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.
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Key facts · Saint-Martin
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Currency
- Euro on the French side
- Language
- French official
- Plugs
- A · B · C · E · 220 V French side
- Time zone
- UTC−4 all year
Rules in force · 6Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…
- Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
- Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
- Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.
- 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
- MarigotTrip line
French-side capital: market, marina, fort and the ferry to Anguilla.
Best Dec–Apr
JFMAMJJASOND - Grand CaseCity guide
Beach and the restaurant street, about 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Marigot.Beach and the restaurant street, about 3.7 mi (6 km) north of Marigot.
Best Dec–May
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
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.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marigot | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok | × | × | × | ok | go |
| Grand Case | go | go | go | go | go | × | × | × | × | × | × | go |
| Saint-Martin (country-wide) | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | × | ok | go | go |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on1 partGo next
Go next
Orient Bay and the east (French side)
planned3–5 nights
Long beach and water sports; access to Pinel islet
Dutch side (Philipsburg, Simpson Bay)
planned0–4 nights
Main airport, cruise port, Maho Beach and nightlife
Grand Case and Marigot (French side): what we know, and what is coming
2 of 2 places open
On this page
- 2 places with their role: where to sleep, what to do as a day trip
- How to split 4 or 7 nights
- 2 day trips with door-to-door time
- Seasons month by month, from the cities’ own tables
- What to do with the big bag between beds
Coming as the guide grows
- Climate strip by zone, with the storm and haze months
- Get in: airports and stations with door-to-door times
- Regional passes and cards, with a buy / skip verdict
- Regional food: what, where and when it works
Meanwhile
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids3 partsIn numbers · Trips here · Local time
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 2 bases
- Day trips
- 2, 40 min to 1 h
- Nights suggested
- 4–7 nights
Trips that stop here
Leeward hop
14 days · 4 nights here
Grand Case → Oranjestad (Statia) → Marigot
Local time
What time it is there now, compared with the clock on your device.
Marigot
…
Checking your clock…America/Marigot
Ask about Grand Case and Marigot (French side)
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