Updated in November 2026, this Blackbeard’s Castle guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see.
Blackbeard’s Castle is a 1679 Danish watchtower and National Historic Landmark on a hilltop above Charlotte Amalie, on St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, with a pool, restaurant and small hotel on the grounds.
Quick facts about Blackbeard’s Castle
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Tower, grounds, Rum Room and gift shop 9am to 5pm daily. Last tower admission 4:30pm. Jolly Roger’s restaurant 9am to 9pm daily. |
| Ticket prices | General admission $15 per person. |
| Address | 1001 Blackbeard’s Hill, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, VI 00802 |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Taxi to the property, or the 99 Steps from downtown. Paid parking at the Fort Christian car park. |
| Typical time needed | About 45 to 90 minutes |
Blackbeard’s Castle opening hours
Blackbeard’s Castle is open daily, with the tower and grounds open from 9am to 5pm and the last admission at 4:30pm.
| Area | Opening hours (all year) |
|---|---|
| Skytsborg Tower and admission | 9am to 5pm daily (last admission 4:30pm) |
| The Pirate’s Den gift shop and Rum Room | 9am to 5pm daily |
| Jolly Roger’s pool bar and restaurant | 9am to 9pm daily |
The year-round hours are the same in every season, with no separate summer and winter times. The tower visit is self-guided.
Blackbeard’s Castle ticket prices
General admission to Blackbeard’s Castle costs $15 per person.
| Ticket | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | $15 per person | Skytsborg Tower climb, access to the grounds, pool and lounge access, and a complimentary rum tasting in the Rum Room |
| Bottle of Blackbeard’s Castle Rum | $30 | Sold as a souvenir |
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in November 2026.
Tickets are sold online through the castle’s ticketing page.
How to get to Blackbeard’s Castle
Blackbeard’s Castle is on Blackbeard’s Hill, above downtown Charlotte Amalie, about a quarter of a mile from Main Street.
- On foot: Climb the 99 Steps, a stair-street that leads from downtown to the property. It is the most direct walking route.
- By taxi: Taxis run from the cruise ports and the waterfront to the property, which avoids the climb.
- From the cruise port: The castle is about ten minutes away by taxi.
- By ferry: Ferries from Cruz Bay and Red Hook arrive in Charlotte Amalie, and a taxi continues to the hill.
Parking at Blackbeard’s Castle
The nearest public parking for Blackbeard’s Castle downtown is the car park next to Fort Christian, which charges $2 an hour up to $10 a day. From there it is a short walk to the foot of the 99 Steps.
Hotel guests can arrange parking directly with the hotel. Taxis drop visitors at the property, which avoids the need to park on the hill.
How long to spend at Blackbeard’s Castle
Most visitors need about 45 to 90 minutes at Blackbeard’s Castle for the tower, the grounds and the rum tasting.
| Activity | Length |
|---|---|
| Skytsborg Tower climb | 36 stone stairs |
| Rum Room tasting | A short stop |
| Walk up the 99 Steps from downtown | About a quarter of a mile |
Allow extra time to eat at Jolly Roger’s or to swim in the pool.
Accessibility at Blackbeard’s Castle
Blackbeard’s Castle is not wheelchair accessible, because the tower has stone stairs and the grounds have steps and uneven paths.
Taxis reach the top of the hill, which avoids the 99 Steps. Call the property before you visit to ask about access to the pool deck, restaurant and Rum Room.
What to see at Blackbeard’s Castle
Skytsborg Tower is the original 1679 Danish watchtower, built to guard Charlotte Amalie harbour and Fort Christian. The name Blackbeard’s Castle comes from pirate legend, and the tower is one of five National Historic Landmarks in the US Virgin Islands. A spiral stair of 36 stone steps leads to a viewpoint above the harbour.
The Rum Room is a small tasting room with Blackbeard’s Castle Rum and a selection of Caribbean rums. Admission includes a complimentary tasting for each guest.
The pirate statues are a collection of life-size statues, including a large bronze figure of Blackbeard, set around the grounds.
The gardens and lookouts have stone walkways, tropical plantings and views over Charlotte Amalie and the harbour.
The 99 Steps are a stair-street that the Danes cut so that soldiers could run down to Fort Christian when enemy sails were sighted from the tower. Visitors can walk down them after the visit.
Jolly Roger’s is the pool bar and restaurant, with a swim-up bar and a harbour view. It is open daily from 9am to 9pm.
The hotel has eight rooms on the grounds, and the property also has private pool cabanas and event venues.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip category | Advice |
|---|---|
| Timing | The last tower admission is at 4:30pm, so arrive by mid-afternoon to see the tower and use the Rum Room. |
| Crowds | The visit is self-guided, so there is no tour slot to book, and tickets are bought online in advance or on arrival. |
| Layout | The tower, pool, Rum Room, gift shop and Jolly Roger’s are all on the same hilltop. |
| Entry process | Buy a general admission ticket online, which covers the tower, grounds, pool access and rum tasting. |
| On-site logistics | Wear shoes with good grip because the stone steps and paths are uneven and can be slippery after rain. |
Frequently asked questions about Blackbeard’s Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Blackbeard’s Castle suitable for children? | Yes. The site has pirate statues, a pool and a tower with 36 stone steps, but the stairs and paths are uneven and not wheelchair accessible. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Blackbeard’s Castle? | No. Tickets are sold online, and entry is self-guided with no timed slots. |
| Is Blackbeard’s Castle open on Sundays? | Yes. The tower is open every day from 9am to 5pm, and Jolly Roger’s is open from 9am to 9pm. |
| Can you swim at Blackbeard’s Castle? | Yes. General admission includes pool and lounge access. |
| Is there a restaurant at Blackbeard’s Castle? | Yes. Jolly Roger’s pool bar and restaurant is open daily from 9am to 9pm. |
Things to do near Blackbeard’s Castle
- Fort Christian: A 17th-century Danish fort and museum on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront.
- 99 Steps: A historic stair-street that links downtown Charlotte Amalie to the hill.
- Emancipation Garden: A public square on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront, opposite Fort Christian.
- St Thomas Historical Trust Museum: A museum in downtown Charlotte Amalie on Raadets Gade.
- Seven Arches Museum: A historic house museum on Government Hill, near the 99 Steps.
Alternative attractions to Blackbeard’s Castle
Other Danish-era historic sites in the US Virgin Islands include these. Hassel Island is on St Thomas, and the others need a ferry or flight.
- Hassel Island, St Thomas: An island in Charlotte Amalie harbour, most of which is part of Virgin Islands National Park, with the ruins of historic fortifications.
- Fort Frederik, Frederiksted: A Danish fort on the west coast of St Croix.
- Christiansted National Historic Site, St Croix: A Danish colonial fort and waterfront buildings in the town of Christiansted.
- Annaberg Plantation, St John: The ruins of a sugar plantation in Virgin Islands National Park.
- Estate Whim Plantation Museum, St Croix: A restored sugar plantation museum near Frederiksted.
More US Virgin Islands travel
- Plan your visit to Coral World Ocean Park on St Thomas.
- Plan your visit to Fort Christian, the colonial Danish fort in Charlotte Amalie.
- Virgin Islands National Park visitor guide: Fees, opening hours, what to see and how to get to St John.
- Cinnamon Bay beach guide: What to expect at St John’s longest beach.
- Getting from St Thomas to St John: The Red Hook to Cruz Bay ferry vs the Charlotte Amelia to Cruz Bay ferry.
