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Brewers Bay

A beach by the university and the airport, where planes come in low over the sand.

Updated 4 September 2026

Typebeach
WhereSaint Thomas
Nearest cityCharlotte Amalie
Best seasonDecember to April
Time to allowHalf a day
Getting thereWest of Charlotte Amalie by the university and airport; road access
EntryFree

Brewers Bay runs along the south shore of St Thomas beside the University of the Virgin Islands, with the airport runway at one end so aircraft come in low over the water on their approach. The beach is long, the water is calm and shallow, and food vans park along the road behind it. Sea turtles feed on the grass beds offshore and are seen regularly from the sand. The bay was quiet plantation land in the Danish era, long before the airport or the campus arrived.

What's there

  • The low approach - aircraft passing overhead onto the runway alongside.
  • The turtles - green turtles feeding on the seagrass just offshore.
  • The food vans - the trucks parked along the road behind the beach.
  • The university - the campus running along the back of the bay.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Aircraft movements are spread through the day. Weekends bring local families and students.

Good to know

Aircraft noise is constant and close, which some find the appeal and others do not. There are no changing facilities. Snorkelling visibility is only moderate.

Nearby

Charlotte Amalie is east, and the airport is west.

Key facts

Location18.3433° N, 64.9803° W · map

Source: Wikidata, item Q31883473, read on 18 October 2026.

What to pack for Brewers Bay

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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