Looking for the best things to do in St Maarten? Check out these 17 amazing ideas that surely make for an unforgettable trip!
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Where is St Maarten Located?
The island of Saint Martin (also spelled Sint Maarten) is a popular vacation destination located in the Caribbean Sea.
The island is considered one of the four countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, though the northern two-thirds of the island is overseen by the French.
This means that there are two distinctly different regions of the island to explore — the Dutch side of Saint Martin and the French side.
The Dutch side of Saint Martin is known to be more commercialized and densely populated, while the French side offers more seclusion and less development.
We think both sides of the island are worth checking out, but we’ve personally spent more time on the Dutch side.
Where to Stay in St Martin
Sonesta Ocean Point Resort
If you’re looking for an all-inclusive experience in St Martin, try booking a stay at the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort.
This adults-only resort overlooking Maho Bay offers countless amenities including three pools, three restaurants, and 24-hour room service.
The resort is also adjacent to the family friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, which is a great St Martin all-inclusive option if you’re traveling with children.
Check out our full review of the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort here!
Holland House Beach Hotel
Conveniently located on the beach in downtown Philipsburg, Holland House Beach Hotel is a great pick if you like to be in the middle of all the action.
A popular cruise ship port and the capital of Sint Maarten, Philipsburg offers a variety of restaurants, shops, and activities to enjoy during your stay.
If bustling crowds don’t bother you and you enjoy exploring a more populated area of the island, this could be the perfect location for your stay in St Martin.
Secrets St Martin Resort & Spa
If you fancy a stay on the French side of the island, check out Secrets St Martin Resort & Spa.
This property is the only all-inclusive resort located on the French side of Saint Martin, and we have a feeling you will fall in love with the countless amenities such as an infinity pool and oceanfront whirlpool!
Given that this is an adults-only resort, this would be an ideal choice if you’re looking for a Saint Martin honeymoon or relaxed getaway with friends.
17 Amazing Things to do in St Maarten (French Side of St Martin & St Martin Dutch Side)
1. Eat Plenty of Seafood
If you’re a seafood eater, you’ll love checking out the dining scene in St Maarten.
We particularly love Big Fish in Oyster Pond, which has a chic atmosphere and a tasty selection of seafood dishes for your consideration.
2. Explore the Island by Car
St Maarten is a great island to explore by car.
While there can be crime anywhere you go, St Maarten felt a lot safer to us than other tropical destinations we’ve been to in the past to the point where we felt very comfortable driving around and getting a feel for the area on our own.
There’s so much you would miss on this island if you don’t try navigating it yourself!
3. Shop at Philipsburg
It may or may not be your thing, but the shopping is great in St Maarten.
Since it’s a popular cruise ship destination, Philipsburg has everything from little shack shops to fancy jewelry stores.
There really is something for everyone, and this is a great destination to find all of your unique souevenirs.
4. Get to Know the People
St Maarten is known as “the happy island”, and it’s for a good reason.
It’s hard not to notice how friendly and welcoming most of the locals on the island are.
This is definitely a quality we look for when thinking of where we’d like to plan return visits or recommend to friends, and we totally recommend chatting with the locals and getting to know the people that live on this beautiful island.
There are so many exciting qualities to traveling, but meeting new people from different places is certainly one of the most memorable in our experience!
5. Try Water Sports
St Maarten is a great place to enjoy water sports.
We personally loved renting jet skis at Philipsburg during our trip, but there are plenty of other opportunities to get out on the water as well.
Whether you enjoy paddle boarding, jet skiing, or sailing, there are many opportunities to try something new at most of the popular beaches in St Maarten (especially Philipsburg, since this is a main point of interest on the island).
6. Take a Day Trip to St. Barths
If you don’t mind hopping on a ferry, you need to plan a day trip to St Barths while you’re in St Maarten.
While St Maarten itself is an incredible destination, visiting St Barths was actually one of our favorite things to do in St Maarten while we were there (even though technically this took us away from St Maarten and onto a new island).
Plan for about a half hour ferry ride in the morning, and spend your entire day exploring a new location.
Our favorite way to get around St Barths is by ATV (no tour guide needed), which are available for rental.
Don’t forget to check out Gustaf III Airport as well, which is home to what is known as the third most dangerous air strip in the world.
You can literally watch the planes go right over your head before they drop down and land.
We guarantee this is something you won’t ever forget!
