Saint Martin
TerritoryAdministered by: France
“The French half of the smallest island in the world split between two countries”
Saint-Martin is the northern, French part of an island of 87 km² shared with the Dutch Sint Maarten since 1648 — the smallest landmass in the world divided between two sovereign administrations. The border has no posts and no checks; a monument marks it and traffic drives straight through.
The French side is the quieter and the better-eating one: Grand Case bills itself as the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean and mostly earns it, Marigot has a market and a hilltop fort, and the beaches of the north-east are long and undeveloped. Hurricane Irma hit here harder than almost anywhere in 2017, and the recovery is real but visible.
Highlights
Grand Case
One street of restaurants along a beach, from lolos grilling ribs on the sand to serious French kitchens.
Pinel Island
A five-minute boat ride to a small island with a shallow lagoon, two beach restaurants and a short walking loop.
Fort Louis
A short climb above Marigot for the whole island, the lagoon and Anguilla on the horizon.
The border monument
A stone marking a frontier agreed in 1648 that has never needed a checkpoint — walk across it and the currency, the voltage and the language change.
When to go
JanDry, breezy, peak season.
FebCarnival on both sides.
MarDry and busy.
Getting in
Checking your passport…
Before you fly
Passport Index dataset
What it costs
A day in Saint Martin
Comfortable · sample day
≈ $162
Line items are real prices we track. The daily budget is an editorial estimate for this level, not their sum.
Where this sits among 55 countries we have costed
December to April carries the premium and Christmas doubles it. September and October see the widest closures of any month.
Updated Aug 2026 · Editorial synthesis — French overseas price surveys, ferry tariffs (2025–2026) · confidence medium
Excludes international flights — they depend on where you fly from.
Regions to know
5Marigot
The capital, the market, Fort Louis and the ferry to Anguilla.
Grand Case
The restaurant street and the beach it sits on.
Orient Bay
The long east-coast beach, water sports and the naturist end.
Pinel and Tintamarre
Two offshore islets reached by short boat rides.
Terres Basses
The western lowlands: villas, Baie Longue and Baie Rouge.
Practical guide
Getting there
Princess Juliana (SXM) on the Dutch side is the island's international gateway; Grand Case (SFG) takes regional flights. Ferries reach Anguilla and Saint-Barthélemy.
Getting around
A hire car is standard and crosses the border without formality. Traffic around Marigot and the airport road is heavy at peak times.
Money & costs
Euro on the French side, Caribbean guilder and US dollars on the Dutch side. Euros are often accepted on the Dutch side at a poor rate, and vice versa.
Safety
Petty theft from cars at beaches is the common complaint on both sides. Otherwise ordinary precautions.
Health
A hospital in Marigot; EU health cards are valid on the French side.
SIM & internet
French networks with EU roaming on the French side; crossing the border can silently switch you to Dutch-side roaming at non-EU rates.
Driving
One island, two road codes and two sets of signage, with no announcement at the border. Speeds are posted in km/h on both sides, which is the one thing they agree on.
Rules change — verify with an official source before you rent.
No verified partners here yet — all 6 country seats are open.
Before you go
Saint MartinFrequently asked questions
Can I cross to the Dutch side freely?
Yes. There is no border control on the island and people cross constantly. Formally you are moving between two jurisdictions, so carry your passport, and note that arriving by air or sea puts you through whichever side's immigration you land on.
Which side should I stay on?
The French side for food, quieter beaches and euros; the Dutch side for nightlife, cruise traffic, casinos and the airport. Many people stay on one and eat on the other.
Is Saint-Martin in the EU?
Yes — unlike neighbouring Saint-Barthélemy, it remains an outermost region of the EU. It is still outside Schengen, so a Schengen visa does not admit you.