The Best Beaches Around Saint Martin You Can Easily Visit by Public Bus

Crystal-clear water, powder-white sand, and tropical vibes – the island of Saint Martin boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. The best part? Many of them are easily accessible by public bus. Whether you prefer lively beachfronts or hidden coves, there’s something for everyone. In this guide, I’ll show you the best beaches around Saint Martin that you can explore conveniently and affordably by public bus.
Pack your swimwear and get ready for unforgettable coastal moments!

Saint Martin

At first glance, Saint Martin has much in common with other Caribbean islands. There are fine sandy beaches lapped by turquoise waters, a relaxed atmosphere prevails, and the clocks are set to island time. What makes Saint Martin so special is that the island belongs to two sovereign nations. The southern part is part of the Netherlands, while the northern part is a so-called Collectivité d’outre-mer, hence, an overseas collectivity and therefore part of France. Such a division exists only once more in the Caribbean. On Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic shares the island with Haiti.

The difference, however, is that Hispaniola is about an incredible 870 times larger than Saint Martin. Furthermore, there you actually cross a real border, whereas on Saint Martin you have to keep your eyes peeled to even spot the discreet road signs Bienvenue en Partie Française, respectively Welcome to St. Maarten Dutch Side, indicating the border.

Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten flow seamlessly into one another. There are no border controls, and many locals cross daily for work, shopping, or leisure. Hence, both sides share the same postcard-perfect coastline, Caribbean vibes, and an amazing story of peaceful coexistence, from which many other states could learn a thing or two.

And that’s not all: Over 120 different nationalities live on this tiny island of 87 square kilometers! People from many different countries of origin make up Sint Maarten’s population. Actually, more than two-thirds of the inhabitants were born abroad. Some of the largest groups come from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana, India, and, of course, France and the Netherlands. In times of growing hostility towards migrants basically everywhere, they demonstrate how peaceful and equal coexistence is possible.

Beaches in Saint Martin

The beaches of Saint Martin are characterized above all by the extraordinary range of forms, uses, and atmospheres they encompass within a very small area. Instead of a continuous, uniform coastline, there is a succession of clearly defined bays, each developing its own distinct character and often differing significantly even after just a few kilometers.

This diversity is closely linked to the island’s political and cultural division. On the Sint Maarten side, development is more focused on organized, touristy beach use. In general, the French side tends to be quieter and is more characterized by individual towns and natural coves. This results in not uniform beaches, but in very different beach types that function more like individual towns.

In addition, external factors that are less dominant on other islands influence the perception of the beaches. These include the immediate proximity to the airports with regular air traffic over the beach, as well as the highly fluctuating visitor numbers due to cruise ships in Philipsburg. Overall, this creates an island-like impression in which the beaches are perceived less as a continuous coastline and more as a collection of very different, independent beach spaces, each with its own logic and pace.

What Makes a Good Beach?

Creating a list of the best beaches is, of course, a matter of personal preferences and taste. While we all can certainly agree that a beach littered with cigarette butts, beer caps, and possibly broken glass won’t make it to the top of the list, other aspects depend heavily on individual needs and likes. Do you crave peace and quiet and are happy to lug all your gear along? Or is your idea of ​​the perfect beach day a comfortable lounger under a parasol, with drinks being continuously served to you?

Two very different, yet perfectly valid, scenarios for a perfect beach day. And it’s with this in mind that my list below should be read. To add more generality, however, I’ve included the pros and cons of each beach from my perspective. This way, you can use the list as a guide and have a better idea of ​​what to expect.

Generally speaking, the water around Saint Martin is clear and stunningly turquoise everywhere, and I didn’t find a single truly bad beach. It’s really just the little things – and as I said, personal preferences – that make the difference.

Ten Beaches Not to Miss

Happy Bay Beach

For me, Happy Bay Beach couldn’t have a more fitting name. It’s my absolute happy place. It’s very secluded and only accessible on foot via an inconspicuous path above Friar’s Bay or via a private road from the main road. Access is the crucial filter. Those who take the short, but unmarked, path reach a bay that is significantly quieter than many other beaches on the island. And, ironically, it’s precisely this seclusion that lends Happy Bay Beach a touch of luxury. It’s not the luxury of money, but the luxury of exclusivity, if that makes sense.

There’s no permanent infrastructure whatsoever: no beach bars, no sun loungers, no ongoing amenities. Everything you need has to be brought with you. This keeps the beach deliberately unorganized, and it only changes through its visitors.

The bay is open enough to exhibit varying conditions depending on the wind: from calm water to noticeable movement. Happy Bay is particularly suitable for travelers who consciously forgo tourist amenities and seek an unspoiled beach.

