Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten
Capital city description
Philipsburg is the capital of Dutch St Maarten, a Caribbean island divided into Dutch and French (Saint Martin) sides. Bargain hunters flock to the duty-free and sales-tax-free stores of Philipsburg's mile-long commercial district. Visitors also enjoy the city's art galleries, historic forts, casinos, zoo, Great Bay Beach, and its boardwalk. Offshore, on the 12 Metre Challenge, guests can work as part of the crew on one of five boats that sailed in the 1987 America's Cup competition. World-famous for its close photographs of landing aircraft, Princess Juliana International Airport, west of Philipsburg, has become a tourist destination in its own right.
Climate
The climate in Sint Maarten is tropical, hot,The best time to visit St. Martin and St. Maarten is May and June or between November and mid-December. and sunny all year round.
Languages spoken
Dutch is the official language of Sint Maarten.
Fun/Fascinating Facts
- St. Maarten holds the world record for beaches related to its compact surface. There are beaches for anyone’s taste, from the urban to the quiet, from the world-famous ones to the awarded, for the water sports lover or those looking for serenity. And those for dreamers of uninhabited islands, there are opportunities as well, both with and without a bar.
- St. Maarten / St. Martin is known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Little wonder as 100 cultures and two nations brought their herbs and recipes together. See our dining department for what cuisine suits your preferences today, and let our local cooks and bartenders inspire you before and after your holiday to stretch your holiday feel!
- It has widely known that St. Maarten mixes the Caribbean with French and Dutch cultures. However, an additional 100 the Caribbean, American, European, Asian, Australian, and (yes) Oceanian nationalities add to the unique population – and flavors – of St. Maarten.
- Since the treaty of Concordia in 1648, the Dutch and French sides of the island have been open. Long before the European Union came into being, with a few exceptions, peaceful coexistence between European nations existed for hundreds of yours on this paradisiacal island
- Its unique binational island setting only has a few equivalents globally, like Hispaniola (Haiti & Dominican Republic) and Cyprus. However, none is as compact, let alone with so many cultures!
Unique Customs/Traditions
- Maarten Food and Wine Festival is a trendy festival held in November that showcases Saint Martin’s top chefs and their signature dishes. Chefs from all over the island present their best words, and visitors enjoy the delicious local cuisine. The event is usually hosted in Phillipsburg.
- Merengue is a trendy music style in the Caribbean for dancing, especially in Spanish-speaking areas. Merengue originated in the Dominican Republic and has been passed onto the culture of nearby Saint Martin. Merengue is mainly played in dance venues and is famous in the many nightclubs in Dutch Sint Maarten.
- SXM Festival is one of the most famous music festivals in Saint Martin and the entire Caribbean. This festival is usually held in the middle of March and is a popular destination for music lovers, partygoers, and tourists worldwide. DJs and musicians perform, and many people dance on the beautiful surrounding beaches while eating the delicious local food and drink.
Martin's day is celebrated traditionally with a get-together during which a roasted suckling pig is shared with the neighbors. The nights before and on the eve itself, children walk in processions carrying lanterns, which they made in school, and sing Martin songs.
Popular universities
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| American University of Caribbean School of Medicine | American University of Caribbean School of Medicine is an international, for-profit, US curriculum-based medical school with a primary science campus in Sint Maarten. The American University of the Caribbean had established in 1978. The university is under the direct scientific supervision of the Ministry of higher education. The university has equipped with modern technology laboratories with new equipment and instruments. The college of medicine is committed to a more practical, hands-on approach to medical education, which increases our students' chances of success in higher education and job opportunities with high salary packages. Medical Universities offering MBBS degrees have been approved by the Medical Council of India(MCI). The staff embraces 100+doctors teaching medical subjects in the English language. It is an anti-ragging-free environment. | |
| American University of Integrative Sciences | American University of Integrative Sciences, Founded in 1999, is a for-profit private higher education institution located in the rural setting of the medium town of Belleville. Officially recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports of Sint Maarten, the American University of Integrative Sciences (AUIS) is a tiny coeducational Barbadian higher education institution. American University of Integrative Sciences (AUIS) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study. This 21-year-old Barbadian higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment. AUIS also provides educational and non-academic facilities and services to students, including a library, sports facilities, and administrative services. | |
Festivals & Events
Regatta
Date: March
The Regatta is a 3-day sailing race in St. Maarten that occurs every year in March at selected venues. The Regatta event began in 1980 in Sint Maarten, with only 12 boats participating in the event. The Regatta has grown in popularity over the years, with at least 250 ships participating.
