Charlestown is the capital city of the carribean island Nevis. It is a charming town, with decorated wooden buildings with great arches of brilliantly colored bougainvillaea. Sights in or near Charlestown include: Nevis Philatelic Bureau, the Public Library, the Market, Bath House (one of the oldest hotels in the Leeward Islands), Eva Wilkin’s studio, Eden Brown’s Great House, Fig Tree Church, Nelson Museum, Bath Hot Springs and the Newcastle Pottery.
Charlestown is generally quite calm, except when the morning and afternoon ferry arrives from St. Kitts. A small crowd gathers to watch the wares being unloaded and brought to the nearby open market on the waterfront.
Charlestown was built on an area which could be protected by Fort Charles and Fort Black Rocks. It was the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, whose family home has been reconstructed as a museum. Charlestown is also the site of the oldest synagogue in the Caribbean.
Charlestown's Market Place is the hub of activity on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, and the Cotton Ginnery close by, is active during cotton harvest time (March and April).
Things to See & Do
* Bath Hotel & Spring House
* Nelson Museum
* Alexander Hamilton House
* Water sports and deep sea fishing
* Pinney’s Beach
Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Language – English
Land Area – 269.4 km²
Population – 40,000 (St Kitts & Nevis)
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time – GMT minus four hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 1 – 869
Port Location – Cruise liners berth at Basseterre (St Kitts), which is approximately 45 mins to Charlestown (Nevis) by sea. There are regular passenger ferry services between Basseterre (St Kitts) and Charlestown (Nevis) with two to four sailings.
Transport Links - Flights are via Antigua, Puerto Rico or St Maarten. American Airlines also has regular flights from the USA. Newcastle Airfield (NEV) is 11km (5 miles) from Charlestown on Nevis.
A good road network on both islands makes any area accessible within minutes. There are privately run bus services, which are comfortable and make regular, but unscheduled, runs between villages. Taxis on both islands have set rates. A selection of cars and mopeds can be hired from several companies.