Philipsburg is the capital of Sint Maarten, the Dutch part of a Caribbean island shared with France. It’s located directly on a long, sandy beach.
As many visitors to Caribbean islands come only for the beaches, that gives this quirky capital a winning edge. Behind the beach, you’ll find many other attractions, from world-class shopping to historic buildings and great cuisine.
The closeness of the French side of the island, St. Martin, means visitors to Philipsburg can also experience two countries in one visit. Together, St. Maarten/St. Martin make up an island whose natural beauty is second to none.
Why Visit Philipsburg
Philipsburg
Its Dutch influence gives Philipsburg a unique flavor. Architecture, language, and culture mark it as different from the French side of St. Martin.
More modern and business-like than Marigot, the French capital, Philipsburg stands behind glorious Great Bay Beach. It’s one of the most remarkable settings anywhere in the Caribbean.
It’s also one the easiest of places to find your way around. Behind the beach is a recreational boardwalk and behind that is Front Street, the heart of Philipsburg’s commercial side.
Philipsburg
Many visitors go no further than this compact area, partly because there is so much to see and do there. From top-class restaurants to duty-free shopping, not to mention that endless beach of golden sand, there’s something for every taste.
However, going further afield, you have a whole island of Caribbean delights to discover. Explore Dutch, and French culture, hike in tropical forests, or dive on coral reefs.
Many visitors come away thinking that St. Maarten is one of the best Caribbean islands. Spend any time in Philipsburg and you can understand why.
History & Culture
Philipsburg
Philipsburg was founded by John Philips, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy. He built a fort in 1763 to defend the salt ponds, which produced salt by evaporating seawater.
Salt was crucial during the colonial era for preserving food, especially meat and fish. This was vital to feed a ship’s crew during long sea voyages.
The Dutch, French, and British fought for control of the deep natural harbor of Great Bay and its salt ponds. This Eastern Caribbean island was eventually split between the northern French part and the Dutch southern part in 1648.
Salt remained the mainstay of the economy until after World War II, when tourism began to play a larger role. In 2010, St. Maarten became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with Philipsburg as its capital.
Nature & Wildlife
Man of War Shoal Marine Park
St. Maarten has a diverse ecosystem that ranges from tropical forest to coral reefs. These in turn support wildlife such as iguanas and some 160 types of birds.
Man of War Shoal Marine Park is St. Maarten’s first national park. With historical wrecks and seagrass meadows, it protects sharks, sea turtles, rays, and thousands of reef fish.
Loterie Farm
Inland, Loterie Farm offers an insight into the island’s tropical forests. A former sugar plantation, it’s now an eco-tourism destination with activities such as zip-lining and hiking.
Great Salt Pond
At Great Salt Pond, just north of Philipsburg’s center, you will have a glimpse of St. Maarten’s many bird species. Originally a natural lagoon, it was turned into salt ponds with rock walls that the birds still enjoy.
The pond is an important stopover for migratory birds as well as being home to many resident species. Look out for egrets, herons, coots, Brown pelicans, and Magnificent frigate birds.
Tips for Visiting Philipsburg
Philipsburg
Any visit to Philipsburg should start on Front Street, where the much-photographed Courthouse is a prominent landmark. Find some time for the Sint Maarten Museum if you want to learn more about the island’s history and culture.
On Old Street, take in the historic buildings and local art galleries. The Guavaberry Emporium here is a must-try taste of a local specialty.
After this, it’s time to relax on Great Bay Beach with a quick swim. Rent a sunbed afterward, or stop for a drink at a beach bar.
Fort Amsterdam
A visit to Fort Amsterdam to take in the views is another essential. Then try the local cuisine in a restaurant or some street food at Philipsburg Marketplace.
While Dutch St. Maarten speaks Dutch and French St. Martin speaks—you guessed it—French, both sides have English as an official language. While everyone speaks English, learning a few words of Dutch will boost your enjoyment of Philipsburg.
Renting a car to explore the island is easy, but do be prepared for some traffic. Water taxis or boat tours are an easier and more fun way to get around.
US dollars are widely accepted and indeed, preferred. Bargaining is acceptable in many stores, especially for jewelry.
Things to Do & Attractions in Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Shop on Front Street
Front Street
Philipsburg’s main shopping street is lined with duty-free jewelry, electronics, and souvenir shops. Most are one or two stories, painted in pastel Caribbean colors.
The cobbled brick street is one-way for cars and is shaded by palm trees, making for a pedestrian-friendly vibe. Running parallel to Great Bay Beach, it’s known as one of the best places to shop in St. Maarten.
Look out for the Guavaberry Emporium, a bright pink building where you can try the island’s famous liqueur. Made from local wild guava berries, it has a warm, spicy taste, excellent for replacing white rum in cocktails.
The traditional Dutch colonial-style houses and crowds of people make the street very photogenic. That’s even more true during the regular events here, which include the annual Carnival parade.
Browse Old Street
Old Street Photo by giggel on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0
Running north off Front Street is Old Street, a picturesque cobblestone alley. It’s dedicated to craft shops and cafés, many with colorful frontages.
Fittingly, it’s one of the oldest streets in Philipsburg and some buildings date to the 18th century. It’s worth a visit just to see the traditional Caribbean and colonial architecture.
Old Street is also the place to find galleries featuring local artists, boutique fashion shops, and local crafts. There are also, as on Front Street, plenty of good restaurants and cafés.
Discover the Sint Maarten Museum
Sint Maarten Museum Photo by Richie Diesterheft on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
This small museum packs in a comprehensive history of Sint Maarten. You’ll find everything from pre-Columbian artifacts to items salvaged from shipwrecks.
There is an informative section on slavery and exhibits from early European settlements. The salt trade and notable hurricanes are also described vividly.
