Sint Maarten vs. Saint Martin: Which Side of the Island is Best
One island, two totally different vibes. That’s what you get with Sint Maarten and Saint Martin. Sint Maarten is the Dutch side, and Saint Martin is the French side. There’s no border control, which makes it easy to explore both.
My husband and I stayed on the French side during our trip and absolutely loved it. But depending on your travel style, the Dutch side might be a better fit for you.
So, how do you choose? Based on our experience, here are 7 key factors to help you decide which side of the island is right for you.
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01- Language, Currency, & Attitude
Sint Maarten vs. Saint Martin Map
Everyone speaks French on the French side (of course!) with some English spoken. We knew zero French besides “bonjour” and “merci beaucoup,” but we were still able to get by with limited English at the grocery stores and restaurants.
We used our credit card everywhere we went (gotta earn those Chase travel points somehow!), but the euro is the preferred currency on the French side.
In contrast, everyone seemed to speak English on the Dutch side, and the U.S. dollar is accepted at most businesses.
Although I didn’t see a difference, some say the Dutch side is more courteous, whereas the French side can be a little snobbish.
VERDICT: If you want more of a European feel, stay on the French side. If you want more of an Americanized feel, stay on the Dutch side. FYI, the cruise ships and the airport are located on the Dutch side.
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02- Beaches
Beach at Petite Clef in St. Martin
The French side has gorgeous beaches with soft white sand and turquoise waters. Some of our favorite beaches were Pinel Island, Orient Beach, and Grand Case Beach.
If you want to get naked, there are beaches for that too. It caught me off guard when we went to Baie Rouge Beach. Each to their own.
In contrast, there’s no nudity on the Dutch side. The Dutch also has some beautiful coastline including Mullet Bay and Cupecoy Beach with towering limestone cliffs that remind me of the Seven Valleys Hanging Trail in the Algarve, Portugal.
VERDICT: Both sides of the island offer fantastic beach choices, but I think the French side has the advantage.
03- Food
Incredible French breakfast at Karibuni Hotel on St. Martin: croissants, meats, cheeses
The French side is definitely known for its spectacular food. There are several French bakeries that offer incredible croissants, pastries, and baguettes.
Even the local grocery stores and wine shops offer incredible French delicacies, amazing imported cheeses, and highly-rated wine. Are we sure we are in the Caribbean?
If that is not enough, the French side has an area called Grand Case, which is known as “Restaurant Row.” Restaurant Row is a whole street that has one amazing fine French restaurant after another. It’s difficult to choose which one to try!
It’s not all about fancy food, the French side also has lolos, which are casual open-air roadside food stands serving up delicious local Caribbean food.
The French side of the island is also home to La Villa Hibiscus.
We had the pleasure of dining at this beautiful intimate restaurant perched high up in the hills. They offer several different tasting menus. Chef Bastian heads up the kitchen and has quite a prestigious resume.
Confit thigh, hedgehog mushroom, Ivoire sauce at La Villa Hibiscus in St. Martin
There are several nice restaurants on the Dutch side too, but this is where you are going to find more chain restaurants like KFC and Domino’s Pizza.
One advantage of the Dutch side is they offer more of a variety of dining choices (sushi, Italian, Indian, BBQ, etc).
VERDICT: If you are a foodie, stay on the French side.
04- Nightlife
The Dutch side is known for having nightlife with plenty of bars, clubs, and casinos.
The French side has plenty of restaurants, but that is where the night ends.
VERDICT: If nightlife matters, the Dutch side is the clear winner.
05- Accomodations
Karibuni Boutique Hotel in St. Martin
Large hotels and condos complexes dot the beaches on the Dutch side.
We found more secluded boutique hotels on the French side including one of our favorite boutique hotels. The family that owns it is the sweetest ever!
VERDICT: If you want more calm and laid-back properties, stay on the French side. If you want convenience and easy access to nightlife, stay on the Dutch side.
06- Shopping
Purchasing rum/rhum while in St. Martin
The French side has several unique quirky shops to explore and even a parfumerie, where you can design your own scent (#15 on my top things to do in St. Martin).
