KingstownCapital
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Country profile
Kingstown is the small, handsome capital of Saint Vincent, the crescent of a colonial seaport of the eastern Caribbean that curls around a deep natural harbour beneath the volcanic ridges of the island. Often called the city of the arches for its Georgian arcades, it is one of the oldest towns of the region, settled between the British, the French and the maroon wars of the colonial centuries. The bayside streets hold the cathedral, the courts, the market and the old botanical garden of the island, one of the oldest of the hemisphere, while the ferries of the port reach the famous chain of the Grenadines. Compact, gentle and rarely crowded, it is the unpretentious gateway of the whole of the nation.
About Kingstown
Kingstown is the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The city's documented population is around 16,630 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1784.
The Harbour Capital of the Arches and the Fort of the Hill
Kingstown is a leisurely half-day town of the arcades, the cathedral, the market and the cobbled lanes of the centre, with the botanical garden and the old fort of the hill keeping the walkers of the ridge busy. The harbour fills with the ferries and the sailing boats of the Grenadines, and the jetty of the town is the departure for the islands of the south. The beaches of the bay of the Indian and the trails of the valley of the rivers lie beyond the town on the road of the island. It is small, safe and wonderfully unhurried, and its quiet life sets the tone of the entire country.
The Trade Winds, the Dry Season and the Ferries of the Grenadines
The trade winds of the region give a warm climate with the drier, sunnier months from December to June and the rains and the storms of the autumn hurricane season. The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the currency, the English the language, and the ferry network ties the capital to the Grenadines and the neighbour of the north. The historic town, the gardens and the beaches of the coast make the core stay, with the volcano and the falls of the interior for the active days. Light dress and reef-safe sun cream are the essentials, and the quiet charm of the capital needs no further preparation.
The Old Gardens, the Market of the Town and the Boats of the Bay
The botanical gardens of the town, founded more than two centuries ago and one of the oldest of the western hemisphere, shade the breadfruit tree descended from the original of the great voyage of the Bounty. The arcades of the harbour, the hand-carved arches of the colonial shops, give the town its nickname of the city of the arches, and the cathedral of the old stone anchors the centre of the grid. The fort of the Charlotte on the hill above the bay, where Admiral Rodney watched the fleet of the French at the great battle of the islands, commands the finest view of the capital and its magnificent harbour.
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- Country
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Population
- 16,630
- Capital
- Kingstown
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1784
- Country code
- VC
Frequently asked questions
Is Kingstown the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
Yes — Kingstown is the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
What currency do I need in Kingstown?
The local currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD). Languages spoken in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines include English.
What is the dialling code for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
The international dialling code for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is +1784.
Flying out of Kingstown? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.