The Marigot market
The capital of the French side, Marigot livens up its seafront with a colorful market, restaurants and a marina.
Saint Martin
Shared between a French and a Dutch side, Saint Martin combines fine sand beaches, the colorful market of Marigot and a double cultural influence. A Caribbean island that blends beach relaxation with a festive atmosphere all year round.
Why visit Saint Martin?
Saint Martin stands out for its unique status as an island shared between two nations, the French side and Sint Maarten, the Dutch side, offering a double cultural atmosphere on a small territory. A French territory in the Caribbean, it offers numerous beaches, varied cuisine and a lively nightlife, alongside water activities favored by sailing and diving enthusiasts.
What to discover in Saint Martin?
Marigot, the capital of the French side, is organized around its colorful market, its harbor and its seafront restaurants, in an atmosphere more relaxed than the Dutch side. The French beaches, such as Orient Bay and Grand Case, offer fine sand and beachfront restaurants renowned for Creole and French cuisine.
Nearby, the Dutch side of the island, around Philipsburg, concentrates a livelier nightlife and the famous Maho Beach, where planes fly low overhead over swimmers. The whole island remains a Caribbean sailing hotspot, with renowned regattas and numerous water sports schools. The proximity of neighboring islands such as Anguilla and Saint Barthélemy allows the exploration to extend by boat.
Cities to visit in Saint Martin (French part)
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Saint Martin (French part) in pictures
The must-sees
Beaches, the Marigot market and Caribbean atmosphere: here is what not to miss in Saint Martin.
Orient Bay
This long, fine-sand beach concentrates beachfront restaurants and water sports, in a festive and relaxed atmosphere.
Grand Case
Nicknamed the island's culinary capital, this small town lines up renowned restaurants along its sunset-facing beach.
Maho Beach
On the Dutch side, this famous beach draws visitors who come to watch planes fly extremely low over the beach.
Water activities
Sailing, diving and snorkeling are practiced all along the coastline, the island being a renowned Caribbean regatta hotspot.
Neighboring islands
Anguilla and Saint Barthélemy, reachable by boat, allow the exploration to extend beyond Saint Martin.
Practical information
- Capital
- Marigot
- Area
- About 53 km² (French side)
- Population
- About 32,000 inhabitants (French side)
- Languages
- French
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Time zone
- UTC-4
- Climate
- Tropical
- Best season
- December to April (dry season)
Frequently asked questions
When to visit Saint Martin?
The dry season, from December to April, offers the most favorable conditions, with steady sunshine and lower hurricane risk.
Do you need a passport for Saint Martin?
A valid ID is enough for French nationals on the French side; a passport is recommended for crossing to the Dutch side.
How many days are needed to visit Saint Martin?
Four to five days allow you to discover the main beaches and the island's two atmospheres, French and Dutch.
How do you get around Saint Martin?
Renting a car makes it easy to move between the two sides of the island, as no physical border separates the two territories.
Can you see planes at Maho Beach?
Yes, this beach on the Dutch side is renowned for its proximity to the runway, with planes flying extremely low over swimmers.
Is Saint Martin suitable for families?
Yes, several calm beaches such as Orient Bay or Grand Case suit families, with numerous accessible water activities.
Plan your trip to Saint Martin (French part)
Day-by-day itinerary, budget, bookings and packing in a single app.
