St Maarten Travel Guide: The Caribbean Island With Two Personalities
When Two Guys Abroad arrived in St Maarten during our trans-Atlantic cruise, we quickly realized this wasn’t your typical Caribbean island. St Maarten blends Dutch and French culture, stunning beaches, laid-back island vibes, and some of the best food in the Caribbean into one unforgettable destination. Despite only spending a day on the island, St Maarten left a lasting impression. From watching planes soar dramatically overhead at Maho Beach to wandering colorful streets lined with beach bars and boutiques, the island offers far more than just a cruise stop. Whether you’re visiting for a day or planning a longer Caribbean getaway, this St Maarten travel guide covers everything you need to know.
A Brief History of St Maarten
St Maarten is one of the smallest landmasses in the world shared by two nations. The southern half belongs to the Netherlands and is known as Sint Maarten, while the northern side is the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin.
The island was originally inhabited by the Arawak people before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493. Over the centuries, the island changed hands multiple times between European powers before the French and Dutch signed the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, peacefully dividing the island between them.
Today, the border is virtually invisible, allowing visitors to move freely between the Dutch and French sides. This unique split gives St Maarten its fascinating dual identity — Dutch casinos and nightlife mixed with French cafés, bakeries, and gourmet dining.
When Is the Best Time to Visit St Maarten?
The best time to visit St Maarten is between December and April, during the Caribbean dry season. Expect sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity, making it ideal for beach days and outdoor adventures.
High Season (December–April)
- Perfect beach weather
- Busy cruise season
- Higher hotel prices
- Best atmosphere and nightlife
Shoulder Season (May–June)
- Fewer tourists
- Better hotel deals
- Warm weather with occasional showers
Hurricane Season (July–November)
- Cheapest prices
- Hot and humid conditions
- Greater chance of storms
For cruise passengers like us, winter and spring offer the smoothest sailing and best overall experience.
What are the Best Things To Do in St Maarten?
Watch the Planes at Maho Beach – Maho Beach is easily St Maarten’s most famous attraction. Located directly beside Princess Juliana International Airport, visitors gather on the beach to watch planes fly incredibly low overhead as they land. Seeing a massive jet descend just meters above your head is an adrenaline rush unlike anything else in the Caribbean. If you’re looking to get a microderm abrasion treatment, this is the place!
Explore Philipsburg – Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, is where most cruise ships dock. The waterfront promenade is lined with restaurants, souvenir shops, jewelry stores, and beach bars.Front Street and Back Street are perfect for shopping, while Great Bay Beach offers calm turquoise water just steps from the port.
Visit the French Side – Crossing into Saint-Martin feels like entering another country entirely. The French side is quieter, more refined, and famous for its food scene. The town of Marigot features open-air markets, French bakeries, cafés, and boutique shopping. Grand Case, often called the culinary capital of the Caribbean, is a must for food lovers.
To see the entire Island, we did the very informative St Maarten Top Ten Highlights Island Tour. The tour took you to all the right places and allowed time for shopping, swimming and exploring. I can highly recommend this tour if you are only there for a day.
Relax on Orient Bay Beach – Orient Bay is one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. With soft white sand, beach clubs, watersports, and crystal-clear water, it’s perfect for a relaxing Caribbean afternoon. It’s also one of the livelier beaches on the French side, attracting visitors looking for both relaxation and nightlife.
Take a Catamaran or Snorkeling Tour – Boat excursions are one of the best ways to experience St Maarten’s coastline. Popular tours include:
The water surrounding the island is exceptionally clear and ideal for marine life spotting.
St Maarten travel guide - Where To Stay
If you decide one day isn’t enough — and trust us, it won’t be — St Maarten has accommodations for every style of traveler.
Best Areas To Stay –
Philipsburg is best for: cruise passengers, shopping, beaches near the port and easy transportation.
Simpson Bay is best for: nightlife, restaurants, bars and casinos and central location.
Grand Case for: food lovers, boutique hotels, French-Caribbean charm and romantic stays.
Orient Bay is best for: beach resorts, watersports and relaxed atmosphere
What To Eat and Drink in St Maarten?
One of the biggest surprises during our visit was the incredible food scene. Thanks to its Dutch, French, and Caribbean influences, St Maarten offers some of the best dining in the region.
Must-Try Foods
- Fresh grilled lobster
- Conch fritters
- Johnny cakes
- Caribbean BBQ
- Creole seafood dishes
- French pastries and baguettes
- Saltfish and rice
Local Drinks
- Guavaberry rum
- Caribbean rum punch
- Fresh coconut water
- Local craft cocktails
Grand Case is widely considered the island’s culinary hotspot, with everything from fine dining to authentic roadside “lolos” serving grilled meats and seafood.
How To Get Around St Maarten?
Getting around St Maarten is relatively easy, especially for cruise visitors.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available at the cruise port and major beaches. Prices are generally fixed by destination.
Rental Cars
Renting a car is the best option for exploring both sides of the island independently. Roads are easy to navigate, though traffic can become heavy during cruise ship arrival days.
Public Buses
Minibus services operate across the island and are an inexpensive way to travel between towns and beaches.
Walking
Philipsburg is highly walkable, especially around the cruise port and beachfront promenade.
Is St Maarten Worth Visiting on a Cruise?
Absolutely! St Maarten combines everything travelers love about the Caribbean:
- Stunning beaches
- Excellent food
- Friendly locals
- Unique Dutch and French culture
- Great shopping
- Easy transportation
- Exciting excursions
Even during a short cruise stop, there’s enough variety to satisfy beach lovers, foodies, adventurers, and photographers alike.
For us at Two Guys Abroad, St Maarten was one of the standout destinations of our trans-Atlantic cruise. Read about our Norwegian Star Cruise Review here.
Final Thoughts on Visiting St Maarten
This was an awesome Caribbean port stop, (better than some of the other places we’ve been dropped of at when on a cruise), and Im glad to have ticked of the Maho Beach experience on my bucket list.
St Maarten is a destination where European charm meets tropical paradise, where beach bars sit beside French cafés, and where every corner of the island offers a different vibe.
Whether you spend a single day exploring Philipsburg and Maho Beach or stay longer to experience the French side and hidden coves, St Maarten delivers the perfect blend of relaxation, culture, and adventure.
For cruise travelers and island hoppers alike, this small Caribbean island leaves a very big impression, I hope you have enjoyed our St Maarten travel guide.
