St. Helena Travel Guide | Tourist4Tourist

Local time: 18:05
Currency: British Pound (GBP), St. Helena Pound (SHP)
Capital: Jamestown
Calling code: +290
Drive on the: left

Overview

A remote British island in the South Atlantic, with Napoleon's last home, Georgian Jamestown, cloud-forest walks and whale sharks offshore. Flights come from South Africa.

St Helena sits in the South Atlantic, roughly a third of the way from the coast of southern Africa to Brazil, and Wikivoyage counts it among the most isolated islands in the world. It is a British Overseas Territory together with Ascension and the Tristan da Cunha islands, which lie many hundreds of miles away. The Portuguese found it uninhabited in 1502; the British later used it as a stop for ships on the route round the Cape, and sent Napoleon here in exile from October 1815 until his death on 5 May 1821.

The capital, Jamestown, fills a narrow valley between steep cliffs, with a Georgian main street, a castle built in 1659 and the 699 steps of Jacob's Ladder. Inland, the highlands have walking trails, the cloud forest of Diana's Peak and Napoleon's house at Longwood. The sea around the island has dolphins all year and visits from whale sharks and humpback whales.

Getting here takes planning: flights from Johannesburg are weekly for most of the year, and you need a return ticket, booked accommodation and medical insurance before you are given an entry permit. The UK reports low crime levels.

Longwood House: Napoleon's home for most of his exile and the place where he died, now a museum run by the French government.
Jamestown: A small Georgian town in a steep valley, with the Castle, St James' Church and the island museum.
Jacob's Ladder: A staircase of 699 steps from Jamestown up to Ladder Hill, built in 1829 as an inclined plane.
Diana's Peak and the Central Peaks: The highest point of the island, in a humid cloud forest with the greatest concentration of endemic species.
Whale sharks and dolphins: Dolphin and whale watching trips, and dive operators offering wreck and cave dives.
Dark skies: The night sky has Gold Tier status from the International Dark Sky Association.

Places to visit

Historic site

Cities

Jamestown: The capital and main town, squeezed into a valley between 150 m cliffs, with the tourist office, the bank and several hotels.
Longwood: The town around Longwood House, Napoleon's residence.

Beyond the cities

Longwood House (site): Napoleon's house, furnished in the style of his time, with flower gardens.
Plantation House (site): The governor's Georgian-style residence, with a nature trail and Seychelles tortoises on the lawn.
Jacob's Ladder (site): 699 steps and about 180 m of climb from Jamestown to Ladder Hill.
Heart-Shaped Waterfall (site): A 90 m waterfall over a heart-shaped rock, reached by walking up the valley from Jamestown.
Diana's Peak (mountain): The highest point of the island, in the cloud forest of the Central Peaks.
Sandy Bay (coast): The only sandy beach, with dark grey sand; the sea is too dangerous for swimming.
Lot's Wife's Ponds (coast): Large natural tide pools for swimming, reached on foot from Sandy Bay.
Ascension (island): Part of the same territory, with a monthly flight via St Helena; you need a separate visa.
Tristan da Cunha (island): A remote island group reached only by ship from Cape Town, a voyage of up to a week.

Regions

Saint Helena: The main island, covered in detail on this page.
Ascension
Tristan da Cunha: Includes Gough Island, a World Heritage site where landing is rarely allowed.

Things to do

See

Longwood House Longwood: Napoleon's home and the place where he died. You can also visit his grave site in a glade, although his remains are now in Paris.
Jamestown on foot Jamestown: The Castle (1659), St James' Church (1774), the Museum of Saint Helena at the foot of Jacob's Ladder and the old fortifications.

Do

Climb Jacob's Ladder Jamestown: 699 steep steps with no landings; carry water, and few people make it up in one go.
Post Box Walks: 21 graded trails across the island; the book with routes and maps is available at the Tourist Office.
Diana's Peak: Walk through the cloud forest of the Central Peaks, home to most of the island's endemic species.
Swim at Lot's Wife's Ponds: Natural tide pools, a walk from Sandy Bay described in the Post Box walks book.
Dolphins, whales and diving: Boat trips for dolphins and whales, and dive operators for wreck, cave and leisure dives.
Stargazing: Gold Tier dark skies, and nights that rarely drop below 10 °C.

