Where The Evening Goes
The nightlife guide for Gustavia and Saint-Jean, from harbour terraces to late bars.
Nightlife guide
St Barts Travel Guide
St Barthelemy, called St Barts, is a French overseas collectivity of about 21 square kilometres with its capital at Gustavia and a population of roughly 10,700. The 646 m runway takes only small turboprops, no jets, so most visitors fly to St Martin first and take a short flight or a ferry. The euro is the currency, French is official, English is widely spoken, and every beach is public.
Sea, October 202630 C water, waves 0.8 m. No active Atlantic storms at last check.
Things To Do In St Barts: The Short List
A first day runs Gustavia harbour in the morning, Shell Beach below the town, Saline Beach in the afternoon and sunset from a hillside or beach. Distances are short but roads are narrow and steep, so a car, scooter or taxi is the usual way to cover them.
1Morning
Gustavia Harbour
The capital and its harbour. Cruise ships tender passengers in, as there is no cruise pier, and walking the quays and the two old forts costs nothing.
Free2Late Morning
Shell Beach
A beach of shell sand beside Gustavia, reached on foot from the harbour. All beaches on the island are public.
Public Beach3Afternoon
Saline Beach
A public beach, like every beach on the island. Marine reserve rules apply: a 5-knot limit, no jet skis, no touching turtles, no dogs on beaches.
Public Beach4Evening
Sunset Spots
Sunset viewpoints and west-facing beaches close the day. Any headland or shore facing west will do.
Free
Boomerangs Group Sail and Snorkel
5.0 from 8 reviews · from $189 · Runs 12 May to 31 Aug 2027
Check availability
St Barts Beaches And Sights
Every beach on St Barts is public and free to use, and badges mark the free public beaches and sights.
Public Beach
Shell BeachBeach of shell sand beside Gustavia, a short walk from the harbour.
Public Beach
Saline BeachA public beach, like every beach on the island.
Public Beach
Gouverneur BeachA public beach, like every beach on the island.
Public Beach
Colombier BeachA public beach with its own hike page on this site.
Public Beach
Saint-Jean BeachA public beachfront where several hotels sit along the sand.
Public Beach
Flamands BeachA public beach, Anse des Flamands.
Free
Gustavia HarbourThe capital's harbour, where ships tender in because there is no cruise pier.
Free
Fort KarlAn old fort at Gustavia.
St Barts Areas At A Glance
Gustavia is the capital, wrapped around its harbour. Saint-Jean is the beachfront strip where most of the hotels sit. Lorient, Flamands, Grand Cul-de-Sac, Toiny, Colombier and Corossol each have their own area or beach page. The area guides also cover Pointe Milou, Anse des Cayes, Saline, Vitet and Devet.
Gustavia · Saint-Jean · Lorient · Flamands · Grand Cul-de-Sac · Toiny
36 traveller reviewsacross 6 checked tours
From $189cheapest tour, group sail runs 12 May to 31 Aug 2027
Prices checkedagainst the booking page, refreshed monthly
St Barts Boat Tours Worth Booking
Six boat tours visit St Barts, and every one leaves from a harbour on St Martin. Three questions narrow them to a shortlist.
A starting shortlist of the best-reviewed crossings. Answer below to rebuild it for your trip.
- Private Charter from St Martin 8 hours from $2,100 ★ 5.0 (17 reviews) Check availability
- Boomerangs Group Sail and Snorkel 7 hours Runs 12 May to 31 Aug 2027 from $189 ★ 5.0 (8 reviews) Check availability
- Nikki Beach Private Charter 6 to 8 hours from $2,120 ★ 4.8 (5 reviews) Check availability
- 8-Hour Private Charter 8 hours from $1,948 ★ 5.0 (3 reviews) Check availability
- 2-Day 1-Night Private Catamaran 2 days from $4,816 ★ 5.0 (3 reviews) Check availability
- 7.5-Hour Private Sailboat 7.5 hours from $2,000 Check availability
St Barts With Kids
Public beaches, family villa options and a family itinerary on this site cover the practical side. The marine reserve rules apply everywhere: a 5-knot limit, no touching turtles, and no dogs on beaches.
