Things to do in Saint Martin (French part)

25 things to do in Saint Martin (French part)

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Swim and sunbathe at Orient Bay Beach

  Saint Martin's most famous stretch of sand, Orient Bay is a wide crescent of white beach lined with restaurants, bars, and watersports operators. The northern end has a well-known clothing-optional section near the former Club Orient.

  Orient Bay, Quartier d'Orléans

• Eat grilled lobster at a Grand Case lolo

  Grand Case is the culinary capital of the Caribbean, and its beachside open-air barbecue shacks called lolos serve charcoal-grilled lobster, chicken, and ribs at a fraction of restaurant prices. Pair it with a cold Carib beer and eat at a picnic table steps from the surf.

  Grand Case

• Hike to the summit of Pic Paradis

  At 424 metres, Pic Paradis is the highest point on the island. The trail winds through dry tropical forest with views across both the French and Dutch sides, and on clear days you can see as far as Anguilla and Saba.

  Near Mont Vernon

• Climb the ruins of Fort Louis above Marigot

  Built in 1789 under King Louis XVI to defend Marigot's harbour, Fort Louis sits on a hill overlooking the town, marina, and Simpson Bay Lagoon. Stone walls and cannon emplacements remain, and the panoramic view is among the best on the island.

  Marigot

• Zip-line through the forest canopy at Loterie Farm

  Loterie Farm is a 135-acre private nature reserve on the slopes below Pic Paradis with rope bridges, zip-lines, and an elevated treetop course. Between runs you can swim in spring-fed pools or hike trails shaded by mahogany and mango trees.

  Mont Vernon

• Take a boat to the uninhabited island of Tintamarre

  This flat, scrubby island about 1.5 km off the northeast coast has no residents, no buildings, and no facilities — just turquoise shallows, an airstrip ruin from its mid-century owner, and nesting seabirds. Charter a boat from Galion or Orient Bay for a half-day of snorkelling and solitude.

  Off the northeast coast

• Ferry to Pinel Island for a beach day

  A five-minute boat ride from the Cul-de-Sac dock drops you on this tiny island with two beach bars, calm shallow water, and a short nature trail to a wild Atlantic-facing cove. The snorkelling along the seagrass beds is surprisingly rich with turtles and rays.

  Cul-de-Sac

• Browse the Marigot waterfront market

  Held every Wednesday and Saturday morning along the harbourfront near the West Indies Mall, this bustling open-air market sells tropical fruit, spices, handmade crafts, and fresh-caught fish. Arrive early for the best selection and to watch vendors setting up under colourful awnings.

  Marigot

• Hike to secluded Happy Bay Beach

  Reached only by a 10-minute footpath from the end of Friar's Bay, Happy Bay is a pristine curve of white sand backed by sea grapes with no permanent structures. Its isolation means you'll often share it with just a few goats and pelicans.

  Friar's Bay / Happy Bay

• Swim and kayak at Friar's Bay Beach

  Friar's Bay (Anse des Pères) is a sheltered northwestern beach with gentle surf, two beach bars, and rental kayaks. The calm water and shallow entry make it one of the most family-friendly beaches on the French side.

  Friar's Bay

• Visit Baie Rouge (Red Bay) Beach

  Named for the reddish hue of its cliff faces at sunset, Baie Rouge is a long stretch of soft sand in the upscale Terres Basses peninsula. A rocky arch frames the western end, and the water shifts from pale turquoise to deep indigo within metres of shore.

  Terres Basses

• Relax at Anse Marcel Beach

  Tucked into a cove at the head of a narrow inlet on the north coast, Anse Marcel has calm, warm water shielded from Atlantic swells by surrounding hills. A resort beach bar serves cocktails and grilled fish while you lounge on sunbeds at the water's edge.

  Anse Marcel

• Snorkel at Galion Beach

  Galion's shallow reef runs close to shore and is protected from heavy surf by the offshore barrier of Tintamarre island. Schools of sergeant majors, parrotfish, and juvenile barracuda cruise the coral heads in water barely chest-deep.

  Quartier d'Orléans

• Tour La Savane des Esclaves heritage park

  This open-air reconstruction of a 19th-century village uses period-style thatched huts and garden plots to tell the story of enslaved people and early free communities on Saint Martin. Volunteers offer guided tours explaining local herbal medicine, traditional cooking, and the island's emancipation history.

  Quartier d'Orléans

• Stroll Marina Port La Royale in Marigot

  This working marina lined with pastel-painted colonial buildings houses seafood restaurants, boutiques, and small galleries. Watch fishing boats unload the morning catch, then settle into a waterfront table for moules-frites and a glass of rosé.

  Marigot

• Watch the sunset from Grand Case Bay

  As the sun drops behind the hills to the west, Grand Case's north-facing bay glows amber and rose. Pull up a chair at any of the waterfront restaurants or beach bars and watch the sky light up while steel-pan music drifts from the nearby strip.

  Grand Case

• Experience nightlife on the Grand Case strip

  After dark, Grand Case's main road transforms from a quiet dining village into a lively scene with rum bars, live Caribbean bands, and impromptu street dancing. Bars like Le Ti Coin Créole and nearby lounges keep things going well past midnight.

  Grand Case

• Create your own fragrance at Tijon Parfumerie

  At this boutique perfumery in Grand Case, a guided workshop lets you blend essential oils from over 300 base notes to design a personalised scent. You leave with a labelled bottle of your own creation and a better nose than you came in with.

  Grand Case

• Kayak the French shoreline of Simpson Bay Lagoon

  Launch from Marigot or Nettle Bay and paddle the calm, shallow lagoon waters past mangroves, anchored sailboats, and bird rookeries. The lagoon is one of the largest natural harbours in the Caribbean and offers a completely different perspective of the island.

  Marigot / Nettle Bay

• Kite-surf at Orient Bay

  Consistent trade winds and a wide-open beach make Orient Bay the premier kite-surfing spot on Saint Martin. Several schools on the sand offer lessons for beginners and gear rental for experienced riders, with the kite zone clearly marked off the swimming area.

  Orient Bay

• Hike the Cross Island Trail from French side

  This rugged footpath runs from the French Quarter area across the island's central ridge to the Dutch side, passing through dry forest, over rocky outcrops, and past viewpoints showing both coasts at once. The full traverse takes 3–4 hours with moderate scrambling.

  Quartier d'Orléans to Cole Bay

• Savour French pastries at a Marigot pâtisserie

  Marigot's boulangeries and pâtisseries bake croissants, pain au chocolat, and fruit tarts to the same standard as a Parisian arrondissement. Pick up a bag of still-warm pastries and an espresso for a quintessentially French Caribbean breakfast.

  Marigot

• Shop duty-free along Rue de la République in Marigot

  Marigot's main commercial street and the adjacent West Indies Mall offer duty-free prices on French luxury goods, Caribbean rum, jewellery, and designer clothing. The colonial-era storefronts and Creole market stalls give the shopping district a character that Philipsburg's strip malls can't match.

  Marigot

• Birdwatch at Étang aux Poissons

  This shallow salt pond near the border with the Dutch side attracts herons, egrets, sandpipers, and the occasional flamingo. A dirt path circles part of the lagoon, offering quiet observation points among the mangroves and salt-tolerant scrub.

  Near Oyster Pond

• Scuba dive the reefs off Tintamarre

  The submerged walls and coral gardens around Tintamarre island drop to 20–30 metres and attract sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, and large schools of jacks. Several Marigot-based dive operators run two-tank morning trips to the site from the French-side marina.

  Tintamarre, off northeast coast