When we first decided to move to St Kitts in February 2019 we have to confess, we didn’t really know much about the place, and before applying for the job here we had never heard of this beautiful twin island nation. We have made it our mission in the 2 years we have been here to find out all the facts we could about our lovely little rock and now we are answering the most frequently asked questions about St Kitts and Nevis. Here are the top 21 facts about St Kitts and Nevis.

1. Where is St Kitts located?

St Kitts and its sister island Nevis are located in Leeward island chain of the lesser Antilles in Eastern Caribbean part of the West Indies. Geographically the Caribbean islands are considered part of the American continent. Due to the location of the islands the south facing sides face the Caribbean Sea and the north facing side face the Atlantic Ocean. All the local will tell you not to swim in the Atlantic, and if you are not a strong swimmer we would agree. However, if you look at the conditions of the water some of the Atlantic beaches are beautiful for swimming or snorkelling.

2. Which country owns St Kitts?

The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis is a former British colony and still forms part of the British West Indies, St Kitts and Nevis used to be part of a trio of islands in the British commonwealth but in 1983 St Kitts and Nevis gained independence from Britain and Anguilla who they were tied to and are now an independent twin island nation. Anguilla however decided to stay part of British territory.

3. What is the Capital of St Kitts and Nevis?

Basseterre is the capital city of both St Kitts and Nevis, although Charlestown is often referred to as the Capital of Nevis as it is the largest town on the island. Basseterre is the main point of entry for international visitors and can accommodate up to 4 large cruise liners at Port Zante.  There is also the Robert Bradshaw International Airport which has frequent flights to both the US and the UK as well as other Caribbean islands.

Explore this post for things to see in Basseterre: A Walking Tour from St Kitts Cruise Port

4. What is St Kitts known for?

Traditionally St Kitts was known as part of the sugar trade and gained the nickname ‘sugar city’. Sugar cane still grows wild throughout the country but is no longer cultivated for commercial use, you can buy local sugar cane from the grocery stores at times and from local farmers selling it along the roadsides. It was also historically known as ‘The Mother Colony’ as it was the first country occupied by the British and the French in the West Indies.

5. What is Nevis known for?

Nevis was the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the US. Alexander Hamilton grew up in Nevis and in his teens was sent to New York by his wealthy adoptive parents to pursue an education. Nevis was also the place where the famous naval Admiral Horatio Nelson was stationed and where he met and married the Nevisian woman Frances ‘Fanny’ Nisbet.

6. How expensive is St Kitts?

Food on St Kitts is the biggest expense, as most food is imported from the US or Europe. The prices are high compared to what visitors would expect to see in the back home. However, there is a wide variety of restaurants to suit every budget. Hotels on St Kitts and Nevis are mostly high end and depending on the season, the prices range from around $150-$500+ per night. There are a few Air BNB apartments that are available to rent out short term, but most apartments are long term lets. This is because of the high student and expat population on the islands from the medical universities and the veterinary university.

7. What currency can I use in St Kitts?

The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, often listed as EC or XCD and ATMs can be found on the island. Most businesses will also accept US dollars to pay for purchases, but change will always be given in EC. Restaurant prices usually have a US and an EC dollar price listed. If there is only one price, make sure to ask whether prices are in EC or US dollars before purchasing as sometimes you can be caught out by this. Credit cards are widely accepted across the federation, but be aware of any international transaction fees you may be charged.

8. How safe is St Kitts?

St Kitts is very safe with tourism at the forefront of the economy. We feel very safe around the island even at night in Basseterre and often leave our belongings on the beach while we swim or snorkel. Violence in St Kitts is rare and only then between rival gangs in the residential parts of Basseterre. It is very uncommon for tourists to be targeted for any crime. Petty theft would be the most that would happen, and the police take all threats to tourists very seriously.

9. Is the water safe to drink in St Kitts?

Yes, the tap water is safe to drink in St Kitts. It is recommended however if you plan to live here long term that you invest in a water filter, as the water has a high mineral content that can eventually lead to kidney stones.

10. Do I need a visa for St Kitts?

US citizens and UK nationals do not need to apply for a visa for St Kitts, but you do require a valid passport from your home country. On entry to St Kitts you will be issued a tourist stamp in your passport which allows visitors to stay for either 3 or 6 months without working. For working in St Kitts, you will be issued a temporary resident visa every year.

