With hundreds of absolutely spectacular islands, it is impossible to create a list of the most beautiful and stand-out towns in the Caribbean. So, this is just a humble creation to highlight the idea that what is waiting for you at the end of the trip to the Caribbean are islands hosting culturally, historically, and naturally rich and alluring towns, with beautiful colonial architecture, palm-fringed, sugary, or volcanic shores, crystalline waters, Dutch buildings, Napoleon forts, and tropical scenery that can capture your heart forever.
Governor’s Harbour – The Bahamas
Incredibly luxurious, totally peaceful, and absolutely high-class, this charming town of Eleuthera enchants with its hypnotising 19th-century architecture and impressive Victoria houses that offer exquisite views of the ocean, with most of them serving as anything from delightful cafes to serene libraries. Governor’s Harbour is a top-tier Bahamas spot that is now home to a wealthy community of ex-pats and not only. Come here if you desire moments away from the tourist-bustled places and locales with a lively party scene and never-ending music. Plus, it is one of the few Caribbean towns that you can explore on foot if you wish.
Cockburn Town – Turks & Caicos
The vibrant heart of Turks & Caicos represents serenity, providing visitors with a small escape featuring great snorkelling and diving sites, a rustic atmosphere, historic sites, streets lined with colourful colonial buildings, and the spot that, according to the locals, Chistopher Columbus first stepped on during his New World explorations back in 1492. Home to a few thousand people, Cockburn Town on Grand Turk island is also a beloved docking place for cruises while pampering with fine-sand beaches like tranquil Corktree and Pillory to the north.
Roseau – Dominica
The last colonised island in the Caribbean invites you to unique experiences, which are accentuated by its stunning capital of only 1500 residents. Surrounded by an unbelievably lush and mountainous landscape, it greets visitors with super-friendly locals, a lack of flashy resorts, magnificent volcanic beaches, and cute wood-and-stone historic houses. While here, you should definitely plan a day trip to the hot springs pool and waterfalls in the rainforest or go snorkelling at one of the several spots where volcanic underwater openings make them bubble like champagne, or even hike the challenging trek to Boiling Lake. To reach Dominica, you will have to travel to Barbados, Saint Maarten, or Antigua, though.
West End Village – Anguilla
Enchanting with its relaxed and peaceful vibes, West End Village is a haven for those in search of a beautiful and quiet getaway to enjoy a bit more privacy during their island endeavours. The scenic village is tucked on the west end of Anguilla and is home to a handful of residents and several absolutely jaw-dropping villas, condos, and hotels offering exceptional seascapes and views of the island’s emerald waters, sandy coastline, and verdant inland. Feel free to head to a beachside shack to enjoy delicious tequila or rum along with freshly-grilled seafood and see what living on a Caribbean island is all about!
Oistins – Barbados
Expect to be spoiled for choice when it comes to the things you can do here. The history-drenched lands at Oistins witnessed the formal ending of the fights between the English Commonwealth and colonial settlers over trade with the Netherlands in 1652 via the Treaty of Oistins. What might draw you here is the natural scenery. What might keep you here for a longer time than planned is the friendly locals that invite visitors to join a weekend of fish-fry-related fun that involves lots of music and tons of fried seafood, as well as a chance to shop wares from local craftsmen! As for the sandy beaches, they are not only pristine and sandy but also an excellent spot for plane-watching!
Tip: While visiting Barbados, we also recommend a stop at the 1653-founded port city of Speightstown, a hidden gem with quiet beaches, wonderful historic architecture, and several great shopping and dining opportunities. It even features a luxury marina to dock your yacht while island-hopping!
Willemstad – Curaçao
The lively capital of Curacao is mostly visited for its historic core and is one of the most picturesque towns you will come across in the Caribbean. A Dutch/Caribbean hybrid, it is a tropical must-see for the pastel-coloured Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch architecture, floating markets, 19th-century buildings turned into hotels, street cafes, colonial houses, an excellent museum detailing the slave trade, and atmospheric draw bridges that give a bizarre sensation that you are actually wandering through Amsterdam!
Not to mention Christoffel National Park’s plantation, the isolated beach coves, and the chance to dive and swim with dolphins! No wonder Willemstad has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just like Old San Juan in Puerto Rico (the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the 16th century called Castillo San Cristobal), Old Havana in Cuba, and so many more Caribbean destinations (you can check this list with the Caribbean UNESCO World Heritage Sites for more details: List of World Heritage Sites in the Caribbean – Wikipedia).
