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Sint Maarten is the Dutch southern side of the island shared with French Saint-Martin, combining cruise-port access, beaches, duty-free shopping, casinos, sailing, restaurants, nightlife, and one of the Caribbean's most photographed airport approaches. The official Visit St Maarten site promotes close to 40 beaches, Philipsburg, Great Bay, Maho Beach, Simpson Bay, island tours, hiking, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, family activities, ferry links, cruise-day planning, St. Maarten Carnival, and the Heineken Regatta. The island is most attractive to beach travelers, cruise visitors, plane spotters, sailors, couples, nightlife visitors, and people who want to sample two cultures on one small island.

Sint Maarten has no UNESCO World Heritage property, but its divided-island history is unusual: the Treaty of Concordia in 1648 created the French-Dutch split, and the open border remains part of the visitor experience. Philipsburg is the capital and main cruise-town, with Front Street shopping, the Boardwalk, Great Bay Beach, the Courthouse, churches, and nearby Fort Amsterdam and Fort Willem. Maho Beach is famous because arriving aircraft pass very low over the sand near Princess Juliana International Airport, but jet blast has caused serious injury and death; visitors should watch from safe areas and never stand on or near the runway fence.

Two to four days is enough for beaches, Philipsburg, Maho, one boat trip, and a French-side meal; a week allows quieter beaches, diving, sailing, nearby Anguilla or Saba day trips, and slower restaurant exploration. The drier months are generally January through July, while September through November is wetter and the wider hurricane season runs June through November. Travelers must use the official free entry form at entry.sx; in March 2026 local officials warned about scam sites charging for that free immigration form. U.S. tourists do not generally need a visa for short stays, but should verify passport validity, entry-card timing, and hurricane-season insurance.

Visitor Tip: Use only the official entry.sx form, avoid the Maho Beach jet-blast fence, and rent a car or use taxis if staying outside Philipsburg because buses are limited and beach parking can be tight on cruise days.

• A dedicated U.S. State Department page for Sint Maarten was not verified during automated research; travelers should verify current Kingdom of the Netherlands Caribbean entry and hurricane-season guidance before travel.