The island of St. Martin presents the typical Caribbean flair with its beautiful beaches and landscapes. For several centuries, it has combined it with a European cultural influence. The people who live here embody the colourful mix with their boundless friendliness and warmth. For this reason St. Martin is also known as ‘the friendly island’

In this post, I would like to introduce you to this unique island in the Caribbean and inspire you to spend your next holiday on St. Martin. As always, you’ll find a map at the end of this post in which I’ve marked all the best places to visit & most amazing photo spots for you.

Saint Martin & Sint Maarten – How two nations share a small Caribbean island…

The small Caribbean island of St. Martin lies around 250 kilometres east of the Greater Antilles island of Puerto Rico. It has been politically divided between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and France since 1648. With an area of just under 88 square kilometres, St. Martin is the smallest inhabited island in the world that belongs to two different countries. Its southern part (Sint Maarten) is Dutch, with the capital Philipsburg – where many cruise ships dock. In the north is the part that belongs to the French overseas territory of Saint Martin. The capital here is Marigot. Both sides not only have their own capital, but also their own government, police force and currency. However, all locals and tourists are allowed to cross the border without showing their passports.

Saint Martin or Sint Maarten – which side of the island is the better one?

Both sides of the island offer different advantages:

On the Dutch side St. Maarten is the well-known Princess Juliana International Airport. Here, aeroplanes take off and land almost within touching distance over the popular Maho Beach, as if you could still jump in. If you’re looking for a lively nightlife during your holiday or want to indulge in some shopping, St. Maarten is the place for you. What’s more, the locals here speak very good English.

The French side Saint Martin awaits you with its many great restaurants, especially in Grand Case, the ‘gastronomic capital of St. Martin’. Although it is generally quieter here, the secluded beaches and lush nature also speak for themselves.

During your holiday on St. Martin, however, it hardly makes a difference which side you choose, as you can reach all the best sights and photo spots quickly with a rental car and there are no border controls. You can move around freely.

My St. Martin Travel Guide

How do you get to the island of St. Martin?

The quickest way to reach St. Martin is by plane. The most common flight connection is via Miami, but there are also direct flights with KLM from Amsterdam or Air France from Paris. Another option for your arrival in St. Martin would be to board one of the cruise ships that anchor in Philipsburg. However, these usually only stop on the island for one day.

When is the best time to visit St. Martin?

The climate on St. Martin is maritime and tropical. It is pleasantly warm all year round with daytime temperatures averaging 25 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit is between November and August, as there is less chance of rain during this time. In the rainy season, between September and October, there is a risk of tropical storms and hurricanes.

How many days for St. Martin in the Caribbean ?

A healthy alternation between adventure and relaxation makes your holiday perfect, and St. Martin is an ideal place for this – you should definitely plan 3 to 5 days. Fantastic beaches for swimming and walking, rainforest areas with great hiking trails and a wide range of sporting activities guarantee a varied holiday. You can also combine St. Martin with other Caribbean islands. More on this later.

Accommodation tip for St. Martin:

We stayed on the Dutch side in an amazingly affordable and modern apartment in Simpson Bay, called The Hills Residence – with its own kitchen, washing machine and pool on the roof of the building:

My favourite beaches on the Caribbean island of St. Martin:

Friars Bay Beach

This great, soft sandy beach is located in a bay, with plenty of space to relax without any crowds. It is usually not very busy. There are also no strong waves here, which makes Friars Bay Beach perfect for swimming.

Happy Bay Beach

If you follow a narrow path from Friars Bay Beach, you will find Happy Bay: a small, secluded and empty beach. It’s like a small version of Friars Bay Beach but even quieter. This is why some bathers like to use it for nude sun bathing.

Maho Beach

Of course, the most famous photo spot on the island of St. Martin should not be missed: Maho Beach is world-famous thanks to the aeroplanes that land and take off here just overhead. Especially in the afternoon, when most of the big planes land, you can expect an unforgettable spectacle. As you can imagine, this is also when the beach is at its most crowded – it’s hard to find a place to lie down and relax here, but you don’t come to this beach to do that. My tip: The Sunset Beach Bar offers a great view of the landing planes and the beach while you enjoy a cocktail. It even has an arrival & departure monitor at the bar to never miss a flight!

Cupecoy Beach

It’s my favourite beach and the perfect place on the Caribbean island of St. Martin to watch the sunset. The beach is less suitable for swimming due to the often strong waves and its rocks, but offers a great photo opportunity and is very quiet – you are usually alone here. A stone staircase leads from the cliffs to the beach (the exact location can be found on my St. Martin map, including the nearest car park). Once at the bottom, you can also find hidden caves at low tide. All you have to do is walk a few steps along the rock on the left-hand side. But be careful: please never do this when there are strong waves or at high tide – the caves are then almost completely under water. It is best to check the tides online before you go.

The most beautiful attractions & things to do in Sint Maarten – the Dutch side

Philipsburg – capital of the Dutch side

Here you can enjoy the colourful Caribbean flair of the island of Sint Maarten while strolling along the beach promenade with its numerous bars and beach clubs and enjoying a fantastic view of the bay. You will also find plenty of souvenir shops. Due to the cruise ships that dock here, there are many day visitors in Philipsburg. The beach is therefore usually very busy.

Fort Amsterdam

On both sides of the island of St. Martin, you can visit the ruins of their respective historic fortifications free of charge. Fort Amsterdam belongs to the Dutch side and was built in the 17th century. You can even admire some cannons inside the fortress wall. From the top, you have a marvelous view of Philipsburg. Hundreds of pelicans live around the fortress, and if you’re lucky you might see nests with chicks.

