The 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.
The Field Guide
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.
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All fourteen of them, and which to choose for swimming, snorkeling, families or a quiet afternoon.
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.
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 St Barth beaches that stay calm and uncrowded, led by Corossol, the underrated local favorite most visitors never reach.
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.
Which St Barth beaches really work with young children: calm, shallow water, easy access and some shade, plus the ones to skip with toddlers.
Villas, hotels and the neighborhoods that suit how you travel.
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 stay in St Barts, neighborhood by neighborhood: Gustavia, St Jean, Flamands, Grand Cul-de-Sac, Lorient and the hillsides, matched to your trip.
From beach shacks to the tables worth booking weeks ahead.
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.
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.
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.
Boat days, hikes and the experiences that earn a place in your week.
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.
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.
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.
Flights, the St Maarten connection and that famous landing.
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.
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.
Why you need a car, what to rent, and how to drive the island.