Rainbow Beach, Frederiksted: Address, Phone Number, Rainbow Beach Reviews: 4.5/5
Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Rainbow Beach and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
32 within 3 miles

Rhythms at Rainbow Beach
489
40 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Caribbean • Bar

Polly's at the Pier
895
1.1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Cafe • Healthy

Tap Deck Bar & Billiards
140
1.1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • International

Six Nine Restaurant & Bar
81
1.1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Steakhouse • Caribbean

Cibone
99
1.1 mi$$$$ • Caribbean • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly

Lost Dog Pub
215
1.2 mi$ • Bar • Pizza • International

Sweet Bites Cake Shop
33
1.1 mi$ • Bakeries

Smoke STX
27
1.1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Barbecue

Los Angeles Cafe, Bar and Restaurant
38
1.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Caribbean • Bar • Pub

Cafe Roots-N-Kulchah
14
1.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Caribbean • Cafe
Attractions
21 within 6 miles

Rhythms at Rainbow Beach
1,100
45 ftBeaches

Frederiksted Pier
661
1.1 miPiers & Boardwalks

Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
254
Nature & Wildlife Areas

St. George Village Botanical Garden
464
Historic Sites • Gardens

Fort Frederik
151
1 miHistory Museums

Carambola Tide Pools
330
Hiking Trails

Estate Mount Washington Plantation
57
1.7 miHistoric Sites • Historic Walking Areas

