St. John · United States Virgin Islands

Small island deeply known

Beaches and ruins, ridgelines and reef, Cruz Bay energy and Coral Bay calm—this is the practical guide to knowing St. John beyond the postcard

Begin the island guide ↓

The Love City difference

Wild by nature personal by scale

St. John is close enough to reach and protected enough to still feel discovered

The smallest of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands sits just east of St. Thomas. Much of its land and surrounding water belongs to Virgin Islands National Park, preserving an uncommon mix of beaches, dry forest, tropical forest, historic ruins and coral habitat

Square miles

9 × 3

Miles long and wide

≈ ⅔

Protected parkland

1,277′

Bordeaux Mountain

Know the island your way

Come for the view stay for the rhythm

There is a vacation version of St. John and an everyday version. The best visits borrow from both: leave room in the itinerary, follow the weather and water, and let the island set the pace

Trunk Bay and its clear turquoise water on St. John

The protected side

Beach, trail, reef

Explore North Shore beaches, hike through layered island history and spend time in the national park above and below the water

Explore Virgin Islands National Park ↗

The lived-in side

Food, art, community

Locally owned restaurants, independent shops, music and island traditions make St. John feel like a community—not a resort assembled for visitors

Restaurant Guide →Things to Do →

Getting here ispart of arriving

St. John has no commercial airport. Most journeys move from St. Thomas to the ferry, then across the water into Cruz Bay

Land on St. Thomas

Fly into Cyril E. King Airport and collect your luggage before continuing to a ferry terminal

Cross by water

Passenger ferries and private water taxis connect St. Thomas and St. John. Schedules vary, so confirm close to travel

Settle into island time

Pick up a rental vehicle or meet your driver in Cruz Bay. Remember: in the USVI, driving is on the left

U.S. citizens generally do not need a passport for direct travel from the mainland, but should carry accepted identificationVerify current travel information ↗

For residents, owners + buyers

Living here works differently

Island homes are shaped by terrain, access, salt air, rainfall, cisterns, utilities and the realities of building far from the mainland. These are the questions worth understanding early

01 · Property+

Building + zoning

Construction and improvements are governed by Virgin Islands zoning, permitting and environmental requirements. Access, slope, drainage, exposure and material delivery can influence a project as much as the floor plan

Use official departments for current regulations, then pair that guidance with experienced island professionals

DPNR Lieutenant Governor Our property team

02 · Home systems+

Utilities + resilience

Many homes collect rainwater into a cistern and use propane for cooking or appliances. Generator, solar and battery systems are common parts of planning for island utility interruptions

Maintenance is preventative: roofs, drainage, mechanical systems, corrosion and storm readiness all reward consistent attention

VI WAPA Property care

03 · Ownership+

Taxes + transactions

Real property taxes in the U.S. Virgin Islands are assessed and collected through the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Owners can use the territory’s current tax resources to review bills, search parcels, make payments and request tax-clearance information.

Deeds, mortgages and other instruments affecting real property are recorded through the Recorder of Deeds for the St. Thomas–St. John District. Closing costs, financing, insurance and tax treatment vary by transaction, so confirm current requirements with your broker, the appropriate agency and your legal or tax professional.

Property Tax Rates (Mil Rates) Residential real property: 0.3770% (.003770)

Unimproved non-commercial real property: 0.4946% (.004946)

Commercial real property: 0.7110% (.007110)

Timeshare real property: 1.4070% (.014070)

Stamp Tax (Transfer Tax): Separate from annual property taxes, a tiered stamp tax applies when real estate changes hands based on the sales price or assessed value, whichever is higher. This cost is often negotiated in a purchase contract:

2.0% on properties up to $350,000

2.5% on properties from $350,001 to $1,000,000

3.0% on properties from $1,000,001 to $5,000,000

3.5% on properties over $5,000,000

Real estate VI Property Tax Recorder of Deeds

Island regulations, schedules, costs and service details can change. External resources are provided for convenience; confirm current requirements directly with the relevant agency or licensed professional

Native cactus growing near the sea on St. John

A longer story than the view

History written into the landscape

Petroglyphs, plantation ruins and place names hold stories of Indigenous life, Danish colonization, enslavement, resistance and freedom

People lived on St. John centuries before European colonization. The island later became part of the Danish West Indies and was the site of the 1733 rebellion, when enslaved Africans held control of much of St. John for months. The United States purchased the Danish West Indies in 1917. Today, the U.S. Virgin Islands is an unincorporated U.S. territory with its own elected local government

Continue with the St. John Historical Society ↗