Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
4.5
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The 'Gibraltar of the West Indies', this massive fortress on a limestone hilltop rises nearly 800 feet above sea level.
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- CranebirdRedditch, United Kingdom484 contributionsWow … what a view!!It’s a very windy road up to the top. But it’s worth it the beautiful scenery is breathtaking. It’s my second visit and it still amazes me. You watch a short video before walking around staking in the history of the fortress. We visited on. Very hot day in September so couldn’t stay too long in the heat. There is refreshments in the shop at the end of your visit,Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 10 October 2023
- vernalderineBasseterre, St. Kitts3 contributionsA great place for history buffs and photographersThis Fortress is worth the visit! A well-preserved heritage site with picturesque views and lovely scenery. Be sure to allocate enough time to explore this historical site as it could take hours. There, you’ll find various spots available to relax, have a picnic, do yoga, or even meditate. As a local, I never tire of seeing the site. The Gift Shop has various items to choose from. Not only do they have items related to the Fortress, but unique art pieces and other products created/handcrafted by locals (not made in China). My visiting family got tired of seeing different variations of the same products on Port Zante and were happy to see that the gift shop had other items to offer that they didn’t see anywhere else. Vervet monkeys also live close to the Fortress (they even venture through our backyards) so you'd likely see them along the skirts or as you drive up to the Fortress. The kids on our family tour loved seeing them.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 8 November 2023
- Travis FPanama, Nebraska5 contributionsGreat for pictures, guy running gift shop is a cut above!Incredible panoramic views and lots for history. Went into the gift shop and he has lots of cool old maps. The one we wanted was sold out. The owner of the shop went to his supplier, picked up the map we wanted and delivered it to our hotel on the other side of the island! WOW! Great place and great people.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 November 2023
- MataturiderSeattle, Washington157 contributionsThe view of the ocean alone is worth the visit.Took and excursion from the cruise ship and happy I did. The weather was perfect and the views of the ocean stunning. You can see the neighboring islands at the top, the green grass and blue water are a great contrast. The parking lot is inside the walls of the fort, but the best area to see, if up to the citadel at the top. This is not wheel chair friendly and although the climb to the top not that high, it could be rough if you are not in moderate shape. There are restrooms and a gift shop with a short film about the fort. The rooms in the citadel also contain really informative displays. I wish i had time to read them all.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 December 2023
- Juan RFort Lauderdale, Florida1 contributionExcellent Day at Brimstone HillThe fort was amazing, well preserved. An informative video starts your tour. There are many displays and historical information throughout the site. Excellent gift shop with friendly staff. Great views and pictures from the top. Also a great wedding venue as we witnessed one during our visitVisited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 16 December 2023
- Christina CFort Lauderdale, Florida20 contributionsIf you're on the fence, do yourself a favor and go!Absolutely beautiful! Stunning views and rich history. Suggest getting a taxi to the site to avoid being on a short timeline, as is usually the case with tours. Be prepared to walk and climb a very steep hill.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 March 2024
- PJM8170Norwalk, Connecticut99 contributionsSpectacular Views - Worth It!My husband and I visited here during our belated honeymoon in St Kitts. Worth the $15 pp admission and winding uphill drive. The views are unbelievable. The grounds are impressive and well kept. The gift shop has unique items from local artists.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 March 2024
- sarrangEdinburgh, United Kingdom161 contributionsWorth spending time there.We took the local bus. From drop off on the main road it was 45 minutes walk to the fort, but worth it. If you're fit, go for it. A lot to see once there. One of the staff there mentioned that it was a shame that the tour buses didn't give their tourists enough time to fully appreciate the fort. We had a couple of beers in between the visit, it was great just not being rushed. There were several rooms depicting the history of the fort. Don't miss it!Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 March 2024
- Dawn W10 contributionsGorgeous views!This is such a gorgeous setting with historical relevance. It is not well suited for those with mobility issues due to the steep ramp and steps. If you are able to climb though, the views are definitely worth the trip. The fortress is well-maintained and a number of rooms are set up with historical documentation of events.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 April 2024
- Mike NChattanooga, Tennessee69 contributionsAmazing views, history, and the best gift shop in the islandThe gift shop is awesome!! Beautiful local art and maps of the islands. We found lots of local items that we didn’t find in the shops at the port. Phillip was a joy to chat with. You must visit the shop!!Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 May 2024
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Sylvia Dohnert
Bridgetown, Barbados185 contributions
Mar 2022 • Friends
We visited this amazing place on the first day of our trip to St Kitts and Nevis and thoroughly enjoyed it. We left Basseterre on a public bus at 10 am ( EC18 for 5 people) and the bus left us at the base of the mountain 20 minutes later. We took our time walking up (don’t miss the lime kiln), about a 3 km walk to the top of the fortress, enjoying magnificent views and exploring the different sections of the fortress we encountered on the way. The walk does not have too much of an incline. Although there were two cruise ships in port, there were very few people visiting the fortress that day. There is a nice canteen for refreshments before you walk down. Back down at the road, we only had to wait 3 minutes for the bus back to Basseterre.
