St. Maarten · St. Martin
One island, two countries, five neighborhoods that feel nothing alike: the French capital and its market, the foodie village, the big beach, the Dutch capital and its shops, and the area of planes and nightlife. Here is how to choose.
French side
Marigot
The market, the fort, the town.
French side
Grand Case
The island’s best restaurants.
French side
Orient Bay
The big beach and its beach clubs.
Dutch side
Philipsburg
Front Street, the Boardwalk, the cruise ships.
Dutch side
Simpson Bay & Maho
Planes, the lagoon, nightlife.
St. Maarten is small, but each area has its own rhythm. The French north is quieter and more food-focused; the Dutch south is livelier and busier with shops, and it has the airport, the cruise port and the nightlife.
The right area depends on your evenings: dinner on foot, a late night out, or staying with your toes in the sand. Wherever you stay, the other side is never far.
Updated October 2026
What makes each one special, who it suits, and the full guide.
French side
The capital of the French side follows the rhythm of its waterfront market, busiest on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Climb to Fort Louis for the view over the bay and Anguilla, have lunch by the harbor, or catch the ferry to Anguilla or St. Barts.
Best for: half a day in town, markets, history.
French side
A former fishing village turned the island’s gourmet capital: French restaurants in Creole houses, lolos grilling in the open air and a calm beach facing Anguilla. At night, everything is walkable.
Best for: food lovers, couples, car-free evenings.
French side
More than a mile of white sand, beach clubs, water sports and a village of café terraces. You can spend the day without a car, with Green Cay by kayak and Pinel Island close by. The sea can get rough.
Best for: first-timers, beach days, independent families.
Dutch side
The Dutch capital lines up its duty-free shops on Front Street, its promenade along Great Bay Beach and, at the end of the bay, the cruise port. Very busy by day, it quiets down at night.
Best for: cruise passengers, shopping, a beach in town.
Dutch side
Around the airport: planes skimming Maho Beach, Mullet Bay and the Cupecoy cliffs, the lagoon and its yachts, then the bars, rooftops and casinos that make this the island’s liveliest area.
Best for: nightlife, groups of friends, staying near the airport.
Tap a name to open that neighborhood guide.
The five areas compared.
| Area | Side | Vibe | Swimming | At night | On foot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marigot | French | Small town, market | No big beach in town; Friar’s Bay close by | Quiet, a few bars | Downtown and the harbor |
| Grand Case | French | Foodie village | Calm beach, protected by the reef | Restaurants and beach bars | The whole boulevard |
| Orient Bay | French | Beach resort | Big beach, sometimes rough | Village and restaurants | Beach, village, hotels |
| Philipsburg | Dutch | Shopping capital | Great Bay in town, Little Bay next door | Quiet once the ships leave | Downtown and the beach |
| Simpson Bay & Maho | Dutch | Lively, airport | Mullet Bay, Simpson Bay, Cupecoy | The liveliest on the island | Maho Village, the Simpson Bay strip |
No neighborhood guide for these yet, but they are well worth the trip.
The area of villas and quiet luxury, with Baie Longue, Baie Rouge and Baie aux Prunes, and the La Samanna hotel. A car is a must.
A very sheltered bay in the north, with its marina and a beach where the water is often calm. More isolated: a car is recommended.
Where the shuttle boats to Pinel Island leave, with the Oualichi rum bar and the Karibuni suites facing the island.
Between Marigot and Grand Case: the sheltered cove of Friar’s Bay and its beach bar, then Happy Bay, a 10 to 15-minute trail away.
On the Dutch east coast: Dawn Beach, the JW Marriott and Oyster Bay resorts, and Big Fish for dinner.
The shallow lagoon of Le Galion, perfect for families, and Amuseum Naturalis, a free open-air museum.
Lagoon-side restaurants in Cole Bay and, up in the hills, Rainforest Adventures and its zip line, with Emilio’s at its foot.
The island’s highest point, its forest trails and Loterie Farm: see our hikes.
For a first trip, Orient Bay for the beach and walking everywhere, or Grand Case for the restaurants. Simpson Bay and Maho suit you if you want nightlife and the airport nearby. For quiet luxury, Terres Basses.
The Dutch side if you want to be near the airport, the nightlife, the casinos and the shopping. The French side if you prefer quieter beaches, French food and a slower pace. The island is small: the other side is never far.
Yes, there are no border controls. Roads can be busy at rush hour, and the lagoon drawbridges close the road for a few minutes at set times.
It is the easiest way as soon as you want to see several areas and beaches. At night, after a dinner with wine, take a taxi.
In Simpson Bay and Maho, on the Dutch side, for bars, rooftops, casinos and clubs. On the French side, Grand Case is the best for dinner and drinks on foot.
Philipsburg, on foot from the port: Front Street, the Boardwalk and Great Bay Beach. With more time, Maho Beach and its planes, or the French side.
