Things to Do
Weddings and Celebrations in St Barts: A Practical Guide
How weddings work in St Barts: villa and beach settings, why most couples celebrate here and marry legally at home, and how to plan an intimate island wedding.
Saint-Barthélemy
- Villas, by neighborhood.
- Beaches, ranked by the wind.
- Boat days, done right.
The Guide
Everything you need, in six chapters
- 01 Beaches 6 guides → All fourteen of them, and which to choose for swimming, snorkeling or sunset.
- 02 Where to Stay 11 guides → Villas, hotels and the neighborhoods that suit how you travel.
- 03 Restaurants 5 guides → From beach shacks to the tables worth booking weeks ahead.
- 04 Things to Do 12 guides → Boat days, hikes and the experiences that are worth your time.
- 05 Getting There 9 guides → Flights, the St Maarten connection and that famous landing.
- 06 Getting Around 5 guides → 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
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Things to DoNew Year’s Eve in St Barts: What to Expect and How to Plan
New Year in St Barts is the Caribbean’s biggest party: superyachts, booked-out villas and tables reserved months ahead. Here is how it really works, and how to plan it.
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RestaurantsTipping, Cash and Cards in St Barts: The Honest Answer
Do you tip in St Barts? What currency to bring, whether cards are accepted, and how tipping really works on a French island where service is already included.
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Things to DoDay Trips from St Barts: Anguilla and the Neighbouring Islands
Which islands you can visit on a day trip from St Barts, how to get to Anguilla and beyond by boat, why you need your passport, and when to just stay put.
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Where to StayProvisioning a St Barts Villa: Groceries, Wine and a Private Chef
How feeding a villa in St Barts really works: where to shop, what it costs, how a provisioning service stocks the kitchen before you land, and when a private chef is worth it.
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RestaurantsThe Best Restaurants in St Barts: Where to Eat
An independent guide to the best restaurants in St Barts: the destination tables, the Italian favorites, the sunset spots, and the local places visitors miss.
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
No hotel, villa or restaurant pays to appear here. Nobody can buy a recommendation in this guide.
- 03
Kept current
Prices, openings and closures move fast here. Every entry is revisited each season.
Plan your trip Browse all guides
Do it yourself, or have it handled
Everything here is written so you can plan the trip yourself, and most people happily do. But it is written by people who live and work on St Barth, and if you would rather hand parts of it over, they can. You reach St Barth from Sint Maarten by the small-plane hop or a private boat transfer , and most visitors stay in a villa rather than a hotel: you can browse the villas yourself, or have a local team match you to one and run the week.
On the ground, a taxi or a private driver covers the airport run and the late dinners, and a concierge can line up the tables, the boat day and a chef at the villa. None of it is required, and the island rewards doing it your own way just as much. Either way, start with the guides.