A major advantage is that the large, spreading tree canopies provide shade all day long, regardless of the sun’s position.

Many visitors reach Happy Bay via the narrow path of Anse Guichard. The views from this path are incredibly beautiful and not to be missed.

However, there is also a second route, which requires trespassing from the main road. This sounds more illegal than it actually is. Keep in mind, though, that you can only bypass the locked gate on foot. I’ll mark the exact access point on the map at the end of this post.

Grand Case Beach

I enjoy total isolation from time to time, but I also thrive when I’m close to life. And the beach at Grand Case is closely intertwined with the town of the same name, feeling more like an extension of village life than a separate bathing area. The street lined with restaurants and beach clubs runs directly behind the beach, creating a seamless blend of everyday life, gastronomy, and the sea, forming a kind of symbiosis.

The beach stretches for about one kilometer and has very different sections. At both ends, it’s undeveloped and rather wild. In between, large stretches are lined with restaurants, some of which rent out sun loungers and parasols. Here, there’s almost an Ibiza vibe, with either chill lounge music or sometimes thumping beats.

Then there are sections where holiday homes border the beach, allowing you to benefit from their shade.

Fishing boats are often moored directly on the sand, and access to the water can vary depending on the section.

As you can see, Grand Case beach can’t be described as a single, cohesive whole, and that’s precisely what makes it so appealing. The fact that the bus stops just steps from the shoreline also makes it one of the easiest beaches to reach on the island. And that’s why it comes in at number two on my list.

My Tip

Grand Case is particularly charming in the early evening, when you can enjoy an aperitif or a casual yet gourmet dinner while watching the sun take a final dip into the sea.

Mullet Bay Beach

Mullet Bay is the first beach on my list located on the Dutch side of the island. It took me a while to fall in love with it. On my first visit, the weather wasn’t great, and I only stayed in the front section, which is completely commercialized. Busloads of cruise ship passengers are unloaded here under the parasols for a few hours on the sun loungers. Not ideal.

Luckily, I went back and was able to experience the beautiful side of Mullet Beach. This is located in the far end, towards Copacoy. Here, the beach is wide, open, and spacious. The trade-off is that you have to trudge quite a way through the soft sand in the heat, without any shade, to reach the more tranquil part. While the beach is beautiful here, there’s very little shade. So, if you plan to spend the day here, you should definitely bring your own parasol. There are also no restaurants or cafes in this section. Of course, you can always use the bars in the front beach area, so you don’t necessarily have to lug all your refreshments with you.

My Tip

The public bus from Philipsburg officially only goes as far as Maho Beach. However, if you tell the bus driver you want to go to Mullet Beach, he’ll gladly drive you to the beach parking lot for just one dollar more.

Since the world-famous Maho Beach, with its planes landing low overhead, is only about a 15-minute walk away, a visit can easily be combined with a day at Mullet Beach. I wouldn’t want to spend a whole day at Maho Beach, though. However, from there, you can take the bus back.

Friar’s Bay Beach

My inner three-year-old kept asking me every few steps on the way to Friar’s Bay, Are we there yet? That’s because the intersection where the bus driver dropped me off is a good 20-minute walk from the shore. Also, I’m walking completely exposed to the blazing sun. So I totally feel my inner three-year-old. As a matter of fact, the reason this beach isn’t higher on my list is entirely due to the relatively long walk from the bus stop.

But when the gentle curve of the beach finally appears, I’m on top of my game again. Nestled between Saint-Martin’s picturesque hills, it feels like a little world apart.

Beach bars are located at both ends of the bay. The crowd is a good mix of locals and visitors. The vibe is lively, but by no means obtrusively loud. Hence, I spread my towel out in the shade of the very pleasantly chilled 978 Beach Lounge with its extremely friendly service.

Interestingly, this is the only stretch of shoreline where you don’t step into the water on a soft carpet of fine sand, but instead have to clamber over some slightly prickly pebbles. This isn’t exactly comfortable, but it’s not a problem either.

Regardless, I can’t recommend enough leaving your cozy spot, at least for a short walk along the path from Anse Guichard towards Happy Bay. Of course, you can also grab all your stuff and spend the rest of your beach day there.

If later, you don’t want to walk back to Friar’s Beach, you’ll find the map below showing where you can get back to the main road and the bus stop from Happy Bay in about 15 minutes.

Simpson Bay Beach

The longest stretch of beach is Simpson Bay Beach on the southwest side, partly located along the airport runways. Planes on approach are a recurring feature here and significantly alter the beach’s character.