11. Does St Kitts have Monkeys?

Yes! Monkeys were brought to the island by the French in the 1600’s and have since made it their own. The Monkeys here came from Africa along with slaves and are Green Vervet Monkeys. They roam freely around the islands and can often be spotted crossing the roads or hanging out at beach bars. They are a local nuisance however and disrupt farming of produce, because they are a pest there is no protection in place for the monkeys.

Some locals exploit this by killing the mother and capturing babies for photo opportunities for tourists. We do not encourage this behaviour as the baby monkeys are mistreated and some are abused to get them to behave in this way. These people do not care about the monkeys and once the monkey gets too big, they just get a new one.

Please don’t support this by having your picture taken with them!

12. How far is St Kitts from Nevis?

St Kitts and Nevis are separated by a stretch of sea called the ‘narrows’ which is 2 miles long, a water taxi from the St Kitts to Nevis takes between 5-8 minutes check out this post on the different ways to travel between the two islands. Each year there is a Channel Swim event held where people come from around the world to partake in swimming the Narrows from Nevis to St Kitts. They are joined by volunteers in small boats and kayaks to keep them safe as sharks have been spotted in these waters!

13. What is the weather like in St Kitts?

Awful! (Just kidding) St Kitts has a year-round tropical climate with a slightly cooler dry season from December to April and a hotter humid season from May to November. This coincides with hurricane season and tourist season with some bars and restaurants closing in August/September when hurricanes are most likely. Contrary to popular belief it does rain in St Kitts all year round. Most rainfall is usually in the morning or the evening, but you can expect to be caught in the odd tropical downpour. The average rainfall on St Kitts is 125-200cm a year.

14. What is the water temperature in St Kitts?

The average temperature of the water in St Kitts ranges from 26c-32c in the day. The beauty of St Kitts is that you can choose to swim or snorkel in the Caribbean Sea on the south side of the island or the Atlantic Ocean on the north side of the island. For our recommendations of the top beaches on St Kitts check out this post.

15. What language is spoken in St Kitts?

English is the official language of St Kitts and Nevis but there is a strong local dialect which can often be mistaken for a different language. If you can’t understand the locals just ask them to speak slower, they find it funny.

16. What is the nationality in St Kitts?

The people of St Kitts are Kittitian (pronounced kitt-ish-un), and the people of Nevis are Nevisian (pronounced Nee-vish-un) try not to get them mixed up! There is also a large expat population on the island who mainly work at the medical schools and the veterinary school. Read about our first year as expats here.

17. What religion is St Kitts?

Predominantly Christian in faith there are over 200 churches on this tiny island. The Kittians and Nevisians are very religious with most families attending church on a weekly basis.

18. How big is St Kitts and Nevis?

St Kitts is only 18 miles long and 5 miles wide (at the widest part) the total size of the island is 67 square miles, Nevis is even smaller with a total size of 36 square miles.  The combined size of the two islands make them the smallest country in the Americas.

Bonus fun fact: Each island only has one main road that runs the full perimeter so it’s almost impossible to get lost.

19. What is the population of St Kitts and Nevis?

The population of Saint Kitts and Nevis is around 53,000 divided between the two islands. Approximately 41,000 of the population live on St Kitts, and the remaining 12,000 live on Nevis. It is rumoured that there are more monkeys on the islands than there are people, but this is unconfirmed.

20. What is the best time to visit St Kitts?

May-June is the best time to visit as this is when hotels tend to lower their prices. The winter crowds also start to disappear around this time of year as it’s the start of hurricane season. That being said, December is the start of the biggest event of the year, the St Kitts National Carnival which is an island wide celebration. Unofficially the celebrations start at the end of November with local fetes and events taking place around the island and continues into the new year. So, if you want to join in the festivities with the locals come for the parades which run between Christmas and New Year.

21. What is there to do on St Kitts and Nevis?

So many things! St Kitts and Nevis have tons of history, plenty of nature and lots of adventure activities. Check out our posts on top things to do in St Kitts and Nevis, romantic activities for honeymoon, best beaches on St Kitts and top snorkelling spots.

Have you got any questions about St Kitts and Nevis? Did any of the facts about St Kitts and Nevis surprise you? Let us know your favourite fact in the comments!

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