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Itinerary

7 days Saint-Martin: French + Dutch sides + islands

One week in Saint-Martin: Marigot (French capital, market, Fort Saint-Louis), Grand-Case (Caribbean gastronomic capital), Orient Bay (iconic beach + lolos), Dutch side (Maho Beach + Philipsburg duty-free), Anguilla or St Barth day-trip. 2 countries, 1 island.

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Expert on Saint Martin · 1 contributions

Reviewed by :Africa & Americas Desk — Mowando·Editor
Estimated budget
€2,000 - €3,500 per person
moyen-haut
Ideal for
  • · Couples seeking French Caribbean + gastronomy
  • · Families with kids 8+
  • · Travellers liking atmosphere changes (FR + NL)
When to go

December, January, February, March, April

7-day Saint-Martin itinerary: island shared France+Netherlands, no border, no visa, EUR (and USD Dutch side), direct Paris flight 8h30. The unique French+Caribbean+European combo.

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Chargement de la carte…

Day by day

  1. 1
    Day 1

    Arrival SXM + French side Marigot

    Direct Paris-Sint Maarten (SXM) Air France/Air Caraibes (8h30, €600-1400 return) or via Pointe-a-Pitre (Air Caraibes). No visa for French (French COM). Land at Princess Juliana airport Dutch side — famous for planes above Maho Beach (iconic photo). No physical border between French (Saint-Martin) and Dutch (Sint Maarten) sides - just a 'Welcome to French side' sign. Rental car ESSENTIAL (€30-50/day). Settle hotel Marigot (French capital, Marquis €120-200), Grand-Case (gastronomic capital, L'Esplanade €250-400) or Orient Bay (Mont Vernon, €200-350). Evening first dinner: lolos at Grand-Case (grilled Creole chicken, lobster €25-40) or Le Cottage at Marigot (€45-70).

    Tips
    • · Direct Paris-SXM flight: 8h30, €600-1400 return, Air France/Air Caraibes
    • · Dutch side airport: legendary Maho Beach approach
    • · No physical border French/Dutch sides (just sign)
    • · Hotels: Marigot (Marquis €120-200), Grand-Case (L'Esplanade €250-400)
    Marigot →
  2. 2
    Day 2

    Marigot + Fort Saint-Louis + market

    Morning Marigot: Wednesday and Saturday morning market (seafront, spices, fruits, Creole crafts - 7am-1pm), Rue de la Liberte boutiques. Fort Saint-Louis (1789, free, 10 min walk uphill from Marigot, spectacular panorama Marigot bay + distant Anguilla). Saint-Martin Museum (€2, island history). Lunch Le Cottage or Coqs et Crabes (French Creole cuisine, €25-40). Afternoon shopping or Friars Bay beach (10 min away, calm French beach). Dinner Grand-Case at La Villa Marina or a lolo (grilled fish €25-40).

    Tips
    • · Marigot market: Wed + Sat morning 7am-1pm
    • · Fort Saint-Louis: 1789, free, panorama bay + Anguilla
    • · Restaurants: Le Cottage, Coqs et Crabes, La Villa Marina
    • · Friars Bay: calm French beach, ideal family
    Marigot →
  3. 3
    Day 3

    Gastronomic Grand-Case + north beaches

    Morning Grand-Case: former fishing village turned gastronomic capital of the Caribbean (30+ restaurants on 1 km, some at Côte d'Azur level). Grand-Case beach (white sand, calm morning). Tuesday evening market: Mardis de Grand-Case (Dec-April, animations + stalls + concerts, unique atmosphere). Lunch Le Pressoir (gastronomic legend, €60-100/person) or Calmos Cafe lolo (€35-50). Afternoon north beaches: Anse Marcel (Le Domaine, Riu Palace, calm), Friars Bay (1 km south Marigot, beach snack), Happy Bay (walk from Friars Bay, nudist). Dinner Grand-Case (Le Tastevin, Spiga €60-100/person).

    Tips
    • · Grand-Case: Caribbean gastronomic capital, 30+ restaurants
    • · Mardis de Grand-Case: Dec-April evening animations
    • · Le Pressoir: gastronomic legend (€60-100), book 1 week ahead
    • · Anse Marcel: protected bay (Le Domaine, Riu Palace), calm
    Grand-Case →
  4. 4
    Day 4

    Orient Bay + east beaches

    Morning Orient Bay (east coast, 2 km of white sand + turquoise lagoon): THE EMBLEMATIC FRENCH SIDE BEACH. Colourful lolos (Kontiki, Bikini Beach, Waikiki Beach, Coco Beach - sunbeds €25-40/day, lobster €35-50). Activities: kitesurfing (Orient Bay = world spot), parasailing, jet-ski. Afternoon Pinel Islet (boat-shuttle excursion €8-12, 10 min, turtle snorkeling, turquoise paradise). Continuation Cul-de-Sac beach (facing Tintamarre, calm). Back Orient Bay sunset. Dinner Coco Beach or Astrolabe (€40-70).

    Tips
    • · Orient Bay: emblematic French-side beach, 2 km white sand
    • · Colourful lolos: Kontiki, Bikini Beach, Waikiki - sunbeds €25-40/day
    • · Pinel Islet: excursion €8-12, turtle snorkeling, turquoise paradise
    • · Orient Bay kitesurf: world spot, lessons available
    Orient Bay →
  5. 5
    Day 5

    Dutch side: Maho Beach + Philipsburg

    Dutch side day (Sint Maarten). Maho Beach morning: world iconic beach for plane approach 10 m above sand (KLM 747 + Air France A340 spectacular). Sunset Bar & Grill to observe (check arrival board). Philipsburg afternoon: Dutch capital, Front Street (1 km of duty-free boutiques, jewellery, cigars, alcohol), Wathey Square + colonial courthouse. Lunch Holland House or Greenhouse (€30-50 seafront). Philipsburg beach (Great Bay) or Mullet Bay beach (golf + beach). Dinner Sint Maarten or back Marigot.

