region
Grand Case and Marigot (French side)
Base on the French side for the whole stay: Marigot for the market, the fort and the ferries; Grand Case for the restaurant street and the beach. Cross to the Dutch side by car with no border check.
Not field-verified
Rules in force · 3
- Saint-Martin ↗Entry rules follow France for the French side, and those for French overseas territories can differ from mainland France: check official French sources for your passport. Arriving through the Dutch-side airport, check Sint Maarten's rules too.
- Saint-Martin ↗The island has two jurisdictions: Saint-Martin (France) and Sint Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands). Laws, currencies and emergency services differ on each side.
- Saint-Martin ↗Ferries to Anguilla, St Barths and Saba are international trips: carry your passport.
The French side is small and easy to drive, but it is not simple: most flights land on the Dutch side, the causeway bridges near the airport open for boats at set times, and hurricane season is the main risk. Pick one base, book the airport transfer, and use Marigot for ferries to Anguilla and market days.
Where to sleep
Marigotsleep base
French-side capital: market, marina, fort and the ferry to Anguilla.
Grand Casesleep base
Beach and the restaurant street, about 6 km north of Marigot.
Night sequences
- 4 nights
- Marigot or Grand Case 4, Anguilla by ferry as a day trip
- 7 nights
- Grand Case 4 + Marigot 3
- The Simpson Bay and Sandy Ground bridges open for boats at set times: allow extra time on airport days.
- The French and Dutch sides use different rules and currencies: carry euros and US dollars.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla (ferry) | Marigot | 60 min | unknown | Crossing about 20–25 min; carry your passport and check the last sailing. |
| Philipsburg (Dutch side) | Marigot | 40 min | unknown | Taxi or car across the open border; check the bridge times near the airport. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding culture: keep the main bag at your hotel and take a day pack on trips.