Gustavia Cruise Port
Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy · Caribbean
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Gustavia — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysSmall, wealthy, very walkable French harbour town - free to explore on foot, expensive the moment you need a taxi.
At a glance
Port summary
Saint Barthélemy has no cruise berth. Ships anchor in the Rade de Gustavia and tender into the ferry dock on Quai du Général de Gaulle, right in the middle of town. Because the harbour is small, calls are limited to smaller luxury and expedition ships, and the whole of Gustavia is a five-minute walk from where you step ashore. That walkable core - the quay, the boutiques on rue de la Republique, the Wall House museum, the two Swedish forts and Shell Beach - is the free part of the day. Everything beyond it costs real money: there is no public bus network on the island, taxis are few and priced by zone, and car or scooter hire needs a licence and a deposit. Shops close for a long lunch and most shut on Sunday, so a Sunday call is a beach-and-walk day rather than a shopping one.
Cruise dock
🚢 Gustavia Tender Landing — Quai du Général de Gaulle
Gustavia is tender-only: ships anchor in the Rade de Gustavia and run tenders to the ferry dock on Quai du Général de Gaulle, at the head of the harbour. There is no cruise terminal building, but the tourist office, taxi rank and the first boutiques are all within a minute or two on foot, and the whole town is within five minutes.
📍 Latitude: 17.89943, Longitude: -62.85077
See dock on port map →Getting to Gustavia
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
The ship's tender is the only way ashore. The crossing is short and usually calm, but the dock is shared with the St Martin ferries so expect a queue at the last few runs.
📍 Ship's tender platform; you land at the ferry dock on Quai du Général de Gaulle in the middle of Gustavia.
Everything in Gustavia is walkable from the dock: the shops in 5 minutes, Shell Beach in 10, Fort Gustave and the lighthouse in about 20 uphill.
📍 Turn left off the tender dock and follow the quay round the harbour into town.
Fares are set by zone rather than metered and go up after 20:00, on Sundays and on holidays. There are only a few dozen taxis on the island, so ask your driver to come back for you rather than assuming one will be waiting.
📍 Taxi rank beside the ferry dock on Quai du Général de Gaulle.
A small car, mini-moke or scooter is the only practical way to see several beaches in one day. Roads are steep, narrow and hairpinned, parking in Gustavia is tight, and you need a licence and a card deposit.
📍 Rental desks are a short walk from the quay in Gustavia, though most fleets are based at the airport.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Euros are the local currency and cards work almost everywhere. US dollars are accepted in many shops but at a rate that favours the shop, so pay in euros where you can.
Things to do
Saint-Jean Beach and the Airport Landing View
⭐ Highlight
Turquoise bay on one side, small planes dropping over the hill onto the runway on the other.
🕐 Late morning, when arrivals from St Martin come in thick and fast
Gustavia Harbour Waterfront Walk
Short stop🚶 Walk
A flat loop right round the yacht harbour, past the superyachts and the old warehouses.
🕐 First thing ashore, while the light is still soft
Anse de Grande Saline Beach
🏖️ Beach
A wide undeveloped beach with nothing built on it, reached over a dune from the old salt pond.
🕐 Morning; there is no shade at all by midday
Shell Beach (Anse de Grand Galet)
🏖️ Beach
The one good beach within walking distance of the tender dock, carpeted in tiny shells.
🕐 Mid-morning, before the beach restaurant fills for lunch
Le Select
Short stop🍹 Bar
A scruffy garden bar that has outlasted every fashion on the island, famous for its cheeseburger.
🕐 Lunchtime, when the garden fills with crew and locals
Anglican Church of St Bartholomew
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
A small stone Anglican church from 1855, a cool pause on the walk down to Shell Beach.
🕐 On the way to or back from Shell Beach
Wall House Museum
Short stop🏛️ Museum
A small free museum in a restored stone warehouse, on the island's Swedish century and its sailors.
🕐 Late morning; closed Sundays and shut for a long lunch
Fort Gustave and the Gustavia Lighthouse
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
The best free view in Gustavia, over the harbour from the ruins of the old Swedish fort.
🕐 Early morning, before the climb gets hot
Anse de Colombier Hike and Beach
🌿 Nature
A beach with no road to it, reached by a coastal path from Petite Anse or by boat.
🕐 Early morning; the path is exposed and there is no shade
Rue de la République Duty-Free Shopping
Short stop🛍️ Shopping
Two streets of French luxury boutiques, duty-free and genuinely cheaper than Paris on some brands.
🕐 Before 12:30 or after 15:00; shops close for a long lunch and on Sundays
Corossol Fishing Village
Short stopother
The island as it was before the yachts: fishing boats on the sand and Norman French in the street.
🕐 Morning, when the boats are back in
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Plan my port days →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Gustavia?
- Gustavia is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Gustavia?
- Walking into Gustavia from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Gustavia centre?
- Typical options include Ferry, On foot, Taxi, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Gustavia?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Gustavia independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Gustavia and are cards accepted?
- Gustavia uses the Euro. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Gustavia cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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