Road Town Map

About city :

Road Town is the capital of the British Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean. It is located on the southern coast of the island of Tortola and surrounds the harbor. This is the reason why it was called “The Roads”. The houses stretch back in a semicircle in search of scarce lands. Part of the town has been excavated from the sea itself. It is the busiest center of the island with government buildings, businesses, cruise ship charters, hotels, and shops concentrated in the town. Tourism and the finance industry have developed here. Road Town combines the tropical island ambiance with international cosmopolitanism with ease and flair.

Geography :

The town enjoys a moderate tropical climate influenced by the trade winds. Rainfall is concentrated from September to November while the driest months are February and March. The island is occasionally hit by hurricanes between June to November.

How to reach (transport) :

You can reach Road Town by the Beef Island airport located at the eastern end of Tortola. Road Town itself has a small airport from where short flights connect with other parts of the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. However, the most pleasant way to travel to Road Town is definitely by cruise ships as this is the main harbor of Tortola.

When to visit :

The best time to visit Road Town is from December to March when the weather is dry and sunny.

Culture (Fairs and Festivals) and Traditions :

Road Town celebrates a number of festivals in the true island spirit.

• The Virgin’s Cup is organized by the Royal BVI Yacht Club. It takes place on 19th October. It is a race in the Francis Drake channel which finishes at Norman Island.
• The Peg Leg Round Tortola race is another event organized by the Royal BVI Yacht Club that sets off from the Road Reef in Road Town. This event has been organized for the last 40 years and it takes place on 16th November every year. Racers and cruisers race anticlockwise around the island of Tortola. The event is rounded off with a beach party in the evening.
• The British Virgin Islands emancipation festival is celebrated all over the islands, including Road Town, from July to August. It celebrates freedom from colonial rule with international music, food fairs, pageants, a gospel celebration, parades, folklore presentations, etc.

Points of interest (places to visit) :

The best way to spend your time in Road Town is to stroll along the Main Street area, where a number of attractive shops with island wares are sure to allure you. The Crafts Alive village at the lower end of Wickham’s Cay offers a collection of small shops for local crafts.

There are several small points of historical interest located throughout Road Town. Some of the places that you can visit are as follows :

• The 1780 Lower Estate sugar works were built by the McClevery slaves – sugar was produced here till the 1940s. Today, it houses a museum where you can get a glimpse of the past life on the island and also view one of the weekly craft exhibitions.
• The Fort Burt offers a breathtaking view of the entire Road Town, which you can enjoy from the restaurant that now operates here. It was a fort rebuilt by the British in 1776 and you can see the historic ruins like the foundation, magazine, and canon remains.
• Her Majesty’s Prison is the oldest building in Road Town and one of the historic landmarks of the settlement.
• The Old Governor’s House museum is an ongoing project, which houses furniture and artifacts to document the story of the Old Governor’s house.
• The Virgin Island Folk Museum is another place of interest in Road Town. It is a small museum that displays Arawak and Carib pottery and stone tools, plantation items, and reef conservation information. The shop adjoining the museum is a great place to pick up mementos.

Accommodation :

Several hotels, lodges, and other accommodations to fit any budget are available in Road Town. The Village Cay Hotel offers luxury rooms. If you are looking for moderately priced rooms, often with their own kitchenettes, you can check out Marie’s by the Sea, Hotel Castle Maria, Prospect Reef Resort, Fort Burt Hotel, Treasure Isle Hotel, etc. You can also rent villas along the Sir Francis Drake Channel.