Caribbean · Territory
Saint Martin: Travel Guide & Requirements
· Saint-Martin
Saint Martin is a territory in Caribbean with its capital in Marigot. It has a population of 24,941 (#213 in the world) and covers 50 km². The official language is French. The currency is the Euro (EUR, €).
Where is Saint Martin? Map of Saint Martin
Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; French part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Saint Martin lies east of the US Virgin Islands.
- Region
- Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.0833° N, 63.95° W
- Neighbours
- 1 — see list
- Coastline
- 59 km
- Saint Martin
- Neighbours
- Capital
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Saint Martin
- Passport
A passport valid for your whole stay (check the rules of the governing country).
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Before you go
9 things to know before you travel to Saint Martin
- Safety: Yes — Saint Martin is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Saint Martin Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”).
- Best time to go: December to April — when daytime highs in Marigot are around 26–27°C.
- Money: the Euro (EUR) — 1 US dollar is about 0.8911 EUR.
- Plugs: type C and E, 220 V, 60 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 17, Ambulance 15, Fire 18.
- Language: French is official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the right.
- Time zone: UTC-4 in Marigot.
- Capital: Marigot. About 24,941 people live in Saint Martin.
Key facts
Saint Martin at a glance
Languages spoken: French (official), Dutch, English, Guadeloupian Creole, Haitian Creole, Italian, Martiniquan Creole, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles), Spanish
Geography & history
About Saint Martin
Christopher COLUMBUS claimed Saint Martin for Spain in 1493, naming it after the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, but it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit its salt deposits. The Spanish retook Saint Martin in 1633, but the Dutch continued to assert their claims. The Spanish finally relinquished the island to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. The border frequently fluctuated over the next 200 years because of friction between the two countries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 61%). The cultivation of sugarcane introduced African slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was n…
Read the full history
Christopher COLUMBUS claimed Saint Martin for Spain in 1493, naming it after the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, but it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit its salt deposits. The Spanish retook Saint Martin in 1633, but the Dutch continued to assert their claims. The Spanish finally relinquished the island to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. The border frequently fluctuated over the next 200 years because of friction between the two countries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 61%). The cultivation of sugarcane introduced African slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939, and the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe, and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2010, the southern Dutch portion of the island became the independent nation of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Saint Martin, causing extensive damage to roads, communications, electrical power, and housing; the UN estimated that 90% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed.
Location
Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; French part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Saint Martin lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Climate
temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November
Highest point
Pic du Paradis 424 m
Natural resources
salt
Natural hazards
subject to hurricanes from July to November
National symbols
brown pelican
Safety
Is Saint Martin safe to visit?
Yes — Saint Martin is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Saint Martin Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”).
US State DepartmentSources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Saint Martin
The best time to visit Saint Martin is December to April, when daytime highs in Marigot are around 26–27°C. May to July and November are also a good time to go. September is the warmest month (29°C by day), February the coldest (25°C at night), and October the wettest with about 108 mm of rain.
- Jan26°C25°C
- Feb26°C25°C
- Mar26°C25°C
- Apr27°C26°C
- May28°C27°C
- Jun28°C27°C
- Jul29°C28°C
- Aug29°C28°C
- Sep29°C28°C
- Oct29°C28°C
- Nov28°C27°C
- Dec27°C26°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Saint Martin
Plugs & sockets
220 V, 60 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Currency · 26 October 2026
Euro exchange rates today
Saint Martin uses the Euro (EUR, €). One US dollar buys 0.8911 EUR; over the last 30 days the EUR has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in EUR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Saint Martin ranks
How Saint Martin compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Saint Martin
2 airports and airfields — 0 large, 1 medium and 0 small, plus 0 heliports. 1 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Saint Martin borders 1 country along 16 km of land borders. Coastline: 59 km.
People
Population & society
Economy
Economy
Main industries
tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
Export partners
United States 35%, Netherlands 26%, Antigua and Barbuda 21%, France 10% (2019)
Top exports
gold, special use vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Saint Martin
Frequently asked questions about Saint Martin
What do I need to travel to Saint Martin?
Where is Saint Martin?
What is the capital of Saint Martin?
What language is spoken in Saint Martin?
What currency does Saint Martin use?
What is the calling code of Saint Martin?
Which countries border Saint Martin?
Is Saint Martin safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Saint Martin?
What plug type does Saint Martin use?
How many airports does Saint Martin have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.