St Maarten is the Best Caribbean island not only for its charming people but also by what it offers! Numerous beaches and plenty of things to do in St Maarten are the winning cocktail of a Great Time for your Vacation ! To discover St Martin and all its beauty you can...
St Maarten Excursions tour to Orient Beach and Maho Beach
St Maarten Sightseeing Tour from Philipsburg
Yoda Guy Museum
An unexpected find in Philipsburg St. Maarten : a Star Wars Museum !!
The Yoda Guy exhibit is a dedicated Star Wars replica and memorabilia museum that is one of the top 3 most popular museums in the entire Caribbean. Created by Nick Maley the Yoda Guy Museum is composed of all the important movie history that has touched him and his wife over the years. This St Maarten museum includes proprietor Nick’s Maley personal collection of movie relics and collectibles, with a focus on Sci-Fi franchises like Star Wars, Highlander, Terminator,Men in Black, Superman and many more.
At the Yoda Guy Museum located on Front street, Philipsburg St. Maarten you can also buy some rare movie relics hand signed by the stars, including Mark Hamill (Luke), Carrie Fisher (Leia), Frank Oz (Yoda), Dave Prowse (Darth Vader), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) or Kenny Baker (Artoo) etc….
Duration varies depending on each customers interest and needs.
Here are some things to look forward to when visiting:
1. Star Wars : Darth Vader, including hologram of actor Dave Prowse discussing his experiences
2. Star Wars : creation of Yoda
3. Star Wars : creation of creatures for the famed Mos Eisley Cantina in Episode IV
4. Star Wars : Han Solo in Carbonite
5. Star Wars : Ewoks and props
6. Star Wars : Tusken Raiders
7. Star Wars : Unknown Yoda puppeteers
8. Star Wars : first, second & third drafts of episode IV including “The Adventures of Luke Starkiller”
9. Star Wars : Nick Maley current recreation of Yoda to encourage Lucasfim return to practical effects in the upcoming Star Wars Anthology movies.
10. Superman : Nick Maley work on the first two Christopher Reeves movies
11. Highlander : Nick Maley work on the classic movie
12. Men In Black : work of Rick Baker
13. Thriller : work of Rick Baker
14. Terminator & Terminator II : work of Stan Winston
15. Alien : work of the Special Effects team
16. The Exorcist : the uplifting influence of Dick Smith “grandfather of American prosthetic”
17. Life casts movie: Michael Jackson, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Robin Williams, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise, Sean Connery, Jack Nicholson, Jim Carrey, Muhammad Ali, Patrick Stewart, Christopher Lee, Bogart & Brando, James Dean & Gregory Peck, Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Cagney, Alfred Hitchcock, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and 30 others.
18. Life casts/death masks : historical: Abraham Lincoln, (life cast 3 months before his assassination in 1865), Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, Ludwig Van Beethoven and Oliver Cromwell, (1658),
19. The Shining : Nick Maley work on the horror classic
20. Life force : Nick Maley work on the cult horror movie
21. Krull : Nick Maley work – fantasy movie
22. The Keep : Nick Maley work on Michael Mann’s hard to find cult horror movie
23. Storyboarding : The process of visualizing movies through sequential drawings, Star Wars, Terminator, etc.
24. The careers of legendary make-up effects artist Stuart Freeborn “father of British creature effects” and his son Graham Freeborn
Patty Meotti a St Martin Artist
Patty Meotti a St Martin Artist
Great Bay
Great Bay Beach is located in the heart of Philipsburg St.Maarten and is lined with beach bars, restaurants and shop along the boardwalk (watch our video HERE on youtube).
The beach is accessed via a promenade that runs most of the way across its length. At the eastern end one can enjoy the view of cruise ships in port.
Beside the Great Bay Beach you can visit Front street and Backstreet in Philipsburg for your duty free shopping, for the casinos, and restaurants.If you plan to do some St Maarten shopping in Philipsburg then you should watch our video on youtube.
And to prepare your trip you need to know where is Great Bay Beach ! So you can look at our Map HERE or below.
Prepare your itinerary with our Map of Great Bay Beach in St Maarten
Philipsburg
Philipsburg is the capital of St Maarten and as such is the heart of the Dutch side of the island. Not only you will find all the government buildings and its associated agencies but also many stores that make Philipsburg St. Maarten a paradise for would be shopper especially with a duty free shopping policy!
