Saint Martin is a travel destination in Caribbean. Its capital is Marigot. March and February are its two best months to visit, ranked on 1991–2020 climate averages.
Top places to visit in Saint Martin
Orient Bay (Baie Orientale) (natural) — Saint Martin's most celebrated beach — a long arc of pale gold sand on the northeast coast lined with beach clubs, water-sports concessions, and a famously relaxed clothing-optional section; turquoise water sheltered by a reef, regular trade winds for windsurfing, and the Pinel Island ferry departing from the southern end.
Pinel Island (Îlet Pinel) (natural) — Small uninhabited islet off the northeastern coast, reached by a five-minute water taxi from Cul-de-Sac — crystal-clear snorkelling on the shallow reef, two beach restaurants serving fresh lobster and grilled fish, and hammocks strung between sea-grape trees; one of the most idyllic half-day escapes in the Dutch–French Caribbean.
Grand Case Village (city) — The gastronomic capital of the Caribbean — a single main street of gingerbread-coloured cottages converted into acclaimed restaurants serving French Creole cuisine; each Tuesday evening the Harmony Nights street party transforms the strip with local music, rum punch, and open-air barbecue plates called lolos.
Maho Beach (natural) — One of the world's most exhilarating beach experiences — located directly under the approach path to Princess Juliana Airport (now on Sint Maarten side, but visible from the French side); jet blasts from landing aircraft send sunbathers scrambling while tourists cling to the perimeter fence as planes pass at rooftop height.
Pic Paradis (natural) — The highest point in Saint Martin at 424 m — a forested summit offering panoramic views over both the French and Dutch halves of the island, Sint Maarten's Great Salt Pond, Anguilla, and on clear days as far as Saba; the hiking trail through secondary tropical forest is the island's most rewarding active excursion.
Marigot — Capital of Saint Martin (city) — The French capital of the island — a charming harbour town of patisseries and French-Caribbean restaurants facing the Simpson Bay Lagoon; the Saturday morning market by the ferry dock overflows with Creole spices, tropical fruit, and local crafts below the cannon-studded ruins of Fort Louis on the hill above.
Fort Louis (landmark) — Ruins of an 18th-century French fortification crowning the hill above Marigot harbour — six rusty cannons still point seaward from the low walls; the short climb rewards visitors with a sweeping view over the lagoon, the Dutch side, and the islands of Anguilla and St Barts shimmering on the horizon.
Friar's Bay (natural) — A sheltered cove on the northern coast beloved by locals — calm, shallow water ideal for children, a beach bar made from driftwood and corrugated iron serving rum punch and fried fish; the low-key atmosphere and absence of mass tourism give Friar's Bay a laid-back authenticity rare in the Caribbean.
Simpson Bay Lagoon (natural) — The largest enclosed lagoon in the Lesser Antilles, shared between France and the Netherlands — a vast, sheltered body of water popular with sailing yachts; the lagoon is crossed by the famous drawbridge at Sandy Ground that opens twice daily to allow mast traffic; windsurfing, kitesurfing, and kayaking dominate the western lagoon shores.
Loterie Farm (natural) — Private nature reserve and adventure park in the forested hills behind Pic Paradis — zip-lines through the jungle canopy, a spring-fed freshwater pool, and the elegant Hidden Forest restaurant in a tropical garden; one of the few places on the island where native mongoose, green vervet monkeys, and iguanas roam undisturbed.