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Saint Martin is the smallest inhabited landmass in the world divided between two nations, split since 1648 between French Saint-Martin in the north and Dutch Sint Maarten in the south. There is no border control, just a modest monument on the road, but the two halves feel genuinely different: the French side runs on euros, patisseries and Marigot's market, while the Dutch side uses dollars and delivers Philipsburg's cruise traffic, casinos and nightlife. Maho Beach, where arriving jets pass metres above the sand on approach to SXM, is the island's most photographed spot.
Capital
Marigot (French side) and Philipsburg (Dutch side)
Population
~75,000 across both halves
Area
87 km², split between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Time Zone
AST (UTC-4), no daylight saving
Currency
Euro on the French side, Caribbean Guilder (XCG) on the Dutch side; US dollars accepted across the island
Languages
French, Dutch and English; English is the common working language
Main Airports
SXM (Princess Juliana International, Dutch side)
Visa
Visa-free for EU, UK, US and Canadian passport holders; entry rules differ slightly between the two sides
Best For
Beaches, Maho Beach plane spotting, French dining, nightlife, duty-free shopping
Typical Cost Level
Mid-range to Expensive
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Entry rules, stay length and passport validity by nationality.
EU, UK, US and Canadian passport holders do not need a visa for either side of the island. Because the island is split between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the two halves technically run separate entry rules, but in practice you clear immigration once, at whichever side you arrive, and cross freely afterwards. Almost everyone arrives at SXM on the Dutch side. Note that neither half is in the Schengen Area.
The two halves feel genuinely distinct despite sharing 87 square kilometres. French Saint-Martin in the north is quieter and more residential, with euros, bakeries, Grand Case's celebrated restaurant strip and Marigot's market. Dutch Sint Maarten in the south has the airport, the cruise port, Philipsburg's duty-free shopping, casinos and the busier nightlife, and runs on dollars. There is no border post, just a marker on the road, so you can move between them freely and most visitors do.
December to April is the dry high season, with warm weather, low humidity and the busiest cruise and resort calendar. The Heineken Regatta in early March is the island's biggest event. June to November is hurricane season and the risk is real here: Hurricane Irma caused catastrophic damage in 2017. Rates drop substantially in those months and many properties stay open, but travel insurance is strongly advisable.
Maho Beach sits directly beneath the approach path to Princess Juliana airport, so arriving aircraft pass just metres overhead, and it is a genuinely striking sight. Check the daily arrivals board posted at the bars to time the larger jets. Take the warnings seriously: standing behind the fence during departures exposes you to jet blast strong enough to throw people onto rocks, which has caused serious injuries and at least one death. Watch arrivals, not departures.
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