What 99 steps actually buy you.

The 99 Steps in Charlotte Amalie are one of the most photographed staircases in the Caribbean. They were built sometime in the 1700s by Danish colonists, made — according to most sources — from the bricks ships carried as ballast. The exact count of steps depends on who’s counting and from where, but 99 is the number that stuck.

What the brochures rarely tell you is what the climb actually delivers. Most visitors snap a photo at the bottom, climb halfway, and turn around. That’s a mistake. The reward isn’t the steps — it’s what they end at.

The route

From the lower town, the steps rise from Kongens Gade up the side of Government Hill. They aren’t long — maybe two or three minutes if you don’t stop. But they’re steep, the brick is uneven, and on a hot day you’ll feel them. Pace yourself. There’s no rush.

Halfway up, look back. The harbor unfolds below you in a way you can’t see from sea level. Cruise ships at anchor, the Charlotte Amalie waterfront, the fort. Take a beat.

Where they end

The 99 Steps end at the historic district at the top of the hill — and Blackbeard’s Castle is right there. The original 1679 Danish watchtower (officially Skytsborg, “the protection castle”) is a few steps further, perched at the top of the property.

From the watchtower, you can see what the Danes saw three centuries ago: the entire harbor, the fort, the surrounding hills. Same view. Same reason the tower was built where it was.

“Three hundred and forty-seven years of harbor views. Yours for two nights, or twelve.”

What to do at the top

If you’ve made the climb, give yourself an hour at the top. Here’s what’s there:

• Skytsborg Tower — climb to the top. The view is the whole point.
• The Rum Room — admission includes a complimentary tasting. A small cellar of Caribbean rums.
• Jolly Roger’s Pool Bar — open-air poolside bar and restaurant. Cool off, drink, eat.
• The pirate statues & gardens — scattered through the grounds. Photograph everything.
• The walking tour — self-guided, on the property, free with admission.

How to time it

The climb is best in the morning, when the sun hasn’t fully cooked the bricks. The view from Skytsborg is best in the late afternoon, when the harbor turns gold. So: climb at 10, see the tower, eat lunch at Jolly Roger’s, browse the gift shop, climb the tower again at 5. That’s the day.

Bring water. Bring shoes you can climb in. Bring a camera.