St. Maarten Things to Do

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St. Maarten is one island run by two countries, and you can see both in a single day. The Dutch south holds the cruise port, Philipsburg and the airport beach where jets pass low overhead. The French north holds Orient Bay, Marigot and the ferry to Pinel Island, and the French-side tourism board describes the border between the two as symbolic, so you cross it by taxi without stopping.

I would pick one side of the island per day. We have done Caribbean port days and longer island stays with nieces and nephews along, and the plans that fall apart are the ones with four stops and a ship’s all-aboard time. On St. Maarten the plan that holds up is one big stop, one beach and one long lunch. Bring a towel you can afford to lose, because Maho Beach has opinions about towels.

Things to Do in St. Maarten

Here is the island at a glance, with the stops most people actually make. Figures come from the tourism site’s taxi guide and the ferry listing, and anything without a price is set by the business itself, so check it before you go.

Area	What it is for	Cost	Getting there from the port
Philipsburg and Great Bay Beach	Boardwalk, shops, the nearest beach	Free to walk; shops and bars extra	About a 15-minute walk
Maho Beach	Low-landing jets and beach bars	Free beach; taxi $25 for one or two people	Taxi, roughly 20 to 30 minutes
Orient Bay	Beach clubs, water sports, long sand	Loungers priced by each club	Taxi or rental car across the island
Pinel Island	A small, calm island day	$12 round-trip ferry from Cul-de-Sac	Taxi or car to Cul-de-Sac, then the ferry
Marigot	Waterfront market, Fort Louis, French lunch	Euros on the French side	Taxi or rental car to the French side

Maho Beach St. Maarten

Maho Beach is the island’s best-known stop. It sits at the end of the runway at Princess Juliana airport, and landing jets cross the sand at less than 100 feet. The beach is a short strip with bars behind it, and getting onto it costs nothing.

Timing matters more than anything else here. The big intercontinental flights land from midday into the early afternoon, and the afternoon departures to Europe draw the other crowd. Check the airport’s flight schedule before you go, or read the chalkboard at the Sunset Beach Bar, which lists what is due next.

Jet blast is the real hazard. A Maho Beach guide on visitstmaarten.com warns that takeoff blast can be strong enough to send a towel into the sea, and it tells visitors to stay on the beach side of the road and keep off the airport fence. I would stand toward a corner of the beach rather than at the middle, and keep a grip on anything light.

Philipsburg Boardwalk

Philipsburg is the Dutch capital and the town most cruise passengers see first. It is small, just four streets that run less than a mile, set between Great Bay Beach and the Great Salt Pond. From the pier it is a walk of about 15 minutes.

The Boardwalk follows the sand and is lined with shops, restaurants and water-sports stands. Front Street runs behind it with more shops, and Fort Amsterdam sits above town for the view over the bay. If you only have a few hours, this is the easy version of the island: you never need a taxi.

The beach is the practical draw. Great Bay is right there, so you can swim, eat and be back on the ship without crossing the island. Pack a towel and swim shoes if you like, and leave the rest on the ship.

Orient Bay Beach

Orient Bay is the French side’s big beach, on the northeast coast. The sand is wide, there is usually a steady breeze, and the water runs from turquoise to deep blue. It is a long way from the cruise pier, so treat it as the main event of the day, not a quick add-on.

Beach clubs line the sand, and each one rents its own loungers and umbrellas at its own prices. I would ask the price before sitting down, since there is no standard rate to quote. Parasailing, jet skis, paddleboards and windsurfing are all offered along the beach.

One clothing-optional section sits at the far southern end, clearly separated from the main beach. If that is not what you want for a family outing, stay north of it and you will never notice. Orient Bay also has a small village with a good choice of restaurants, so lunch does not need a plan.

Marigot Fort Louis

Marigot is the French capital, on the western side of the island, and it feels like a different country within minutes of leaving Philipsburg. The waterfront has open-air market stalls selling clothing, crafts and spices, with seafood grills and cafes along the harbor. Many French-side shops close for a long lunch around midday, so do your shopping early or after.

Fort Louis is the stop that earns the walk. The ruins sit on the hill above town, a short uphill climb from the harbor, and the view takes in the bay and the rooftops of Marigot. Wear closed shoes, since it is a climb over old stone.

The market is a morning affair, so come before lunch if the stalls are why you are here. Prices are in euros on this side, so a few euros in your pocket make the stalls easier.

Pinel Island

Pinel is a small island just off the French coast, and the tourism board lists it with nearby Tintamarre as a quiet escape. The ferry leaves from Cul-de-Sac. On the vacationstmaarten.com ferry listing, the fare is $12 per person round trip, paid in cash on the dock, with no reservation needed.

In high season the boats run daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., leaving every 30 minutes, and in low season the last return is at 4 p.m. Weather can stop them. It pairs naturally with an Orient Bay day, because both sit on the same stretch of the French side.

St. Maarten Taxi Rates

Taxis here work from posted fares, and you should agree on the price before you get in. The tourism site’s taxi guide lists $25 per taxi from the cruise port to Maho Beach for one or two passengers. For three to five passengers it is $10 per person, and for six or more it is $9 per person.

The same guide puts the cruise port to Simpson Bay at $20 per taxi for one or two people. A 25 percent surcharge applies between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and extra checked bags cost $5 each. Waiting time is free for the first five minutes, then $5 per 15 minutes, so a long photo stop at Maho adds up.

The French side has its own fare sheet, so ask for the posted price to Orient Bay or Marigot before you set off. If you are four or five people, a taxi usually beats renting a car for one day. A rental makes sense if you are staying several days and want both sides at your own pace.

St. Maarten Facts

Is St. Maarten French or Dutch?

Both. The island is split between the Dutch country of Sint Maarten in the south and the French territory of Saint-Martin in the north. The Dutch side has Philipsburg, the airport and the cruise port, and the French side has Marigot and Orient Bay.

What currency does St. Maarten use?

The French side uses the euro, and the Dutch side prices most tourist services in US dollars. Taxi fares are quoted in dollars. I would carry some dollars for Philipsburg and a handful of euros for Marigot and Orient Bay.

Do you need a passport for St. Maarten?

Yes. The State Department’s Sint Maarten page says a US passport must be valid for the length of your stay, no visa is needed, and you must complete the Embarkation and Disembarkation (ED) card, which you can now fill in online ahead of time at entry.sx. Check with your cruise line about what applies to a port call.

Is Maho Beach safe?

Yes, if you respect the jet blast. Stay on the beach side of the road, keep off the airport fence, and move away from the runway end when a big plane is about to take off.

How many days do you need in St. Maarten?

One port day covers Philipsburg or one beach, not both sides of the island. Two or three days lets you do Maho, Orient Bay and Marigot without watching the clock.

Is St. Maarten worth visiting?

I would say yes, if you choose a side per day and book nothing tight. It gives you a Caribbean beach, a French lunch and a runway show in one trip, and few islands do that.

If you are still choosing an island, our best Caribbean islands to visit guide compares the options, and St. Thomas or St. John covers another cruise-port island with a very different feel. For timing, see our guide to the best time to cruise the Caribbean. Before you pack, our Caribbean packing list helps you bring less than you think you need.

Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.

Published October 17, 2026.