Drink

St Helena coffee and Tungi: Coffee from the island's four plantations, and Tungi, a strong spirit made from local cactus by the St Helena Distillery.

Shop

Stamps at the Post Office Jamestown: Stamps of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, sold to collectors worldwide.

Tours and tickets in St. Helena PartnerGuided tours, day trips and attraction ticketsSee activities

Holidays and events

1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
3 April 2026 · Good Friday
6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
21 May 2026 · Saint Helena Day
25 May 2026 · Whit Monday
20 November 2026 · King's Birthday
25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
26 December 2026 · St. Stephen's Day

Getting around

Main airports	HLE

Public transport is limited: buses run once or twice on some weekdays and are timed for locals, so check the return times. Taxis wait behind the tourist office in Jamestown. Hire cars are the practical choice, but there are few of them and they run out when the flight arrives, so book ahead, for example through your hotel.

You drive on the left, with British-style road signs, and many roads are single lane. The speed limit in Jamestown is 20 mph (32 km/h). A UK photocard licence is valid for 3 months; after that you need a local licence from the Post Office in Jamestown. Leaving Jamestown on foot is hard work: the roads up the valley have no pavements, and the alternative is Jacob's Ladder.

Flying to St. Helena? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flights

Where to stay

Self-catering rooms and houses: The island's tourism website has a list of locals who rent rooms or small houses.
Hotels: In Jamestown, the Consulate Hotel (the largest on the island) and the Wellington House Hotel on Main Street.
Country house: Farm Lodge, a 17th-century farmhouse in the highlands at Rosemary Plain, about 5 miles from Jamestown, with 5 rooms.
Flats: Huxtable Accommodation has four independent flats in central Jamestown.

The choice is small, so book before you fly: the UK lists accommodation among the conditions for your entry permit.

Eat and drink

Dishes to try

Pilau: Pronounced "ploe": rice with bacon and other ingredients, the island's speciality.
Fish cakes: Another island speciality.
Tuna and wahoo: The main local fish on sale.

Drinks

St Helena coffee: Arabica from plantations first set up centuries ago, exported at high prices and much cheaper on the island.
Tungi: A high-proof spirit made from local cactus.
Midnight Mist: A liqueur made from St Helena coffee.

Renting a room or house and cooking for yourself works well. Small grocery stores and a butcher in Jamestown cover the basics, but fruit is mostly available just after the supply ship calls, apart from local bananas, and vegetables are seasonal. Little is open on Sundays.

Some places in Jamestown serve dinner only if you call ahead, and Farm Lodge needs a booking, ideally the day before. Bars in Jamestown include Donny's Place, an open-air bar over James Bay, and the Mule Yard on the seafront. You may not drink alcohol in public in the Jamestown area.

Entry requirements and visas

Passport validity	At least 6 months after the date you arrive (St Helena and Ascension); valid for the length of your stay (Tristan da Cunha)

Passport	Entry	Max stay	Notes
United Kingdom	Visa on arrival	183 days	Short-term entry permit issued on arrival: £20 (GBP) in cash, in pounds, euros, US dollars or South African rand. Ascension needs a separate visa.

Other nationalities: check the official source below.

You need an entry permit to visit St Helena. The UK says that, with a British passport, you can apply for a short-term permit (up to 183 days) when you arrive. You need a return ticket or the money to buy one, booked accommodation, enough funds for your stay and medical insurance that covers evacuation up to £175,000. Longer stays need a long-term permit, and working on the island needs a work permit.

Ascension and Tristan da Cunha have their own rules: Ascension requires a visa (single entry up to 3 months) and medical insurance of at least £500,000 for evacuation, while Tristan da Cunha requires permission from the Island Council and insurance covering evacuation to Cape Town. There are strict limits on bringing in alcohol. Rules depend on your passport: check with the St Helena Government before you book.

Money and payments

Currency	British Pound (GBP), St. Helena Pound (SHP)
Cards	Limited

There are no ATMs on St Helena, and only a few places take cards. British pounds (GBP) in cash are accepted at most places, but you get change in St Helena pounds (SHP), which are worth the same as sterling. St Helena pounds are rarely available in banks outside the territory, so bring British pounds.

