Officially Saint-Barthélemy, a small, glamorous French island in the Lesser Antilles — known for the chic harbor town of Gustavia, upscale boutiques, and a beach for every mood.
St. Barths, officially Saint-Barthélemy, is a French overseas collectivity in the Lesser Antilles, just northeast of St. Martin. It's tiny — only 25 km² — but punches well above its weight as an upscale retreat for the chic and famous, built around the harbor town of Gustavia and a ring of white-sand beaches. View map →
St. Jean's short, steep airstrip and the island's shallow harbor keep large cruise ships away, which is a big part of why St. Barths has stayed so exclusive — most visitors arrive by small plane, private yacht or ferry from St. Martin. Read the full fact sheet →
Nationality: French residents · Size: 25 km² (9.7 sq mi) · a French overseas collectivity, not part of the EU customs territory
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St. Barths offers events throughout the year not to be missed. Check out their section regularly to keep you informed of the latest dates of the island and optimize your schedule about Saint Barts Gourmet Festival, West indies Regatta, Sails of Saint Barts, Book and Jazz festival and so much more
★ Cool factor: An upscale retreat for the chic and famous Visit site
Coral Reef Restoration St. Barths mission is to repopulate reef areas with genetically strong and diverse corals which in turn will reseed these reefs. In addition, it allows them to study and better understand the biology, mechanisms and role of the coral host. Preserving marine ecosystems for the future of the oceans is an essential pillar of marine conservation.
★ Cool factor: They restore Caribbean reefs Visit site
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The stories behind the postcard — a few things worth knowing before you go.
Unlike most of its English- and Dutch-influenced neighbors, St. Barths is unmistakably French — the language, the euro currency and the café culture in Gustavia all give the island a distinctly Riviera-in-the-Caribbean feel.
St. Jean's short, cliffside airstrip and Gustavia's shallow harbor physically keep the big cruise ships out — most visitors arrive by small plane, private yacht or ferry, which keeps the island feeling exclusive and uncrowded.
Gustavia's harbor-front streets are lined with duty-free boutiques carrying top French and international designer names — a big draw for the island's famously well-heeled visitors.
Around 22 white-sand beaches ring the island, from the calm, family-friendly water at Grand Cul-de-Sac to the surf breaks at Lorient and Anse de Grande Saline.
Events like the St. Barth Music Festival and the Bucket Regatta bring an international crowd of musicians, sailors and yacht enthusiasts to the island every year.
Ranked by locals — the St. Barths essentials.
See the island before you go.
“Hymn to St. Barthélemy”
Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493 and named it for his brother, Bartolomeo. The French established the first permanent European settlement in 1648, and the island has been closely tied to France ever since — with one notable exception: in 1784, France sold St. Barths to Sweden in exchange for trading rights in Gothenburg, and it was renamed Gustavia after the Swedish king.
France repurchased the island in 1878, and it was administered as part of Guadeloupe for well over a century. St. Barths voted to separate from Guadeloupe in 2003, becoming its own French overseas collectivity in 2007 — a status that gives it a locally elected Territorial Council with real authority over local taxation, alongside the French state's own representative, the Prefect.
The island's liveliest beach — split in two by the tiny airport runway, lined with restaurants, hotels and watersports rentals, with good conditions for kitesurfing at one end.
A wide, undeveloped beach near an old salt pond — no facilities, no crowds, just soft sand and clear water, reached by a short walk from the parking area.
A short walk from Gustavia, covered in tiny shells instead of sand — calm, clear water and a couple of beach bars right in town.
A shallow, reef-protected lagoon on the windward side — calm and family-friendly, popular for kitesurfing, windsurfing and paddleboarding.
A dramatic, secluded beach below steep hills on the south coast, with sweeping views toward St. Kitts and Nevis on a clear day.
Tips by Liz Strauss, an experienced traveler and piano entertainer. www.lizpiano.com · Disclosure
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