Nevis sits just across the channel from St. Kitts, its partner in the twin-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. A short sail puts historic Charlestown, Pinney’s Beach and the island’s clear Caribbean waters within reach during your day in port.

The best things to do in Nevis don’t require much — you can see many highlights with just a short walk around Charlestown or a single guided excursion. Princess® cruises to St. Kitts offer excursions that cover transportation to and around Nevis, so you can spend more of your port day experiencing the island.

Key takeaways

 

Charlestown sits close to the ferry pier, so you can walk to the Museum of Nevis History and explore the historic center without arranging additional transportation.

 

Pinney’s Beach pairs golden sand and calm Caribbean water with local flavor at Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill.

 

A guided Princess shore excursion can pair beach time with Nevis sightseeing or a snorkeling stop, with transportation between stops taken care of.

Step back in time in Charlestown

Around the center of Nevis’ capital, Charlestown, historic stone and wooden buildings preserve the character of the island’s past, while the compact layout makes several key sites easy to reach on foot. The Museum of Nevis History, for example, is just a short walk from the Charlestown ferry pier.

One of the main stops is the Museum of Nevis History, housed on the site of Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace. Hamilton was born on Nevis in 1755 or 1757 before later becoming one of the United States’ Founding Fathers. The museum is only a short walk from the ferry pier, so you can easily add it to time spent exploring central Charlestown.

Hamilton is only one chapter of Nevis’ history. Sugar estates once shaped much of the island, and remnants of that era still stand beyond Charlestown. New River Estate preserves the ruins of Nevis’ last steam-powered sugar mill, while Montpelier, now an inn, is built around an old windmill and sugar works.

You can explore central Charlestown independently, but a Princess excursion adds more of Nevis without requiring you to coordinate transportation yourself. The Nevis Island Tour, Beach & Lunch excursion means you can enjoy island sightseeing with luxurious time at the beach.


Visiting Eleuthera? Enjoy Princess Cays® (which we know you will). And then clear your schedule, because the rest of the island is ready to show you what the Bahamas are made of.

Turquoise Caribbean water laps a rocky seawall in front of white two-story colonial buildings with wraparound balconies. Flags from various countries fly along the waterfront, cars are parked along the road and green trees rise behind under a blue sky with puffy white clouds.
Stroll the historic waterfront of Charlestown, the colorful capital of Nevis.

Relax on Pinney’s Beach

Speaking of luxurious beach time, Pinney’s Beach has earned a spot on Princess’s list of the Caribbean’s best beaches, and for good reason. Golden sand stretches along Nevis’ Caribbean coast, with calm water in front of you and St. Kitts visible across the channel.

Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill adds some local character to a beach day. This longtime Pinney’s fixture is known for its Killer Bee rum punch, along with fresh fish and ribs.

For an easy way to spend time both on shore and in the water, choose Princess’s Cruise to Nevis, Pinney's Beach, Snorkel & Lunch. Your day includes a snorkeling stop, lunch and time to unwind on Pinney’s Beach, with the travel between St. Kitts and Nevis already arranged. If Nevis beach time is your priority, you won’t be disappointed.

Long stretch of pale sand along a turquoise sea, with rows of bright blue umbrellas and lounge chairs on the right where a few people relax. Swimmers wade in the shallows on the left, a yellow boat sits near the shore and distant hills rise beneath a vivid blue sky with scattered white clouds.
Stroll the historic waterfront of Charlestown, the colorful capital of Nevis.

Snorkel on your way to Nevis

On Princess’s route to Nevis, the snorkeling stop is a protected cliff-side cove along the St. Kitts coast. Beneath the surface, you may spot sea fans, barrel sponges and black coral, along with angelfish, parrotfish and black jack.

Princess’s Cruise to Nevis, Pinney’s Beach, Snorkel & Lunch takes the guesswork out of snorkeling on your way to Nevis. Snorkeling equipment, including a snorkel vest, is provided. After your time in the water, lunch and a visit to Pinney’s Beach round out the excursion before the catamaran sails back to the ship.


So what exactly should you consider filling your day with? Here are a few options:

Two snorkelers in masks and fins float underwater in clear turquoise water, holding out bits of food as a swarm of orange and white striped fish gathers around them. A rocky seafloor lies below and sunlight ripples across their skin and the water’s surface.
Dive in and swim alongside schools of vibrant tropical fish.

Soak in the Bath Hotel hot springs

Just outside central Charlestown, you’ll find mineral water bubbling up from Nevis’ volcanic landscape at the Bath Hotel hot springs. The water runs about 104 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit (40 to 42 degrees Celsius), so expect it to feel hot.

The springs sit beside the historic Bath Hotel, which was built in 1778 and is often called the first tourist hotel in the Caribbean. Visitors have come to these mineral-rich waters for centuries, drawn by a long local tradition of therapeutic bathing. Since the springs are within walking distance of central Charlestown, most guests can work a visit in before or after other activities like the Museum of Nevis History.

Close-up of a person’s bare legs and feet dipping into clear, shallow spring water over dark volcanic rock. Sunlight dances across the rippling surface and the submerged stones below.
Soak away your cares in the natural hot springs of Nevis.

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Plan your time in Nevis

Nevis stays warm year-round, so a port day can include the beach in any season. December through April typically brings the island’s driest weather, while June through November tends to be hotter, more humid and rainier.

For cruise guests, the bigger consideration is time. Nevis is reached by boat from St. Kitts, while taxis and cars provide transportation around the island. A Princess shore excursion handles those connections for you, which makes it easier to fit Nevis into a single port day and return to the ship on schedule.

A day in Nevis can take you through centuries of history and still leave time for the Caribbean Sea. Explore Charlestown on foot if you travel on your own, or choose a Princess shore excursion that takes you to Pinney’s Beach, out for a snorkel or around the island on a narrated tour.

Browse St. Kitts excursions and find a Caribbean cruise that puts Nevis on your itinerary.

Things to do in Nevis FAQs