Getting to St Martin: Airports and Arrival Planning

Getting to St Martin means flying into one of two airports: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side of the island, which handles long-haul and North American services, or the much smaller Grand Case airport (SFG) on the French side, which serves regional flights from Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Barts and neighbouring islands. Which one you use determines your arrival formalities, your transfer time and which side’s rules apply on landing. Both are covered below, along with taxis, car hire, the open border and onward ferries to Anguilla and St Barts.

Princess Juliana (SXM), Sint Maarten: the international gateway

Princess Juliana sits at the western end of the Dutch side, between Simpson Bay Lagoon and Maho Beach. The airport describes itself as fresh off a seven-year rebuild following Hurricane Irma in 2017; the arrival hall was finished in October 2024 and the airport was formally recommissioned on 14 November 2024, according to the Sint Maarten recovery programme. As of September 2026 the airport’s own site says it hosts 30 airlines with direct service to 34 destinations across the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and handles more than 1.8 million passengers a year.

Arriving here means Sint Maarten immigration. The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau lists a passport valid for the stay, a completed digital entry form at entry.sx, a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation. US and Canadian citizens and EU and UK citizens do not need a visa for short stays. This applies even if your accommodation is on the French side, because you are entering the Kingdom of the Netherlands first.

Grand Case (SFG), Saint-Martin: the regional airport

Aeroport Saint-Martin Grand-Case, on Route de l’Esperance on the French side, is a regional field. Its published airline list as of September 2026 includes Air Antilles, Air Caraibes, St Barth Commuter and two helicopter operators, and its destination list names Pointe-a-Pitre, Fort-de-France, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Lucia and Santo Domingo; anything further afield shown on its site is a connection rather than a direct flight. It has taxis at arrivals, car hire desks, parking and free Wi-Fi.

Arriving at Grand Case means French formalities. The Saint-Martin tourist office notes that French citizens can enter with a valid identity card via Grand Case but need a passport if they land at Princess Juliana; US and Canadian visitors need a valid passport and return ticket, with stays of up to three months. Grand Case is the sensible arrival if you are already in the French Antilles or connecting from St Barts; for everyone else, SXM offers far more flights.

From the airport to your accommodation

• Taxis (SXM): the airport states fares are fixed and cash only, with US dollars accepted. Agree the destination before loading bags; a French-side address costs more than Simpson Bay.
• Car hire (SXM): counters are near the arrival hall and cars are parked on site or a short shuttle away. Book ahead in high season. A valid home licence is accepted on both sides according to the US State Department and the UK FCDO.
• Buses: public minibuses run on the island, but the airport states there is no direct bus service from the terminal.
• Hotel shuttles: some properties offer transfers; confirm at booking.
• Taxis (SFG): available at arrivals level; the French-side airport site lists taxi and shuttle services.

Whether you need a car depends on your base; our guide to where to stay in St Martin flags which areas work without one. For most French-side bases, and certainly for Terres Basses, a car is essential.

Crossing the open border

There is no checkpoint between Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin; you simply drive across, usually past a welcome sign. Practical things do change: speed limits switch to kilometres per hour on the French side, prices switch to euros, and your phone may register a different network. Driving is on the right on both sides. The FCDO describes main roads as reasonably maintained but warns of dense traffic, poor signage and slippery surfaces in rain, and the State Department notes that right turns on red are prohibited. Allow more time than the map suggests around Simpson Bay and Marigot at rush hour.

Onward ferries: Anguilla and St Barts

Anguilla

The public ferry to Anguilla leaves from the Marigot ferry terminal on the French side and lands at Blowing Point. The Anguilla Tourist Board publishes the timetable and fares; check its page for current figures, since they change. Private and shared charter boats also run from a terminal opposite Princess Juliana airport on daytime schedules that vary by season, according to the same source. Ask your airline or boat operator for a complete written quote and confirm accepted payment methods before travelling. Charters cost more but save the drive to Marigot after a long flight.

St Barts

Ferries to Gustavia, St Barts, have run from both sides: from Bobby’s Marina in Philipsburg on the Dutch side and from Marigot on the French side, with Oyster Pond on the east coast used in some past seasons. Confirm the current operators, terminals and timetable for your dates directly, since services change. Crossings can be rough in winter swells, and there are also short flights from both airports. Our guide to getting to St Barts covers the options from the St Barts side.

Getting to St Martin: timing your arrival

Most North American flights arrive at SXM around midday to mid-afternoon, which puts hire cars and taxis under pressure at the same time. If you are staying on the French side, allow for the drive through Simpson Bay and Marigot traffic; if you are heading to Anguilla, check the last ferry time before you book the flight. Weather matters too: between June and November, tropical systems can disrupt flights and ferries at short notice.

Getting to St Martin, then, comes down to two choices: fly to SXM on the Dutch side for the widest range of flights and accept Sint Maarten formalities, or fly to Grand Case on the French side if you are already in the region. Book your car or taxi before you land, expect the border to be invisible, and treat ferry timetables as something to verify the week you travel.