Saint Martin / Sint Maarten
A small Caribbean island shared by two nations: watch planes land just overhead at Maho Beach, enjoy French cuisine in Grand Case and duty-free shopping on the Dutch side.
Saint Martin lies in the Leeward Islands in the northeastern Caribbean. Though only about 87 km², it is divided between two countries: the north is French Saint-Martin (capital Marigot, using the euro) and the south is Dutch Sint Maarten (capital Philipsburg, where the US dollar is widely used). There are no border controls between the two sides, so you can move freely. The Dutch side is home to Princess Juliana International Airport, and planes landing just above the heads of beachgoers at Maho Beach are the island's most famous sight; Philipsburg is a cruise port, known for duty-free shopping along Front Street and the Great Bay boardwalk. The French side has more of a French flair: Grand Case is the “culinary capital of the Caribbean,” Orient Bay is the liveliest beach, and Pinel Island and Tintamarre are good for snorkeling and turtle-spotting. The best time to visit is the dry season from December to April; August–October is hurricane season, and Hurricane Irma devastated the island in 2017. Public transport is mainly by minibus, so renting a car to drive around the island is recommended — a full loop takes about 1–2 hours, and traffic jams are common in Philipsburg and Simpson Bay on weekends and cruise-ship days. Plan to stay 3–5 days; you can take a day trip by ferry from Marigot or Philipsburg to St. Barts, or visit nearby Anguilla. Visa requirements for Chinese passport holders differ between the French and Dutch sides, so check the latest rules for each before you travel.
Top sights
- Maho Beach – A small beach right at the end of the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport, where airliners land almost directly over the heads…
- Orient Bay – The liveliest beach on the French side, with a long stretch of white sand and clear turquoise water, lined with beach bars and water-sports…
- Grand Case – A seaside village on the French side, known as the Caribbean's gourmet capital, with French restaurants and beachside barbecue stands on ev…
- Pinel Island – An uninhabited islet off the French northeast coast, with shallow bays for snorkeling among tropical fish, a few beach restaurants, and wil…
- Philipsburg Front Street – The main street of Philipsburg, capital of Dutch Sint Maarten, where colonial-style old buildings are filled with duty-free jewellery, watc…
- Great Bay Beach & Boardwalk – A curved beach in front of old Philipsburg, with beach bars and restaurants lining the boardwalk. A favourite of cruise passengers.
- Fort Louis – An 18th-century French fort ruin above Marigot harbour, with views over Marigot Bay and Anguilla.
- Marigot Market & Waterfront – The seaside market in Marigot, capital of French Saint-Martin, selling spices, crafts and rum, with French cafés nearby.
- Guavaberry Emporium – A bright yellow wooden cottage on Front Street in Philipsburg, where you can taste Sint Maarten's national liqueur, guavaberry, for free.
- Fort Amsterdam – The first fort the Dutch built in the Caribbean, in 1631, on the peninsula between Great Bay and Little Bay.
- Mullet Bay Beach – A fine-sand beach on the Dutch west coast with clear water. A weekend favourite with locals, and waves occasionally make it good for surfin…
- Cupecoy Beach – A small beach beneath golden sandstone cliffs, with caves and rock walls, and one of the island's best spots for watching the sunset.
- Baie Rouge – A pinkish-gold sand beach on the southwest coast of the French side, with crystal-clear water. At its east end, you can swim into a natural…
- Baie Longue – A quiet white-sand beach about 2 km long at the island's western tip, with few facilities and few people. A superb spot for sunset.
- Dawn Beach – A beach on the Dutch east coast for watching the sunrise. On clear days you can see Saint Barthélemy, and the nearshore reef is good for sn…
- Le Galion Beach – A shallow bay sheltered by a coral reef, with glassy water that suits family splashing and makes a good beginner base for windsurfing.
- Anse Marcel – A secluded little bay on the French north coast, surrounded by green mountains, with calm, clear water and a resort and small marina.
- Friar's Bay – A small bay between Marigot and Grand Case, with beach restaurants loved by locals and calm water.
- Simpson Bay Lagoon – One of the largest lagoons in the Caribbean, straddling both sides of the island. A hub for superyacht marinas, seafood restaurants and wat…
- Pic Paradis – The highest peak on the island of Saint-Martin, at 424 m. From the summit lookout, you can see the coasts of both sides and nearby islands.
- Loterie Farm – A tropical rainforest reserve at the foot of Pic Paradis, with canopy zip lines, hiking trails and a pool in the forest.
- Rainforest Adventures (Rockland Estate) – An adventure park in a converted old plantation, home to the 'Flying Dutchman' zip line, said to be the steepest in the world, and a cable…
- Tintamarre Island – An uninhabited flat-topped island off the French east coast, with ruins of a disused airstrip, natural mud baths and snorkelling spots wher…
- Border Monument – A monument commemorating the 1648 treaty that divided the island between two nations. You can step across the French and Dutch sides in one…
- Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy – A luxurious little island reached by ferry in about an hour, with the harbour town of Gustavia and Shell Beach.
- Saba – A Dutch volcanic island about 45 km southwest of Sint Maarten, with cloud-forest hiking, diving and a village of white walls and red roofs.
Where to eat
- Le Pressoir – A French fine dining restaurant set in an 1871 Creole house, specializing in contemporary French cuisine and tasting me…
- Sky's the Limit – A popular open-air BBQ stand (lolo) on Boulevard de Grand Case, renowned for its smoked ribs and johnny cakes, offering…
- Bistrot Caraïbes – A French bistro in Grand Case operating since 1994, famous for its live lobster tank and lobster dishes, boasting high…
- Rosemary's – A long-standing lolo on the Marigot waterfront, open since 1978, famous for its curried goat praised by Anthony Bourdai…
- The Greenhouse – Established in 1986 in Simpson Bay, facing Kim Sha Beach, this local favorite is popular for its lobster nights, steaks…
- The Palms – A family-run restaurant on Simpson Bay's airport road, specializing in Caribbean home cooking, famous for its Drunken R…
Itineraries
- Saint Martin French & Dutch Sides + St. Barth – Watch planes and shop duty-free on the Dutch side, savor Creole cuisine on the French side, and take a day trip to St…