By air
George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU), ~3 km by road
North America · Saint Lucia
Castries, Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia's harbour capital and market town
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to May — dry and sunny
Don't miss
Derek Walcott Square
The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Castries Market
Morne Fortune
Things to do
Browsing the market
Harbour views from Morne Fortune
Beach time at Vigie
A day trip to Rodney Bay
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Joao Xavier · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Light clothes, sunscreen, comfortable shoes
A quieter corner
The lighthouse on the Vigie headland by the airport
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Castries?
December to May — dry and sunny. What to pack: Light clothes, sunscreen, comfortable shoes.
How do I get to Castries?
Fly into George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU), ~3 km by road.
What is there to do in Castries?
Browsing the market, harbour views from Morne Fortune, beach time at Vigie, a day trip to Rodney Bay. A quieter find: The lighthouse on the Vigie headland by the airport.
What should I eat in Castries?
Green fig and saltfish, accra fish cakes, bakes, fresh spices from the market.
About Castries
- Coastal
- Hills
Where it is
Castries is the capital of Saint Lucia, on the island's north-west coast around a deep natural harbour, with the hill of Morne Fortune rising above it.
History
The French founded a settlement here in the 17th century and named it Castries in the 1780s after the Marquis de Castries. Saint Lucia changed hands between France and Britain many times before British rule became settled in the early 19th century. Large fires destroyed much of the town over the years, most recently in 1948, so its centre is mostly modern.
People
Castries' people speak English and Kwéyòl, and the city celebrates its Creole heritage each October on Jounen Kwéyòl, with music, food and traditional dress.
Known for
- A busy cruise-ship harbour
- Castries Market
- Views from Morne Fortune
- Derek Walcott Square
Did you know?
Saint Lucia has produced two Nobel laureates, the poet Derek Walcott and the economist Arthur Lewis, and the main square in Castries is named after Walcott.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.