A Family ItineraryA route built around beach days and short drives.
St Barts With KidsWhat a visit with children involves.
Villas For FamiliesPrivate villas that sleep a family.
Saint-Jean BeachThe most developed beachfront on the island.
St Barts In The Rain
Rain is spread unevenly across the year: Meteo-France 1991 to 2020 normals show 891.3 mm annually, with October wettest at 135.6 mm and February driest at 38.4 mm. Indoors, the island museums and a rainy-day itinerary fill the gap.
The Island MuseumHistory of the island, indoors.
Wall House MuseumA small museum in Gustavia.
Corossol Shell MuseumShells and fishing village history.
A Rainy-Day PlanWhat to do when the showers set in.
St Barts At Night
Evenings run from Gustavia harbour restaurants and bars to beach clubs and sunset spots. The overnight private catamaran from St Martin is the one listing here that spends a night afloat.
St Barts NightlifeWhere the evening goes on Gustavia harbour.
Le Select, GustaviaA bar in Gustavia; the page has the detail.
Sunset SpotsWhere to catch the sunset on St Barts.
Overnight Catamaran2-Day 1-Night Private Catamaran5.0 from 3 reviews · from $4,816Check availabilitySt Barts In Low Season
Hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November, peaking mid-August to mid-October. Meteo-France 1991 to 2020 normals show an annual mean maximum of 30.2 C, a mean minimum of 24.9 C and 891.3 mm of rain, and several hotels close for part of the autumn.
Low SeasonWhat changes on St Barts between June and November.
Hurricane SeasonHow hurricane season works and how to plan around it.
Best Time To GoSeason by season, from dry winter to autumn.
Weather By MonthTemperature and rain through the year on St Barts.
Free Things To Do In St Barts
Every beach on the island is public, from Saint-Jean and Gouverneur to Colombier, Flamands and Grand Cul-de-Sac. Walking Gustavia and its old forts costs nothing.
Where To Eat In St Barts
The island's guides cover restaurants, beach clubs and cheap eats across Gustavia and the beaches. Expect French kitchen standards alongside simple grills.
Best Restaurants
The guide to restaurants worth booking on St Barts.
Beach Clubs
Beach clubs sit along the coast, with sun loungers at the water's edge.
Cheap Eats
Where to eat for less on the island, without chasing anything fancy.
Where The Evening Goes
The nightlife guide for Gustavia and Saint-Jean, from harbour terraces to late bars.
Nightlife guide
St Barts On The Map
Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.
Click the map to zoom with the scroll wheel.Pinch to zoom and drag to move. Numbers match the list.
- GustaviaGustavia, the capital and harbour
- Shell BeachBeach · 450 m from Gustavia
- Saline BeachBeach · 3.1 km from Gustavia
- Gouverneur BeachBeach · 2.2 km from Gustavia
- Colombier BeachBeach · 3.6 km from Gustavia
- Flamands BeachBeach · 2.7 km from Gustavia
- St Jean BeachBeach · 1.5 km from Gustavia
- Lorient BeachBeach · 3.3 km from Gustavia
- Grand Cul-de-Sac BeachBeach · 5.3 km from Gustavia
- Anse des CayesBeach · 2 km from Gustavia
- Toiny CoastBeach · 5.5 km from Gustavia
- Marigot BeachBeach · 4.8 km from Gustavia
- Petit Cul-de-SacBeach · 6.3 km from Gustavia
- CorossolBeach · 1.6 km from Gustavia
- Nikki BeachBeach · 1.8 km from Gustavia
- Gustavia HarborGustavia and History · 340 m from Gustavia
- Fort KarlGustavia and History · 320 m from Gustavia
- Fort GustafGustavia and History · 640 m from Gustavia
- Wall House MuseumGustavia and History · 320 m from Gustavia
- Fort OscarGustavia and History · 330 m from Gustavia
- Le SelectGustavia and History · 250 m from Gustavia