    Tips
    • · Maho Beach: planes 10m above sand, world iconic photo
    • · Sunset Bar & Grill: arrival board for plane timing
    • · Philipsburg Front Street: 1 km duty-free, jewellery/cigars/alcohol
    • · Holland House: seafront restaurant, €30-50/person
    Orient Bay →
  6. 6
    Day 6

    Anguilla or St Barth excursion (day-trip)

    Day excursion to neighbouring island. Option 1: Anguilla (British, 30 min ferry from Marigot, €30-50 return + 20 GBP border crossing). Beaches among the Caribbean's most beautiful (Shoal Bay, Meads Bay), gastronomic restaurants (Blanchards), calm British atmosphere. Option 2: Saint-Barthelemy (French, 45 min fast ferry, €80-120 return OR Saint-Martin-Saint-Barth flight 12 min, €130-180 return). Gustavia (port + luxury boutiques), St-Jean + Gouverneur beaches. Option 3: lagoon snorkeling & Tintamarre islet (catamaran day €80-120, BBQ lobster included, turtle snorkeling + sunken wrecks).

    Tips
    • · Anguilla day-trip: €30-50 ferry + 20 GBP crossing, exceptional beaches
    • · Saint-Barth day-trip: €80-120 ferry or €130-180 flight
    • · Tintamarre snorkeling: €80-120 catamaran, turtles + wrecks
    • · Excursion: 1 island per day, choose by preference (luxury/calm/snorkeling)
    Orient Bay →
  7. 7
    Day 7

    Free morning + Paris return

    Free morning: last swim Orient Bay, duty-free shopping at Philipsburg (rum, perfumes, electronics - attractive tax-free prices), French souvenirs at Marigot (spices, French rum, crafts). Hotel brunch. Return car at SXM airport. 3h airport margin (controls + recovery). Direct Sint Maarten → Paris CDG/Orly flight (8h30 return, tailwind). End of trip. Souvenirs: Cuban cigars (legal in duty-free zone, €20-50 for 10), jewellery (duty-free luxury watches), French side rum (€15-30), Creole spices.

    Tips
    • · Philipsburg duty-free: alcohol, perfumes, electronics tax-free
    • · Cuban cigars: legal duty-free, €20-50 for 10
    • · Marigot French souvenirs: rum + Creole spices
    • · 3h SXM airport margin (controls + car recovery)
    Marigot →

Frequently asked questions

Comment fonctionne la frontiere Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten ?+
Pas de frontiere physique. Un simple panneau 'Bienvenue dans la partie francaise' marque le passage. Pas de douane, pas de controle. Vous pouvez circuler librement en voiture, a velo, a pied entre les deux cotes. Cote francaise (53 km², capitale Marigot) = COM francaise, EUR. Cote neerlandaise (34 km², capitale Philipsburg) = Royaume des Pays-Bas, USD et EUR acceptes.
Faut-il un visa ?+
Non pour les ressortissants francais et UE (territoires francais et neerlandais membres UE par leur statut respectif). CNI suffit pour la cote francaise, passeport recommande pour la cote neerlandaise. Les ressortissants hors UE doivent verifier les regles ESTA/Caribbean Netherlands selon nationalite.
Quand visiter ?+
Decembre a avril : saison seche, 26-29 °C, conditions parfaites. Pic touristique fevrier-mars (vacances scolaires americaines + europeennes). Juin a novembre : saison cyclonique avec pluies tropicales. L'ouragan Irma de 2017 a profondement marque l'ile - vigilance accrue.
Quel budget ?+
Compter 2 000-3 500 €/personne : vol direct Paris-SXM A/R (600-1 400 €), 6 nuits hotels (cote francaise plus chere : Marquis 120-200 €, L'Esplanade 250-400 €), location voiture (250-350 €), repas restaurants 40-70 €/personne (Grand-Case est cher), excursions Anguilla/St-Barth/Tintamarre (100-200 €), duty-free (100-300 € optionnel). Premium en boutique-hotel : 4 000-7 000 €.
Quelle cote choisir ?+
Cote francaise pour : plages calmes, gastronomie (Grand-Case), ambiance europeenne, prix legerement plus eleves. Cote neerlandaise pour : duty-free shopping, casinos, vie nocturne, prix legerement moins chers, ambiance plus americaine. La majorite des voyageurs base leur hotel cote francaise (Marigot, Grand-Case, Orient Bay) pour la qualite de vie et fait des excursions cote NL (Maho Beach, Philipsburg shopping).

Our verdict

This 7-day itinerary is Saint-Martin's essentials: Marigot (FR capital) + Grand-Case (gastronomy) + Orient Bay (iconic beach) + Maho Beach + Philipsburg (NL side) + Anguilla/St-Barth day-trip. Direct Paris flight 8h30, no visa, EUR. Visit in December-April for dry season. Average budget €2,000-3,500/person. The island combines French administrative comfort and Caribbean Dutch multicultural atmosphere. For premium beach lovers, 10-14 days allows adding Anguilla (3 nights, Shoal Bay) or Saint-Barth (2 nights, ultra-luxury).

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Written by La rédaction · Updated 6/8/2026

Saint Martin

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