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St Martin

One Caribbean island with two sides: French Saint-Martin in the north and Dutch Sint Maarten in the south, sharing an open border, a major airport and dozens of beaches.

Always Villa, a rental villa in Terres Basses, St Martin

St Martin is one island shared by two countries. The northern, larger part is Saint-Martin, a French overseas collectivity with the euro, French law and its capital at Marigot; the southern part is Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with its own government, its capital at Philipsburg and the international airport, Princess Juliana. The border is open and unmarked apart from welcome signs, but currencies, regulations, emergency numbers and entry rules differ, and these guides name the side for every place they mention.

The collection covers where to stay on either side, how the two airports and the onward ferries work, seasons and closures, dining, beaches, family planning, the private Terres Basses area and the day trip to Pinel Island.

Start here

One island, two countries: how the French and Dutch sides differ and what that means for planning.

Quick facts

Two jurisdictions
Saint-Martin, a French overseas collectivity, and Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Division
Agreed under the Treaty of Concordia in 1648; the border is open
Size
About 88 km²; the French side is the larger
Highest point
Pic Paradis, 424 m, French side
Airports
Princess Juliana (SXM, Dutch side) for international flights; Grand Case (SFG, French side) for regional flights
Capitals
Marigot (French side) and Philipsburg (Dutch side)
Currency
Euro on the French side; Caribbean guilder on the Dutch side; US dollars accepted on both
Onward islands
Ferries and short flights to Anguilla and St Barts

Plan your trip

All St Martin guides