Best Time to Visit Charlotte Amalie

December to April: dry and busy

This is the sweet spot, and everyone knows it. Days are warm without being heavy, and the trade winds keep the afternoons comfortable. January to April are the driest months, with rain falling on roughly one day in four. December is nearly as good.

It's also high season. Cruise ships fill the Havensight dock and the waterfront on Main Street (Dronningens Gade), so shops and the Paradise Point tramway get busy on ship days. Beaches like Magens Bay and Secret Harbour are at their best, but you won't have them to yourself. Hotels fill up, especially around Christmas and New Year. Want a quieter visit? Pick a mid-week day when fewer ships are in port.

April brings Carnival, the island's biggest party, with parades, music and costumes in the last weeks of the month. The rain creeps up a little then, but it's still rated Excellent.

May to July: hotter and showery

Things change in May. Rain falls on more than half the days, though showers are often short, and the sun gets stronger. It's a Fair time to come, not a bad one. Evenings stay warm and sticky.

The payoff is fewer people and lower rates. Snorkelling at Coki Beach or Brewers Bay works well between showers. If you can handle some humidity and don't mind a change of plans, it's a decent budget choice. Early July has Carnival's final events on nearby St. John, a short ferry ride away.

August to November: wettest and quietest

This is the rainy season, and it's also hurricane season. Rain falls on about three days in four from August to October, and October is the wettest month at 140 mm. August and September are rated Poor.

Some restaurants and small hotels close for a few weeks, and the sea can be rough. Check the forecast before booking boat trips or day sails to the nearby cays. Travel insurance that covers storms is worth having.

If you hate crowds, you'll love the empty streets. If you want reliable beach days, skip these months. November starts to ease, and by December the dry weather returns, along with the ships and the crowds.