A natural deep-water harbour shaped like a bottle, with a narrow neck that opens out into a wide inner basin, Castries Harbour is one of the best-protected anchorages in the Caribbean and the reason the city exists where it does. Cruise ships nose in at Pointe Seraphine, container ships work the south side, and a small flotilla of inter-island schooners and water taxis ply the inner waters.
Walking along the south quay gives you a working harbour view: rust-streaked freighters, fishing skiffs, and the brick old colonial customs house. Stop at one of the seafood shacks for a fresh fish lunch if the boats are in.