Charlestown, the capital of Nevis, is a compact West Indian town of around 1,500 people. Its centre has a good number of well-preserved Georgian stone buildings — the courthouse, the treasury, and various merchant houses — giving it more architectural character than most Caribbean island capitals of its size. The streets are laid out on a simple grid and can be walked in under an hour.
The Memorial Square in the centre has a fountain and the courthouse. The public market behind the waterfront operates most mornings and sells local produce, spices, and crafts. The ferry terminal connects to Basseterre on Saint Kitts, with crossings roughly every hour during the day. Several restaurants and a few bars operate in and around Charlestown; the town is quiet by nightfall. The best time to be here is market morning when local activity peaks.