Best things to do in St Maarten & St Martin
From private boat days and neighbouring islands to beaches, food, nature and some of the island’s most distinctive sights, there is plenty to experience across St Maarten and St Martin.
Whether you’re here for a few days or a longer stay, this guide will help you decide what is genuinely worth making time for.
A good St Maarten trip usually combines time on the water, a few carefully chosen beaches, time on both sides of the island and enough free space to enjoy places without constantly rushing to the next stop.
Start with the experiences St Maarten is known for
If it’s your first visit, these are some of the easiest places to start.
Together they give you a good mix of coastline, beaches, food, scenery and local character without trying to fit the entire island into one day.
Spend a day on the water
See St Maarten from a completely different perspective with a private boat charter around the coast.
Swim, snorkel, stop at beaches and enjoy the freedom to shape the day around your group rather than following a fixed itinerary.
Watch the planes at Maho Beach
Maho Beach is one of St Maarten’s most recognisable sights, with aircraft approaching Princess Juliana International Airport directly over the beach.
It is worth seeing at least once, even if you only stay long enough to watch a few arrivals and experience the atmosphere.
Visit Pinel Island
Just off the French side, Pinel Island offers an easy escape for swimming, clear water and a relaxed beach day.
It works particularly well for families, couples and visitors looking for something simple without committing to a full-day excursion.
Spend time in Grand Case
Grand Case combines a long beach, village atmosphere and a strong reputation for dining.
Visit during the day for the beach, stay into the evening for dinner, or use it as a starting point for exploring the northern French side.
Climb to Fort Louis
Fort Louis sits above Marigot and rewards a relatively short climb with wide views across the bay and surrounding coastline.
It is an easy addition to an afternoon exploring Marigot.
Choose a beach and slow the day down
You do not need an organised activity every day.
Some of the best days in St Maarten are simply spent finding a beach that suits you, staying for lunch and letting the afternoon unfold.
Explore St Maarten from the water
For many visitors, one day on the water becomes one of the highlights of the trip.
The right charter depends on how much time you have, who you’re travelling with and whether you want to stay around St Maarten or explore farther afield.
Half-day private charters
A good choice if you want several hours on the water without giving up the whole day.
Half-day trips can include swimming, snorkelling, coastline cruising and beach stops depending on the departure point and conditions.
Full-day private charters
A full day gives you more time to explore at a relaxed pace, make several stops and spend longer swimming or enjoying the beaches.
It is usually the better option if your boat day is one of the main experiences of the trip.
Sunset charters
A shorter, relaxed way to enjoy the water towards the end of the day.
Sunset trips can work particularly well for couples, families and groups who want an evening experience rather than another full-day excursion.
Snorkelling & coastal stops
Places such as Creole Rock, Tintamarre and sheltered bays around the island may form part of private boat itineraries.
Routes vary with the boat, departure point and conditions, so the exact day can be adapted around what is suitable.
Take a day trip beyond St Maarten
You do not have to leave the island to have an excellent boat day, but Anguilla and St Barts offer two very different experiences if you want to explore farther.
Anguilla private charters
Anguilla is known for white-sand beaches, clear water and a relaxed pace.
A private Anguilla day can combine swimming, beach time and lunch ashore, with the itinerary shaped around your group and the conditions.
St Barts private charters
St Barts offers a different style of day, combining a longer boat journey with beaches, restaurants, time ashore and a distinctive French-Caribbean atmosphere.
It is generally best approached as a full-day experience.
Stay around St Maarten
Travelling to another island is not automatically better.
If your priority is swimming, snorkelling, beaches and a relaxed day on the water, staying around St Maarten can mean less travelling and more time enjoying the boat.
Not sure which suits you?
Anguilla, St Barts and St Maarten each create a different type of day.
Our planning guides can help you compare the experience before deciding.
Beaches worth knowing
There are beaches all around St Maarten and St Martin, and the right one depends more on the type of day you want than on finding a single “best beach”.
These six are useful places to know when planning your stay.
Mullet Bay
A broad sandy beach on the western Dutch side and an easy choice if you want a straightforward beach day near Maho and Cupecoy.
Conditions vary, but it is a useful all-round option for swimming, relaxing and spending a few hours by the water.
Maho Beach
Come here primarily for the aircraft rather than for a peaceful beach day.
The approaches over the sand make Maho one of the island’s most unusual and recognisable sights.
