This active Caribbean port city welcomes cruise ships daily to its waterfront marina. The streets are lined with colonial buildings, local markets, and seafood restaurants.
Road Town, the capital of the British Virgin Islands, stretches along a horseshoe-shaped harbor on Tortola's south coast. From the waterfront, you can watch sailboats dock at Wickham's Cay's two marinas, walk among palm trees and tropical flowers at J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens, or browse Caribbean crafts at the Craft Alive Village. The town's colonial architecture includes wooden buildings with bright shutters and detailed trim work along Main Street.
Getting Around Road Town
You can fly into Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island, then take a 15-minute drive to Road Town. Local buses run from the airport to Road Town and continue to both ends of Tortola. From the harbor, you'll find regular inter-island ferries departing to Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and St. Thomas.
Main Street and Waterfront Area
As you walk down Main Street parallel to the waterfront, you'll see wooden buildings painted in yellow, pink, and blue, with corrugated-tin roofs and decorative fretwork trim. Stop at Sir Olva Georges Square on Waterfront Drive to watch ferries arrive and depart from the dock, with the customs office visible across the street.
Maritime Activities
Wickham's Cay's two marinas serve as a base for sailing trips and yacht charters. The 28-hectare waterfront area includes docks for private boats and charter vessels. At the cruise ship terminal in Tortola Pier Park, large vessels dock throughout the year, bringing visitors to the town's shops and restaurants.
Gardens and Historical Sites
Walk through the J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens to see local plant species from the BVI's different ecosystems. A row of royal palms leads to a central fountain, surrounded by paths through rainforest and dry forest sections. You can see Government House, built in 1840, and several stone water cisterns that date to the colonial period.
Shopping and Dining
At Tortola Pier Park, you'll find 70 shops and restaurants in buildings with Victorian-style details. Walk half a mile to Craft Alive Village to buy handmade jewelry, woven baskets, and local art directly from BVI craftspeople. Main Street restaurants serve Caribbean dishes like curry goat and conch fritters, while waterfront restaurants specialize in grilled fish and Italian food.
