Marigot, St. Martin: The French Capital and Its Market
Boulangeries, a fort with the best view on the island, and the ferry to Anguilla.
Why Go
Marigot is the capital of the French side and it feels like a French provincial port that has been moved to the tropics — boulangeries, a waterfront market, a marina full of yachts, and prices in euros even when you pay in dollars. Fort Louis on the hill above gives you the best view on the island for the cost of a ten-minute climb. It is also where the ferry to Anguilla leaves from. Come for the market morning, the bread and the cheese, and the view; the beaches are elsewhere and this is a town, not a resort.
The Experience
The waterfront runs along Marigot Bay with the market at its centre and Fort Louis directly above, reached by steps from behind the town. Market mornings are the thing to plan around — produce, spices, fish, hot food and craft stalls fill the quay and the town has an energy it does not otherwise have. Behind the front, the streets hold the shops, the bakeries and the small restaurants, and up at Marina Fort Louis the boats and the waterside restaurants take over. Marigot was hit hard by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the recovery has been slower here than on the Dutch side; some buildings are restored, some are still shuttered, and the town is quieter than it once was. It empties in the evening, when the island's night moves back over the border to Maho and Simpson Bay. That makes Marigot a morning and an afternoon rather than a full day, and it is best combined with Grand Case up the coast, where the same French side does its eating.
What to Try
Shop before you eat. Epicerie de Marie, Autour de la Ferme and Céleste & Clémentine are the reason people drive over from the Dutch side — French charcuterie, cheese, wine and bread at prices that make a villa week considerably better. Pain de Sucre SXM is the pastry stop. For meals, La Terrasse Rooftop Restaurant is the view, Le Carre Vert and Restaurant Saint-Martin cover the everyday, Alizé SXM and Les 2 Dés SXM are the sit-down evenings and Suga Apple Desserts the sweet end. Climb to Fort Louis in the morning before the heat. On the water, Marina Fort Louis is the base for The Moorings St. Martin Yacht Charters, Funseaker, Liberty SXM Boat Charter, The Soul of Pirates and Aquadventure Boat, and the ferry to Anguilla runs from the waterfront. Le Parc Pirate SXM is the one for children.
Insider Tip
Come on a market morning and bring a cool bag. The market runs early and winds down by lunchtime, and the surrounding food shops are the best-stocked on the island — this is where people staying in villas on either side do a proper shop, and the difference in what you can buy compared with the Dutch-side supermarkets is real. Then climb Fort Louis before eleven, while the light is still on the bay and the steps are still in shade.
The Practical Stuff
Marigot is about twenty minutes from Princess Juliana airport, crossing the open border with no formalities and no passport check. The town centre is walkable and parking around the waterfront is metered and busy on market mornings — come early. This is the French side: the euro is official although US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, French is the everyday language with English common in the tourist trade, and shops keep French hours including a genuine lunchtime closure and Sunday closing. The ferry to Anguilla leaves from the Marigot waterfront and is the main route to that island. Hurricane season runs roughly June to November, and the 2017 storm did lasting damage here, so check that a business you have read about is still trading.
Common Questions
What is Marigot known for?
Its waterfront market, French food shopping, the marina, and Fort Louis on the hill above with the best view on the island. It is the capital of the French side and a town rather than a resort.
When is the Marigot market?
It runs on market mornings on the waterfront and winds down by lunchtime, so go early. It is the best-stocked shopping on the island for produce, fish, spices and craft.
Do you need a passport to cross to the French side?
No. The border between Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin is open with no formalities and no checkpoint — most visitors cross it without noticing beyond the change in road signs and currency.
How do you get from St. Martin to Anguilla?
The ferry leaves from the Marigot waterfront and is the standard route, taking well under half an hour. Private boats and charters run from the same side of the island.
Is Marigot worth visiting?
For a market morning, the food shops and Fort Louis, yes. It is quieter than it was before the 2017 hurricane and it empties in the evening, so treat it as a half-day rather than a base.
What currency is used in Marigot?
The euro is official on the French side, but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Rates vary by business, so paying in the local currency is usually the better deal if you have it.
Pair It With
- Epicerie de Marie Guide — The shop that makes a self-catering week worth it.
- Marina Fort Louis — The boats, and lunch beside them.
- La Terrasse Rooftop Restaurant Guide — The view over the bay after the market.