- Gustavia Restaurants (Rue du Roi Oscar II)Gustavia and History · 300 m from Gustavia
- Gustavia Shopping (Rue de la République)Gustavia and History · 370 m from Gustavia
- Pointe MilouNature or Outdoor · 4.4 km from Gustavia
- Morne de VitetNature or Outdoor · 4.7 km from Gustavia
- Colombier TrailheadNature or Outdoor · 2.9 km from Gustavia
- Ile Fourchue (Nature Reserve)Nature or Outdoor · 8.5 km from Gustavia
- Sunset Spot, PublicNature or Outdoor · 1.1 km from Gustavia
- St Jean Airport (SBH)Landmarks and Lifestyle · 1.2 km from Gustavia
- St Jean AreaQuarter or Area · 1.6 km from Gustavia
- Lorient AreaQuarter or Area · 2.8 km from Gustavia
- Flamands AreaQuarter or Area · 2.6 km from Gustavia
- Grand Cul-de-Sac AreaQuarter or Area · 4.9 km from Gustavia
- Toiny AreaQuarter or Area · 5.7 km from Gustavia
- Colombier AreaQuarter or Area · 3.1 km from Gustavia
- Corossol AreaQuarter or Area · 1.5 km from Gustavia
- Pointe Milou AreaQuarter or Area · 4.4 km from Gustavia
- Anse des Cayes AreaQuarter or Area · 1.7 km from Gustavia
- Saline and Grand Fond AreaQuarter or Area · 4.1 km from Gustavia
- Vitet and Devet AreaQuarter or Area · 4.1 km from Gustavia
Day Trips From St Barts: Anguilla, Saba And St Martin
Several neighbouring islands can be reached from St Barts. St Martin is the gateway: the ferry from Gustavia and the small-plane links run to and from it.
St Martin
St Barts To St Martin
Ferry and short flights link the two islands, with SXM as the gateway airport.
St Barts Right Now: Sea, Waves And Storms
At the last check, on 19 October, the sea off St Barthelemy was 29.5°C with waves around 0.78 m, and the air was 28.3°C and drizzly. The National Hurricane Center listed no active Atlantic tropical storm or hurricane at that check.
- Sea temperature
- 29.5°C
- waves 0.78 m, 7.05 s apart
- Air and wind
- 28.3°C
- drizzly, wind 17 km/h
- Sunrise and sunset
- 06:05 / 17:46
- 19 October, St Barthelemy time
- Atlantic storms
- None active
- Atlantic basin, NOAA list
Sea and air data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), storm list from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. Model and forecast values for the waters near Gustavia, not a buoy or thermometer reading, refreshed monthly.
When To Visit St Barts, Month By Month
Tap a month for details. Figures are Meteo-France climate normals 1991 to 2020 for the St Barthelemy station; sea temperature is a rounded secondary figure.
St Barthelemy's wettest month is October at 135.6 mm on average, and November follows at 118.6 mm, about 4 times the 38.4 mm of February, the driest. These are Météo-France station averages for 1991-2020.
- Monthly rainfall (mm)
- Mean temperature (°C)
| Month | Mean temp | Mean high | Mean low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C | 28.5°C | 23.5°C | 52.6 mm |
| February | 25.9°C | 28.6°C | 23.3°C | 38.4 mm |
| March | 26.3°C | 29°C | 23.5°C | 41.4 mm |
| April | 27°C | 29.8°C | 24.2°C | 50.9 mm |
| May | 27.9°C | 30.7°C | 25.1°C | 61.7 mm |
| June | 28.6°C | 31.2°C | 25.9°C | 56 mm |
| July | 28.6°C | 31.2°C | 26°C | 80.4 mm |
| August | 28.9°C | 31.6°C | 26.3°C | 79.6 mm |
| September | 29°C | 31.7°C | 26.2°C | 96.9 mm |
| October | 28.6°C | 31.4°C | 25.8°C | 135.6 mm |
| November | 27.4°C | 29.9°C | 25°C | 118.6 mm |
| December | 26.5°C | 28.9°C | 24.1°C | 79.2 mm |
Where To Stay In St Barts
Three bases shape a stay: Gustavia harbour, Saint-Jean beachfront, and the north-west bays of Flamands and Grand Cul-de-Sac. Hotels and villas dominate, with no hostels; managers such as WIMCO, Sibarth and St Barth Properties sell direct.