Use varies considerably along its length. While hotels, bars, and water sports businesses dominate some sections, there are also long, quiet stretches. These are among my favorite beaches on the island. However, these quiet sections are not serviced, so you need to bring everything you need for a day at the beach, especially plenty of drinking water. Furthermore, the beach is lined with a number of vacation villas, so the access points aren’t always easy to find, and they are quite far apart. In my opinion, the best access point is behind the cemetery.

Finally, it’s worth noting that there is very little vegetation directly on the beach and therefore no natural shade. You should bring your own beach umbrella. Like Happy Bay Beach, Simpson Bay Beach will likely appeal to those who, like me, love secluded beaches and are willing to accept some minor inconveniences.

Kim Sha Beach

Kim Sha Beach is directly adjacent to Simpson Bay Beach. However, it is significantly more compact and much busier. It is certainly not a tranquil, secluded spot.

The water is calm, making the beach ideal for light water sports like stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking. The infrastructure is geared more towards socializing than pure relaxation. This is also a beach where day visitors from cruise ships arrive by the busloads, which unfortunately often makes it very crowded.

In the evening, things really get going. There’s music and smaller events. Kim Sha is therefore particularly suitable for tourists looking for a lively beach atmosphere.

Great Bay Beach

Great Bay Beach isn’t easy to judge.
On the one hand, it’s a long, wide sandy beach.
That’s good.
On the other hand, two-thirds of it is occupied by rental sun loungers and parasols.
That’s bad.
It’s right next to the beach promenade with countless bars, restaurants, and shops, so you hardly need to bring anything with you. You can buy everything conveniently on the spot.
That’s good.
The water, probably due to its proximity to the port, isn’t as beautiful and clear as at other beaches.
That’s bad.

Great Bay is located directly in front of Philipsburg and is heavily frequented by tourists from the many cruise ships that dock in Saint Martin basically every day. Outside of these times, however, it’s significantly quieter. The promenade runs right behind the beach with small openings to the shopping street. Therefore, the transition between the city and the sea is barely noticeable.

During my stay in Philipsburg, Great Bay Beach was my go-to spot—admittedly, primarily for convenience.

Petite Plage

Petite Plage is located behind Grand Case beach. It’s not directly adjacent, and the walk shouldn’t be underestimated. It takes about 20 minutes. Furthermore, the beach is blocked off from the road by holiday villas and, most notably, the Grand Case Beach Club Hotel. The security guard kindly let me walk through the hotel grounds. Furthermore, there’s also a very narrow path directly behind the hotel.

All of this makes you feel like the poor relative who has to enter through the servants’ entrance. It casts a shadow on the beach experience. Speaking of shadows: the lack of them is Petite Plage’s biggest drawback. If you don’t bring your own parasol, you’ll be lying in the blazing sun.

The water here is very nice, but you constantly feel like an illegal intruder on the hotel grounds because its presence is so dominant.

I don’t think the rather long walk from Grand Case is worth it. And if you’re coming all the way by car, then I wish you good luck finding a parking space in the rather narrow access road.

Orient Bay Beach

Orient Bay Beach is supposedly the dream beach for most tourists. For me, it ranks second to last. This perfectly illustrates that judging a good beach is a very personal matter and depends on various factors that everyone evaluates and prioritizes differently.

As the name suggests, Orient Bay Beach is located on the east coast of Saint Martin and is one of the most developed beaches on the island. It’s easily accessible by rental car and taxi, with parking available. Now, this post introduces beaches that can be easily reached by public bus. That’s only partially true for Orient Bay Beach.

While you can take the bus to the entrance on Rue du Cabestan – you’ll find this point marked on the map at the end of the post – from there it’s about a 20-minute walk to the first beach access point. And don’t expect to cross a traditional Caribbean village! The area is a gated resort. All the buildings are holiday homes. The ambiance, if you can even call it that, strongly reminds me of the tourist hotspots of the Canary Islands. And I’m not a fan of those.

The beach is very busy, with numerous water-sports providers and beach clubs that also rent out sun loungers and parasols. Orient Bay Beach is the only beach on the French side where busloads of cruise ship passengers are brought in.
Didn’t like it on the Dutch side, don’t like it on the French side either.

At the southern end of Orient Bay Beach, there’s a clearly marked nudist area. This seems to impress, especially American visitors… let’s just say it’s not enough. For us Europeans, it doesn’t even warrant a second glance.
And for me, it didn’t warrant a second visit to Orient Bay Beach.

My Tip: Pinel Island Beach

Just a stone’s throw from Orient Bay lies the village of Cul-de-Sac. From here, you can reach Îlet de Pinel by shuttle boat. Alternatively, you can paddle across by yourself in a canoe.

