How to Spend a Day Ashore on Saint Helena: Jamestown, Napoleon’s Exile & the World’s Steepest Steps

Saint Helena is one of the most remote inhabited islands on earth, and for many cruisers it’s a once-in-a-lifetime stop on a transatlantic or world voyage. The island has no cruise pier — every ship anchors in James Bay and tenders passengers ashore to the Jamestown wharf. Build 30–45 minutes each way into your planning just for the tender ride.

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Port & Terminal Information

There is no formal cruise terminal on Saint Helena. Ships anchor in James Bay, off the west coast of the island, and passengers are ferried by tender to the Jamestown Wharf — a small quay at the foot of the island’s only town.

Facilities at the wharf: Basic and minimal. There is no ATM at the landing point — the nearest ATM is the Bank of Saint Helena on Main Street, roughly a 5-minute walk uphill from the wharf. No luggage storage, no Wi-Fi at the dock, no dedicated tourist information desk (pick up a map from the Saint Helena Tourism office at the top of Main Street instead).
Tender timing: Tenders run on a ship-managed schedule. In rough swells, the tender ride can be choppy — wear layers and expect a 20–40 minute crossing depending on where your ship anchors.
Find your bearings on Google Maps before you sail — it helps to visualise the island layout in advance.

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Getting to the City

You land directly at Jamestown Wharf, and the town centre is immediately accessible on foot. The island is small (122 km²) but mountainous, so transport matters for sites beyond town.

On Foot — Jamestown itself is entirely walkable from the wharf. Main Street, Jacob’s Ladder, the museum and the fort are all within a 15-minute radius. No transport needed for town-only visits.
Taxi — Taxis wait at the wharf when ships are in port. Expect to pay £15–25 for a shared or private taxi to key sites like Longwood House (~8 km, ~20 minutes) or Diana’s Peak (~10 km). Agree the fare before getting in — there are no meters.
Rental Car — A handful of local agencies hire cars for around £35–50/day. Driving is on the left; roads are narrow, steep and winding. This is genuinely the best option for a full-day independent exploration. Ask your ship’s destination desk for current local contacts, as operators change frequently.
Hop-On Hop-Off — Does not exist here.
Bus/Minibus — There is a public bus service but it runs infrequently and is not designed around cruise schedules. Not recommended as your primary transport.
Ship Shore Excursion — Worth serious consideration here. Saint Helena is logistically tricky: distances are short but roads are steep, signage is limited and several key sites (Longwood, the interior) really benefit from a local guide who knows the history. Check Viator and GetYourGuide for independently bookable tours, which often cost less than ship-sold excursions.

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Top Things to Do in Saint Helena Island, Jamestown

Saint Helena packs extraordinary history and raw natural beauty into a tiny space — Napoleon died here, Jonathan the tortoise still lives here, and Jacob’s Ladder will make your legs burn for days.

Must-See

Jacob’s Ladder (free) — 699 near-vertical steps cut into the cliff face rising straight from Jamestown. It was originally built in 1829 to haul supplies to Ladder Hill Fort. Climbing it is genuinely hard but the view over James Bay is worth every step. Allow 45–60 minutes up and down.

Longwood House (£5 adults) — The residence where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final 6 years of exile and died in 1821. The house is maintained by the French government and is remarkably well preserved — his bath, billiard table and deathbed are all there. Don’t miss this if you have any interest in European history. Book a guided island tour on Viator that includes Longwood to put the context together. Allow 1–1.5 hours including the adjacent gardens.

Napoleon’s Tomb at Sane Valley (free) — The original burial site of Napoleon before his remains were repatriated to Paris in 1840. The simple, shaded tomb in a small valley is genuinely moving — and almost always quiet. Allow 20–30 minutes.

The Museum of Saint Helena (free–£3 suggested donation) — Small but excellent, covering the island’s unique history from its 1502 discovery, through the slave trade, Napoleon’s exile and the island’s role as a way station for the British Empire. Located on Main Street. Allow 45 minutes.