The main activity on the first day of the Regatta is a race around the island of St. Maarten. The second and third days of the Regatta have customized itineraries for the sailors, which allow them to race on specially designed routes. The Regatta's final day offers much enjoyment for all in attendance with celebrations that include dancing at live musical concerts, drinking at beer tents, shopping, eating local foods, and much more.
Carnival
Date: April
The Carnival festival in St. Maarten is a 3-week long festival that begins in April and ends on the first weekend of May. The Carnival festival celebrates St. Maarten's culture and rich history.
The Carnival celebration is observed on St. Martin's Dutch and French sides. However, most of the festivities are held in the capital town of Dutch Sint Maarten, called Philipsburg. The celebrations include Caribbean food, singing, shopping, live reggae musical performances, drinking, pageants, partying, parading, and dancing through the streets of St. Maarten to calypso and soca music while dressed in flamboyant feathery Caribbean costumes.
Grand Case
Date: July
The Grand Case Festival is a historical public holiday and celebration held in Saint Martin annually on the 21st of July. The festival occurs in the town of Grand Case on the French side of St. Martin. The Grand Case Festival was established to celebrate the official ending of slavery in St. Martin in 1848.
The Grand Case Festival features a whole day of various activities such as a military parade, a religious ceremony, sporting activities, and cultural festivities, which are all held in historically symbolic places in the town of Grand Case. Some of the sporting activities include exciting sailing races off the coast of St. Martin. The cultural festivities during the Grand Case Festival include dancing to live Creole music while enjoying tasty local Caribbean dishes.
St. Maarten Day
Date: November
St. Maarten Day is a public holiday held in Sint Maarten on November 11. This public holiday was initiated in 1493 when Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Sint Maarten on November 11. This happened to be the exact date of the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, who was a celebrated Christian Saint in France.
St. Maarten Day is also known as Martinmas and is a customary time of feasting celebrations. Families can enjoy music and dance at home and some local Caribbean dishes or opt to enjoy a relaxing and restful day from their usual activities. Most businesses and schools are closed on St. Maarten Day since it is a public holiday for Dutch and French Saint Martin.
The Flavors of St Maarten Food & Wine Festival
Date: November
The Flavors of St. Maarten Food & Wine Festival is a culinary celebration often held in November for at least seven days in Sint Maarten’s Dutch capital called Philipsburg. The event was first held in 2007; this event allows world-class chefs in St. Maarten and other invited chefs the opportunity to showcase their culinary skills and share their tasty dishes with tourists and locals alike.
The Flavors of St. Maarten Food & Wine Festival has a program with various culinary activities such as food and drink tastings of champagne, wine, cheese, amuse-bouche (French appetizers), and cocktails. There are also gourmet dinners showcasing some international cuisines during the Flavors of St. Maarten Food & Wine Festival.
Attractions / Top Sights
Maho Beach
When to visit: https://globalgrasshopper.com/beautifulplaces/15-most-beautiful-places-to-visit-in-st-martin-and-st-maarten/
Maho Beach is widely known worldwide for being THE place to watch giant airplanes land just feet above your head. Located in the Caribbean on the island of Saint Martin, which comprises the French side, Saint-Martin, and the Dutch side, Sint Maarten, Maho Beach is a stretch of white sand just before the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport. Maho Beach is famous as a one-day destination for cruise ship passengers while in port in St. Martin and other tourists visiting the island. At Maho Beach for One Day or many more, you can relax in the sand, swim in the ocean, and drink at the nearby bars, all while watching planes plan at the airport just above your head! Maho Beach is on the southern end of the island on the Dutch side, and the beach is only separated from the edge of the airport by a small two-lane road. It makes Maho Beach the famous airplane beach known around the world. Planes are landing at Maho Beach throughout the Day; however, you’re here for the big ones. The best time to visit Maho Beach is when the larger airplanes from the United States, Canada, and Europe arrive. It is generally between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
Front Street and Old Street, Philipsburg
The narrow streets can become quite crowded when cruise ships are in the harbor, but you'll rarely have to jostle for attention from the dozens of jewelers selling high-end watches and gold and diamond jewelry. Philipsburg's main drag is Front Street, and this is where you'll find most of the jewelry stores, electronics boutiques, perfumeries, and other shops that take advantage of the city's status as a duty-free port. Towards the east end of Front Street (closest to the cruise pier, connected to downtown by a walkway) are a pair of casinos, the Rouge et Noir and the Coliseum Casino. Back Street, parallel to Front Street on the Salt Pond side of town, is less touristy and were more locals tend to congregate.
