Gros Islet
Gros Islet, on St Lucia's north coast, is known for the Friday street party, the Rodney Bay beaches and the fort ruins on Pigeon Island.
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Gros Islet is a town on the northwest coast of Saint Lucia. It sits beside Rodney Bay, where beaches, hotels, restaurants and a marina line the water. Most visitors come for the Friday night street party, when food stalls, music and crowds fill the town's main road. Pigeon Island National Landmark, reached by a causeway from the town, has the ruins of 18th-century British forts and a hill with views over the coast.
The area suits a beach holiday with an evening side, and it works for families and first-time visitors who want shops, restaurants and transport nearby. Travelers who want a quieter stay may prefer the smaller bays elsewhere on the island. The dry season runs from December to May. Plan three to five days for the beaches, Pigeon Island and the Friday party, then add time for other parts of Saint Lucia.
Gros Islet in five
- Agree the taxi fare before you get inTaxis in St Lucia are not metered, so settle the price with the driver before you leave. Pay in East Caribbean dollars or US dollars.Getting around
- Check which airport your flight lands atHewanorra International, in Vieux Fort in the south, is the main international airport. It is a long drive from Gros Islet. George F. L. Charles Airport, near Castries, is closer.Getting around
- Carry small East Caribbean dollar notesFood stalls and small shops take cash, and change often comes back in East Caribbean dollars, so carry small notes.Money and costs
- Join the Friday night street partyThe Gros Islet Friday street party, called Jump Up, fills the town centre with music and food stalls. Arrive by taxi and arrange the ride home before you go.Music
- Buy a Digicel or Flow SIM or eSIMDigicel and Flow are the two main mobile networks in St Lucia. Set up an eSIM before you land so you have data from arrival.Phones and eSIM
Things to do in Gros Islet
See all attractions in Gros Islet
Need to know
- Currency
- East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
- Entry
- Entry rules depend on your passport; check them before you fly
- Emergency
- 999 or 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Check the bill for a service charge before you tip
- Time
- UTC-4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryDry, peak season
- FebruaryDry, breezy
- MarchDry, breezy
- AprilDry, warm
- MayDry, warm
- JuneShowers start
- JulyHurricane season
- AugustHot, showers
- SeptemberStorm season peak
- OctoberStorm season peak
- NovemberStorm risk
- DecemberDry season starts
Right now in Gros Islet
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
29
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 21 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Gros Islet
04:41 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°25°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue30°26°73%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Wed30°26°37%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Thu31°26°57%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Fri31°25°73%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Sat31°25°39%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Sun32°26°40%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 40%.
Updated 12:54 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 2.7 XCD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Castriesabout 30 minutes by carThe capital, with Derek Walcott Square and the central market; go in the morning.
- Soufrièreabout 1.5 hours by carThe Pitons, the drive-in volcano and an old colonial town; the road is steep and winding.
- Marigot Bayabout 1 hour by carA sheltered bay on the east coast with a marina and restaurants on the water.
Before you go to Gros Islet
Rules for Gros Islet, checked
- Carry your passport or a copy when you go out.
- Do not carry illegal drugs. Penalties apply, so leave them out of your bags.
- Drive on the left, and carry your home driving licence with the rental company's paperwork.
- Declare fresh food, plants and animal products on arrival, since St Lucia restricts them.
Plan around Gros Islet
Taxis, car hire and the two airports, with drive times.
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, card use and typical prices on the island.
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules by passport, checked before you book.
Read the guideWhere to stayHotels and guesthouses near Rodney Bay and Gros Islet.
Read the guideSt Lucia travel guideBeaches, the Pitons and the drive south from Gros Islet.
Read the guideMusic and street partiesThe Friday night Jump Up and other live music on the island.
Read the guideGros Islet FAQ
Is Gros Islet worth visiting?
Yes, for the Friday night street party and as a base near the Rodney Bay beaches and restaurants. Most sights are outside the town, so you will need a taxi or a car.
How many days do you need in Gros Islet?
Three to four days covers Pigeon Island, a beach day, the Friday street party and one day trip to Castries or Soufrière.
Do I need a car in Gros Islet?
Taxis cover Rodney Bay and the Friday street party. A car helps for Soufrière and the south. Drive on the left.
What is the Gros Islet Friday night street party?
It is a weekly street party in the town centre, known as Jump Up, with music, food stalls and large crowds. Arrange your taxi before you go.
Can I visit Pigeon Island from Gros Islet?
Yes. It is a short taxi ride or drive from Rodney Bay. It is a national landmark with the ruins of Fort Rodney, a British fort.
Is Gros Islet safe for tourists?
Use taxis after dark, and keep phones and bags out of sight in crowds and on the beaches.