Philipsburg
The Dutch capital of the island, four short streets laid out between Great Bay and an old salt pond, with a pineapple carved on the roof of its courthouse.
- Arrival
- Princess Juliana, Sint Maarten · SXM
- To Philipsburg
- About 7 km from SXM in a straight line
- Private jets
- ExecuJet and Signature at SXM
- Best time
- December to August
The city
Salt, a bay and four streets.
Philipsburg takes its name from John Philips, an Englishman who governed the territory for the Dutch and chose the site for its wide bay and the salt pond behind it, reviving the salt trade. The town is still compact: four main streets, none longer than a mile, squeezed between Great Bay Beach and the Great Salt Pond.
Front Street keeps the Courthouse and several buildings with gingerbread trim; the Boardwalk runs along the sand with cafés, shops and water sports. Cruise ships berth a few minutes away, and from the nearby marinas boats leave for the neighbouring islands.
Arriving
Across the island from the runway.
Philipsburg has no airport of its own. Princess Juliana International, in Simpson Bay, lies about seven kilometres away in a straight line and handles both airline and private traffic on a runway of 2,300 metres.
- San Juan 45 min
- Barbados 1 h 15
- Washington 3 h 50
- Mexico City 5 h 15
- Amsterdam 9 h 15 long-range jet
When to go
December to August.
The temperature hardly changes: afternoons reach 29 to 31 °C all year, and the sea is 26 to 29 °C. Late winter is the driest time. Rain peaks from September to November, when the hurricane season is at its height.
- 29° J 63 26°
- 29° F 43 26°
- 29° M 43 26°
- 30° A 65 27°
- 30° M 95 27°
- 31° J 62 28°
- 31° J 76 28°
- 31° A 100 28°
- 31° S 129 29°
- 31° O 109 29°
- 30° N 126 28°
- 29° D 89 27°
What to see and do
Days in and around Philipsburg.
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Landmark
The Courthouse
On Front Street, once the founder’s house and later a fire station, post office and jail, crowned by a wooden pineapple.
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Landmark
The Boardwalk
A promenade along Great Bay, lined with cafés and grills and busy with swimmers and water sports.
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Landmark
Guavaberry Emporium
A shop devoted to guavaberry, the island’s national liqueur, among the gingerbread-trimmed houses of the old town.
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On the water
St. Maarten 12 Metre Regatta
From Bobby's Marina at Point Blanche, guests race former America's Cup class 12 Metre yachts of about 66 feet, trimming sails and grinding winches with the crew.
Official site -
Racing & sport
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
Run from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club in Simpson Bay, this sailing regatta began in 1980 with twelve boats; the 2027 edition is 4 to 7 March.
Official site -
Nature
Rockland Estate
A chairlift climbs 1,125 foot Sentry Hill to the Flying Dutchman zip line, and the Emilio Wilson Museum occupies an 18th century plantation house.
Official site -
Nature
Loterie Farm and Pic Paradis
Trails from Loterie Farm climb through rainforest to Pic Paradis, the highest point on the island, with self guided routes of about one to two and a half hours.
Official site -
On the water
Man of War Shoal Marine Park
Set up in 2010 and looked after by the island's Nature Foundation, this marine park protects about 10,000 hectares of reef, with moorings for dive boats.
On the calendar
Dates to plan around.
Dates as published by the organisers. Runways, hotels and slots fill early around these weeks: the sooner we know, the more choice you have.
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4–7 Mar 2027
Sailing
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
Annual four day regatta organised by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club since 1980; the 2027 race is its 47th edition.
Sint Maarten Yacht Club, Simpson Bay, about 5 km away
In 4 months
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17–21 Mar 2027
Sailing
St Barths Bucket
Regatta for large sailing superyachts based in Gustavia harbour, with four days of racing from 18 to 21 March 2027.
Port of Gustavia, Gustavia, about 25 km away
In 5 months
Where to stay
A short drive out of town.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
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La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel Whitewashed rooms above a beach sheltered from the wind, rated five-star by the Saint-Martin tourist office.
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Sonesta Ocean Point Adults only, with every room a suite, at the southern tip of Sint Maarten beside the Maho Beach resort.
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The Morgan Resort A pool with a waterfall and grotto below, and an observation deck on the roof facing the runway.
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Le Martin Boutique Hôtel A house of seven rooms with an honesty bar, where the chef cooks private dinners; one MICHELIN Key.
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La Plantation Set in Orient Bay Park, above the long beach on the east coast of the island.
Where to dine
Dinner on the French side.
No MICHELIN Guide covers St Martin. One table is listed as fine dining by the Saint-Martin tourist office, one is the signature restaurant of La Samanna, and one is among the best rated on Tripadvisor.
- L’Auberge Gourmande Tourist office, fine dining French $$$ Grand Case, French side
- L’Oursin Signature restaurant, La Samanna Provençal and Caribbean La Samanna, Baie Longue, about 10 km from Philipsburg
- Le Cottage Rated 4.7 on Tripadvisor French $$$ Grand Case, French side
Flying to Philipsburg?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.