Written 26 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy H
11 contributions
July 2022 • Family
As the locals say, this fort is a must-see on the island. There is a $15 USD entry fee per person and the roads up there are narrow/have very tight turns. But once you’re up there, it is a really amazing fort to see with a long history. I recommend going in the morning when it’s not too warm outside yet. You’ll want good walking shoes because there is so much to see.
Written 8 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann Brown
5 contributions
Nov 2021
This place is amazing. We used the this company for several of our tours that we took while visiting this beautiful island. Our ground service was provided by a driver by the name of Chris, He is an expert of the island and knows about all the islands history. He took us to the place where the song Amazing Grace was written. I recommend using St. Kitts Nevis Luxury Taxi and Tours for all of your island transportation
Written 19 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ablove
Utah93 contributions
Oct 2021
Brimstone Hill was one of our favorite stops on our self-guided ATV tour (ATV rental from Sunny Blue Rentals, which I highly recommend.) As the name suggests, the fort is on top of a hill; on one side you can see stunning sea views for miles and on the other side you can see lush, green vegetation for miles. It was a feast for the eyes everywhere you looked. History buffs will enjoy the visit, as well, as there are several displays inside the fort that talk about its interesting history. There is an admission price, which at first I thought was rather steep (though now I can't quite remember how much it was.) But, it was worth every penny; we really enjoyed our visit.
Written 8 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mengerrie
Charlotte, NC429 contributions
Mar 2023
WE had rented a car and decided that we would stop and investigate the Brimstone Fortress on our drive around the island. This a was a highlight of our visit to St Kitts. We drove up the twisting road (barely) and paid the $15 fee per person. When we reached the car park at the top our adventure just started. We climbed the steps to the top of the fort and walked though all the restored rooms and barracks. The views from the ramparts is exceptional. The history of the fort is very interesting. We spent about 1 1/2 hours walking around and reading all the literature,
I would highly recommend this adventure. Doing it on your own is preferred over a tour bus.
I would highly recommend this adventure. Doing it on your own is preferred over a tour bus.
Written 8 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PoolSide DaVe
7 contributions
Jan 2023
Ok. So you have to visit this place and wonder what it must have been like to live here and protect the island but seriously, do they need to charge $15 per person to get in here? Ridiculous. In the same day we went to Caribelle Batik the same day and paid $3 to get in. And Caribelle requires much more maintenance and upkeep than the fort.
Written 8 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tennessee Traveler
Lascassas, TN61 contributions
Feb 2020
Getting to the top in a rental vehicle was a bit of a nail biter. There are several rockwall gates through which only a fairly narrow vehicle can pass. If you don't handle narrow left handled drives, this may not be for you. I would NOT attempt it in the rain. Once up there, the fort itself and the views are absolutely spectacular!! The biggest disappointment was that there was not much information available aside from a brief video. The folks dressed in period costumes milling about were friendly but didn't know the answer to any questions. You might want to do some research on your own before going here. Be prepared for a LOT of stairs and some climbing. We had one of our party who had accessibility issues on this trip and he was unable to see most of what we saw but we were able to share the experience with great pictures. So glad we saw this!
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
veryuniquetraveler
NEBRASKA580 contributions
Dec 2022
This fort is very large and well preserved. The views from here are quite stunning. They had several nice exhibits explaining the history of the fort. We especially enjoyed seeing the photos of the visits by the royal family. If short on time, skip the video, it wasn't too informative. I wish we would have had more time, we could have wandered around for several hours and explored more in depth.
I would recommend taking a taxi there as the road up the hill is rather narrow and quite steep with many tight curves. Our guide said they built the road to get Queen Elizabeth up there where she declared the site a national park. I can't imagine how difficult it would have been to get up there before they built the road.
