

Metaphorically pillage

Be your own pirate on Norman Island, reputed to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s "Treasure Island." Seekers of gold and jewels may surface empty-handed but they will have captured the beauty of the island, a treasure in itself.

Best shopping

Tortola has a nice local straw market. Soper’s Hole Wharf and Marina has more upscale shopping. There’s a big local art scene by artists throughout the BVI.

Family-friendly options

Tortola Island is ripe with new playgrounds. There's Benjamin Romney Park on the water, a park on Main Island Road between Zion Hill and the West End, as well as a park close to Red Hook. 

Children can pick the dolphins they want to swim with at the Dolphin Discovery within the Prospect Reef Resort, also on Tortola Island (but no, Veruca Salt types, sorry, they can’t take them home). For a wacky activity there’s the North Shore Shell Museum on Tortola opposite Carrot Bay. The house is packed with cool shells that the owner, a seashell hoarder named Egbert, has spent a lifetime collecting.

Accessible only by boat or helicopter, the luxurious 300-acre community that is the Oil Nut Bay Resort has added Sea Life Discovery, a family-friendly activity that exposes kids to the underwater world through scavenger hunt games. There’s also the Nut House where children can get artsy and crafty and the Oil Nut Bay Beach Club that offers paddleboarding, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, and five hiking trails for those tiring of water activities. 

YOLO (You only live once!)

• Stay on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island, where the six Bali Houses are the height of exclusivity. During celebration weeks couples can pay $30k+ for a week that includes boating adventures, nightlife trips to neighboring islands, and an endless supply of high-end bubbly.
• For those who want luxury on a more modest budget, there’s Oil Nut Bay’s Fendi Casa, a furnished penthouse suite on Virgin Gorda. Perched on a cliff overlooking even more amazing views (it is possible), the penthouse suite has a private outdoor infinity plunge pool. Summer prices start at $1,750 a night for double occupancy in the penthouse.

Don't miss

Where you find glittery azure waters and expensive real estate, you find spectacular marinas like the YCCS Marina Virgin Gorda, and super-yachts that cruise in for events like the BVI Regatta. A more affordable activity is the BVI Music Festival, where you can get your fungi on.

Best bets for dining

• The typical West Indian cuisine isn’t what attracts people to the Top of the Baths Restaurant on Virgin Gorda. It’s the spectacular views. Sunset while overlooking Sir Francis Drake Channel is the best dish.
• Yes, the views are stunning at  Hilltop Restaurant, the highest point of the Biras Creek Resort,  but the chef's skills dishing out Caribbean-fusion cuisine at the100-seat restaurant also dazzle.
• While doing the "Treasure Island" thing on Norman Island, don’t miss Willy T’s floating restaurant.

Best time to go

BVI is a year-round paradise. While winter is more popular, off-season features the best deals. There's a rainy season, but it is manageable as the weather stays consistently in the 80s F.

Nightlife

• A full-moon party (typically 12 a year) at Bomba’s Surfside Shack on Tortola is worth scheduling your trip around. The bar is built from cast-off tin, license plates, driftwood, and, cheekily, women’s panties.
• Live music is a ubiquitous BVI amenity, especially in Tortola’s Cane Garden Bay. Don’t miss out on Quito's Gazebo — and expect to be serenaded by Quito himself if popping by on a Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
• The Soggy Dollar is good for more than watching the tide. The swim-up bar is one of only a few bars on Jost Van Dyk (another popular stop is Foxy’s Bar) and is a stand-out drinking establishment thanks to the notorious "painkiller," a sneaky rum-based drink.

Fun facts

• Local islanders call themselves Belongers.
• BVI is the home to “fungi,” a high-energy calypso-style music.
• BVI was first settled by the Dutch in 1648 before being annexed in 1672 by the British.
• The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Event is a seven-day sailing event that includes cruises, smaller races, and the three-day main-event regatta. 

When you arrive

Getting around

Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke are typical stop-overs for cruise ships. Once there, navigate and explore via ferry or private boat, airplane and seaplane.

Car rentals: When renting a car, you'll need a  temporary BVI driver’s license (get one for $10 from your car rental firm or the BVI's Vehicle Licensing Department by producing a valid driver's license from another country).

Public transit: There are taxis, and bus service is available, though with limited routes. 

Need to know

Documents: You'll need a valid passport.

Language: English is the official language.  

Country code: 284

Currency: U.S. dollar

Safety: BVI is a pretty safe place. The islands have a low crime rate and wandering about alone is not particularly high risk. However, use good judgment and take the usual precautions when traveling.

Your take

How about you? Have you been to the British Virgin Islands? I'd love to hear the top highlights for you — please leave a comment or share a photo or two!

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