7. Visit Orient Beach
If you love beach walks, make sure to stop by Orient Bay Beach.
This is a long beach that is perfect for strolling, and there are also water sports and paddle boards available to rent.
You’ll also love the convenient access to the bar and restaurant, which means you really can hangout here all day thanks to the amenities.
8. View the Sunrise at Dawn Beach
Looking for the best sunrise in St Maarten?
Head to Dawn Beach, which was actually named for this!
This white-sand beach is also well known for snorkeling thanks to its crystal blue waters.
9. Try Local Caribbean Cuisine
Looking for some authentic, non-touristy cuisine?
Make sure to check out Caribbean Blend in Philipsburg.
We loved this eatery so much that we ate here multiple times during our stay in St Maarten!
I really enjoyed the chicken meal, which came with beans and rice and a fried plantain.
The seasoning is amazing, and most everything is cooked by just one person on the grill.
Also, if you want to have drink, get the BBC.
It’s basically a pina colada with Bailey’s, and it’s so good you might just swear off all other alcoholic beverages after you try it.
10. Avoid Scams
One thing to be wary of especially if you are traveling St Maarten in your own rental car is random people coming up to you at stops in the road trying to talk with you.
They may tell you you’ve “won something very exciting”, or they have an “exclusive offer” for you.
This boils back down to the fact that the area is known to host a lot of tourists, who are a common target for these types of marketing scams.
Very rarely are you actually going to get something of real value for free, so keep this in mind.
Oftentimes these companies will con you into spending a whole day with them so that they can convince you buy something.
And guess what? You don’t get your “free” item until you’ve already wasted the day away.
No thanks.
11. Visit Fort Louis
If you’re looking to spend time on the French side of Saint Martin, don’t sleep on a visit to Fort Louis.
While there are dozens of white sandy beaches to relax at throughout the island, it’s also a unique experience to learn more about the history of this tropical paradise.
It’s a bit of a hike to the top of the fort, which was built in 1789 to protect Marigot Bay and its wealth of goods such as sugarcane, rum, and coffee from invaders.
You’ll love the beautiful view from the top though, which is an excellent spot to take photos of the below city and the bay.
12. Go Snorkeling
St Maarten is somewhat of a bucket list destination for snorkelers.
The crystal clear water and sheer number of white sandy beaches make the island a prime location for sighting a variety of underwater wildlife.
There are so many different beaches to choose from on both the Dutch and French sides of the island that we recommend simply just getting started and hopping around to as many different locations as you can.
You never know what you’ll discover!
13. Watch the Airplanes at Maho Beach
If your a fan of aviation, you’ll definitely want to set aside time to watch the airplanes at Maho Beach.
Located on the Dutch side of the island, Maho Beach is unusually close to the island’s runway and one of the few places in the world where you can get such a close look at the outgoing aircrafts as they take flight.
Make sure to use caution however, as the jet blast from the aircrafts taking off can be pretty strong and there are actually warnings from the government not to get too close to the incoming/outgoing aircraft due to potential dangers.
14. Gamble at Casino Royale
If you like to test your luck, stop by the Casino Royale.
This 21,000 square foot casino is the largest gaming venue on the island and is an interesting way to spend an evening on the island if you enjoy gambling.
15. Explore History at the Sint Maarten Museum
Learn more about the local history of Sint Maarten by visiting the Sint Maarten Museum in Philipsburg.
This converted 1800s home offers unique artifacts and educational information on the culture and history of the island that are bound to enrich your stay.
16. Visit Pinel Island
Located on the North shore of French side of St Martin, Pinel Island is a great day trip to do while visiting Saint Martin.
You do need to take a ferry or private boat to reach the island, or you can even kayak there!
In addition to the hiking and wildlife on the island itself, the area is also known as a hotspot for sea turtles.
This is an incredibly unique way to spend the day, and we absolutely recommend visiting Pinel Island if you have the chance!
17. Check Out the Yoda Guy Exhibit
If you or anyone you’re traveling with happens to be a Star Wars fan, you can’t skip a visit to the Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit in Philipsburg.
Created by Nick Maley, an international artist and Creature Effects Designer best known for his contribution to the creation of Yoda and other creatures for Star Wars, this is an incredibly unique experience for anyone who is a fan of this series.
You’ll love learning more about how Yoda was created, along with seeing some pretty amazing Hollywood memorabilia and potentially even meeting Nick Maley himself!
What of these things to do in St Maarten do you want to do most?
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