Philipsburg
Sint Maarten · Sint Maarten · 3 m
Description
Philipsburg is the capital of Sint Maarten, laid out on a narrow sand bar between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. Two parallel streets carry the town. Front Street is a dense run of duty free jewellers, liquor shops and perfume houses, while the Boardwalk behind it follows the beach for more than a kilometre with bars and restaurants facing the water. The white wooden Courthouse of 1793 stands at Wathey Square with a pineapple on its bell tower. Cruise ships berth at Point Blanche to the east and land the bulk of the island's visitors. Fort Amsterdam guards the western headland.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 4 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Front Street duty free shopping
- Great Bay Beach
- The Boardwalk
- Wathey Square and the Courthouse
- Rockland Estate and the Flying Dutchman zipline(Day trip)
- Old Street
- Guavaberry Emporium
- Cruise port at Point Blanche
- Fort Amsterdam
- Divi Little Bay Beach
- Loterie Farm on Pic Paradis(Day trip)
- Sint Maarten Museum
- Sint Maarten Carnival (approx. April)
- Fort Willem and the hill above town
- Great Salt Pond
Getting there
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry