Fast Facts
The British Virgin Islands comprise around 60 islands just east of the U.S. Virgin Islands; only about 16 of the islands are inhabited. The British Virgin Islands are considered a British Overseas Territory, not a part of the U.K. itself.
Language
English is both the official and primary spoken language in the British Virgin Islands. Locals will often speak an English-based Virgin Islands Creole in addition to standard English.
Currency
The U.S. dollar is the official currency in the British Virgin Islands; the islands adopted the U.S. dollar back in 1959.
Getting to the BVI
Most international flights to the British Virgin Islands arrive in Tortola at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS). Within the last two years, a new twice-daily flight between Miami and Tortola increased connectivity significantly. The island also receives regular flights from other Caribbean islands such as Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and Antigua.
Travelers can also arrive by sea, with ferries connecting St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands with the four largest islands in the British Virgin Islands.
Entry Requirements
All travelers to the British Virgin Islands must hold a valid passport for the duration of their stay in the territory; most are granted a tourist visa upon arrival, though travelers from some countries must apply for a visa in advance. Visitors are given a standard 30-day stay, which can often be extended to up to six months. Visitors may be required to show proof of onward travel upon arrival.
Check with the British Virgin Islands Department of Immigration for specific entry requirements for travelers from your country of origin.
Budget Your Trip
Considered one of the most exclusive destinations in the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands is an undeniably expensive vacation destination. There are ways to save money in the British Virgin Islands, sure. But honestly, if you’re overly concerned about your budget, we’d recommend other Caribbean destinations; this is a place where you want to do it big.
Budget Hotel: $200 – 375 / night
Mid-Range Hotel: $375 – 700 / night
Luxury Hotel: $700 – 2,000 / night
Best Time To Visit
Spectacularly sunny skies and still waters make December through mid-April the best (and most popular time) to visit the British Virgin Islands. While high-season prices are also higher, these islands never feel overly busy.
High Season: December – April
Shoulder Season: May – June, October – November
Low Season: July – September
How Long To Stay
We recommend that travelers spend at least 4 or 5 days in the BVI, though budgeting a week to really sink into vacation mode is even better.
It may make sense to stay even longer, depending on where you’re traveling from. New direct flights between Miami and Tortola have been a game changer for the British Virgin Islands. However, many visitors still have a journey to get here.
Tortola
Tortola is the largest and busiest island in the British Virgin Islands. You’ll likely start your visit to the BVI at Tortola’s airport (EIS).
Tortola can either be the starting point or the center of your BVI getaway; there are certainly enough white sand beaches, hiking trails, and luxe villas around the island to warrant a stay. Divers will particularly love it for its reefs and wrecks.
Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda is the second-largest island in the British Virgin Islands, though large swaths of it are still reachable only by boat.
In addition to the dramatic boulder-strewn beachfront known as The Baths, Virgin Gorda is also home to some of the most luxurious resorts in the BVI and must-visit destinations like Bitter End Yacht Club, with Saba Rock Resort right next door.
Jost Van Dyke
Jost Van Dyke – named after a pirate of the same name – is the smallest of the four main islands in the BVI.
In many ways, it retains its old swashbuckling character and is known as party central in the BVI. Soggy Dollar Bar in White Bay is the reputed birthplace of the famous Painkiller cocktail, and there’s always a party at spots like Foxy’s in Great Harbour.
Anegada
Anegada is the most remote and least visited of the four largest British Virgin Islands, but that’s all part of its appeal.
Beach cottages and bungalows dot untouched sands, making this the perfect spot for an unplugged vacation. Anegada is also the only island in the British Virgin Islands not formed by volcanic activity, meaning the beaches are as dazzling white as they come.
Best Places To Stay in the British Virgin Islands
Best Things To Do in the British Virgin Islands
Hike Virgin Gorda Peak Jost Van Dyke’s Beach Bars Snorkeling at The Indians
Best Places To Visit in the British Virgin Islands
The Baths Soggy Dollar Bar
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