Blackbeard’s Castle & the 99 Steps

The 99 Steps are a frigang — one of the step-streets the Danes built so people could move between the hillside streets. There are actually 103 of them, laid with bricks that crossed the Atlantic as ship ballast. At the top sits Skytsborg, the 1679 watchtower everyone calls Blackbeard’s Castle.

Where: Charlotte Amalie, above Kongens Gade
Time: 30–60 minutes
Cost: The steps are free to climb

Best for. A walk through the historic quarter

How to walk it

Start in the lower town and climb slowly. The stairs are lined with gardens, and the brick holds the heat, so morning or late afternoon is kinder. At the top you can see the tower and the harbor even when the grounds themselves are not open for a full visit.

The pirate story is the popular one: Blackbeard is said to have used the height to watch the channel. The building is older than that legend and was a military lookout first. Either way, it is the best free viewpoint inside the historic district.

Pair it

Continue into the rest of Charlotte Amalie — Fort Christian, Emancipation Garden, and the old synagogue are all within a short walk. If the climb is the main event, keep the afternoon for Magens or Coki rather than stacking another uphill stop.