Cane Bay
392
Beaches

Old Danish School
6
0.9 miHistoric Sites

Fort Frederik Beach
48
1.2 miBeaches
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
563 reviews
Excellent
308
Very good
173
Average
62
Poor
14
Terrible
6
BadgerRick
15 contributions
Mar 2021
Planned to spend the day at Rainbow beach and found open chairs and an umbrella. Set up there and quickly found out you had to rent them, but rented two lounge chairs and an umbrella for $30 for the full day until sunset. Rhythms restaurant rents out jet skis, volleyball, etc and has great food and drinks. We packed our own drinks for the day but used the restaurant instead of packing lunch. Fun beach spot and a great sunset.
Written March 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GRZ
Chicago, IL7,565 contributions
Jun 2020
One of the prettiest, if not the prettiest beach in St Croix (there are many nice ones but they are either very secluded or on private property so you have to deal with some obstacles usually) with super easy access.
What makes it better is that you can rent chairs ($10 each) and an umbrella ($10), have access to a nice restaurant and clean bathrooms and last but definitely not least enjoy the company of locals and other visitors (playing random pick up volley ball was a highlight of my day, lots of laughing and silliness included) = full package in my book
There is some snorkeling closer to the restaurant area as that's where more coral/rocks are present but nothing serious - still something to add to the versatility of this location. Entering the water closer to that area may be a bit painful without the water shoes but I did not have ones and survived so you will be fine as well - simply enter more to the north and swim back :)
TIP: On the weekends it gets busy and may be too noisy for some (the road behind it appeared to be "a catwalk of cars blasting loud music" - for me it was OK (been there done that in my youth years) but I can see how this can take away from the experience for others; that being said if peace and tranquility are your things than Rainbow Beach may not be for you, unless you of course visit during the week day as there is plenty of room for everyone.
What makes it better is that you can rent chairs ($10 each) and an umbrella ($10), have access to a nice restaurant and clean bathrooms and last but definitely not least enjoy the company of locals and other visitors (playing random pick up volley ball was a highlight of my day, lots of laughing and silliness included) = full package in my book
There is some snorkeling closer to the restaurant area as that's where more coral/rocks are present but nothing serious - still something to add to the versatility of this location. Entering the water closer to that area may be a bit painful without the water shoes but I did not have ones and survived so you will be fine as well - simply enter more to the north and swim back :)
TIP: On the weekends it gets busy and may be too noisy for some (the road behind it appeared to be "a catwalk of cars blasting loud music" - for me it was OK (been there done that in my youth years) but I can see how this can take away from the experience for others; that being said if peace and tranquility are your things than Rainbow Beach may not be for you, unless you of course visit during the week day as there is plenty of room for everyone.
Written June 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jessica B
East Greenwich, RI20 contributions
Feb 2022
This beach is awesome for adults and kids. Great for swimming, they rent chairs and umbrellas (needed because there's not much shade, and the restaurant and bar have some of the best food and drinks on the island. The location is stunning and it's a really fun beach day. We ended up going three days in a row - it was that fun!
Written February 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mrl984
21 contributions
Jun 2021 • Solo
So this beach is the exact opposite of what one would be expecting on a beautiful tropical island. We came here because it was highly rated and my daughters wanted to jet ski. The beach itself is relatively long but narrow. And as soon as you get into the water it’s all rocks, so not a pleasant swimming experience.
The vibe of the place is terrible. Large gangs of young people squealing tires on motorcycles and cars. Blasting music from outward facing speakers mounted in car windows! I could have had this on a beach in Jersey and saved the 1700 mile trip. The one restaurant on the beach ran out of food at 4:30.
Two stars since my daughters enjoyed the jet skis.
The vibe of the place is terrible. Large gangs of young people squealing tires on motorcycles and cars. Blasting music from outward facing speakers mounted in car windows! I could have had this on a beach in Jersey and saved the 1700 mile trip. The one restaurant on the beach ran out of food at 4:30.
Two stars since my daughters enjoyed the jet skis.
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Mary Grace
Manteo, NC116 contributions
Jan 2020
We spent the day on rainbow beach, had a wonderful lunch relaxed and did a little swimming. They cost six dollars from the cruise ship round-trip and they picked us up in a timely manner. No complaints with transportation. Took about 10 min from Port Frederiksted to get there. I would suggest that you get there early As this is a very popular beach. The staff was very accommodating and added chairs where the volleyball net typically is. Friends did standup paddle boarding for $20 an 1/2 hour. Lounge chairs for $10, chairs and umbrellas were $5. Food was GREAT and reasonably priced. The pain killers and other tropical drinks were awesome. I would definitely return.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Emelyn M
St. Croix57 contributions
Jan 2020
One of our moist favorite spots is having lunch at Rhythms as we enjoy the beautiful beach. A very popular spot with locals....great restaurant, water sports and swimming opportunities.....Live music on the weekends! My favorite dish is the lobster tacos!
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Stefanie H
Lincoln, NE1,328 contributions
Mar 2021
We drove out from the east end, and the water was so much calmer on the west side! If you get there early, there are a few spots under trees for shade; otherwise, you can rent umbrellas and chairs. They rent jet skis in the middle of the beach, and the area where they come in and go out is marked, so you can avoid them if you are in the water. The beach is sandy but becomes very rocky under the water, so bring water shoes if you aren't comfortable with this. The beach is not huge, so it's a quick walk to the bar for drinks, which were excellent! If you bring snorkel gear, you'd be best trying by the rocks at the end of the beach or just beyond that where the houses start, but there's not much to see. There is parking along the street, but there is also a gravel lot across from the restaurant. Due to the size of the beach area, I would not come here on a day when the cruise ships are in, because it's probably too busy to be fun.
