Saint Martin Facts
Saint Martin is the French northern part of the Caribbean island shared with Dutch Sint Maarten. The two sides are connected by open roads and are often explored together, but they have separate administrations, currencies, telephone systems, electrical standards and entry rules.
Important: The information on this page refers to French Saint Martin unless stated otherwise. Many international visitors arrive through Princess Juliana International Airport on Dutch Sint Maarten and then continue by road.
Administrative centreMarigot
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
TimeUTC-4 year-round
DrivingRight-hand traffic
French-side airportGrand Case (SFG)
Main international airportPrincess Juliana (SXM)
Telephone+590
Highest pointPic Paradis, 424 m
General
| Official name | Collectivity of Saint Martin (Collectivité de Saint-Martin). |
|---|---|
| Political status | Overseas collectivity of France. Saint Martin became a separate collectivity in 2007. |
| Administrative centre | Marigot. |
| Population | 31,160 municipal residents in the official 2023 reference population, in force from 1 January 2026. |
| Official language | French. English is widely spoken; Spanish and Caribbean Creole varieties are also heard. |
| Currency | Euro (EUR). US dollars are widely accepted by many tourism businesses. |
| Time | Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-4 throughout the year. There is no daylight-saving time. |
| Telephone | +590 for the French side. |
Geography and Climate
| Area | About 53 sq km for the French side. |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Lesser Antilles, east of Puerto Rico. Dutch Sint Maarten occupies the southern part of the same island. |
| Highest point | Pic Paradis, 424 m. |
| Landscape | Beaches, low coastal areas, salt ponds, dry scrub and a hilly central interior. |
| Climate | Tropical maritime climate moderated by trade winds. Temperatures remain warm throughout the year and rainfall varies seasonally. |
| Hurricane season | The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June through November. |
Entry and Practical Travel
| Entry rules | Saint Martin is a French overseas territory outside the Schengen Area. Passport and visa requirements depend on nationality and itinerary. A Schengen visa does not automatically cover Saint Martin when a specific overseas-territory visa is required. |
|---|---|
| Arrival via Sint Maarten | Travellers landing at Princess Juliana International Airport enter through Dutch Sint Maarten before continuing by road to the French side and must satisfy the applicable Dutch-side entry requirements. |
| Driving | Traffic drives on the right. Roads are generally paved but can be narrow, steep and congested. |
| Electricity | Generally 220 V, 60 Hz on the French side, with mainly European-style sockets. |
| Safety | Use normal travel precautions. Keep valuables secure and avoid leaving passports, phones or bags unattended on beaches or visible inside parked vehicles. |
Air Transport
| Grand Case Airport | Grand Case L'Espérance Airport (SFG) handles mainly regional Caribbean services. |
|---|---|
| Princess Juliana Airport | Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on Dutch Sint Maarten is the main international gateway for visitors to both sides of the island. |
| Transfer | Travel between Princess Juliana Airport and French Saint Martin is by road. Journey times can vary considerably with traffic. |
Land and Water Transport
| Road border | There is normally no routine immigration checkpoint on the roads between French Saint Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten. |
|---|---|
| Local transport | Taxis, rental cars and minibuses are widely used. A rental car is useful for travellers who want to explore both sides of the island independently. |
| Anguilla | Passenger ferries operate between Marigot and Blowing Point in Anguilla. Passports and applicable immigration formalities are required. |
| Saint-Barthélemy | Passenger ferry services connect Saint Martin with Saint-Barthélemy. |
| Schedules | Departure times, operators and fares can change, and sea conditions can affect services. Check current schedules shortly before travel. |
Money and Visitor Areas
| Cards and cash | International credit and debit cards are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and larger businesses. Cash remains useful for smaller purchases. |
|---|---|
| US dollars | US dollars are commonly accepted in the tourism sector, but the exchange rate offered by individual businesses can vary. |
| Tipping | Check restaurant and hotel bills before adding a gratuity because a service charge may already be included. |
| Main visitor areas | Marigot, Grand Case, Orient Bay, Cul-de-Sac, Anse Marcel and the beaches and small settlements around the northern coast. |
Saint Martin and Sint Maarten: Philipsburg, Simpson Bay, Maho Beach, the cruise port and Princess Juliana International Airport are on the Dutch side. See the separate Sint Maarten pages for those destinations.
Useful planning links