Snorkeling in the underwater sculpture garden

An absolute must do during your holiday on the Dutch side of St. Maarten is a boat trip to the underwater sculpture garden Under SXM in Little Bay. It consists of 300 statues of famous personalities or important historical moments on the island. The garden has created an artificial reef and is home to many tropical fish. You will also often come across turtles, rays or an octopus that lives here. You should definitely choose a day with clear weather and sunshine for this activity. We were here after a heavy downpour and in cloudy weather, so the water was still very churned up with sediment. This is why we had to dive to see anything at all. Normally, the water is crystal clear and you can spot all sculptures while snorkelling.

credits: undersxm.com

Rainforest Adventure on Sentry Hill

A chairlift takes you up to the highest peak on the Dutch side, at a height of 341 metres – Sentry Hill. The ride gives you a fantastic view over the island of St. Martin. At the top there is a small zipline course with four different routes, which also offer you a great panoramic view – we had a lot of fun! The viewing platform at the summit is also absolutely spectacular, from where you can enjoy a 360-degree view. Brave souls can take the 853 m zipline back down to the valley from up here – the Flying Dutchman is the steepest zipline in the world with a gradient of 42 percent. But of course, you can also take the chairlift back down to the bottom instead. There are various combined tickets with all options.

Restaurant tip at Sentry Hill

There is a great historic restaurant, called Emilio’s, at the valley station. It is dedicated to the founder of the nature park. Here you can expect fantastic cuisine and good wines in a historic setting. Although the prices are on the high side, it’s worth stopping off here, perhaps for a special occasion.

The most beautiful attractions & things to do in Saint Martin – the French side

Marigot – capital of the French side of St. Martin

Similar to Philipsburg, small shops await you here, but there is no beach promenade in Marigot. Instead, you will find a pretty harbour with a market and small local restaurants or snack bars (known as Lolo’s). Marigot is also an ideal starting point for tours to secluded beaches and is known for its iconic architecture and monuments.

Fort Louis – one of the best sights of St. Martin

The historic fortress on the French side of the island of St. Martin is located on a hill right in the centre of Marigot and therefore offers a wonderful view over the town and harbour. It was built in the 18th century to defend the harbour and its warehouses. Well-preserved cannons can still be seen here too while large green iguanas like to sunbathe on the sides of the ruins.

Grand Case

Grand Case is not only my favourite village on Saint Martin, but on the whole island. As already mentioned, it is known as the ‘Gastronomical Capital of St. Martin’. Grand Case Beach is home to the best restaurants on the island – one after the other – and there’s something for everyone: local and affordable Lolo‘s (small BBQ stands) or fine dining restaurants. Among them, you’ll also find great individual shops where you can admire special pieces and local artwork. 

My restaurant tips in Grand Case

The waterfront restaurants offer a fantastic view of the sunset, such as Korner SXM, which is a very cosy place to sip a wine & enjoy the views.

My absolute favourite restaurant however is Calmos Café – an open restaurant with a relaxed, cosy atmosphere and very friendly staff. Some of the tables are right by the water, and I’m still dreaming of the gratinated cheese gnocchi! You really must try this restaurant!

Must Visit Attraction in St. Martin: the small island of Pinel (Îlet de Pinel)

The visit of this tiny island off the north coast of St. Martin is a popular thing to do during a holiday on St. Martin. The island can be reached by kayak or water taxi (boat). It is a jewel with fine sand and illustrates the most beautiful postcards. You can take a relaxing stroll or go snorkelling in the shallow waters around the sheltered sand spit. A 10-minute walk takes you to the wild and rocky beach, which is exposed to the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. There are two restaurants on Îlet de Pinel where you can enjoy Caribbean specialities. Shuttle boats run back and forth every 30 minutes.

→ My Tip: A perfect day trip is hopping on a Catamaran Tour which will bring you to Îlet de Pinel and other beautiful spots around St. Martin:

Hike to Pic Paradis – one of the best photo spots on St. Martin

At an altitude of 424 metres, Pic Paradis (Paradise Peak) is the highest point on St. Martin – in the middle of the densely overgrown green heart of the island. Nevertheless, the hike from the car park to the viewpoint at the summit only takes 10-15 minutes. You should still wear good shoes, as there is a lot of rubble on the path and it is very muddy after rain. Families of monkeys can often be seen on the ascent or the journey to the summit. The vervet monkeys are not originally native to St. Martin, but were brought to the island many years ago as pets. Apparently they liked it very much, because they have multiplied enormously. Today, hundreds of them live here and roam around freely.

Hiking enthusiasts can also start the ascent further down. You walk through the lush green of the rainforest and enjoy beautiful views – the hike to Pic Paradis from Loterie Farm takes around 2 hours.

Further excursion tips starting from St. Martin

Many travellers take a ferry from St. Martin to the mountainous neighbouring island of St. Barths or to the beach paradise of Anguilla. You can book both as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a hotel. Island hopping makes your Caribbean holiday even more exciting.

My map with the best attractions in St. Martin:

St. Martin, the beautiful Caribbean island with its very special flair, easily captured our hearts. We experienced a perfect mix of adventure, history and relaxation, accompanied by culinary delights that we won’t forget. 

As all the best attractions & photo spots on St. Martin are so close to each other, it is easy to make the most of your St. Martin holiday in the Caribbean within a couple of days. And believe me, you will feel at home surrounded by nature and the friendly locals of this island.

So, what are you waiting for? I hope my post with the best attractions in St. Martin will be helpful to plan your own holiday on the Caribbean Island.

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