Philipsburg St. Maarten (not the town in Montana!) is also home of the St Maarten cruise port that welcome all the cruise ships and nearly 2 millions passengers every year.
So when you want to spend a day in Philipsburg St. Maarten you have many options on things to do. And what is interesting with Philipsburg is that you can all do together.
Imagine a day where you can go the beach, eat in a good restaurant, do some shopping and also sightseeing historical buildings. Phillipsburg has it all !
While walking on Frontstreet to hunt for the best bargain for your St Maarten shopping you will see the Beautiful Philipsburg Methodist Church (right picture) that is built entirely in wood and surrounded by vegetation. It’s very nice.
Frontstreet Philipsburg is home to many jewelry stores, electronic stores and fashion stores with US and International brands and is where many tourists will go for their duty free shopping in St Maarten.
Backstreet is home to even more stores that front street with many small shops and some big department stores. Backstreet in Philipsburg attract more locals than tourist but it’s also a good place to make pretty good deals during your St Maarten shopping spree (don’t hesitate to negotiate to get easily 10% or 20% discount !).
And Philipsburg is also a Great Beach ! Indeed Philipsburg is located in Great Bay and the color of the water is amazing ! So going to the beach is a must when in Philipsburg. And it’s easy since the beach is by the boardwalk with plenty shops, beach bars and restaurants. You just need to find your lounge chair !
The Philipsburg Court House (left picture) is one of the most Famous monument of St Maarten. Located on Wathey Square and Fronstreet you can’t miss it ! Whether you arrive by water taxi from a cruise ship, Wathey square is right in front of the pier by the boardwalk. And if you arrive by car or taxi then you will see the building standing in the middle of Fronstreet the street to do your duty free St Maarten shopping.
One of the attraction or sightseeing of Philipsburg St. Maarten is Old street (left picture) that has a particular feeling and atmosphere. Oldstreet is a small street that link frontstreet to Backstreet in Philipsburg.
Things to do
What to do in St Maarten ?
St Martin St Maarten is an island that offers plenty of activities (Links below direct you to our Partner Viator – we earn a small commission when you register with them at No extra cost to you that support this website).
One things to do in St Maarten is to rent a boat to do the tour of the island and snorkel in the blue turquoise waters (you will love it!). You have plenty of options either take a public shared boat (check this one and click Here) or catamaran (check this one and click Here, the owner is absolutely lovely!!). Or you can rent a private charter boat to go around St Maarten (Click Here), to go from St Maarten to Anguilla (Click Here) or go to from St Maarten to St Barts (Click Here).
Then you have to discover the 37 St Maarten beaches !! Yes that’s a lot to discover !! But Maho Beach is an Absolute MUST (Click Here)!!I think you might have to come back for another vacation in St Martin !
Then you have one of the Most amazing attraction : a High Altitude Zip Line !! Check Here to see if you could do it !!
You could also tour St Maarten by Jeep (Click Here) or by ATV Quad (Click Here).
You can also do a culinary guided tour if you are a Foodie (Click Here) or go on catamaran for dinner cruise in the Caribbean sea at sunset (Click Here), emotions guaranteed !!
And if you want more emotions then you must try scuba diving with the sharks (Click Here for certified divers or Click Here for beginners divers) !!
But Maybe you prefer swimming with Dolphins ?!! Then direction Anguilla toswim with dolphins in an enclosed park (click Here)
Or you could try kayaking and snorkeling St Maarten (Here), or snokeling St Barts (Here).
And to finish the day you can hit the St Maarten Nightlife scene (Here) !!
For more things to do in St Martin we have all the activities listed below. And if you have any question, feel free to email us : contact@stmartin-stmaarten.com
Paddle Boarding in St Maarten
St Maarten Airport Maho Beach tour
Maho Beach is a Worldwide Famous beach thanks to its unique position next to St Maarten airport. So while you relax on bthe beach, swim the turquoise water you can experience the planes landing above your head ! A Truly unique experience. You can also have...
