Saint Barthélemy is a travel destination in Caribbean. Its capital is Gustavia. February and March are its two best months to visit, ranked on 1991–2020 climate averages.
Top places to visit in Saint Barthélemy
St-Jean Beach (natural) — The island's most iconic beach — a half-moon bay divided by the Eden Rock promontory, with crystal-clear turquoise water, white sand, and chic beach clubs; aircraft land on the short hillside runway and pass directly overhead, creating one of the Caribbean's most thrilling aviation spectacles.
Gustavia (city) — Elegant capital and superyacht capital of the Eastern Caribbean — Swedish-influenced red-roofed warehouses line the deep natural harbour, Louis Vuitton and Hermès boutiques sit beside excellent fish restaurants, and Fort Karl's battlements offer harbour-wide views.
Shell Beach (Gustavia) (natural) — Quiet enclave just below Gustavia's fort — the shoreline is carpeted entirely with shells instead of sand, the water is calm and gin-clear, and the surrounding hills are dotted with St Barts' signature luxury villas; excellent snorkelling on the reef just offshore.
Saline Beach (natural) — Clothing-optional beach at the end of a 10-minute walk through a salt pond — one of the most spectacularly beautiful and uncrowded beaches in the Caribbean, with dramatic rock formations at each end, big surf, and no beach bars; quintessential St Barts glamour stripped bare.
Gouverneur Beach (natural) — Secluded south-coast beach accessed by a steep road through hillside villas — long curved bay of pale sand backed by sea-grape trees, powerful rolling surf at the east end and calm clear wading water at the west; a favourite of residents and discerning return visitors.
Colombier Beach (natural) — The most remote beach on St Barts — reached only by boat or a challenging 30-minute cliff trail dropping through cactus scrub; a pristine beach utterly without infrastructure where sea turtles nest and brown pelicans fish; the snorkelling on the north reef is among the island's very best.
Eden Rock Hotel (landmark) — Legendary villa built atop St Jean's central rock promontory — designed by late art collector David Matthews, every room is a gallery of contemporary art; even a non-guest drink at the On the Rocks bar rewards with a front-row seat on Caribbean aviation theatre and the finest view in St Barts.
Le Toiny Beach (natural) — Remote, surf-splashed beach on the windward southeast coast — the rolling Atlantic swell makes swimming inadvisable but the dramatic wild scenery, the tidal rock pools, and the isolation draw photographers and hikers seeking the authentic, unmanicured side of St Barts.
Gustavia Fort Karl & Fort Gustav (landmark) — Twin 17th–18th-century Swedish-built fortifications flanking Gustavia harbour — Fort Karl's walls are perfectly preserved, with eight original cannon aimed out to sea; the two forts offer the best sunrise views across the superyacht-filled harbour and out to St Kitts on the horizon.
New Year's Eve Celebrations (landmark) — St Barts hosts one of the world's most glamorous New Year's events — the harbour fills with hundreds of superyachts, fireworks explode over Gustavia, and the island's restaurants and beach clubs attract a global jet-set clientele; the fortnight surrounding New Year is the peak of the St Barts social calendar.