Philipsburg (St. Maarten)

Where ships dock

Walk about 15 min to Philipsburg, or ride the water taxi or a taxi.

• A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility, south pier15 min walk
• A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility, north pier15 min walk

Best time to go

Ships call year-round. January–March and October–December carry about three-quarters of the year's cruise visitors; April–September is much quieter.

Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking in August and September.

How far from the pier

One way. Short call OK means 20 minutes or less.

• Philipsburg town centreWalk15 min

Ship tour or go independent?

Going on your own is easy for Philipsburg and the Dutch-side beaches. The town is walkable, the water taxi is cheap, and taxi fares from the cruise port are fixed and published by the tourist bureau. A ship tour or a pre-arranged taxi tour makes more sense for a full loop of the French side, where fares are in euros and on a separate scale.

• Taxis are not metered. Use only official taxis (plates starting with TAXI) and agree the fare before you go.
• A 25% taxi surcharge applies from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and on public holidays, and waiting time is charged after the first 5 minutes.
• The Marigot market runs only Wednesday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and many French-side shops close from noon to 2 p.m.
• Jet blast at Maho Beach can cause serious injury or death. Do not stand behind the runway to watch takeoffs.
• Traffic on the island can be heavy, and roads have limited signs. Leave extra time to get back.

Getting around

No rideshare

• WalkPhilipsburg is about a 15-minute walk from the piers. Front Street, Back Street, the boardwalk and Great Bay Beach are all in town.
• Ferry$6 all-day unlimited ticketWater taxis link the cruise port with three stops on the Philipsburg waterfront: Captain Hodge Wharf, Walter Williams Jetty and Bobby's Marina. Two private companies sell the tickets.
• TaxiOfficial set fares; agree before you goOver 100 taxis wait at the cab stand in Harbour Point Village. Dutch-side fares are fixed zone fares published by the tourist bureau and paid in US dollars or Caribbean guilders (cash preferred). Prices below are the total for 1–2 people from the Cruise Port; groups of 3–5 pay $4–$12 per person depending on destination. A 25% surcharge applies 10 p.m.–6 a.m. and on public holidays. French-side trips follow a separate official euro scale from the Collectivité de Saint-Martin.

  Philipsburg

  $10

  Little Bay

  $10

  Cole Bay

  $18

  Simpson Bay

  $20

  Maho Beach

  $25

  Mullet Bay

  $25

  Cupecoy

  $30

• BusPublic minibuses run often between Philipsburg, Simpson Bay and Maho. There are no set timetables; the district they serve is often shown on the front. Fares are low but not published, so carry cash.

The tourist bureau's transport pages list taxis, minibuses, water taxis and rental cars only. No rideshare app is listed, so plan on a taxi.

Money, tipping & phones

Money

The Dutch side's currency is the Caribbean guilder, pegged at 1.79 to the US dollar, but US dollars are the most used and you may get change in dollars. The French side uses the euro. Some cards are accepted, but carry cash for small, family-run shops and for taxis. ATMs are at local banks and other busy spots.

Phones

Most major carriers work on the island; check your international plan before you go. The local providers are FLOW and TELEM, both with offices in Philipsburg, and SIM cards with service packages are sold on the island. The Dutch side's country code is +1 721 and the French side's is +590.

Must-sees

• Philipsburg: Front Street and the CourthouseWalkableThe Dutch-side capital is about 15 minutes on foot from the pier. Tax-free shops line Front Street, and the historic Courthouse wears a wooden pineapple for hospitality.
• Great Bay Beach and the boardwalkWalkablePhilipsburg's own beach, with a boardwalk of shops, restaurants and water sports right in town.
• Fort AmsterdamRide neededRuins of a Dutch fort built in 1631 on the point between Great Bay and Little Bay, with views over Philipsburg and the sea.
• Maho BeachRide neededA public beach beside the airport runway, where jets pass low overhead on approach. Beach bars line the sand.
• Marigot and Fort LouisRide neededThe French-side capital, with a morning market, 19th-century houses on Rue de la République and the hilltop ruins of Fort Louis above the marina.
• Orient BayRide neededThe longest beach on the French side, known for kitesurfing, windsurfing and beachfront dining. The southern end is clothing optional.

Free & cheap near the pier

• Great Bay Beach and the boardwalkFreeThe town beach runs along Philipsburg's boardwalk, lined with shops, restaurants and water sports.
• The Courthouse and Front StreetFreeWalk past the historic Courthouse with its wooden pineapple, then window-shop the tax-free stores.
• Water taxi day ticket$6 all dayUnlimited rides between the cruise port and three Philipsburg waterfront stops.
• Maho Beach plane watching$25 taxi for 1–2 peopleA public beach right next to the airport runway. The taxi fare is for the whole car of 1–2 people.
• Marigot marketFree to browseOver 100 stalls of fresh fish, fruit, vegetables and flavored rum. Open Wednesday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Eat like a local

• Johnny cakesA common side with island meals, along with rice and peas, coleslaw and fried plantain.
• Stew conchA local main dish you will see on island menus.
• Grilled red snapper and Creole snapperGrilled red snapper is a local staple. In Marigot, open-air grills by the lagoon cook snapper Creole-style and grill fresh lobster.
• Creole shrimp and barbecue chickenTwo other staples of local cooking.
• TartsA local dessert, often filled with guava, guavaberry or coconut.
• Guavaberry liqueurThe island's national liqueur, sold as guavaberry rum. Try a guavaberry punch at the Guavaberry Emporium in Philipsburg.
• French pastriesCroissants and pastries at the French cafés in Marigot.

Rainy-day backups

• Front Street and Back Street shoppingTax-free luxury brands, electronics, souvenirs and liquor on Front Street; lower-priced clothing, handbags and shoes on Back Street.
• Guavaberry EmporiumLearn about the island's national liqueur in Philipsburg.
• St. Maarten National Heritage MuseumIsland history, culture and nature, with a reference library.
• Harbour Point VillageDuty-free shops, market stalls, bars and a restaurant right at the pier.

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions (as of August 24, 2026)

• Petty theft and pickpocketing are the most common crimes in tourist areas. Don't leave valuables on the beach or in a car.
• Watch for overcharging, scams and pushy vendors. Tourist police can help.
• Do not watch jet blast at Maho Beach. It can cause serious injury or death.
• Tap water is not safe to drink. Use sealed bottled water and skip the ice.
• Don't swim alone or far from shore, and stay out of deep water after drinking.
• Use only registered taxis, and agree the fare before you set off.
• Dengue and Zika are on the UK government's list of health risks to check before you go.
• Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking in August and September.
• In an emergency, dial 911 for police and 912 for an ambulance.

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier

Ships dock alongside the piers, so there is no tender. Neither the port nor the tourist bureau publishes step-free or wheelchair details.

• Water taxis are an alternative to the 15-minute walk into Philipsburg.
• Wheelchairs and walkers are included in the standard Dutch-side taxi fare.
• Fort Louis in Marigot is reached by climbing stairs.