Written March 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
eva b
Keansburg, NJ55 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
The best beach in Frederiksted! We rented two chairs with an umbrella which cost $30 for the day. The restaurant on the beach has great drinks and bar type food. There was no reason to leave the beach the whole day.
Written July 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
LauraR
Pittsburgh7 contributions
Jul 2021
Not very impressed. After reading a lot of positive reviews, we were excited to spend the day here. We rented chairs and an umbrella ahead of time (on line) so didn't need to worry about finding a spot. The beach is not very wide and is EXTREMELY rocky. It was difficult for both of us (and many others that we saw) to get in and out of the ocean. The sand basically ended where the water began and it was all rock. Very tricky and slippery to maneuver. I honestly don't know what all of the hype is about, just an average beach.
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dinora S
Miami, FL159 contributions
Mar 2020
Great place to swim, play volleyball and have lunch. We went there on a Sunday when the band was playing. Good band and great beach. It is situated in F'sted on the western shores. This area have great beaches.
Written March 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
jey01jenyoung
McGehee, AR151 contributions
Hi! We’re going to be here in March on a cruise. Anyone know what time they start renting beach chairs? Thanks!
Lisa H
Berwyn, PA32 contributions
They know when the cruise ship passengers start heading to the beach and are ready. When you get there, they will be renting chairs.
Lauren W
Fort Lauderdale, FL14 contributions
How do you get here from the buccaneer? Is it an entire day worth?
Pwarnick
90 contributions
Is it jam packed when ships are in?Rental vehicles are all booked, we have to pick one beach to go to.
Charles S
Derby, CT61 contributions
There is plenty of beach to hang out on, and chairs/umbrellas that you can rent if you wish. Water toys are also available to rent.
Even with over 100 people, the place can accommodate you. The food is really good, and the cocktails are really cold. Several TV's if you just want to sit and catch a sporting event.
No rental car, call Prince Taxi & Safari Tours. Everyone has his number, and there are flyers everywhere. He has driven us around the island each time we visit, so there was no need to rent a car. Look him up here on Trip Advisor.
doctor-d1
Lakewood Ranch, FL40 contributions
We're going to St. Croix on a cruise at the end of November and looking for a nice beach near the ship. Lots of reviews say Rainbow Beach getting in the water is very rocky as a result of hurricane Maria last year and to wear aqua shoes . Is this still the case?
redb651
Andover, MA86 contributions
I think there are plenty of sandy places to enter the water at Rainbow Beach without water shoes. There are rocks on the ends of the beach, which were there long before Maria. The only place where I have ever worn water shoes on St. Croix was at the Annaly Bay Tide Pools.
Rainbow Beach is wonderful, but I disagree that it’s the only/best beach option after the hurricanes. I have been to STX many times but never on a cruise, so I’m not sure how much time you are given. Since you’re coming in November by cruise ship, you might consider Sandy Point; that’s a very unique experience and should be open when you’re there. The final scene of Shawshank Redemption was filmed there. Cane Bay is also great, but you’d have to get transportation from the pier. I believe many cruise ship passengers also go to Sand Castle/Dorsch Beach (on the West End just like Rainbow but south rather than north of the pier). I used to love Sprat Hall, which is just north of Rainbow; I felt like Maria hit Sprat Hall hard and it wasn’t the same place. I heard that La Grange Beach, also close to Rainbow, was badly damaged as well. If you have lots of time, Buck Island is fantastic. Jack’s and Isaac’s Bay are also amazing, but, like with Buck Island, you’d need a lot of time.
seniorcruiser
newyork69 contributions
Is there much of a drop off into the water?. how did you get to the beach from the cruise pier- walking is an issue for me
NoraExplorer
Bradenton, FL169 contributions
There’s no drop off to speak of into the water. I’d recommend taking the shuttle bus which runs between the cruise ship entrance and the beach. I believe it’s less than $10 one way.
DavyMcVancouver
Vancouver
We are on cruise so will be taking taxi, approx how far is beach to drive? Thx
Bill H
Frederiksted, St. Croix276 contributions
As previously stated -- if you're in good shape, you can walk it in 15-20 minutes or about a 5 minute taxi ride. Just keep in mind if you walk it and have some drinks there at Rhythm's bar....you might have to walk back if you can't get a taxi. Enjoy - it's a good time there.
George A
Middletown, New Jersey, United States1 contribution
How much for the ride that you go up in air
Jennifer J
Wendell, NC15 contributions
I think it was like $90 for 30/45 min. for a first timer. It was too expensive for me but there are lots of things to do.
katiecruiser007
Hackettstown, NJ167 contributions
Hi Eileen. Do you remember the cost of renting loungers and umbrella's?
;
LadyDiButterfli
Cypress, CA119 contributions
I think it was around $10 for the day but not positive, sorry.
Dianna
Chris L
Hoquiam, WA7 contributions
Hi, Is there sea glass on this beach? Thanks, Chris
Courtney S
Tolland, CT46 contributions
I don't remember seeing any…
Frequently Asked Questions about Rainbow Beach
- We recommend booking Rainbow Beach tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Rainbow Beach tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Rainbow Beach:
- (2.02 mi) Cottages By The Sea
- (1.94 mi) Sand Castle on the Beach
- (1.19 mi) Victoria House
- (1.43 mi) The Fred
- (0.11 mi) This Is It! Beach, Ocean, Sunset, Crystal Clear
- Restaurants near Rainbow Beach:
- (0.01 mi) Rhythms at Rainbow Beach
- (1.13 mi) Polly's at the Pier
- (1.47 mi) Turtle's Deli
- (1.10 mi) Tap Deck Bar & Billiards
- (1.12 mi) Six Nine Restaurant & Bar