The museum also covers flora and fauna, traditional clothing, and music. Many visitors linger over the models of historical ships, while the old photographs are also fascinating.
Admire Philipsburg Courthouse
Philipsburg Courthouse
The white wooden courthouse is one of Philipsburg’s most recognizable landmarks. It has sat on Front Street since 1793 and appears on Sint Maarten’s flag.
The building has been a jail, fire/police station, and council room. Currently housing government offices, it is still also in use as a courthouse.
Look up and you’ll see the bell tower is topped by a pineapple, a seafarer’s symbol of hospitality. The tower has a lovely musical carillon of 25 bells.
Enjoy the Sun at Great Bay Beach
Great Bay Beach
This soft, white sand beach stretches for more than a mile along the south coast below Philipsburg. Its closeness to the city makes it popular for swimming, sunbathing, eating, and drinking.
The beach is well supplied with sun-loungers and umbrellas, as well as watersports rentals. Quieter Little Bay Beach, beyond the headland where Fort Amsterdam stands, is a better option for snorkeling.
Behind the beach is a boardwalk lined with restaurants and bars. If you rent a sunbed, the attendants will bring you snacks or cold drinks from any of these.
See the View from Fort Amsterdam
Fort Amsterdam
Standing on a peninsula between Great Bay and Little Bay, Fort Amsterdam is reached by a short hike. Standing beside it, you can appreciate its strategic position with sweeping views of the approaches to Philipsburg.
Built by the Dutch in 1631, it was fought over for centuries and is now in ruins. Enough remains to make it interesting to explore.
On a slope below the fort is a significant brown pelican breeding colony. You can also see species such as hummingbirds, thrashers, and bullfinches.
Hike Mount Paradise
Mount Paradise
As the highest point on the island, at 1,391 feet, Mount Paradise has panoramic views that make it one of the best things to do in St. Maarten. To the south, you can see all of Philipsburg and the whole Dutch part of St. Maarten.
You can climb to the top from Loterie Farm, but it’s hard hiking in places. It should take you about 45 minutes or an hour to reach the summit.
A better option is to join an ATV tour that will drop you near the top, leaving a short walk. A guide will also help you find your way through the tough tropical terrain.
Bask on Glamorous Orient Beach
Orient Beach
One of St. Maarten’s best beaches is Orient Beach, located 20 minutes from Philipsburg, on the northern, French side of the island. With its relaxed vibe, it’s become known as the Saint Tropez of the Caribbean.
At the southern end, clearly marked by yellow umbrellas, the beach becomes a clothing-optional area. This part of the beach has its own Perch Bar, also clothing-optional.
There are hiking trails as well as the usual watersports activities such as parasailing and kayaking. On the trails, you might see monkeys, iguanas, and certainly plenty of birdlife.
Eat at Grand Case Beach
Grand Case Beach
On the French side of the island, the town of Grand Case has become known as “Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean” for its many excellent restaurants. The town is also blessed with a beautiful beach of soft sand and some of the clearest water in the Caribbean.
The French always do things with style and the beach is lined with picturesque, traditional Creole-style buildings. These are “lolos”, local restaurants specializing in traditional Creole barbecued fish or meat.
It’s not hard to see how Grand Case has grown out of a fishing village. Now, it’s a place to sit over a delicious lunch or dinner on a sunny terrace with a beautiful Caribbean view.
Enjoy the Thrill of Maho Beach
Maho Beach
Among the world’s most photographed beaches, Maho is known for the planes that zoom in to land low overhead. So low, in fact, that it can create a sandstorm on the beach.
The aircraft are landing at Princess Juliana International Airport, on the Dutch side of the island. Thrill-seekers stand in the warm shallows to watch aircraft come in impossibly low over the ocean to land.
This Caribbean beach is tiny and can be very crowded. Most visitors enjoy the beach bars, where flight times are posted on a surfboard or blackboard so you won’t miss your own photo opportunity.
Food & Drink
Burger
St. Maarten/St. Martin may well have the most restaurants per square mile anywhere in the world. With people from 100 countries living there and two nations, it’s perhaps no wonder this tiny island punches above its weight.
Indian or Asian restaurants are among the very best in Philipsburg, with Italian or American being other options. You might well find a sushi restaurant standing near one specializing in hot dogs.
The Dutch influence is muted by this plethora of other options, but you can still find pancakes and plenty of cheeses. However, you are more likely to see dishes such as conch and dumplings on the menu.
Lobster
Other Caribbean staples such as callaloo soup, made with leafy greens and crab or salt beef are also popular. Fresh Caribbean seafood, such as mahi-mahi, red snapper, or lobster features heavily.
The Lazy Lizard on Front street is famous for its fish tacos and jerk chicken. This casual beachfront restaurant has great views and a mix of local and international cuisine.
Chesterfield’s at Great Bay Marina is a popular waterfront hangout for dishes such as coconut shrimp. It’s also a good choice for vegetarian-friendly or vegan options.
For breakfast wraps or a burger lunch, a go-to for many residents is OMG Delicious, a beach bar on the Boardwalk. The poutine on the menu reveals that it’s owned by a French-Canadian couple and no one goes away hungry.
Best Time to Visit Philipsburg
Philipsburg
The best time to visit St. Maarten is from December to April. You’ll find dry, warm weather with temperatures averaging 75-84°F.
This is a perfect time to escape cold northern winters. However, that does mean visitor numbers will peak during these months of the year.
There are fewer visitors but more variable weather in the shoulder season from May to June. There is another good shoulder season from mid-November to mid-December.
July through October is the low season, when some restaurants and shops may close for a well-earned break. These summer and fall seasons are times of high humidity and rainfall.
Philipsburg
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