Road Town
The capital of the British Virgin Islands, with the island's shops on Main Street, a botanic garden in town and Sage Mountain behind, eight kilometres from the jet runway on Beef Island.
- Arrival
- Beef Island, Terrance B. Lettsome · EIS
- To the town
- About 8 km west of the airport
- Private jets
- Signature at EIS, open 7am to 9pm
- Best time
- January to April
The city
A small capital under Sage Mountain.
Road Town is the capital of the British Virgin Islands, on Tortola, the largest island of the group. Most of Tortola's shops line its Main Street, and in the town centre the National Parks Trust keeps the J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens, four acres of orchids, cactus and palms. Behind the town the land climbs to Sage Mountain, 523 metres high and protected as a national park.
Tortola has no hotel with a four- or five-star rating in the sources we use, so the places below lie a short boat ride away: Scrub Island, off the east end, and Virgin Gorda across the channel. January to April are the driest months, with highs of about 28 °C; from August to December rain passes 120 mm a month and the storm season peaks.
- J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens Four acres in Road Town, with an orchid house, a small rainforest, a cactus garden and a palm grove.
- Sage Mountain National Park Ninety-one acres around the 523-metre peak, with trails above the town.
- Cane Garden Bay A bay on the north shore, known for its beach bars and a glass studio that recycles bottles.
Arriving
A short runway at the east end.
Road Town has no airport of its own. Flights land on Beef Island, at the east end of Tortola, about eight kilometres from the capital; boats leave for the other islands from Trellis Bay, beside the terminal, and from Road Town itself.
- Antigua 50 min
- Punta Cana 50 min
- Palm Beach 2 h 45
- Toronto 4 h 25
- London 8 h 50 long-range jet
When to go
January to April.
Highs of 28 to 31 °C and a sea of 26 to 29 °C in every month. January to April bring the least rain; May is a wet month, June and July are drier again, and from August to December the rain and the storm risk are at their height.
- 28° J 68 26°
- 28° F 54 26°
- 28° M 57 26°
- 29° A 88 26°
- 29° M 129 27°
- 30° J 73 28°
- 30° J 85 28°
- 31° A 124 28°
- 31° S 143 29°
- 30° O 161 29°
- 29° N 161 28°
- 28° D 119 27°
Where to stay
Off Tortola's east end, and across the channel.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
-
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina A private island a mile and a half off Tortola, with its own marina for yachts and the Ixora Spa.
-
Rosewood Little Dix Bay The only hotel in the British Virgin Islands with a MICHELIN Key, rated Four-Star by Forbes, a boat ride east from Tortola.
Where to dine
Where to book on Tortola.
No MICHELIN Guide covers the British Virgin Islands. These are Fodor’s Choice picks at the top of its price scale, two on Tortola and one across the water on Virgin Gorda.
- Sugar Mill Restaurant Fodor’s Choice French-inspired $$$$ Apple Bay, north shore of Tortola
- Brandywine Estate Fodor’s Choice Mediterranean $$$$ Brandywine Bay, east of Road Town
- The Pavilion Fodor’s Choice Contemporary Caribbean $$$$ Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda, about 20 km by sea
Elsewhere in British Virgin Islands
More reasons to come.
Flying to Road Town?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.