Gustavia
Best For Harbour Town LifeThe capital and harbour: restaurants, shops, the ferry quay and the old forts all within walking distance. Stays are listed below.
- Fouquet's Saint-BarthHotelCheck rates
- Viewstar GustaviaApartmentCheck rates
- Appartement luxueux GustaviaApartmentCheck rates
Saint-Jean
Best For Beachfront StaysThe beachfront at Baie de Saint-Jean, with hotels such as Eden Rock. Stays are listed below.
- Les Ilets de la PlageBeachfront villasCheck rates
- Eden Rock St BarthsHotelCheck rates
Flamands And Grand Cul-de-Sac
Best For Bay ResortsThe Flamands bay and the Grand Cul-de-Sac lagoon, where the luxury resorts sit. Stays are listed below.
- Le Barthelemy Hotel & SpaHotelCheck rates
- Le SerenoHotelCheck rates
Getting To St Barts From St Martin And San Juan
The runway at Gustaf III Airport is 646 m, so only small turboprops land there, in daylight and visual conditions. St Barth Commuter flies from St Martin (SXM), Grand Case (SFG) and Guadeloupe (PTP), while Tradewind serves San Juan and Antigua. From SXM or SFG the flight takes about 15 to 20 minutes. By sea, Great Bay Express runs from Philipsburg to Gustavia in roughly 45 minutes, and Voyager runs from Marigot in roughly 50 to 60 minutes. Bring a valid passport for the ferry, arrive 45 minutes before departure, and note that US, UK, EU and Canadian passport holders stay visa-free up to 90 days.
How to get to St Barts · The airport · Flights from St Martin · Ferries
What Makes St Barts Different
1
A French Island In The Caribbean
St Barts is an overseas collectivity of France since 2007, with its capital at Gustavia. The euro is the currency, French is official and English is widely spoken.
2
A 646-Metre Runway
The airport runway is 646 m, so only small turboprops land, in daylight; there are no jets. Flights come from St Martin, Guadeloupe, San Juan and Antigua, and ferries run from St Martin.
3
Beaches Open To Everyone
Every beach on St Barts is public. The list includes Saint-Jean, Gouverneur, Saline, Shell Beach, Flamands, Colombier, Grand Cul-de-Sac, Lorient, Toiny, Marigot and Corossol.
4
A Harbour Without A Cruise Pier
Cruise ships anchor off Gustavia and tender passengers in. There is no cruise pier and no public call schedule.
5
A Marine Reserve
The reserve sets a 5-knot limit, bans jet skis and lists 23 dive sites. Visitors are asked not to touch turtles, and dogs are not allowed on beaches.
6
Events Through The Year
Sailing comes with the Bucket Regatta in mid-March. The calendar also holds the St Barth Music Festival 8 to 18 January 2027 and the Gourmet Festival 9 to 15 November 2026.
Where Do The Kardashians Stay In St Barths?
The Kardashian family's St Barts trips made headlines, but no source places them at a named hotel. Here is what is known, and where celebrity-style stays actually happen on the island.
Why Is Cheval Blanc Expensive?
Cheval Blanc sits on Flamands beach on St Barts, and its rates reflect an island where everything arrives by small plane or boat, hotels close each autumn, and land is scarce. Here is what drives the price.
Can You Fly Direct To St Barts From The Us?
St Barthelemy, better known as St Barts, has one of the shortest commercial runways in the Caribbean, and no airliner from the United States can land on it. Every traveller from the US changes planes, or boat, somewhere in the region.
