khanh Saint Barthélemy, known to most as St Barts, is a place often known as a luxurious playground for people who need a break from their routines. In a way, this is true, but the island can also be enjoyable for families with young kids. Here are some of the recommendations for those who want to travel to St Barts with their kids.
Kid-Friendly Activities in St Barts
There is an array of activities for the little ones to do around St Barts. So, you don’t have to worry about them being bored during your stay. As St Barts is a small island, most of these activities will take place by the beach or by the water.
Watersports
Most of the beaches in St Barts are safe to swim and snorkel. The more popular beaches will have watersports clubs offering bodyboard, canoes, paddling boards for kids to rent. In Grand Cul de Sac there are kite-surfing clubs offering lessons for older children. Wind-surfing and sailing courses are available for booking at St Jean beach during the school holidays. For the more adventurous older kids (aged 10+), there are seabobs available for rent to explore the underwater scenery of St Barts.
Little St Jean & Pelican Beach
Little St Jean and Pelican Beach are the smaller beaches, tucked in the corner of St Jean Bay. In addition to the smooth white sand and the turquoise water, the waves here are a lot more gentle than other beaches on the island. This makes it the perfect space for tourists visiting St Barts with young children. You can soak in the warmth of the sun while also supervising the kids as they splash around in the water and build sandcastles.
Collect seashells
Shell Beach in Gustavia is something of a haven for families with young kids at St Barts, be it tourists or local residents. Like its namesake, this beach is scattered with many seashells. Children will be delighted to see these, as they would want to collect many of them. The water is crystal clear, very inviting for a snorkel session to see the reefs. The palm trees around the beach provide shade. A section of the beach is home to Shellona, a restaurant that serves Greek cuisine. You can rent beach chairs from there and also have a nice lunch by the sand. Overall, it is a nice and relaxing place to enjoy the beauty of the waters of St Barts with kids.
Planespotting
Gustaf III Airport is the sole airport on the island. With a runway length of 646 metres, only small planes (with a capacity of 20 passengers maximum) are cleared to land there. The small airport is located very close to St Jean Beach. If you happen to be relaxing on the beach with your children, make sure to look up to the sky once in a while, to see planes take off or approaching the runway.
Playground
For kids between the ages of 3 to 10 years old who want to run around, there is a well-equipped playground in St Jean. Located near the Stade de Saint-Jean (St Jean Stadium), the playground opens between 9 am to 7 pm. The best time to visit there would be the morning hours or early evening, as it gets too hot during the day and becomes crowded in late afternoon.
Pottery painting
Blue Gecko Studio offers pottery painting classes for children and also adults. This is a great activity for those visiting St Barts with their kids, as it hones the creativities of the budding artist(s) in your family. By signing up for a class, you and the family are sure to have a pleasant and relaxing time away from the sand.
Opening hours: Mon–Tue and Thu–Fri 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Wed and Sat 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Closed on Sundays
Location: Near Nikki Beach in St Jean, St Barthelemy
Contact: +590 590 29 10 82
Animal sightseeing
Whether you are going on a walk near St Jeans, or staying on the resorts such as Les Ilets de la Plage or Le Serreno, or even hiking on the Colombier trail, you will surely come across the St Barts wildlife at least once. The most common animals you will see around the island are the brown pelicans and laughing gulls by the beach. On the hills, the kids might encounter a pack of wild goats during your hiking trip. Iguanas also roam the green areas of St Barts, with the prominent species being the green iguanas. Though if you are lucky, you might spot a few of the highly endangered Lesser Antillean iguanas.
Yellow Submarine
This vessel is quite different from your normal, everyday submarine; it doesn’t go completely underwater. This yellow submarine is a glass-bottom boat. The top half is above the water, containing the command room, where the captain steers the boat. There is a small stairs going down to the bottom half (below the waterline), where it is all blue from the light passing through the ocean. The viewing room is fitted with chairs, so you can view what lies beneath the ocean in a cosy setting. On a good day, you and the kids might see some barracudas, sea turtles, and even small stingrays. The tour goes around the Marine Reserve area near Gustavia Harbour.
Location: Gustavia 97133, Saint Barthélemy
Contact: +590 690 18 60 66
Where to eat with kids in St Barts
After all the activities, you (and the kids) will surely feel hungry. Here are some of the best places to eat in St Barts for families with children. The list includes restaurants and also dessert places to satisfy the kids’ sweet tooth.
Pearl Beach Restaurant
Although Pearl Beach Restaurant opens all day, the best time to visit with family is during lunchtime. Feel the warm sand and the gentle sea breeze blowing around you as you enjoy the Mahi burger while feasting your eyes on the stunning blues of the sunny sky and the clear sea. Sometime during the day, you can even do some plane spotting from your table! You can order something specific for your kids, like the Mahi steak, or get a platter to share. Of course, dessert is also an important part of the meal, so make sure to get some of those, too.