Grand Case Beach
A relaxed French-side beach with the advantage of being directly beside Grand Case’s restaurants and village atmosphere.
It works particularly well when you want to combine beach time with lunch or an evening in town.
Orient Bay
One of the island’s longest and most developed beach areas, with restaurants, beach clubs and activities along the shore.
Choose Orient Bay if you like having plenty happening around you.
Happy Bay
Reached on foot from the Friar’s Bay area, Happy Bay feels quieter and less developed than many of the island’s better-known beaches.
It suits visitors who do not mind a short walk in exchange for a more natural setting.
Anse Marcel
A sheltered bay on the northern French side surrounded by hills.
The area feels quieter and more contained than many of the island’s busier beach areas.
Other beaches worth knowing include Friar’s Bay, Baie Rouge, Kim Sha, Baie Longue, Great Bay and Cupecoy. Which one works best can change with the weather, sea conditions and the kind of day you want.
Explore beyond the beach
St Maarten is small enough that very different parts of the island can be experienced without travelling enormous distances.
Marigot and Fort Louis
Explore the French-side capital, walk along the waterfront and climb Fort Louis for views over the bay.
This works well as a relaxed morning or afternoon rather than a full-day itinerary.
Grand Case
Grand Case is worth visiting even if you are not staying there.
Its beach, restaurants and walkable waterfront make it one of the easiest places to combine food and time by the sea.
Philipsburg and Great Bay
Philipsburg offers the boardwalk, Great Bay, shopping and a noticeably different atmosphere from the French side.
Cruise days are naturally busier, so the experience can vary depending on when you visit.
Pic Paradis
The higher ground around the centre of the island offers a greener contrast to the beaches and coastal towns.
It is a good choice when you want views, walking or simply a change of scenery.
Pinel Island
Pinel is particularly useful when you want something that feels like a small-island escape without committing to a full Anguilla or St Barts day.
Coastal walks and viewpoints
Fort Louis, Happy Bay and viewpoints around both sides of the island can all be explored without turning the day into a major excursion.
A few well-chosen stops will usually feel better than trying to race around the entire island.
Things to do with children
St Maarten can work very well for families because many of its best experiences can be adapted to different ages and energy levels.
Choose an easy beach day. Beaches with straightforward access and suitable conditions can be the simplest option with younger children. Conditions change, so ask locally rather than assuming one beach will always be calm.
Visit Pinel Island. The short journey and relaxed setting make it feel like an outing without requiring an entire day.
Watch the planes at Maho. It is simple, memorable and easy to combine with another activity. Follow local safety guidance and keep a sensible distance from aircraft activity.
Take a private boat charter. A private charter gives families more control over the pace of the day, with greater flexibility around stops, swimming time and how long you stay in each place.
Explore the island at an easy pace. Fort Louis, Grand Case and Philipsburg can all be combined with food or beach time without turning the day into a demanding excursion.
Food and evenings around the island
Where you spend the evening can feel almost as different as the beaches themselves.
Grand Case
Known for dining and a relaxed French-side atmosphere.
It works particularly well for a long dinner after a beach day or private charter.
Simpson Bay
A convenient choice for restaurants, bars and a livelier evening, particularly for visitors staying on the Dutch side.
Maho
Useful if you want restaurants, nightlife and entertainment concentrated within a relatively small area.
The atmosphere is busier and more resort-oriented than much of the French side.
Marigot and Philipsburg
Marigot offers a quieter French-side waterfront atmosphere, while Philipsburg is better known for its boardwalk, Great Bay and daytime activity.
Both are worth experiencing as part of a wider island stay rather than trying to compare them as equivalent nightlife destinations.
Free and easy things to do
Not every good day needs a booking.
Some simple options include:
- watch the aircraft at Maho Beach
- climb Fort Louis
- walk along the Philipsburg boardwalk
- spend a few hours on one of the island’s beaches
- explore Grand Case or Marigot on foot
- find a viewpoint and stay for sunset
Leave some room in your trip for unplanned time. St Maarten becomes much easier to enjoy once you stop trying to fill every hour.
More about exploring St Maarten & St Martin
French side or Dutch side?
St Martin and St Maarten share the same island, but the two sides can feel noticeably different.
The French side includes places such as Grand Case, Marigot, Orient Bay and Anse Marcel, with beaches, smaller towns and a strong dining culture.
