Getting Around
Getting Around St Barts Without a Car: Taxis and More
Can you visit St Barts without renting a car? A straight guide to taxis, private drivers, hotel shuttles, scooters and walking, and when you really do need your own wheels.
The Saint-Barthélemy Field Guide 2026 Edition
An island worth getting right.
Practical, up-to-date guidance on where to stay, where to eat and which beach to choose. Written from the island, by people who know it.
The Guide
Everything you need, in six chapters
- 01 Beaches → All fourteen of them, and which to choose for swimming, snorkeling or sunset.
- 02 Where to Stay → Villas, hotels and the neighborhoods that suit how you travel.
- 03 Restaurants → From beach shacks to the tables worth booking weeks ahead.
- 04 Things to Do → Boat days, hikes and the experiences that are worth your time.
- 05 Getting There → Flights, the St Maarten connection and that famous landing.
- 06 Getting Around → Why you need a car, what to rent, and how to drive the island.
Before you go
The questions everyone asks
Quick, honest answers to the questions every first-time visitor has. The full picture for each topic is one click away in the guides.
- 01
When should I go to St Barth?
The dry, sunny high season runs from mid-December to April. Christmas and New Year are the peak weeks, with the highest prices and tightest availability. May to November is quieter and cheaper, hotter and wetter, with hurricane season running August through October.
- 02
How do I get there?
No long-haul flight lands here directly. You fly into Sint Maarten (SXM), then cross on a 15-minute small-plane hop or a 30 to 45-minute ferry to Gustavia. Leave several hours between your incoming flight and the onward leg. Read the guide →
- 03
Do I need a car?
For almost everyone, yes. There is no real public transport, and taxis are scarce and expensive. Book a small car early, take the insurance, and the whole island opens up. Read the guide →
- 04
Where should I stay?
Villas are how most visitors stay, and there are far more of them than hotel rooms. Gustavia for walkable evenings, St Jean for the easy central base, Flamands and Grand Cul-de-Sac for calm beachfront. Read the guide →
- 05
Which beach should I pick?
It depends on the day. Saline for the wild classic, St Jean for families and lunch, Colombier for snorkeling and quiet, Shell Beach when you want to walk in from town. Read the guide →
- 06
Is it expensive?
Yes. St Barth is one of the more expensive islands in the Caribbean, especially in high season, but the quality is correspondingly high. Off-season prices can be a fraction of peak weeks.
- 07
What language and currency?
French is the official language and English is widely spoken in tourism. The currency is the euro. Credit cards are accepted everywhere a tourist would go, and ATMs are easy to find in Gustavia.
- 08
Passport and entry rules?
Saint-Barth is a French overseas collectivity. A passport is required and Schengen visa rules apply; most US, UK and Canadian travelers do not need a visa for a tourist stay. Bring your driving license if you plan to rent a car.
From the field
All guides Latest guides
-
-
BeachesShell Beach and Gustavia: The Beach in the Heart of St Barts
Shell Beach is the one St Barth beach you can walk to. Here is the easiest beach day on the island, plus the best spots in Gustavia for sunset.
-
Things to DoBoat Trips and Day Charters in St Barts
How to spend a day on the water in St Barts: where to go by boat, what a boat day involves, choosing a private charter or a shared trip, and island hopping.
-
Where to StayWhere to Stay in St Barts: The Neighborhoods
Where to stay in St Barts, neighborhood by neighborhood: Gustavia, St Jean, Flamands, Grand Cul-de-Sac, Lorient and the hillsides, matched to your trip.
-
Getting AroundDriving in St Barts: Roads, Parking and Local Know-How
What driving in St Barts is really like: the steep narrow roads, the blind corners, where to park in Gustavia and St Jean, the fuel stations, and the local habits that keep it easy.
-
BeachesThe Quietest Beaches in St Barts: Where to Escape the Crowds
The St Barth beaches that stay calm and uncrowded, led by Corossol, the underrated local favorite most visitors never reach.
Why this guide
The guide we wished existed
- 01
Written on the island
We do not rewrite press kits. This is real guidance from people who live in St Barth year-round.
- 02
Genuinely independent
We are not a villa agency or a hotel. Nobody can buy a recommendation in this guide.
- 03
Kept current
Prices, openings and closures move fast here. Every entry is revisited each season.