The Bank of St Helena, with its branch in Jamestown, changes foreign currency and can give cash advances on a credit or debit card. It also offers a virtual prepaid tourist card, topped up from your own card through the bank's app, which works with contactless payments on your phone at places that use St Helena Pay, on St Helena and on Ascension. On Tristan da Cunha most payments are in cash and there are no ATMs either.

Health

Required vaccines	Yellow fever: required for travellers aged 1 year or older arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission; not required for direct travel from the United States
Recommended vaccines	Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B
Malaria	None
Tap water	Safe

The CDC does not list malaria for St Helena and does not recommend the yellow fever vaccine, which is required only if you arrive from a country with risk of yellow fever. Ask a travel health professional about routine vaccines at least a month before you go. Tap water is safe to drink.

St Helena has a hospital with an adequate standard of care, but you pay for any treatment, and serious cases must be treated off the island, which can take days or weeks. There is no hyperbaric chamber, which matters if you plan to dive. Bring enough prescription medicine for the whole trip, and make sure your insurance covers evacuation: it is a condition of entry. In an emergency call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.

Safety

United Kingdom: No advice against travel (2026-10-20)

The UK does not advise against travel and reports low crime levels. As these are British Overseas Territories there is no British embassy: the local governments help in an emergency, and the number for police, fire and ambulance on St Helena is 999.

The practical risks are natural ones. Rockfalls can happen in the steep valley of Jamestown. On walks, carry water and sunscreen, and take care on steep ground; scorpions are the only animals to watch for. The sea at Sandy Bay is too dangerous for swimming. On Ascension, some areas are out of bounds, currents and swells are strong and there is a risk of sharks in the shallows of popular beaches. On Tristan da Cunha you need a guide to hike the peak or go beyond the settlement, and camping is illegal.

Customs and etiquette

St Helena has its own laws. Drinking alcohol in public is not allowed in the Jamestown area, and penalties for even small amounts of drugs are severe. There are strict rules on bringing alcohol onto the islands. Paid work is illegal without a work permit.

Wikivoyage notes that most islanders, known as Saints, are loyal to the British monarch and to the Christian faith, and visitors are asked to respect both, although no law requires it. Plan around Sundays, when little is open.

Language

Official languages	English
English	Widespread

What is your name?	What your name is?
We need a new tyre	Us need one new tyre

What to pack

Return ticket and proof of accommodation: You need both to get the entry permit on arrival.
Medical insurance covering evacuation up to £175,000: A condition of entry; serious cases are treated off the island.
British pounds in cash: There are no ATMs, few places take cards and the entry permit costs £20 in cash.
Prescription medicines for the whole trip: The UK advises bringing enough for the whole trip.
Water bottle, sunscreen and walking shoes: For the Post Box Walks and the climb up Jacob's Ladder.
A smartphone: The bank's tourist card works through an app and contactless payments.

Quick reference

Country facts

Capital	Jamestown
Population	5,633 (2016)
Area	394 km²
Time zone	Atlantic/St_Helena (UTC+0)
Calling code	+290
Driving side	left

Staying connected

SIM and eSIM	Sure South Atlantic is the mobile operator, with 2G/EDGE and 4G networks that work at about 3G speeds. Calls and data are expensive.
Wi-Fi	Paid Wi-Fi hotspots at the Consulate Hotel and Ann's Place in Jamestown; do not count on long internet sessions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to St Helena?

By air with Airlink from Johannesburg, once a week from March to October and twice a week from December to February. Allow for delays with a flexible onward ticket.

Do I need a visa for St Helena?

You need an entry permit. British passport holders can get a short-term permit on arrival for £20 in cash, with a return ticket, booked accommodation and medical insurance covering evacuation. Check with the St Helena Government before you book.

Are there ATMs on St Helena?

No. Bring British pounds in cash; the Bank of St Helena in Jamestown can give cash advances on a card and offers a prepaid tourist card.

What currency is used on St Helena?

The St Helena pound, at par with sterling. British pounds are accepted at most places, but your change comes in St Helena pounds.

Is tap water safe to drink on St Helena?

Yes, tap water is safe to drink.

Is St Helena safe?

The UK does not advise against travel and reports low crime. The main risks are rockfalls in Jamestown, steep walking terrain and the sea at Sandy Bay.

Suggest an update

Travel rules, prices and timetables change. If something in this guide is out of date, tell us: we check every suggestion against an official source before changing the page.

St. Helena