Other Spell-Binding Caribbean Towns
- Cruz Bay (US Virgin Islands) – Sitting on the West Coast of St. John island, it is a major commercial hub with many places to dine, shop, and entertain yourself, including a casino. Chances are it will enchant you with the local cuisine, sugary beaches, many hiking trails, and relaxed, slow-paced life!
- Maracas (Trinidad & Tobago) – Famed for its shark sandwich, it also attracts with its palm-dotted fine-sand shores, aquamarine waters, low, board surfing-perfect waves, and chilled atmosphere. It is a quiet respite if you would rather relax than play! Now, if you would love to see the most magical sunsets in Tobago, then do head to Castara town on the north of the island, which also fascinates with its rich fishing culture.
- Port Elizabeth (St. Vincent & The Grenadines) – With little to be desired here, expect everything from blue-green waters and calm beaches to lush forests and yacht-dotted ports. The boat-building tradition still continues in this part of the country, while the local culinary scene pampers the palate with French fine-dining experiences and delicious local dishes alike.
- Charlestown (Saint Kitts & Nevis) – Offering a slice of haven, it is a tiny village with a long history that boasts being the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, who is also celebrated with the Museum of Nevis History. Other than that, the cultural and historical buildings-lined roads of Charlestown get filled with locals at the weekend, inviting you to festivities including live music and barbecue.
- Le Carbet (Martinique) – Regarded as the place where Columbus first visited during his last Caribbean cruise in 1502, La Carbet dazzles with the Paul Gauguin Museum, historic churches, a still-glorious former plantation, botanical garden, zoological park, and amazing turquoise waters fringed by beautiful beaches, such as Big Cove Beach.
- St. George’s (Grenada) – The so-called “Spice Isle” is home to an 18th-century town that can make your mind blow with its hilly surroundings, Georgian buildings overlooking the charming harbour, and the fact that you access both the sea and the inland from here, while the swirling of clove, turmeric, lemon grass, nutmeg, and cinnamon in the air makes the overall experience almost intoxicating!
With hundreds of absolutely spectacular islands, it is impossible to create a list of the most beautiful and stand-out towns in the Caribbean. So, this is just a humble creation to highlight the idea that what is waiting for you at the end of the trip to the Caribbean are islands hosting culturally, historically, and naturally rich and alluring towns, with beautiful colonial architecture, palm-fringed, sugary, or volcanic shores, crystalline waters, Dutch buildings, Napoleon forts, and tropical scenery that can capture your heart forever.
Governor’s Harbour – The Bahamas
Incredibly luxurious, totally peaceful, and absolutely high-class, this charming town of Eleuthera enchants with its hypnotising 19th-century architecture and impressive Victoria houses that offer exquisite views of the ocean, with most of them serving as anything from delightful cafes to serene libraries. Governor’s Harbour is a top-tier Bahamas spot that is now home to a wealthy community of ex-pats and not only. Come here if you desire moments away from the tourist-bustled places and locales with a lively party scene and never-ending music. Plus, it is one of the few Caribbean towns that you can explore on foot if you wish.
Cockburn Town – Turks & Caicos
The vibrant heart of Turks & Caicos represents serenity, providing visitors with a small escape featuring great snorkelling and diving sites, a rustic atmosphere, historic sites, streets lined with colourful colonial buildings, and the spot that, according to the locals, Chistopher Columbus first stepped on during his New World explorations back in 1492. Home to a few thousand people, Cockburn Town on Grand Turk island is also a beloved docking place for cruises while pampering with fine-sand beaches like tranquil Corktree and Pillory to the north.
Roseau – Dominica
The last colonised island in the Caribbean invites you to unique experiences, which are accentuated by its stunning capital of only 1500 residents. Surrounded by an unbelievably lush and mountainous landscape, it greets visitors with super-friendly locals, a lack of flashy resorts, magnificent volcanic beaches, and cute wood-and-stone historic houses. While here, you should definitely plan a day trip to the hot springs pool and waterfalls in the rainforest or go snorkelling at one of the several spots where volcanic underwater openings make them bubble like champagne, or even hike the challenging trek to Boiling Lake. To reach Dominica, you will have to travel to Barbados, Saint Maarten, or Antigua, though.
