Sint Maarten is a travel destination in Caribbean. Its capital is Philipsburg. February and March are its two best months to visit, ranked on 1991–2020 climate averages.
Top places to visit in Sint Maarten
Maho Beach (Princess Juliana Airport) (natural) — World's most famous aviation beach — aircraft on final approach to Princess Juliana International Airport pass just 10–20 m overhead while landing; jet blast from departing aircraft has become a bucket-list experience; the island's most visited and photographed attraction.
Great Salt Pond (natural) — Large natural salt lagoon at the centre of Sint Maarten — seasonal flamingo flocks, brown pelicans, and herons feed around the fringes; the pond anchors the island's diverse bird list and is ringed by a developing eco-trail.
Philipsburg (city) — Capital of the Dutch side — Front Street's colourful duty-free shops cater to cruise passengers while the renovated Bobby's Marina boardwalk offers sunset cocktail bars, fish restaurants, and views of cruise ships anchored in Great Bay.
Dawn Beach (natural) — Windward Atlantic beach on the east coast — the rolling surf and offshore reef make it the island's best surf and bodyboard spot; the coral garden just beyond the break is among the healthiest remaining reef on the Dutch side.
Simpson Bay Lagoon (natural) — One of the largest natural lagoons in the Caribbean — the vast, protected turquoise expanse hosts the island's main megayacht marina, watersports operators, and the iconic opening of the Dutch drawbridge for the Saturday morning superyacht parade.
Fort Amsterdam (landmark) — Ruins of a 17th-century Dutch fort on the headland between Great Bay and Little Bay — a few original cannon remain; the panoramic views across the bay towards Philipsburg and Anguilla are among the best on the island.
Sint Maarten Museum (landmark) — Mid-sized museum on Frontstreet chronicles the island's indigenous Arawak settlement, saltpan industry, colonial history, and the twin-partition treaty of 1648 — supposedly the product of a legendary walking race between a Dutch sailor and a French soldier.
Mullet Bay Beach (natural) — Long stretch of silver-grey sand backed by abandoned resort ruins from 1995's Hurricane Luis — the ruined buildings have become a paradoxically beloved backdrop; the beach itself has naturally recovered to become one of the island's widest and most peaceful.
Loterie Farm & Hidden Forest (natural) — Eco-resort in a lush 52-hectare forest reserve on Pic Paradis hillside — zip-lines through the rainforest canopy, a spring-fed freshwater pool, and a treetop bar attract adventure-seekers from both sides of the island; nesting birds and giant African snails inhabit the forest floor.
Pic Paradis (Highest Point) (natural) — Sint Maarten's forested summit at 424 m — a scenic hike through secondary rainforest rewards with panoramic views of both coasts, Anguilla, St Barts, and Saba; the forest here receives almost double the rainfall of the coast, creating a genuinely different ecosystem.