Updated in November 2026, this Christiansted National Historic Site guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see.
Christiansted National Historic Site is a seven-acre National Park Service site of Danish colonial buildings in the waterfront town of Christiansted, on St Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Fort Christiansvaern is open daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm, but the Welcome Center and Park Store is open Monday to Wednesday only.
Quick facts about Christiansted National Historic Site
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Fort Christiansvaern 8:30am to 4:30pm daily. Welcome Center and Park Store 9am to 4pm, Monday to Wednesday. Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. |
| Ticket prices | $10 per person for visitors aged 16 and over, valid for three days. Free for children under 16. Card payments only. |
| Address | Fort Christiansvaern, Hospital Street, Christiansted, St Croix, VI 00820 (mailing address 2100 Church Street #100) |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Fort Christiansvaern car park on Hospital Street, with a two-hour limit. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 to 2 hours |
Christiansted National Historic Site opening hours
Christiansted National Historic Site is open daily, with Fort Christiansvaern open from 8:30am to 4:30pm and the Welcome Center and Park Store open on three days a week.
| Area | Opening hours (all year) |
|---|---|
| Fort Christiansvaern | 8:30am to 4:30pm daily |
| Welcome Center and Park Store (Old Scale House) | 9am to 4pm, Monday to Wednesday |
The year-round hours are the same in every season. The site is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Cars must leave the Fort Christiansvaern car park by 4:30pm or they are towed.
Christiansted National Historic Site ticket prices
Entry to Christiansted National Historic Site costs $10 per person for visitors aged 16 and over, and it covers Fort Christiansvaern for three days.
| Entrance pass | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Pass | $10 per person | Valid for three days. Free for children under 16. |
| America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass | $80 | Admits the pass holder and three adults. |
| America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass | $250 | Same coverage as the resident pass. |
| Senior Pass (US citizens and residents aged 62 and over) | $20 annual or $80 lifetime | Admits the holder and three other people aged 16 and over. |
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
Pay by credit or debit card at the fort’s booth, as cash is not accepted, or buy passes online. The remaining fee-free days in 2026 are 27 October (Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday) and 11 November (Veterans Day), for US citizens and residents. Fee collection at the booth has been suspended at times, so call 340-773-1460 to confirm before you visit if you care that much.
How to get to Christiansted National Historic Site
Christiansted National Historic Site is in the centre of Christiansted, at the foot of King Street, and most visitors arrive by car or on foot from the town.
- From the airport: From Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, drive east on Route 64 to Melvin Edwards Highway (Route 66) and turn right. After 4.8 miles, continue onto Old Centerline Road (Queen Mary Highway), then the Christiansted Bypass for 3.7 miles. At the light, turn left onto Hospital Street. The car park is on the right.
- Drive on the left: Traffic in the US Virgin Islands drives on the left.
- By seaplane: Seaplane flights from St Thomas land at the Christiansted waterfront, a short walk from the site.
- On foot: Visitors staying in Christiansted can walk to the fort along the waterfront.
Parking at Christiansted National Historic Site
Parking at Christiansted National Historic Site is in the Fort Christiansvaern car park on Hospital Street, which has a two-hour limit. Vehicles must be out by 4:30pm, and towing is strictly enforced.
Other options include the government car park at King Cross Street and Strand Street, which charges $1 an hour up to $5 a day and is open from about 7:30am to 6pm. A small free car park is on Prince Street, opposite the seaplane terminal.
How long to spend at Christiansted National Historic Site
Most visitors need about one hour for Fort Christiansvaern and up to two hours if they walk the surrounding buildings and waterfront.
A self-guided tour of the fort is available on the National Park Service mobile app, and informational signs stand near the main buildings. Download the app before you arrive if mobile coverage is limited in the fort.
Accessibility at Christiansted National Historic Site
Christiansted National Historic Site is only partly accessible, and Fort Christiansvaern is not wheelchair accessible because the ground is uneven and there are many steps. The picnic area, the Old Scale House and the Welcome Center and Park Store are accessible by wheelchair.
