Bright and colorful harbor image of Saint Barthelemy. Aerial view with blue sky and turquoise colored water in the marina.Buildings with red roofs along the waterfront.
Saint Barthélemy (St Barts) is a small Caribbean island and part of France’s Overseas Collectivity. It was a former Swedish colony from 1784, until it was bought back by France in 1878. Hence, the capital and the island’s only airport was named after King Gustav III of Sweden (Gustavia and Gustaf III Airport, respectively). St Barts evolved from a quiet fishing village into one of the most exclusive and luxurious holiday destinations in the Caribbeans.
Today, the fun-sized (21 km²) island offers varying activities for visitors to do during their stay. Most will involve the waters, as it is the magnet that attracts most of the tourists. Fortunately, there’s a few options for those looking to take a break from the sand. Now that you’ve booked your St Barts villa, here are some things to do in St Barts.
What are you visiting St Barts for, if not for the beaches? With a choice of 22 beaches, each with its own unique characteristics, you’ll never run out of things to do in the waters of St Barts. Listed below are the top five beaches of the island, in no particular order.
This beach is the favourite amongst returning tourists as it is more secluded than St Jean beach. The primary reason being that it is only accessible on foot and by boat. To get there on foot, there are two paths you can take. From Petite Anse, there is a trailhead that starts at the end of the D210. You must go on a 30-minute hike through a wooded area, where you may encounter some wild goats on the way. Just before reaching the beach, you will have to descend a moderately steep, but slippery sandy part of the hill, taking around 4 minutes. Although challenging, you will be rewarded with the most picturesque view of the deep blue sea. As the waters in Colombier beach is one of the five sanctuary zones of the Marine Reserve, the range of sea life you encounter while snorkelling is otherworldly. As it is a secluded beach, there are no facilities here, so make sure to bring your own picnic supplies if you want to stay for a few hours.
Grand Cul de Sac is part of another Marine Reserve’s sanctuary zone. It is home to many coral reefs, making the waves more subtle, perfect for various water activities like snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and more. You can hire these watersport kits from nearby hotels. The sea turtles are the main attraction of this beach. If you don’t feel like going into the water, you can sit by the sand, sip a cold beer and enjoy the sunshine, and it will still be worthwhile.
To access this beach, you have to take a short hike up a sand dune. This hike takes about 10 minutes from the parking lot. The contrasting view of the white sand and the sea is stunning. Unfortunately, there is no shade from the trees, so make sure to bring a hat and a parasol. There are no facilities here, so make sure to bring picnic supplies. If you are one who prefers to go au naturale while sunbathing, head to the left side of the beach at the end of the hiking trail, as it is more isolated than the rest of the beach.
While many consider this beach not as beautiful as the others, it is still a good place to hang out overall. Lorient is a beach plucked out of surfers’ dreams; plenty of great waves slightly off the shore, calmer waters closer to the sand, shades from palm trees all around, well-kept facilities aplenty. The vibe is very chill here, not unlike the beaches in California. If you’re feeling peckish, there are plenty of shops selling affordable food across the road.
St Jean Bay is the one-stop shop of St Barts beaches, as there are a myriad of things to do here. Do you like enjoying your food and drinks by the sand? There are plenty of beach clubs around. The kids like to watch planes take off and land? One end of Gustaf III Airport is facing the bay, allowing beachgoers to view many planes at close range during the day. Want to splash around in the water? There are plenty of watersports equipment available for hire; snorkels, seabobs, sailboats. You name it, a rental place will have it. It is a great choice of beach for a family with young kids, as facilities are kept pristine, and there is plenty of sand to build sandcastles out of. The waters on this particular beach are very clear, a treat for those who swim and snorkel there.
Gustavia, a town of 2,300 people, is the largest town and also the capital of St Barts. When the island was first founded by the French, it was named Le Carénage, but then changed to its current name, a few years after it was handed over to the Swedes. As the town was declared a free port under Swedish rule, Gustavia became prosperous. Today, Gustavia is the center of duty-free shopping, and also a good place for you who want to find some good eats on the island. Hence most of the activities in St Barts take place in Gustavia. Here are some of the attractions.
