10 Best Things to Do in Saint Martin

The beaches on Saint Martin are undoubtedly among the finest in the Caribbean. The sand is as fine as powder and the calm, shallow water has a rich ecosystem of coral and fishes just offshore. Many beaches on the south of the island (the Dutch side) have shallow seas that are suitable for families.

The beaches on the north of the island are more secluded and popular with couples and divers. The Grand Case shore on the far north of Saint Martin is especially beautiful.

Philipsburg is the largest town on Saint Martin (even if it's on the Sint Maarten side) and a beautiful area to explore. Built on the southern coast, this is where many cruise ships dock, which has brought a lot of investment to the area.

Thankfully, the city planners have been careful to preserve the Dutch historical architecture, which makes for a fascinating morning of exploration. Walk along the Voorstraat (Front Street) to explore the cafés, duty-free shops and brightly painted houses. The town is hemmed in on either side by Great Bay and Great Salt Pond, so it’s easy to explore.

Head to Sunset Bar and Grill on Maho Beach for the unique opportunity to enjoy great drinks and stunning views of planes coming in to land at Princess Juliana Airport.

In between plane landings, you can enjoy the view of the beach from the terrace and listen to the chilled lounge house music. There is a typical food menu of bar snacks like burgers and grilled meats. Drinks promotions run throughout the day, which is good for savvy savers.

Pinel Island is a great day trip on Saint Martin if you want to get back to nature. The centre of the island is ripe for exploration, with huge iguanas and lots of tropical birds, like pelicans, to spot flying overhead.

The coastline around Pinel Island is popular with water sports, especially snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding. The west coast of the island has several beach bars, serving great food and drinks. To reach Pinel Island, take a ferry from the town of Cul-de-Sac, on the east coast of Saint Martin.

Enjoying a sunset cruise in Saint Martin is one of the best ways to end a day on this stunningly beautiful Caribbean island. It gives you a fresh perspective on the tropical beauty and, thanks to calm seas, you are practically guaranteed smooth sailing.

You'll find agents and operators offering a range of sunset cruises all over the island. Most operators set sail from the south of the island, either Philipsburg or Simpson Bay. You can head to the marina yourself to see which type of cruise suits you best. Typically, cruises last 1.5 hours and includes champagne while you cruise past secluded bays around the island.

Fort St Louis is one of the best historical attractions in the French part of Saint Martin. It was built in the 18^th century to protect the main French outpost of Marigot.

Although not the highest viewpoint, the 360-degree panorama of Marigot Bay is beautiful and certainly worthy of a selfie – especially at sunset. The walk up is fairly easy and there are stairs the whole way. Consider booking a tour if you want to know more about the history of the site.

Creole Rock is one of the finest places to enjoy snorkelling in Saint Martin thanks to the vibrant coral and sea life found just a few metres underwater. This small rocky outcrop is around 50 metres off the northern coast of mainland Saint Martin. It’s overlooked by the popular Grand Case beach. You will find plenty of dive shops here offering day trips and equipment rentals.

The water around Creole Rock is extremely clear with visibility usually of 10 metres or more. It’s also one of the best spots on the island to see manta rays.

The Flying Dutchman is an exciting zipline attraction in the hills of Sint Maarten. Billed as the steepest zipline in the world, it makes a fun adventure for when you’ve had enough of lounging on the sand. First, you will take a chairlift about 350 metres into the highlands before flying back down the mountain on an 800-metre zipline. Everyone is given a safety briefing before riding. You must be at least 45 kg to ride the Flying Dutchman.

The ride is located at a 17th-century former plantation site called the Rockland Estate, which offers fantastic views of the east coast of Sint Maarten and several smaller Leeward Islands. There’s also an eye-opening and impactful museum on slave history on site, which is suitable for the whole family.

Pic Paradis is the highest mountain on the island of Saint Martin. Its name translates to "Paradise Peak" and it’s also one of the best places to enjoy panoramic views of the island and neighbouring Saint Barts Island. At a height of 424 metres, it’s not the most taxing of hikes, but it can be quite steep near the summit – closed shoes are advised. Also, it can be windy at the top, so it’s not suitable for younger children.

If you have an off-road vehicle, you might decide to drive right to the top of Pic Paradis, although most people park near Loterie Farm and hike the 5 km to the top.

Fort Amsterdam is a popular historical attraction in Sint Maarten. This ancient defensive structure was first built in the 17^th century and sits high on a peninsula above Phillipsburg. You can walk on the ramparts and see rusting cannons aimed out to sea in case of invasion from other colonial powers.

The whole area around Fort Amsterdam is now a protected historical site and an important bird sanctuary, with plenty of nesting grounds for pelicans and other exotic birds.