Great Bay Beach
Great Bay Beach is one of the pearls in the crown of St. Martin’s Dutch side. It locates near Philipsburg for cruise ship tourists and visitors based in the main town. The beach is very lively with plenty of bars, shops, and restaurants, to keep visitors busy and fulfill their every need. The sandy expanse and calm, clear waters are perfect for swimming and lounging about in the sun.
Little Bay Beach
Little Bay Beach is located on the southern coast of St Maarten, just around the corner from Great Bay; the outcrop of Fort Amsterdam well protects this small but pretty beach right on the edge of Philipsburg. It serves the two Bel Air Beach Resort and Divi Little Bay Hotel hotels but is also open to the public. It offers one of the rare beach dive locations for diving enthusiasts, as the waters here are generally calm due to its 'cove-like' nature and the installation of solid rocky beach breaks. It makes it an ideal spot for children, and a selection of beach equipment, from snorkeling gear to jet skis, means there is plenty to do for all the family. Along with the two hotels, a beach restaurant serves a variety of light snacks and full meals and essential beach cocktails! Several snorkeling excursions use the rocks as a perfect spot to explore the tropical underwater world.
Mullet Beach
Mullet Bay Beach is down the road from Maho Beach; this is a surfer's paradise when the conditions are "right." Mullet Bay Beach borders the island's only 18-hole golf course and is very popular with locals, especially on weekends. The medical university is within walking distance, so you could also expect many students to hang out here in their limited free time. At the southern end, sea grape trees provide pleasant shade for those who are sensitive to the sun's rays and heat. A little snack bar cooks up hamburgers and hotdogs and serves cold beers and soft drinks. Mullet Bay Beach is also an ideal place to take a long stroll searching for free souvenirs. Washed up onto the seashore are tiny shells and little pieces of interestingly shaped coral that could grab your eye - a great way to get a tan! Make sure you take a little waterproof bag with you.
Kim Sha Beach
Kimsha Beach is Conveniently close to the action of Simpson Bay with its resorts, restaurants, nightclubs, and casinos; Kimsha Beach is one of the most central beaches on the island. There can rent Beach lounges and umbrellas, and watersports toys are available for the active-minded. Kimsha Beach can also become a night spot, with occasional concerts and beach parties. Topper's or the Greenhouse is only a few steps away and an ideal spot to enjoy a lunch or after-beach cocktail. Buccaneers is a favorite with both locals and tourists. The Atrium Beach Resort & Spa is the main anchor of this beach. The surf is usually very calm, as a small reef protects the beach. Many yachts use the bay as an anchorage and provide an attractive foreground for the gorgeous sunsets, which can observe from here.
Nevertheless, we have doubts about the water quality and don't rate Kimsha Beach as an excellent beach for swimming. The Buccaneer Beach Bar and the Greenhouse Restaurant serve the beach with food and drinks. Ocean Explorers is a long-established dive shop and leaves for their excursions directly from this location.
Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit
The Yoda Guy exhibit is a dedicated Star Wars replica and memorabilia museum that is one of the top 3 most famous museums in the entire Caribbean. Created by Nick Maley, the Yoda Guy Museum is composed of all the essential movie history that has touched him and his wife. This St Maarten museum includes proprietor Nick Maley's collection of movie relics and collectibles, focusing on Sci-Fi franchises like Star Wars, Highlander, Terminator, Men in Black, Superman, and many others. At the Yoda Guy Museum located on Front Street, Philipsburg St. Maarten, you can also buy some rare movie relics hand signed by the stars, including Mark Hamill (Luke), Carrie Fisher (Leia), Frank Oz (Yoda), Dave Prowse (Darth Vader), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) or Kenny Baker (Artoo), etc.