The Dutch side includes Simpson Bay, Maho and Philipsburg, with larger resorts, nightlife, shopping and some of the island’s best-known visitor attractions.
You do not need to choose one side for your entire stay. Exploring both is one of the easiest ways to experience more of the island.
Culture and local atmosphere
You do not need a formal sightseeing tour to experience some of the island’s character.
Spend time walking around Marigot or Grand Case, explore Philipsburg beyond the beach, visit local markets when they are operating or simply combine a beach day with lunch somewhere you would not otherwise have visited.
The contrast between the French and Dutch sides is part of what makes exploring St Martin / St Maarten interesting.
Seasonal events and festivals
Events and festivals can add something very different to a St Maarten holiday, from carnival celebrations and sailing events to local cultural evenings and community festivals.
Dates, programmes and locations can change from year to year, so check current information before planning a trip around a particular event.
If something happens to coincide with your stay, it can be an excellent way to experience another side of island life.
How much should you try to fit into one day?
Usually less than you think.
St Maarten looks small on a map, but traffic, beach stops, lunch and simply enjoying each place can take more time than expected.
Rather than trying to visit six beaches, several towns and both sides of the island in one day, choose a few places that work naturally together.
A western-side day around Maho and Mullet Bay, a French-side day around Marigot and Grand Case, or a relaxed boat day will usually feel better than spending most of your time moving between stops.
Planning a boat day during your stay?
Try not to leave an important boat trip until the final possible day of your holiday.
Weather and sea conditions can change, and keeping some flexibility in your schedule gives you more room if plans need to be adjusted.
Before choosing a charter, think about:
- whether you want a half-day or full-day
- whether you want to stay around St Maarten or visit another island
- where you are staying
- the most convenient departure point
- your group size
- how much space and comfort you want
We can help you narrow the options before you book.
Not sure how to fit everything into your trip?
The best St Maarten holidays usually balance planned experiences with free time.
Our St Maarten Trip Planner will help you think about where to stay, how many days you need, how to get around, when to schedule a boat day and whether an Anguilla or St Barts trip makes sense for your plans.
Planning guides that may help
→ Decide how much time you really need for the type of day you’re planning.
→ Compare Anguilla, St Barts and St Maarten when you only have one day on the water.
→ Learn how changing conditions are handled and what options may still be available.
→ Choose the most convenient starting point based on where you’re staying and where you want to go.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in St Maarten for a first visit?
For a first trip, a good mix usually includes time on the water, a few carefully chosen beaches, Maho Beach, Grand Case and at least one area on each side of the island.
You do not need to see everything. Choosing a few experiences that are genuinely different from one another usually makes for a better trip.
Is it worth taking a private boat charter in St Maarten?
For many visitors, yes.
A private charter gives you a different view of the island and allows the day to be adapted around your group, available time and the conditions.
It can be particularly worthwhile if swimming, snorkelling and beaches are an important part of your trip.
Is Anguilla worth visiting from St Maarten?
Anguilla can be an excellent day trip if you value white-sand beaches, clear water and a relaxed island atmosphere.
It is not essential, however. Visitors who prefer less travel can still have an excellent full day around St Maarten itself.
Is St Barts worth a day trip from St Maarten?
St Barts tends to suit visitors looking for a destination-focused day involving a longer boat journey, restaurants, beaches and time ashore.
Because the crossing is longer and more exposed than many local routes, it is worth considering your group and comfort expectations before choosing it.
What are the best things to do with children in St Maarten?
Beach days, Pinel Island, Maho plane spotting and private boat trips can all work well for families.
The best choice depends on the children’s ages, swimming ability, the conditions and how active you want the day to be.
Do I need a car to explore St Maarten?
You can enjoy St Maarten without renting a car, but having your own transport can make it easier to explore different beaches and areas independently.
Where you are staying and how much of the island you want to explore should determine whether a rental car makes sense.
How many days do you need in St Maarten?
A few days is enough to experience some highlights, but around a week gives you much more room to explore both sides of the island, enjoy beaches at a relaxed pace and include a boat day or neighbouring-island trip.
For a more detailed breakdown, use our St Maarten Trip Planner.
Ready to plan your time in St Maarten?
Tell us your dates, group size and the kind of experiences you are interested in.
We’ll help you understand the private charter options that may suit your plans and point you towards the right information if you are still deciding.
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