St Eustatius / Places of Interest

St Eustatius likes to market itself as the “Historic Gem” and the footprints of the past are indeed all over this intriguing island. Ruined churches and overgrown slave huts, forlorn cemeteries and submerged warehouses, graceful colonial buildings and haughty military defences – it is all there for the musing. However, it is perhaps part of the island's charm that – unlike in so many places - very little of this has been packaged up as commercial attractions for tourists. On St Eustatius, you must make your own discoveries.

Oranjestad, the capital of St Eustatius is a charming collection of richly historic buildings that are well worth exploring – ideally on a guided walking tour or at your own pace with the help of the excellent small guide book St Eustatius Historical Walking Tour Guide (for both options, visit the Simon Doncker House in the centre of the Upper Town). Set beside Oranje Bay, the town has two distinct parts linked by the steep, pedestrian-only Bay Path. Most sights and shops are in the Upper Town, including key landmarks surviving from the 18th century such as the Dutch Reformed Church, the Government Guesthouse and Godet House where you can see a rare, arch-roofed house built as a hurricane shelter. The Lower Town runs beside the waterfront and is where restaurants, hotels and dive shops are located.