St Maarten Boat tour and Snorkeling
Exploring St Maarten island through a 6 hours boat tour is always amazing ! Especially when you can also do some snorkeling in St Maarten ! This St Maarten boat tour will start at the Dock Maarten Chesterfield Wharf (10 minutes walk from the cruise ship...
St Martin & St Maarten Sightseeing Tour of the island
Discovering the French and Dutch sides of St Martin St Maarten island during a 4-5 hours guided sightseeing tour. You will enjoy the sun, the sea, the nicest views of St Maarten and learn the history of the island (both sides) thanks to your Professional...
St Maarten ATV Quad Tour Adventure
Visiting and discovering St Maarten most popular beaches on the back of a Quad or ATV is a half day adventure! This island tour leave from Phillipsburg St. Maarten (capital of the Dutch side of the island). You will be able to discover Orient Beach, Grand...
Self Drive Boat Tour and Snorkeling
Visiting and discovering St Maarten most popular beaches on the back of a Quad or ATV is a half day adventure! This island tour leave from Phillipsburg St. Maarten (capital of the Dutch side of the island). You will be able to discover Orient Beach, Grand...
St Maarten cruise excursions : Boat tour and Snorkeling
Discover the beauty of St Maarten island by driving your own boat ! It's a Unique alternative to the typical St Maarten sightseeing tour. A Professional guide will accompany you on your boat trip discovering the amazing beaches from Simpson Bay lagoon to...
St Maarten Excursions tour to Orient Beach and Maho Beach
Discovering St Maarten through this Boat tour is a magical experience that you will never forget. From Philipsburg (5 minutes walk from the port of St Maarten where cruise ships arrive) you will experience a boat tour around St Maarten island. Here it is...
St Maarten Sightseeing Tour from Philipsburg
Orient Beach and Maho Beach are the 2 most famous beaches of St Maarten. Both beaches offer a truly unique experience that you won't forget. At Orient Beach you will have the choice between swim, lounge or water sports activities such as jet ski, parasail,...
Yoda Guy Museum
Explore St Maarten island with a Professional Guide that will drive you around the different towns, sunny beaches and local food restaurants of St Martin. Get to know St Martin with its French side and St Maarten the Dutch side ! Learn about the European...
Taxi from Hotel to Airport
An unexpected find in Philipsburg St. Maarten : a Star Wars Museum !! The Yoda Guy exhibit is a dedicated Star Wars replica and memorabilia museum that is one of the top 3 most popular museums in the entire Caribbean. Created by Nick Maley the Yoda Guy...
Taxi from Airport to Hotel
International Airport. You will share your taxi and will be picked up at your hotel for at your departure to St Maarten airport. It's hassle free ! Included : - Shared departure transfer with a private St Maarten taxi - Enjoy an efficient and convenient...
Topper’s Rhum a St Maarten handmade rum
Prepare your arrival in St Maarten by booking your taxi to transfer you from Princess Juliana International Airport to your hotel. You will share your taxi and will be waited for at your arrival in St Maarten airport. It's hassle free ! Included : - Shared arrival...
Catamaran charter for a St Maarten day trip
Explore St Maarten island with a Professional Guide that will drive you around the different towns, sunny beaches and local food restaurants of St Martin. Get to know St Martin with its French side and St Maarten the Dutch side ! Learn about the European...
Emilio Wilson Park
Exploring St Maarten island on a boat tour is a nice experience. But having a private boat charter with your own Captain and crew on a 6 hours St Maarten cruise excursion is Magical ! When you rent your own boat you can schedule where you want to go, where...
Fort Louis
Emilio Wilson Park has a particular resonance in St Maarten due to its history, its environmental value, its place as a public park and since few months its place in the world thanks to its zip line that is the most amazing. Emilio Wilson Park sits on the grounds of...
Fort Amsterdam
Fort Louis history dates back to the 18th century when in 1765, the knight Descoudrelles, to protect Marigot, St Martin from the English and the buccaneers, created the defense of the borough. A battery of cannon on the point Bluff, one on the sand Round with Sandy...
Fort Willem
Visiting and discovering St Maarten most popular beaches on the back of a Quad or ATV is a half day adventure! This island tour leave from Phillipsburg St. Maarten (capital of the Dutch side of the island). You will be able to discover Orient Beach, Grand...