Ladder Hill Fort & Signal Box (free) — The fortification at the top of Jacob’s Ladder. Walk or taxi up for sweeping panoramic views over Jamestown and James Bay. Allow 20–30 minutes.

Beaches & Nature

Diana’s Peak National Park (free) — The island’s highest point at 818 m, accessible via walking trails through dense endemic cloud forest. The wirebird, Saint Helena’s critically endangered national bird, is found here. Misty, otherworldly and completely unlike anything else on the island. Allow 2–3 hours for a proper walk; take a taxi to the trailhead. Browse nature tours on GetYourGuide.

Sandy Bay Beach (free) — A dramatic black volcanic sand beach on the remote south side of the island. No facilities, completely unspoilt. Requires a taxi or rental car (~12 km from Jamestown). Allow 1–2 hours.

Whale Shark Snorkelling (seasonal, ~£75–120) — Saint Helena has become a legitimate whale shark hotspot between November and March. Local operators run dedicated snorkel trips from Jamestown Wharf. Check availability with Viator — this is one of the island’s genuinely extraordinary experiences. Allow 3 hours.

Day Trips

The Briars Pavilion (£3) — The first residence where Napoleon was housed on the island, set in beautiful gardens. More intimate than Longwood. Allow 45 minutes.

Family Picks

Jonathan the Tortoise, Plantation House (free, exterior) — Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise estimated to be around 190 years old — making him the world’s oldest known living land animal. He lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the Governor’s residence. You can view him from the grounds. Allow 20–30 minutes; combine with a taxi tour of the island’s interior.

Off the Beaten Track

Knollcombes & The Boer War Cemetery (free) — Saint Helena held thousands of Boer War prisoners of war (1900–1902). The small cemetery in the island’s interior is peaceful, little-visited and historically significant. Allow 30 minutes.

Half Tree Hollow Viewpoint (free) — A local residential area on the ridge above Jamestown with extraordinary views down over the valley that most cruisers never reach. Take a taxi up and walk back down. Allow 30–45 minutes.

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What to Eat & Drink

Saint Helena has a genuinely distinct Creole food culture shaped by African, Indian, Chinese and British influences — fish-heavy, spiced and unpretentious. Don’t expect restaurant variety; do expect warm, home-cooked flavour.

Tuna steak — The island catches exceptionally fresh yellowfin tuna; it appears on virtually every menu. Most restaurants, £8–14.
Solomon Browne’s & The Tuna Restaurant — Two of the most reliable spots on Main Street for fresh fish lunches. Around £10–16 for a main.
Pilau — Saint Helena’s signature spiced rice dish, showing the island’s Indian heritage. Filling, cheap, delicious. Look for it at local cafés for £5–8.
The Consulate Hotel — The island’s most atmospheric bar, on Main Street in a colonial-era building. Cold local beer or a gin and tonic while watching the street go by. Around £4–7 per drink.
Coconut custard tart — A local bakery staple. Pick one up from a café on Main Street for £1–2. Eat it immediately.
Coffee at Anne’s Place — Small, friendly and loved by locals. Great for breakfast before heading out.

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Shopping

Jamestown’s Main Street has a handful of small gift shops and craft stalls. The best buys are genuinely local: hand-stamped Saint Helena stamps and first-day covers (the island’s postal heritage is famous among philatelists), locally woven flax baskets, endemic plant seeds, and Saint Helena Coffee — grown in the island’s interior, rated among the best in the world and stocked at several Main Street shops for around £10–15 per bag.

Skip mass-produced souvenir tat. Everything worth buying on this island is small-batch and local — if it doesn’t say “Made in Saint Helena,” put it back.

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How to Plan Your Day

4 hours ashore: Walk Main Street → Museum of Saint Helena (45 min) → climb Jacob’s Ladder (45 min) → lunch at a Main Street restaurant → taxi to Napoleon’s Tomb and back to wharf. Simple, satisfying and entirely manageable.

6–7 hours ashore: Add Longwood House to the above (taxi there and back, £15–20 round trip) → stop at Plantation House to see Jonathan the Tortoise

📍 Getting to Saint Helena Island, Jamestown, St Helena UK

Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.