What Is The Nicest Beach In St Barts?
St Barthelemy, usually written St Barts, has no official ranking of its beaches, so the honest answer to which one is nicest depends on what a visitor wants from a shore: a walk-in escape, a harbor-side swim, or a bay you reach by boat.
Do Us Citizens Need A Passport For St Barts?
Yes. St Barthelemy is a French overseas collectivity, so US citizens need a valid passport book to enter, and a passport card will not do.
Is St Barths Safe For Pregnancy?
St Barthelemy, usually written St Barts, is a small French island in the Caribbean, and a pregnancy raises fair questions about the flight in, the ferry crossing, the tropical heat and the medical care on an island of about 10,700 residents. Here is what to ask a doctor before booking.
Can A Us Citizen Move To St Barts?
St Barthelemy, usually written St Barts, is a French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean, and that single fact answers most of the question. A US citizen can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but moving there for good means dealing with French immigration rules, not American ones.
Does St. Barts Have Good Nightlife?
St Barthelemy, better known as St Barts, does have nightlife, but it is a harbor-and-beach-club kind of nightlife rather than a clubbing one, and it follows the island's winter season.
What Visitors Say
★★★★★
“Fun boat ride to the islands of St. Barts! Captain and crew were so much fun, they cooked delicious food on the boat. Snorkeling, paddle boarding, lounging.. it was so much fun. The crew was so friendly and warming. Always asking if you’re having a good time.”
Ashley_B, Verified traveller review of Boomerangs Group Sail and Snorkel
★★★★★
“AMAZING boat, AMAZING crew, AMAZING food!!! We felt taken care of every moment of the day!!! And love that the boat had a little restroom. :)”
Melinda_H, Verified traveller review of Boomerangs Group Sail and Snorkel
★★★★★
“Great experience. Hosts were amazing and ensured everyone had a safe and fun-filled day. The drinks kept flowing and food was delicious. Stops were beautiful with ample time to swim, snorkel and take a tour around the island. The ride to St. Barths was rough, but that was expected. Bring meds if you tend to get seasick. Was worth the price and a convenient way to get to St. Barths.”
Kezia_H, Verified traveller review of Boomerangs Group Sail and Snorkel
★★★★★
“We had a great experience with Captain Krys. My family and I wanted a nice relaxing day on the water and Krys made sure we got it. He guided us to secluded snorkeling locations -- away from crowds -- where we saw coral, colorful fishes, and sea turtles. Krys recommended the perfect lunch location and pointed out many interesting aspects of the island. The boat was very comfortable and the well-stocked with both alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages. Krys made it a great family-fun day and we will definitely return in the future.”
Tracy_A, Verified traveller review of 8-Hour Private Charter
★★★★★
“We had considered taking the ferry from St Maarten to St Barth but the private charter is the way to go. Our Captain, Elliott, was a real gem. We didn’t really have an itinerary and he helped us decide what we should do. We stopped at St Barth to shop, then sailed to Eden Rock for lunch, then snorkeled with the sea turtles. It was an amazing trip and Elliott made it that much better for us. Great excursion! Definitely a must do.”
Jody_O, Verified traveller review of Private Charter from St Martin
★★★★★
“Wonderful day of sun and fun. Great captain who gave us a swim stop, lunch at Eden Rock and fun at L Select.”
Joseph_P, Verified traveller review of Private Charter from St Martin
★★★★★
“The four of us enjoyed a first class experience on the Zephyr traveling from Grand Case to St. Barts with Captain Karin and Sophie. Sophie treated us to numerous gourmet meals. We stopped in numerous small bays where we snorkeled and paddle boarded. Sleeping out on the ocean was a dream. The winds were perfect to sail back to St. Martin! We highly recommend this wonderful experience with a crew who go over the top to take care of your needs!”
Mary_W, Verified traveller review of 2-Day 1-Night Private Catamaran
Verified traveller reviews, reproduced word for word including the reviewer's own wording.