10 Best Places to Go Shopping in the US Virgin Islands

Havensight Mall sits right near St Thomas’s cruise ship dock, and since St Thomas is a hugely popular cruising destination, this mall gets its fair share of travellers. You’ll find a range of local retailers offering duty-free shopping here, without having to stray far from your cruise ship. Shop for souvenirs, jewellery, liquor and tobacco, the latest gadgets, perfumes, cosmetics and more. There are even a few international restaurants as well as a butterfly garden.

If you’re not a cruise ship passenger and you’re sticking to exploring the rest of the island, you can also go to this particular mall to rent a vehicle or a scooter to get you around St Thomas.

Crown Bay Center is a mall in Charlotte Amalie West that boasts a Carnivalesque atmosphere with entertainment, live music, dancing and more. All these are offered alongside the typical amenities you'd expect from a high-end mall, including luxurious shops and dining.

You’ll find local boutiques offering a range of souvenirs and jewellery, as well as swimwear, sunglasses, sandals, and other Caribbean vacation-appropriate attire. There’s also a bank, in case you need to exchange some of your currency for US dollars. Crown Bay Center also features a cruise lounge – this shopping centre isn’t too far from the docks.

Mountain Top Duty-Free is a duty-free shop in St Thomas that’s known for its amazing ocean views and its in-store bar. The bar itself serves up some amazing banana daiquiris. You can stop by and shop and also grab yourself a cocktail – kick back on the observation deck as you take in the panorama.

As for what you can expect to find as you browse, the shop touts that it offers the largest duty-free gift shop in the Caribbean, offering a mix of souvenirs, Virgin Islands rum, apparel, accessories, and more.

Mall of Saint Croix is a shopping spot conveniently located along the main road of Frederiksted. It proudly bears the largest of the US Virgin Islands in its name. Though St Croix isn’t as heavily visited by international travellers as St Thomas, it is worth a visit and this mall answers to the shopping needs of both visitors and locals.

The expansive centre features not only varied shops but also an array of offices, restaurants and event venues, together with lots of open-air spaces. The mall is within reach of several popular St Croix attractions such as the Cruzan Rum Distillery just a 5-minute drive east.

Main Street in Charlotte Amalie puts this St Thomas town on the map with some of the most luxurious and high-end shops in the US Virgin Islands. Along its length, you’ll discover designer clothing, jewellery, spirits, cosmetics and other items on display – all duty-free.

As you shop, you’ll also enjoy all the sights and sounds of St Thomas’s main thoroughfare, as you mingle with travellers and locals alike. With that being said, it’s worth noting that Charlotte Amalie’s Main Street can become fairly crowded, so be prepared for a little hustle and bustle.

Mongoose Junction is a popular shopping centre on the smallest US Virgin Island of St John. What this island lacks in size, it makes up for in style – evident at this popular shopping centre just a few blocks away from the Cruz Bay Ferry Dock.

This upscale shopping area is filled with not just unique boutiques but also restaurants, tourist attractions and activities. Shop for souvenirs, jewellery, artwork, home decor and more, before stopping by one of the modest choice of restaurants serving everything from Caribbean coffees to fresh seafood.

Market Square on St Thomas was historically one of the busiest slave markets in the Caribbean. Today, it’s where you’ll find local vendors from around the island hawking their wares, from produce to fresh food, seafood to sauces.

Look for the square’s cast-iron bungalow as that’s where the vendors are located. Want to avoid the crowds? Stay away from the square on a Saturday, as it’s when the place is busiest, both in terms of the number of vendors and visitors.

The Bordeaux Farmers’ Market is a Sunday market that welcomes visitors with its large community of Rastafarian farmers, as well as live music and cultural demonstrations. Travellers often flock to the market just to get a taste of the local scene, but you can also find plenty to shop for, including arts, crafts, souvenirs and ready-to-eat food.

If you’re renting a homestay during your time on St Thomas, you might want to pick up some organic produce from Bordeaux Farmers’ Market for whipping up a quick dinner at a later time.

Yacht Haven Grande is primarily a marina, but the shops you’ll find in its 120,000-square-ft, duty-free village rival any that you’ll come across elsewhere on St Thomas. You can shop for souvenirs, clothing, health and wellness products and more around the centre.

This is where you’ll also be most likely to find recognisable, international brands such as The Sunglass Hut and White House Black Market. Beyond shopping, the centre also offers salons and spas, as well as a plethora of restaurants and bars – all on the waterfront.

Tillett Gardens is one of the most unique spots to shop on St Thomas. It is also one of the only places throughout the US Virgin Islands that offers late-evening shopping.

Branded as “an old-world retreat from the stresses of life, centred around arts and crafts,” Tillett Gardens brings local artists and craftspeople together to a singular spot. It’s where visitors can then easily shop for their works, as they enjoy the garden setting and offerings from the onsite restaurants. The expansive gardens even host a theatre and a health centre, all for a full laidback day in an artistic environment.