Kingstown is the capital and only real town of St Vincent and the Grenadines, home to around 12,000 people in the city proper and many more in the valleys around it. It is not pretty in a postcard way, but it is authentically Caribbean — a lively, noisy, friendly port whose streets are lined with 19th-century stone buildings and covered arcades.
Cruise ships berth at the terminal right in town, the Bequia and Grenadines ferries leave from the jetty next door, and most island tours start here. Give it a morning: the market, the cathedrals, the Botanic Gardens and Fort Charlotte are all close by.
Top things to do: Kingstown
The market and the arcades
The central market is busiest on Friday and Saturday mornings, when farmers from across the island sell breadfruit, bananas, spices and bush teas. The old stone arcades along Bay and Back Streets keep you in the shade.
Two cathedrals
St George’s Anglican Cathedral (1820) and the eclectic Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption, a riot of Romanesque, Gothic and Moorish styles, stand near each other on Grenville Street.
Botanic Gardens and Fort Charlotte
Both are a short taxi ride from the centre. See our guides to the Botanic Gardens and Fort Charlotte.
How to get to Kingstown
- From Argyle International Airport: about 20–30 minutes by taxi along the south coast.
- From the cruise terminal: you are already in the centre — the market is a five-minute walk.
- By minibus: every route on the island starts at the Kingstown bus terminal (“Little Tokyo”).
Insider tips
- Shops close early on Saturday afternoons and most are shut on Sundays.
- Taxis do not use meters. Fares for common routes are fixed — confirm the price, and the currency, before you get in.
- Carnival (Vincy Mas) takes over the town in late June and early July.
Tours that include Kingstown
These bookable experiences are the easiest way to see Kingstown:
Private tour from €150 per group St Vincent and the Grenadines: Kingstown City Tour
A private three-hour introduction to the capital with a guide: the old stone-arcaded streets, the two cathedrals, the market and the Botanic Gardens. The price is per vehicle for up to four people, which makes it good value for a family.
- The Botanic Gardens and parrot aviary
- Kingstown’s cathedrals and historic stone arcades
- The Iron Man statue and local markets
History tour from €39 Fort Charlotte Tour
A short, cheap history fix: two hours at the fort that guards Kingstown from 190 metres up. Views run from the harbour to Bequia and the Grenadines on a clear day, and the guide fills in the story of the Garifuna wars that the fort was built for.
- The 1806 British fort on Berkshire Hill
- Panoramic views of Kingstown and the Grenadines
- The Garifuna story told in the fort’s murals
E-scooter tour from €66 Kingstown: Villa Beach Electric Scooter Guided Tour
A fun, short outing that starts right at the cruise terminal: a guided e-scooter ride along the south coast, a market stop and photo breaks, and free time at Villa Beach looking across to Young Island.
- Ride from the cruise terminal to Villa Beach
- A stop at the local market
- Free time on the beach facing Young Island
