Whether visiting St. Maarten on a cruise or just coming over for the day from a neighboring island like Anguilla, St. Maarten is a beautiful island to visit! I love St. Maarten and St. Martin, and I’m sure you will too.
There are a lot of different options for what to do in St. Maarten for one day, but after two visits to the island, I’m going to share three options for how to spend a day in St. Maarten, depending on what you’re most interested in!
Note: You can choose to take pieces of any of these itineraries and put them together. I put suggestions into categories for ease of planning, but pull things as you please!
Table of Contents
Option 1: Beaches, Drinks, and Shopping
If you’re looking for a day of relaxing and some amazing shopping, then you’re in luck! St. Maarten has amazing duty free shopping and some really beautiful beaches. Depending on what you want to do and the weather, you can switch around this itinerary.
Morning Shopping in Philipsburg
After arriving in St. Maarten, explore downtown Philipsburg. St. Maarten has really great duty free shopping, and you’ll often find great deals on things like alcohol and jewelry. We found some bottles of tequila that go for over $300 in the US for less than $150 on our latest trip!
If you arrived via a cruise ship, you can walk from the port to the town center in 10 minutes along the main road outside the port gates. A lot of landmarks, attractions and restaurants are within walking distance from each other and the cruise port.
While in Philipsburg, grab brunch or lunch at The French Touch. This place is located on the very cute, historic Front Street in Philipsburg and serves awesome food.
Rum Tasting at Toppers Rum Distillery
I said this itinerary involved drinks! Grab a taxi from Philipsburg and head to the nearby Toppers Rum Distillery to try some amazing Caribbean rum.
A local tour guide will walk you through our 6000 sq. ft. distillery. You will learn a little history of rum making in the Caribbean and get a behind-the-scenes look at how rum is fermented, distilled, and filtered. After the tour, you will be invited to a tasting bar, where you will be welcome to taste all of the artisanal products.
Make sure you try their flavored rums, especially the guavaberry rum, which St. Maarten and St. Martin are known for!
Afternoon and Evening at the Beach
After you’ve finished up your shopping and tried some rum, head to the beach. There are several beautiful beaches to choose from, but below are the two I’d recommend for just one day on the St. Maarten side of the island. Both beaches have great dinner options and sunset views.
Maho Beach
Maho Beach is best known as the airport beach, where airplanes fly right over you as you enjoy the water. The area around Maho Beach has lots of restaurants and bars as well as a nice patch of sand. You can grab some more food here and relax for the rest of the day as planes fly overhead!
This area is known as a place to party, especially in the evening around Maho Village, but even during the day you’ll find people drinking and relaxing.
Mullet Bay
If you want something more relaxed and secluded, drive on past Maho Beach and head to Mullet Bay instead.
Secluded yet spacious, Mullet Bay is a peaceful and relaxing alternative. You can rent chairs and umbrellas from the snack bars on the south side and a great restaurant on the north side of the beach, Da Watering Hole.
This is my personal favorite beach in St. Maarten that we visited. On the French side in St. Martin, I loved Orient Bay.
Option 2: Adventure Across St. Maarten and St. Martin
Our second itinerary option is for those who love a good adventure. There are a lot of fun and adventurous activities in St. Maarten that you can take advantage of! Below are the two adventures I’d take if you have just a day in St. Maarten.
Morning Snorkeling Excursion or Beach
To start off your adventurous day, it’s time to explore the wildlife around St. Maarten in the beautiful water! There are several places you can snorkel right off the beach, but the best snorkeling is by boat off the shore.
Below are links to more information on half day options. No matter which option you choose, you’ll have a fun adventure in the morning!
Afternoon at Rockland Estate Park
After a morning snorkel trip, head to Rockland Estate Park, home to the steepest zipline in the world, the Flying Dutchman, quite a thrill for the adventurous traveler!
Start with lunch at Emilio’s and explore the Emilio Wilson Museum, where you can learn more about the island’s history. From there, it’s time for more adventure!
The Flying Dutchman is part of a larger skyline tour that takes you to the highest peak on the Dutch Side, Sentry Hill. You start by taking a Skylink up to the top of Sentry Hill, then take the zipline, which drops 1,050 feet in elevation. You’ll enjoy panoramic views of St. Maarten on this adventure!
You can add on additional things like a schooner ride or hiking trails nearby. Most people spend about 3 hours here.
Option 3: Day Tour to Explore the Island
Not up for DIYing your trip together? No problem, there are plenty of ways to explore the island for the day. My first time in St. Maarten was on a cruise, and I did a small group day trip where a guide took us around the entire island. We had a great time and it’s what inspired me to come back again!
Here’s some options for a day tour of St. Maarten.
- All in One Tour of St. Maarten: This tour is perfect for cruise ship passengers and hotel/villa guests of all ages who are looking to immerse themselves in the beauty and history of St. Martin.
- St. Maarten Island Tour: This tour takes you to monuments, forts, museums, shopping, and beaches. All this while sipping on Rhum punch and other free drinks.
- Quads and Furious ATV Tours & Rentals: A great way to explore the island of St. Martin is with an (ATV) that’s able to navigate tough terrains as well as roads. You also have the opportunity to join an island tour and gain insight into the landmarks that you pass.
There you have three amazing answers for what to do in St. Maarten for one day. There’s plenty to keep you busy and enjoy while here. You’ll love exploring no matter which option you choose.
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