These islands are pleasant year round. The main tourist season is December to May, when it’s cooler and dryer (temperatures are generally in the early-mid 80s F). It’s slightly rainier, cloudier and hotter from July to November (the latter half is also the hurricane season) but on the whole humidity is low and the sun shines almost every day. The up side is that the prices are lower and there are no crowds.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Years Day: January 1
Easter: April (4 days)
Labor Day: May, first Monday
Whit Monday: May, last Monday
Emancipation Day: August, first Monday
National Hero's Day: September 17
Independence Day: September 19
Christmas Day: December 25
Boxing Day: December 26
J'ouvert: December 27
Carnival: Christmas to New year
FESTIVALS
St Kitts Annual music festival: June/July - 4 nights of calypso/soca, reggae and jazz
Culturama in Nevis: July/Aug - big 5-day celebration including music, street dancing, parades, etc
Carnival: begins Christmas Eve and continues into the New Year - Calypso Monarch competitions, Queen show, street party, masque parades, fireworks.
To search flights across all airlines, we recommend using Skyscanner
From the UK: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly to Antigua. From there LIAT provides connecting flights to Nevis or St Kitts. Also try CaribJet or Golden Caribbean.
Within Europe: Air France: Direct from Paris to St Maarten or Guadeloupe. Connections to Nevis and St Kitts are with LIAT, Winair or by ferry. KLM: Amsterdam to St Maarten direct. To Nevis via Winair. Condor: Frankfurt to Antigua direct. LIAT flies from Antigua to Nevis or St Kitts.
From the USA: the main airlines fly to San Juan, Antigua or St Maarten, including Continental or American. LIAT and Winair then connect with St Kitts and Nevis. Delta operate a limited number of direct flights from Atlanta to St Kitts.American flies from Miami to St Kitts.
From St Kitts to Nevis: The two islands are separated by a 2 mile channel. If you arrive in St Kitts, you can take a short taxi journey from the airport to the ferry port and take the 45 minute scenic ferry ride to Nevis. The ferry goes twice daily. Check times with the Ministry of Communications. Alternatively there are 5 minute flights between the two with LIAT.
The islands are so small that a car is not essential - you can always hire a local taxi for a tour of the islands. If you do want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations.
Passports are required from all visitors, as well as onward and/or return tickets. US and Canadian visitors need only produce proof of citizenship.
No immunisations are required. Water is safe to drink but bottled water is available if preferred. Food hygiene standards are generally good.
WEBSITES
Nevis 1
Nevis Island Tourism Authority
In the UK: St Kitts Tourist Office, 10 Kensington Court, London, W8 5DL tel: 020 7376 0881
In the USA: St Kitts and Nevis Tourist Information, 414 East 75th Street, Suite 5 New York, NY 10021 tel: 800 582 6208