Îlet de Pinel is part of the eastern lagoon system of Saint Martin and thus belongs to the ecologically sensitive coastal area. Therefore, the small island is, of course, car-free.

The island is a popular, yet deliberately restricted and controlled, destination focused entirely on experiencing nature. I was all the more surprised, then, to find that almost all visitors had settled down on one of the two sandy beaches. I think a short hike across the island is the most interesting part of the visit.

Immediately behind the coast begins a sprawling, dry, sparse vegetation of low shrubs, coastal plants, and the occasional palm tree – perfectly adapted to sun, salt, and wind.

A walk across the rolling hills offers magnificent views of Saint Martin’s east coast as well as the wilder, Atlantic-facing side. And yes, there’s still plenty of time afterwards to relax on the sandy beach.

Little Bay Beach

Yes, Little Bay definitely comes last in my list of beaches. It doesn’t really belong on the list at all, as the beach can’t be reached by bus, only on foot from Great Bay. Depending on your starting point, this takes about an hour. This walk is worthwhile if you want to visit the nearby Fort Amsterdam or go snorkeling with Under SXM – see my tip below.
Otherwise, a visit to Little Bay is not a must, to say the least.

Yet, it was here that the first hotel was built on Little Bay Beach in 1955. Before the 1950s, there was practically no tourist infrastructure on the island. However, it wasn’t until five years later that the entire island had electricity!

My Tip

Located off the coast of Little Bay are more than 300 sculptures installed along a designated trail under the sea. It creates a museum-like experience that you explore by snorkeling or diving. The sculptures reflect the history and cultural heritage of Sint Maarten from the indigenous roots to contemporary culture.

As a matter of fact, many pieces are life casts of real local people. The sculptures are made from environmentally friendly, pH-neutral materials that supposedly encourage coral growth and marine settlement. This way, they create new habitats for fish and other marine life.

How to Get Around

Getting to the listed beaches by public bus is easy, affordable, and offers scenic views along the way.

The public bus system is actually very good and covers almost the entire area. Buses run on several routes between 5 a.m. and midnight, but without a fixed schedule. Signs in the windshield indicate the start and end points of each route. There are even bus lines that connect Marigot and the so-called French Quarter on the French side with Philipsburg in the Dutch part.

There are clearly marked bus stops. However, you can also hail a passing bus from anywhere. Similarly, you can get off anywhere by calling out. Fares cost between one and three dollars, depending on the distance. You can pay in US dollars, and at least on the French side, drivers are happy to take also €uros. Nevertheless, should have the exact fare, or at least small change if possible.

Ten Things To Pack For a Beach Day

If you stay at a beach hotel, you can simply walk from your room to your sunbed in a swimsuit, a book, and a cocktail in hand. In that case, kudos – and you won’t need this checklist. If, however, you intend to spend the day on a beach from where you cannot just rush back to your room in case you forgot something, you should read this list thoroughly.

Putting it together, I had you beach walkers in mind. You folks who leave their accommodation in the morning, taking the bus to some remote place, and then come back only in the late afternoon. If you forget to take certain things with you, you won’t have them available during the entire day, it’s as simple as that.

Therefore, the list below contains not only quintessential items like your wallet and your reading glasses but also some gadgets that are not crucial but will make your day on the beach more comfortable and pleasant.

Well-Organized Activities

Obviously, this post is made to show you how easy and comfortable exploring Saint Martin’s beaches by public bus can be. However, if you want to explore the shores from the water, it’s a whole different story, and you’ll need an experienced and reliable tour operator.

Furthermore, especially for solo travellers, joining a group on a day trip is safer, but it can also be a nice change and a great opportunity to meet like-minded fellow travellers.

Therefore, here are some suggestions for what to do when visiting Saint Martin. Especially during high season, pre-booking online will guarantee your place at the activity of your choice*:

Although the beaches around Saint Martin are just fantastic, they are not the only attractions the island has to offer. In my comprehensive guides, Best Things to Do in Sint Maarten, the Dutch Half of the Friendly Island,and What Not to Miss in Saint-Martin, the French Half of the Friendly Island, I’m introducing all the island’s amazing places and fun activities. And in my post A Self-Organized Day Trip Around Saint Martin by Public Bus, I’m guiding you to the most inspiring spots on the island on a circular tour by public bus.

Map

This map should help you find the most beautiful beaches of Saint Martin that I’m introducing in this post. Clicking on the slider symbol at the top left or the full-screen icon at the top right will display the whole map, including the legend.

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