Booking a Caribbean flight is the easy part. Figuring out exactly which airport handles your bags, whether you connect by ferry or short prop flight, and when to file your eTA is what trips up most first-time visitors to St. Kitts and Nevis. This guide walks through every step of the journey so you arrive on either island without surprises.
- Main airport: Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, SKB, on St. Kitts
- Secondary airport: Vance W. Amory International Airport, NEV, on Nevis (regional turboprops only)
- Entry document: mandatory eTA at US$17, processed online before departure
- St. Kitts to Nevis ferry: about 45 minutes from Basseterre, around 15 minutes by water taxi from the southeast peninsula
- Cruise port: Port Zante in Basseterre
- Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar, pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1
Flying to St. Kitts: Robert L. Bradshaw International (SKB)
SKB handles almost every international arrival to the federation. It is a compact, single-terminal airport, and immigration moves quickly when you have your passport, return ticket, and eTA confirmation ready on arrival. As of 2026, it remains the only runway in the country long enough for full-sized jets, so even visitors heading to Nevis usually land here first.
Compare travel insurance for your Caribbean trip before booking, since most US health plans do not cover medical evacuation from the islands.
Direct Flights from the US
Five US gateways currently offer nonstop service to SKB, and the lineup is the strongest it has been in years.
| Route | Airline | Approximate flight time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) | American | 3 hours 15 minutes | Daily |
| Charlotte (CLT) | American | 4 hours 5 minutes | Daily, peak season |
| New York (JFK) | JetBlue | 4 hours 20 minutes | Several times weekly |
| Newark (EWR) | United | 4 hours 20 minutes | Weekly, seasonal |
| Atlanta (ATL) | Delta | 3 hours 50 minutes | Saturday-only, May to October |
Direct flights from the South Florida and New York gateways run year round. The Charlotte, Newark, and Atlanta routes peak between mid-December and April, with the Atlanta service operating as a Saturday-only seasonal addition.
Direct Flights from the UK and Canada
British Airways flies from London Gatwick (LGW) to SKB with a brief stop in Antigua, several times a week. Air Canada operates a seasonal nonstop from Toronto (YYZ) between December and April. Outside that window, Canadian travelers usually route through Miami or New York.
Regional Caribbean Connections
Island-hopping into SKB is straightforward but uses smaller turboprop aircraft. InterCaribbean Airways, Silver Airways, and Winair link St. Kitts to San Juan (SJU), Antigua (ANU), and St. Maarten (SXM) with daily or near-daily service. Baggage rules are stricter than on US carriers, often capped at 20 kilograms with steep excess fees, so pack accordingly.
Note that LIAT 2020 ceased operations during the pandemic. Routes the old carrier flew are now covered by LIAT 2020 Ltd, InterCaribbean, and Winair, with most former LIAT passengers rebooked across these successors.
YU Lounge: Private Arrival Terminal
Commercial arrivals occasionally cluster, causing customs queues during peak season. The YU Lounge operates as a separate private terminal adjacent to the main building to bypass this. Staff meet you on the tarmac, drive you to the lounge in a luxury vehicle, handle your immigration paperwork, and retrieve checked bags while you wait with refreshments. It is a premium add-on, but highly effective for cutting hours off holiday arrivals.
Getting to Nevis: Flights and Ferries
Nevis sits two miles south of St. Kitts across a narrow channel called The Narrows. Almost every visitor reaches it via a secondary leg after landing at SKB.
Pre-book a Basseterre airport to ferry port transfer if you have heavy bags, since taxi queues can be long after a wide-body jet lands.
Ferry from Basseterre to Charlestown
The public passenger ferry is the cheapest and most common way to cross. Vessels run between the Basseterre ferry terminal on St. Kitts and Charlestown on Nevis, with the crossing taking about 45 minutes. Six boats share the route: MV Caribe Queen, MV Carib Breeze, MV Carib Surf, MV Mark Twain, MV Sea Hustler, and the Sea Bridge car ferry. One-way adult passenger fare is EC$25 (about US$9 to US$11), with children under 12 around half price.
Schedules shift frequently, especially around weather and public holidays. The SKN Transit app shows real-time departures, and confirming the day before is always wise.
Water Taxi from the Southeast Peninsula
If you prefer speed, private water taxis depart from Majors Bay or Reggae Beach on the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts and cross The Narrows to Nevis in about 15 minutes. The trade-off is cost (typically several times the public ferry fare) and the need to arrange ground transport to the peninsula first.
Flying Directly to Vance W. Amory Airport (NEV)
Nevis has its own airport, but the runway only accommodates small turboprops. Cape Air and Winair are currently the only carriers serving NEV, with connections from San Juan, St. Maarten, and occasional charters from Antigua. If your final destination is Nevis and you want to skip the ferry transfer, a same-day connection from SJU or SXM into NEV is the smoothest option, though you should leave at least three hours between the international leg and the regional flight to cover customs and bag retrieval.
Entry Requirements: eTA and Customs
The Electronic Travel Authorization is the single most important document to file before boarding, and the rule applies to US, UK, Canadian, EU, and most other foreign passport holders. Showing up without one means denied boarding at your origin airport.
Apply at the official government portal knatravelform.kn or through the eBorder mobile app. The fee is US$17 per traveler, and approval usually arrives within 24 hours, but allow up to 72 hours in case of manual review. The eTA grants a permitted stay of up to **90 days** and remains valid for 90 days from issue or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Carry both a digital and a printed copy of the confirmation alongside your passport. Saint Kitts and Nevis immigration officers occasionally ask to see proof of onward travel and accommodation, so have those booking confirmations handy.
Citizens of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and residents of Saint Kitts and Nevis are exempt from the eTA fee and process.
Arriving by Cruise Ship
Port Zante in Basseterre handles all cruise calls, and the dock sits within walking distance of central shops, restaurants, and the ferry terminal. Most lines schedule a full day in port, often combined with a stop at St. Maarten or San Juan. If your itinerary includes Nevis, the public ferry crossing is doable as a self-organized excursion, but check return times carefully so you do not miss your ship.
Getting Around Once You Arrive
Both islands drive on the left side of the road, following British convention. Car rental is widely available at the airport and ferry terminal, but every visitor must purchase a temporary local driving permit at the rental desk for a small fee. The roads are narrow and hilly, with frequent goats and sheep on the shoulder, so the islands reward slow, attentive driving.
If left-hand driving feels stressful, the regulated taxi network is the easier option. Fares are standardized across the federation, and drivers double as informal tour guides. Ask to see the official rate sheet before starting any longer trip to avoid surprises at the end.