Opening hours: Breakfast daily | Lunch 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm daily | Dinner Tue–Sun 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Closed on Monday nights.
Location: Baie de St Jean, 97133 St Barthelémy
Contact: +590 590 52 81 33
Rivyera at the Christopher Hotel
Being a hotel restaurant, the Rivyera opens all day. For breakfast and dinner, Riviera Chef Arnad Faye (the indoor restaurant) provides the meals with a beautiful view of the morning sun/sunset. At lunchtime, the beachside part of the restaurant (aptly named Rivyera Plage) opens, allowing visitors to dine by the sand. The food served at both establishments are French Mediterranean. With the help of chef Arnaud Faye, you can enjoy the taste of the French Riviera on your plate. The kids’ options are also available, so there’s always something that will excite the little ones.
Opening hours: Breakfast 07:30 pm – 10:30 pm | Lunch 12:00 pm – 07:00 pm | Dinner 07:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Pointe Milou 97133 St Barthélemy
Contact: +590 590 276 363
Burger Palace
Burger Palace is the right place to buy from if the kids don’t want to eat anything but burgers and fries. The food is tasty and budget-friendly, too. They also serve paninis and fish sandwiches. There’s only a couple of small tables by the outlet, so most will buy the food to go. Even so, you can grab the burgers and eat them by the gazebo at the harbour. Alternatively, you and the kids can enjoy these delicious meals at your villa, because Burger Palace does delivery as well.
Opening hours: Tue–Sat 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm – 12:00 am | Sun 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Closed on Mondays
Location: Corner of Rue Samuel Fahlberg and Rue Jeanne d’Arc (next to the post office), Gustavia 97133, St. Barthélemy
Contact: +590 590 51-2774
Le Creperie
This place is the go-to for inexpensive, delicious lunches. Serving dishes such as burgers and pastas, as well as the classic crepes and savoury galettes, Le Creperie is surely a hit with adults and kids visiting St Barts. The kids want sweet crepes for lunch? Done. You want to eat a hearty meal for lunch? Can do. You and the kids still have room for ice cream to cool off from the heat? Le Creperie serves those too. With so many items and gluten-free options on the menu, Le Creperie is a staple for families of budding foodies.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm | Closed on Sundays
Location: Rue de la France, Gustavia 97133, St. Barthélemy
Contact: +590 590 27 84 07
Le Petit Deauville
Whether you’re waiting for your catamaran charter, or strolling idly around Gustavia, it’s worth stopping at this little ice-cream shop. Le Petit Deauville offers a range of ice cream and sorbet flavours, enjoyable for adults and kids alike. From the kids’ favourites like chocolate and caramel, to the light and airy fruit flavours, like grapefruit, raspberry, and passionfruit, there is something for everyone at this gelateria. If you enjoy what you had and wanted to bring some back to your villa, you can! The shop also sells the ice-creams in one litre tubs.
Opening hours: Mon–Sat 08:00 am – 6:30 pm | Sun 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Rue de la République (across from the ferry terminal), Gustavia, St. Barthelemy
Contact: +590 590 52-3767
FOSTOK Gourmet Corner
Although the place advertises itself as an ice cream shop, FOSTOK doesn’t just sell ice creams, froyos, and sorbets. It also sells other drinks, such as milkshakes, juices, and even currently-trending bubble tea. Waffles, gateaux, and salads are also offered here, and they are just as popular as the ice creams. Want a warm lunch? Sorted; FOSTOK also serves grilled sandwiches and wraps.
Opening hours: Tue–Sun 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Closed on Mondays
Location: Centre Neptune, St. Jean St. Barthelemy
Contact: +590 590 52-3146
Natural Delights
Natural Delights is the answer to those craving something cold while on a warm and sunny afternoon walk. The gelatos and sorbets are freshly-made, with no added sugar. From the classics (chocolate, vanilla, and salted caramel) to more unique flavours (stracciatella and soursop), this gelateria has them all. You (and the kids) can choose to have the gelati in a cup or cone, and you can stack different flavours! Not only that, if you want something a little heavier, the place also serves small lunches, such as club sandwiches, chicken wraps, and organic salads. You can take the food to go, between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Visiting Natural Delight will surely tide your family over until dinner!
Opening hours: Tue–Fri 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Sat 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Sun 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Closed on Mondays
Location: Rue du Roi Oscar II, Gustavia 97133, Saint-Barthélemy
Contact: +590 590 271-532
Related: Things to do in St Barts
Images are for illustration purposes