West End Village – Anguilla
Enchanting with its relaxed and peaceful vibes, West End Village is a haven for those in search of a beautiful and quiet getaway to enjoy a bit more privacy during their island endeavours. The scenic village is tucked on the west end of Anguilla and is home to a handful of residents and several absolutely jaw-dropping villas, condos, and hotels offering exceptional seascapes and views of the island’s emerald waters, sandy coastline, and verdant inland. Feel free to head to a beachside shack to enjoy delicious tequila or rum along with freshly-grilled seafood and see what living on a Caribbean island is all about!
Oistins – Barbados
Expect to be spoiled for choice when it comes to the things you can do here. The history-drenched lands at Oistins witnessed the formal ending of the fights between the English Commonwealth and colonial settlers over trade with the Netherlands in 1652 via the Treaty of Oistins. What might draw you here is the natural scenery. What might keep you here for a longer time than planned is the friendly locals that invite visitors to join a weekend of fish-fry-related fun that involves lots of music and tons of fried seafood, as well as a chance to shop wares from local craftsmen! As for the sandy beaches, they are not only pristine and sandy but also an excellent spot for plane-watching!
Tip: While visiting Barbados, we also recommend a stop at the 1653-founded port city of Speightstown, a hidden gem with quiet beaches, wonderful historic architecture, and several great shopping and dining opportunities. It even features a luxury marina to dock your yacht while island-hopping!
Willemstad – Curaçao
The lively capital of Curacao is mostly visited for its historic core and is one of the most picturesque towns you will come across in the Caribbean. A Dutch/Caribbean hybrid, it is a tropical must-see for the pastel-coloured Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch architecture, floating markets, 19th-century buildings turned into hotels, street cafes, colonial houses, an excellent museum detailing the slave trade, and atmospheric draw bridges that give a bizarre sensation that you are actually wandering through Amsterdam!
Not to mention Christoffel National Park’s plantation, the isolated beach coves, and the chance to dive and swim with dolphins! No wonder Willemstad has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just like Old San Juan in Puerto Rico (the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the 16th century called Castillo San Cristobal), Old Havana in Cuba, and so many more Caribbean destinations (you can check this list with the Caribbean UNESCO World Heritage Sites for more details: List of World Heritage Sites in the Caribbean – Wikipedia).
Other Spell-Binding Caribbean Towns
- Cruz Bay (US Virgin Islands) – Sitting on the West Coast of St. John island, it is a major commercial hub with many places to dine, shop, and entertain yourself, including a casino. Chances are it will enchant you with the local cuisine, sugary beaches, many hiking trails, and relaxed, slow-paced life!
- Maracas (Trinidad & Tobago) – Famed for its shark sandwich, it also attracts with its palm-dotted fine-sand shores, aquamarine waters, low, board surfing-perfect waves, and chilled atmosphere. It is a quiet respite if you would rather relax than play! Now, if you would love to see the most magical sunsets in Tobago, then do head to Castara town on the north of the island, which also fascinates with its rich fishing culture.
- Port Elizabeth (St. Vincent & The Grenadines) – With little to be desired here, expect everything from blue-green waters and calm beaches to lush forests and yacht-dotted ports. The boat-building tradition still continues in this part of the country, while the local culinary scene pampers the palate with French fine-dining experiences and delicious local dishes alike.
- Charlestown (Saint Kitts & Nevis) – Offering a slice of haven, it is a tiny village with a long history that boasts being the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, who is also celebrated with the Museum of Nevis History. Other than that, the cultural and historical buildings-lined roads of Charlestown get filled with locals at the weekend, inviting you to festivities including live music and barbecue.
- Le Carbet (Martinique) – Regarded as the place where Columbus first visited during his last Caribbean cruise in 1502, La Carbet dazzles with the Paul Gauguin Museum, historic churches, a still-glorious former plantation, botanical garden, zoological park, and amazing turquoise waters fringed by beautiful beaches, such as Big Cove Beach.
- St. George’s (Grenada) – The so-called “Spice Isle” is home to an 18th-century town that can make your mind blow with its hilly surroundings, Georgian buildings overlooking the charming harbour, and the fact that you access both the sea and the inland from here, while the swirling of clove, turmeric, lemon grass, nutmeg, and cinnamon in the air makes the overall experience almost intoxicating!