If you are there close to closing time you will be treated to a large gathering of monkeys on the top of the fort. Great photo opportunities! There is also a spectacular view of the sunset from here. They are in no hurry to run people out at closing time, so linger for awhile and enjoy the monkeys.
I would recommend taking a taxi there as the road up the hill is rather narrow and quite steep with many tight curves. Our guide said they built the road to get Queen Elizabeth up there where she declared the site a national park. I can't imagine how difficult it would have been to get up there before they built the road.
If you are there close to closing time you will be treated to a large gathering of monkeys on the top of the fort. Great photo opportunities! There is also a spectacular view of the sunset from here. They are in no hurry to run people out at closing time, so linger for awhile and enjoy the monkeys.
Written 26 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B7281RPfrankm
The Villages, FL73 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
The Brimstone Hilltop Fortress is an engineering marvel. Just think about constructing this monstrous fortress by hand! Mining, cutting the stone and building this fortress was some feat. The number of cannon that the British brought to this hilltop fortress is impressive. One of the things that stands out is the water collection system, small drainage troughs along the walls, staircases and deck, that funneled rain water to a 100,000 gallon cistern. You have to travel up the mountain to appreciate the challenges the British faced when constructing this fortress.
Written 28 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
calldave
Harrow, Canada32 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
My husband and I spent almost half a day here. The site is large and there weren’t many others around. There are great views of the volcano and the ocean, but not much shade. There were informative plaques in some locations and a small museum within the main fort. Visiting the hospital and cemetery was a bit tricky as you had to drive down an unpaved road 1-2 minutes back down the road but it was worth the extra effort. It was cash only to get into the fort but we felt it was well worth the price.
Written 14 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Two Seniors want to visit fort only and then go to Nevis for Hamilton and Lord Nelson Museum and return to cruise ship. Fastest way!
Written 23 July 2019
We used Johnson VIP Tours . He is here on TripAdvisor. 869-663-3889. Safe driver. He also has tour friends on Nevis that can sit you up on that Island. This was our first trip to St.Kitts we stayed 7 days. Enjoy
Written 23 July 2019
Where do I catch a bus from the cruise terminal to the bottom of Brimstone Hill Fortress
Written 16 December 2017
I would either take an excursion or get off the ship and at the end of the pier get a tour or taxi. The sit is far end of island and way up a hill, mountain, so give yourself enough time to get back to the ship. I would not take a bus there.
Written 23 December 2017
Hello does anyone know the closest beach is to the fort? Just trying to figure out what beach we can go to after touring the fort. Thank you.
Written 3 July 2017
They have noch nice beaches there. Only at the fregatte bay. Ca 30 Minutes with the taxi direkt east
Written 15 April 2018
Is it difficult getting a taxi from the cruise port to Brimstone? Hoping to head there before before going to a beach for the rest of our day on St. Kitts.
Written 15 April 2017
No, tons of drivers waiting for you at end of dock! $25 pp for 3 hr island tour stopping here first!
Written 17 April 2017
quisiera saber si en la isla hay alguna excursion con guias que hablen español
Written 17 March 2017
What is the best way to visit the fortress without having to purchase a whole tour? I would like to be able to explore it at my leisure and not be confined to a tour. We will be coming by cruise ship for the day. Would taxi be the only way, if so does anyone know what that would run from the port?
Written 1 January 2017
We (4 adults) hired a taxi for about $10 each. We were also stopping in from a cruise and asked the taxi driver before we hired him if he would wait for us at the fort. He took us to the fort and waited for us until we were ready to leave, which worked perfectly.
Written 4 January 2017
How does this fort compare to El Morro in San Juan?
Written 8 December 2016
sorry for delay. they are just different and hard to compare but Brimstone had breaktaking views of the ocean, nearby islands and the mountains. If I only had one ticket to either, I would go back to Brimstone but that is not meant as a slight to El Morro.
Written 19 January 2017
We are looking at doing this when in St. Kitts in a few weeks. One tour guide said he can drive us to the top, but another one says he can't. Do you know if you can drive to the top to avoid the steps?
Written 7 November 2016
Taxi will take you to the heart of the site which takes out the main hill and steps. To get then to the highest point there are then about 30 steps up. Even from the slightly lower level the views particularly are great. Don't miss out on one of the great sites in Caribbean.
Written 8 November 2016
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