Also, definitely check out GrapeWine for a great selection of wine and rhum.
Philipsburg on the Dutch side has several duty-free shops, souvenir stores, and even high-end jewelers like Cartier.
We found an incredible liquor shop on the Dutch side called Gulmohar’s, which had an outstanding selection of whiskeys and rums at fair prices. The owner said some people will stop by with a second empty suitcase to load up on their favorites. The staff was very knowledgeable.
We picked up several bottles of rum/rhum including a few from our favorite rum distillery, Foursquare from Barbados.
VERDICT: The Dutch side probably has the edge in the shopping category.
07- Activities
Pinel Island in St. Martin
The French side boasts plenty of outdoor activities including day trips to Pinel Island and Tintamarre Island where you can snorkel and kayak.
Other places to check out are Loterie Farm, where you can hike to the highest point on the island, zipline, or just relax by the pool.
Courtesy of Shutterstock: Ziplining in Sint Maarten
The Dutch side also has plenty to keep you busy. They boast the world’s STEEPEST zipline.
You can also snorkel over a sunken helicopter and airplane at Divi Little Bay.
Another favorite activity is watching the incoming planes fly right over your head at Maho Beach. Be careful not to be blown away!
VERDICT: Both sides of the island offer a wealth of fun activities to keep you occupied.
Final Thoughts
Alright, so I know I am biased.
We LOVED the French side of Saint Martin due to its laid-back European vibe, amazing French food and wine, and gorgeous beaches. My husband and I also took advantage of all its outdoor activities and had a wonderful time snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking.
Pick the Dutch side if you want more of an Americanized feel, great nightlife and bars, a variety of food choices, lots of duty-free shopping, and fun thrilling activities.
I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky discerning travel friend who dives deep (Google Page 20, forums, travel groups deep!) to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.
My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.
Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions. I’d love to hear from you!
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Sint Maarten vs Saint Martin … Are you Team Dutch or Team French?
Let me know in the comments below!
Excellent reading through all the information about both places. I am excited to visit one day.
Thanks for reaching out. It really is a beautiful and unique island because of the two different personalities. We enjoyed exploring both sides. Hope you can visit soon.
Friends of ours invited us to come for a week or ten days. I would love to go but my wife has very little interest in this place I think. She has to get more information before she can make some plans.
My husband and I loved Saint Martin, but it all depends on what type of traveler you are and what your ideal vacation looks like.
I am happy to answer any questions about our experience. 😊
Thank you for sharing your expertise. We would like to travel to the island and are debating on which part of the island to stay on as we will be traveling with our kids (8 and 11). Do you have recommendations for hotels/resorts on Sint Maarten? I am interested in the hotels on Orient Beach you recommended.
We always stay on the French side, so I haven’t stayed in any of the hotels on Sint Maarten.
Divi Little Bay Beach Resort seems to get a lot of love from the TripAdvisor community as being a great family-friendly hotel on Sint Maarten.
I haven’t stayed at Divi, but my husband and I did snorkel off the resort’s beach over a sunken helicopter and airplane. We also saw an eel, a turtle, and some tropical fish. Nice beach and calm water.
You said no nudity on the Dutch beaches, does that include going topless? I would figure both sides being European topless on the beach would be acceptable.
Yes, that includes topless. If a local disagrees, please correct me if I’m wrong. Now, I’m sure it probably happens time to time.
For example, my husband and I love going to Bonaire, another Dutch island. Again, no nudity, but there was a lady topless on a very secluded beach (which I will not disclose to protect that privacy). No one else was around but her and us. This beach was off-the-beaten path where tourists rarely visit.
If you enjoy being topless, Baie Rouge and Orient Bay are beautiful beaches where it is well accepted.
Want to live on the French side in a small two bed for two people with two cats year round not expensive
Living on St. Martin sounds wonderful. I could definitely get used to having warm weather year round. I would suggest reaching out to a St. Martin realtor with your search requirements to see what properties are available.
Plane spotting: Maho Beach Sint Maarten
‘nough said.
That is certainly a unique experience! We loved watching the planes breeze by our heads while sitting on the beach. Makes for some great photos!