Basseterre

Basseterre is the capital of St. Kitts, a small Caribbean port town with a grid layout that makes it easy to walk. The Port Zante terminal is a couple of minutes on foot from the historic centre. Independence Square, originally a slave market and now a public garden, sits at the heart of town. The Circus, modelled after London's Piccadilly, is a roundabout ringed by colonial-era buildings. Friday and Saturday mornings bring a produce market with local fruit and spices. Outside town, the Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO site, is a well-preserved British colonial fort with views across to neighbouring islands. The scenic railway circles the island in about three hours and runs through old sugar estates. Romney Manor houses the Caribelle Batik workshop, where you can watch the dyeing process. Taxis aren't metered, so agree on a price before you get in. The currency is Eastern Caribbean dollars, but US dollars work everywhere.