Service animals are permitted in the fort and the Scale House. Dogs are allowed on the open grass around the fort, in the picnic area and on the wharf, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Pavements in the surrounding streets are uneven in places.
What to see at Christiansted National Historic Site
Fort Christiansvaern was built between 1738 and 1749 from Danish yellow brick. It has a courtyard, ramparts, cannon, historic rooms and the stairs to the quarters of the fort’s commandant. It is the main building to explore inside.
The Old Scale House holds the Welcome Center and Park Store. Staff there give information on the three national park sites on St Croix: Christiansted, Buck Island Reef and Salt River Bay.
The Danish Customs House was built between 1840 and 1842 on the site of an earlier warehouse. Its sweeping front steps face the grassy area next to the fort.
The Steeple Building was completed in 1751 as the Church of Our Lord of Zebaoth and consecrated in 1753. The steeple tower was added between 1793 and 1796. Interior access has been closed for renovation, so ask at the Welcome Center before planning to go inside.
The Danish West India and Guinea Company Warehouse dates from 1749. It stands beside the wharf, where more than 100,000 enslaved Africans were brought ashore during the Danish era.
The grounds have benches, a picnic area and views across the harbour. They are open to walk around outside the fort’s visiting hours.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip category | Advice |
|---|---|
| Timing | The fort opens at 8:30am and closes at 4:30pm, so allow at least an hour before closing to see it. |
| Crowds | There is no timed entry or reservation system, so visitors can arrive without booking. |
| Layout | The fort, Scale House, Customs House and Steeple Building are all within a few blocks of each other beside Hospital Street and the waterfront. |
| Entry process | Buy your pass at the fort’s booth by card, or show an America the Beautiful Pass there. |
| On-site logistics | Wear sturdy shoes because the fort has uneven ground and steps, and move your car from the fort car park before 4:30pm. |
Frequently asked questions about Christiansted National Historic Site
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Christiansted National Historic Site suitable for children? | Yes. Children under 16 enter free, and the fort has a courtyard, ramparts and cannon to explore. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Christiansted National Historic Site? | No. Passes are sold at the fort’s booth and online, so advance booking is optional. |
| Is Christiansted National Historic Site open on Sundays? | Yes. Fort Christiansvaern is open daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm, but the Welcome Center and Park Store is open Monday to Wednesday only. |
| Are dogs allowed at Christiansted National Historic Site? | Dogs are allowed on the open grass around the fort, in the picnic area and on the wharf, on a leash of 6 feet or less. Service animals are allowed in the fort and Scale House. |
| Is Christiansted National Historic Site wheelchair accessible? | Partly. The picnic area, Scale House and Welcome Center are accessible, but the fort has uneven ground and many steps. |
Things to do near Christiansted National Historic Site
- Buck Island Reef National Monument: A marine national monument off the north coast of St Croix with a snorkel trail, reached by boat.
- Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve: A national park site about 4 miles west of Christiansted, linked to Christopher Columbus’s 1493 visit.
- Protestant Cay: A small island in Christiansted harbour with a beach, a short boat ride from the waterfront.
- Estate Whim Plantation Museum: A restored sugar plantation museum near Frederiksted, on the west side of St Croix.
- Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge: A turtle nesting beach on the south-west tip of St Croix, open on weekends and closed during nesting season from April to August.
Alternative attractions to Christiansted National Historic Site
Other Danish-era historic sites in the US Virgin Islands include these. Fort Frederik is on St Croix, and the rest are on St Thomas and St John, reached by seaplane or flight from St Croix.
- Fort Frederik, Frederiksted: A Danish fort on the west coast of St Croix.
- Fort Christian, Charlotte Amalie: A Danish-built fort on St Thomas that now houses the St Thomas museum.
- 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.
- Blackbeard’s Castle, Charlotte Amalie: The Danish Skytsborg Tower on St Thomas, which overlooks Charlotte Amalie harbour and reopened in September 2025.
- Virgin Islands National Park, St John: A national park with plantation ruins such as Annaberg among its trails and beaches, reached by ferry from St Thomas.
