Castries is the capital city of Saint Lucia. Founded by the French in 1650, Castries now has a population of just over 11,000.

The view over Castries harbour.

Of itself, Castries doesn't have a huge amount to offer visitors, and it's usually just a place that you'll pass through on your way to the more obvious attractions of Saint Lucia.

Even though Castries doesn't have much to offer, you can usually find a fair number of tourists wandering about the place, as the cruise ships that visit Saint Lucia dock at Pointe Seraphine, in the northern part of the city.

Understand

There is a tourist information office, a 15-minute walk from the town centre in the cruise ship dock at Pointe Seraphine.

Free maps are available from the information desk in the La Place Carenage mall on Jeremie Street, just along from the St.Lucia Fire Service building.

Get in

By plane

• 1 George FL Charles Airport (SLU  ^IATA) (is just outside of Castries). See the Saint Lucia#Get in section for more information.  

By boat

Many visitors will come into Castries on the cruise ships that dock at Point Seraphine.

For details on the ferries that operate from Castries, see the Saint Lucia#Get in section.

There is actually an anchorage for sailing boats in Castries harbour, although most visitors on sailing boats tend to dock at Rodney Bay Marina, just outside of Gros Islet and then get a bus or taxi in.

Get around

By bus

These provide a cheap and fun way of getting around:

• 1a - to Gros Islet
• 3f - to Soufriere.

See

• Fond Bay Suites, Fond Bay Drive Escap (Castries Highway/Escap (north of Micoud)), ☏ +1 758 714-1177. Located on the east coast overlooking Fond Bay. Luxury villa and suites, vacation accommodation. 
• Derek Walcott Square (Columbus Square). 
• Morne Fortune With Fort Charlotte. 
• La Toc Battery. The best-preserved old fort was built in 1888 by British colonial forces. Overlooking the entrance to the harbour, it is an historical landmark filled with stone walls and underground passages. 

Do

• wander around the lively local market on Jeremie Street.
• visit the viewing point over the harbour, at Morne Fortune, just below Government House.
• relax in Derek Walcott Square.
• top up your suntan on Vigie beach.
• Cricket is played at Mindoo Phillip Park, but first class matches are at the Daren Sammy Ground in Gros Islet.

Buy

There are duty-free shops in Pointe Seraphine, where the cruise ships dock, and also in La Place Carenage mall on Jeremie Street.

For more local goods, the busy market on Jeremie Street is worth a visit.

Eat

There are cheap local eateries in a small alley that runs alongside the market and down to Jeremie Street.

A friendly and cheap cafe selling local food is on the first floor of a building on Derek Walcott square.

Sleep

• Harbour Lights inn, Castries, City Gate, ☏ +1 758-452-3506. A cheap guest house just next to the Vigi airport. Rooms include showers and toilet, and A/C rooms are available for extra money. Has Wi-Fi. US$33/44 single/double no AC. 
• Jade Mountain, Castries, ☏ +1-800-223-1108, jademountain@jademountain.com. 
• Rendezvous Couples Resort, Malabar Beach PO Box 190 Castries, St.Lucia, ☏ +1 758 457-7900. An all inclusive couples resort in St. Lucia, specializing in personalizing romantic vacations. 
• Royal St Lucia, Castries, ☏ +1 305-471-6170 (North America), +44 20 8741-5333 (UK). A peaceful resort. 
• The BodyHoliday Resort, Cap Estate Post office box 437, Castries, Saint Lucia, ☏ +1 758 457-7800. A luxury all inclusive St. Lucia resort. Featuring an award winning spa and an array of fitness activities. 
• Villa Beach Cottages, Choc Bay. Self-catering beachfront villas. 

Go next

• take a bus or taxi to Marigot Bay, where the 1967 film Dr. Doolittle was filmed.