Shopping · Saint Lucia
Shopping in Saint Lucia
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Shopping in Saint Lucia focuses on local crafts, cocoa, spices and rum, with duty-free shops in Castries and malls in Rodney Bay. Best souvenirs: Cocoa sticks and chocolate, Saint Lucian rum and Spices and hot sauce.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Cocoa sticks and chocolate
Where to shop
Castries
The Central Market and craft market, plus duty-free shops at the waterfront and cruise terminals.
Rodney Bay
Shopping malls with supermarkets, souvenir shops and boutiques near the marina.
Choiseul
A southwest village known for craftspeople making pottery, basketry and woodwork.
Markets
Castries Central Market
Spices, cocoa sticks, hot sauces and crafts under the market's orange roofs, busiest on Saturday mornings.
Vendors' Arcade
Craft stalls near the market selling batik, carvings and souvenirs.
What to buy
Cocoa sticks and chocolate
Rolled cocoa sticks for making cocoa tea, and bars from local cocoa estates.
Saint Lucian rum
Bottles from the distillery at Roseau, including spiced and aged rums.
Spices and hot sauce
Nutmeg, cinnamon, bay leaves and local pepper sauces, often in small gift packs.
Batik and hand-printed fabric
Hand-dyed batik fabrics and clothing made by local artisans.
Choiseul crafts
Clay pottery, woven baskets and carvings from the village of Choiseul.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Castries and Vigie
Castries Central Market
Under the orange roofs of the Victorian-era market on Jeremie Street, stalls sell spices, cocoa sticks, hot sauces, baskets and produce, while a food section serves local lunches.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Accra, Cocoa tea, Piton beer and Saint Lucian rum. Friday fish fries at Gros Islet and Anse La Raye, and local snack bars. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Rodney Bay and Gros Islet | $$ | Marina, Reduit Beach and most of the island's restaurants and bars in the north |
| Cap Estate | $$$$ | Upmarket northern tip with villas, golf and quieter bays |
| Castries and Vigie | $$ | The capital's market, cathedral and harbour, plus beach hotels near the city airport |
| Marigot Bay | $$$ | Deep, palm-fringed yacht harbour hidden between steep green hills |
| Soufrière | $$$$ | The old French capital beneath the Pitons, with volcanic sights and dive bays |
| Vieux Fort | $$ | Southern town near Hewanorra airport with windy Atlantic beaches |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in XCD. A 10% service charge is commonly included in restaurant bills. Where it is not, about 10–15% is normal. Tip guides, drivers and boat crews for good service.
- Beachwear is for beaches; cover up in towns, shops and churches.
- Eat at fish fries and local cook-shops rather than only at resort restaurants.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in September; the busiest months are January–February.
- May: Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival (usually May)
- August: La Rose flower festival (around 30 August)
- October: La Marguerite flower festival (around 17 October)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Saint Lucia?
Cocoa sticks and chocolate, Saint Lucian rum, Spices and hot sauce and Batik and hand-printed fabric.
+Where is the best shopping in Saint Lucia?
Castries: The Central Market and craft market, plus duty-free shops at the waterfront and cruise terminals.
+What are the best markets in Saint Lucia?
Castries Central Market and Vendors' Arcade.