Beaches
Shell 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.
The Field Guide
Every guide to St Barth, in one place
Practical, independent advice for planning a trip to Saint-Barthélemy, organized into six sections. Search for a topic, or browse the section that answers your question.
No guides match that search yet. Try a different word, or browse the sections below.
01 5 guides
Beaches
All fourteen of them, and which to choose for swimming, snorkeling, families or a quiet afternoon.
-
-
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.
-
BeachesThe Best Beaches in St Barts: A Local's Guide
St Barth has 14 beaches, and all of them are public and free. This guide covers which one to pick for snorkeling, sunsets, families, seclusion or a proper swim.
-
BeachesThe Best Family Beaches in St Barts
Which St Barth beaches really work with young children: calm, shallow water, easy access and some shade, plus the ones to skip with toddlers.
-
BeachesSnorkeling in St Barts: The Best Beaches to Snorkel From Shore
Where to snorkel straight from the beach in St Barth: a local guide to Shell Beach, St Jean, Corossol and Gouverneur, and when a boat is worth it.
02 3 guides
Where to Stay
Villas, hotels and the neighborhoods that suit how you travel.
-
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.
-
Where to StayRenting a Villa in St Barts: What to Know
A practical guide to renting a villa in St Barts: what a villa gives you, what it costs across the seasons, how far ahead to book, and how to choose the right one.
-
Where to StayThe Best Hotels in St Barts: Where to Book
An independent guide to the best hotels in St Barts, from the island's only Palace to the design-led five-stars and the smaller places that are better value than they look.
03 3 guides
Restaurants
From beach shacks to the tables worth booking weeks ahead.
-
RestaurantsThe Best Beach Restaurants in St Barts
Where to eat with your feet in the sand in St Barts. A guide to the best beach restaurants, the beach clubs and the calm garden tables, beach by beach.
-
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.
-
RestaurantsWhere to Eat in Gustavia, St Barts
A local's guide to the best restaurants in Gustavia, St Barts: the harbour dining rooms, the Italian tables and the lunch spot most visitors walk past.
04 3 guides
Things to Do
Boat days, hikes and the experiences that earn a place in your week.
-
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.
-
Things to DoThings to Do in St Barts: A Local's Guide
An honest guide to the best things to do in St Barts: the beaches, a day on the water, the Colombier hike, Gustavia and the Sunday market, plus what to skip.
-
Things to DoHiking in St Barts: The Best Walks and Trails
A guide to hiking in St Barts: the beautiful coastal walk to Colombier beach, the Natural Pool at Grand Fond, the viewpoint walks, and what to bring.
05 3 guides
Getting There
Flights, the St Maarten connection and that famous landing.
-
Getting ThereHow to Get to St Barts: Flights and Ferries
How to get to St Barts: there is no long-haul airport, so you connect through St Maarten, then take a short flight or a ferry. A practical guide to the trip.
-
Getting ThereFlying into St Barts: The Airport and the Landing
What to expect at St Barts airport and on the island's famous landing: the steep approach, whether it is safe, and how the small Gustaf III airport works.
-
Getting ThereThe St Barts Ferry: Schedule, Cost and the Crossing
How the St Barts ferry works: where it leaves from on St Maarten, how long the crossing takes, what it costs, and when the ferry beats the small-plane flight.
06 3 guides
Getting Around
Why you need a car, what to rent, and how to drive the island.
-
Getting AroundGetting 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.
-
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.
-
Getting AroundRenting a Car in St Barts: What You Need to Know
You will want a car in St Barth. This guide covers how rentals work, what to expect on price, where to pick one up, and how the island's narrow roads really drive.