If you’re up for a mini hiking exercise, but don’t want to go too far to places like Colombier, Fort Karl is the right place for you. Back in the days of Swedish rule, Fort Karl was one of the three military forts in Gustavia, along with Forts Gustav and Octav. Nowadays, nothing of the original structure remains, leaving a plot of flat stone foundation and an information plaque, sitting on top of a 29-metre hill. It overlooks the coastline of Shell Beach. Here’s a little trick; once you’re on the top of the steps leading to the fort, turn around. You will be greeted by the stunning view of Gustavia’s famous red roofs.
Gustavia lighthouse was built in 1961 on the site of Fort Gustav’s remains. The site itself still houses a couple of cannons, a small section of the ramparts and a powderhouse. It’s not difficult to reach the site; just follow the stone path from the harbour, then go up the steps. The journey will take you past the beautiful gardens. Once you reach the top, walk around the site for the 360-degree view of the town; the infamous red roofs of the Gustavia houses and the boats floating on the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea. On a good day, you can just see the neighbouring islands such as St Kitts & Nevis, Saba, Sint Maarten, and Sint Eustatius. Fun fact; the lighthouse itself is still operational today.
Founded in 1785, Gustavia still has a few buildings from around that era. Some have been turned into a museum, some have been transformed into functional spaces. The Old Swedish Jail, built in 1799, is now an administrative building. The Swedish Clock Tower next to it, is now a great landmark to find if you go hiking up the hill nearby. The St Barth Municipal Museum takes you on a journey through times with artefacts and diagrams from the Swedish colonial era, organised in a neat timeline. The Wall House Museum shows the local artworks, pictures, and sculptures of St Brts in the past. Overall, it is a worthwhile activity to partake in for history buffs and art and architecture enthusiasts.
Of course, St Barts being widely known as the playground for the rich and famous, doesn’t just rely on the beaches to attract tourists. Prestigious brands are also setting up shops here, seeing as there are a lot of visitors coming to this Caribbean paradise with cash to spend. The great thing about shopping in Gustavia is that the goods are duty-free! This makes them about 20% cheaper than if they were bought in, say mainland France or the US. Those who are looking for some retail therapy have a number of choices in luxurious brands, such as: Louis Vuitton, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard, Dolce & Gabbana.
Additionally, if you want to shop for something more local, there are businesses for that, too. Galerie Asie sells modern wood and straw ornaments, good for decorating the cosy corners of your home. Sea Spice offers locally-produced souvenirs like jewellery, artwork and shirts, as well as the flagship: local spices. Kalinas & Tainos is a specialist pearl shop, selling affordable, yet good quality jewellery. Ligne St Barth has local cosmetic products such as lotions and fragrances, perfect for gifts.
Consider this scenario: you have seen everything there is to see on the island. You also have been to most, if not all of the beaches St Barts has to offer. You wanted something more challenging. Then, what can be more challenging than venturing into the deep waters? Here are some things to do in the depths of the sea surrounding St Barts.
Holidaying at St Barts doesn’t feel complete without going on a sailing session at least once during the visit, so hire one! Each of the boat-hire companies offer a unique service that sets it apart from the rest. Yannis Marine has motor-powered yachts in their fleet, including a luxurious sports cruiser. You can share charters on Top Loc with other tourists, as there are five cabins available in its catamaran. Plongee Caraibes offers private trips that include snacks, fruits, an open bar, and a cold buffet (full day booking only). Jicky Marine provides half days and full day excursions, and can also organise deep sea fishing trips. If you don’t go on one of these trips, you will miss out on visiting secluded coves and beaches that are only accessible by boat.
With more than 25 dive sites around St Barts, you are spoilt for choice regarding where to dive. Pain de Sucre is one of the most popular ones, as the slope is gentle and has good visibility, which is easier for the beginners. Kayali is also a well-known site. It is the remains of a trawler that was shipwrecked in 1994. Kayali is located 30 metres down, making it a good challenge for the experienced divers. La Baleine is home to many corals and giant sponges. The sealife in most of these sites are very well-preserved, as they are located in the island’s Marine Reserve sanctuary zones. It is no wonder that scuba diving is one of the tourists’ favourite things to do in St Barts.
Although the best spots for fishing are located in the five sanctuary zones of the Marine Reserve, you must obtain a fishing license to fish there. Additionally, you have to adhere to laws meant to protect the marine life there, such as; no spearfishing, no throwing down anchor when the boat is in the sanctuary zones, and boats can’t travel faster than 5 knots while in the area. Therefore, fishing outside of the Nature Reserve is considered the better option. If you are interested, there are a few services on offer:
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