French Flair • Caribbean Food Capital • Nature Reserve Islets
Plan Your St. Martin TripThe northern half of the island is Saint-Martin, a French overseas collectivity, while the south is Dutch Sint Maarten (see our Sint Maarten guide). There are no border formalities between the two sides, so you can have breakfast in Philipsburg and dinner in Grand Case without showing a passport.
The French side has its own rhythm: French and Creole cooking, a waterfront market in the capital, Marigot, and a string of beaches and islets protected within a national nature reserve. It's quieter and more laid-back than the Dutch side's resort and nightlife strip, and it's known for some of the best food in the Caribbean.
The French side's best-known beach and one of the longest on the island, lined with beach clubs, restaurants and water sports.
A small islet within the nature reserve, reached by shuttle boat from the Cul-de-Sac jetty. Boats run every 30 minutes, the crossing takes about five minutes, and the fare is €10 or US$12. The last boat back leaves at 4:30 p.m.
A scenic beach a few minutes from Marigot, popular for swimming and snorkeling along the rocks.
Belmond La Samanna - on Baie Longue; it takes a seasonal break each summer and is scheduled to reopen November 15, 2026
Secrets St. Martin at Anse Marcel - check reopening status before booking
Grand Case is promoted by the island's tourist office as the food capital of the Caribbean, with a row of restaurants on its main street, several listed by Gault & Millau. For something more casual, eat at the lolos, traditional open-air Creole barbecue stands in Grand Case and on Marigot's waterfront near the ferry terminal, serving grilled ribs, chicken, fish and conch. Try johnny cakes and the island's guavaberry liqueur.
Marigot market and the climb to Fort Louis (1789) for harbor views
Hike Pic Paradis (424 m), the island's highest point
Loterie Farm, a former sugar estate with treetop zip lines and forest trails
Kayak from Galion Beach area within the nature reserve
Day trip to St. Barth: about 15 minutes by plane from Grand Case's L'Espérance airport
Carnival in February/March, with parades and street parties
Nearby islands: Sint Maarten, Anguilla, St. Barths · Explore the Northern Caribbean
December to April is the dry, peak season. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.
Most international flights land at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side; American Airlines flies nonstop from Miami. The small Grand Case–L'Espérance Airport (SFG) on the French side handles regional flights, including St. Barth.
The euro is the official currency on the French side; U.S. dollars are widely accepted. French is the official language.
Rental cars, taxis and local buses are available. Driving is on the right under French road rules; confirm driver's license requirements with your rental company before you go.
U.S. citizens need a passport valid for at least six months; no visa for stays under 90 days. Although part of the EU, Saint-Martin is not in the Schengen Area, and ETIAS is not required.
Let us plan your French Caribbean escape: a villa in Terres Basses, a table in Grand Case and an island-hop to St. Barth.
Plan My St. Martin TripPhoto: “OrientBeachSaintMartin 20080108.jpg” by UpstateNYer, CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons; cropped/resized. Photo: “Grand Case (15639674413).jpg” by Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), via Wikimedia Commons; resized.