Rising like the phoenix after facing massive destruction by hurricane Irma in 2017, French-speaking St Barts is back to its former glory as a top vacation spot in the Caribbean. Famous as a yacht destination and for its affluent persona, the island has plenty on offer for returning and first-time visitors. From lounging on sandy beaches and visiting remnants of Swedish-built forts to admiring the passion behind a quirky museum, here are some of the most fun things to do in St Barts.
Hit the beaches in St Barts
St Barts is a mecca for beach-loving tourists. It offers sun-seekers an activity-filled coastline dotted with the most stunning strips of powdered coral sand. The best way to appreciate the beaches of St Barts is to hire a car and plan an entire day, hopping from one idyllic seaside location to another.
While each beach in St Barts is as pretty as the next, a few continue to draw in the crowds. Shell Beach is the most popular, located conveniently in Gustavia. Locals and tourists come here to cliff jump into the water, snorkel, swim, and admire a variety of shells found on the sand.
Colombier Beach requires a bit of preparation. The secluded and rustic beach in the northwest is reachable either by boat or a 20-minute walk. However, it’s wonderfully laidback, scenic, and gorgeous in every way possible.
Anse des Flamands is among the most expansive beaches in St Barts. The sea here tends to be a little rough, good for surfing. Moreover, the beach has places to eat, and its white sand is perfect for beach activities.
The second-largest beach, Le Salines, is quieter, has pink sand, and creates an entirely different atmosphere compared to Flamands. Once again, the sea can be choppy here, but the beach’s wild setting is quite inviting.
Go shopping in St Barts
St Barts is a top luxury shopping destination in the world. In its capital Gustavia and the town of St Jean, you’ll find a variety of shopping possibilities ranging from international brands to island specialty stores.
Gustavia is home to boutiques featuring fashion, jewelry, and lifestyle items from brands such as Prada, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Bvlgari. At the same time, the shops in St. Jean primarily sell locally-made fashion, food, and lifestyle products.
Shops in St Barts
Retail therapy is thus undoubtedly among the most fun things to do in St Barts. And if you are confused about which shops to visit, here are a few that make for essential stops;
Pati de St Barth – Clothes by Pati de St Bath consist of casual and comfortable t-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, dresses, and accessories. Pick one with their classic logo, “St Barth French West Indies,” and it doubles up as a souvenir.
Kalinas et Tainos – The jewelry store to visit on the island, Kalinas et Tainos sells unique pieces made using raw materials such as pearls, old coins, and kangaroo leather. The owner is known to travel worldwide, collecting artifacts that find their way into the shop’s creations.
Hookipa Surf Shop – When shopping in St Barts for surf equipment, plan to visit the family-owned Hookipa Surf Shop in St Jean. Furthermore, the shop sells everything from skateboards and snorkel gear to beach clothes, dresses, swimming trunks, floaties, and sunscreen. You can also rent surfboards from here.
Sea Spice – Gourmands should stop by Sea Spice, the local spice store with an enthusiastic owner who is forever ready to make the perfect recommendations. While there, you can also pick up well-priced island clothes, art, and jewelry, made by local artisans.
When shopping in St Barts, keep in mind that shops close in the afternoon for about an hour around lunchtime. Moreover, the island has two “sale seasons.” The first is in May, and the second is in mid-November, at the end of the tourist season.
Visit Fort Gustav
Even though Sweden controlled St Barts for almost a century, the island has a distinctly French character. Fort Gustav, named after King Gustav III, is among the few monuments that link it to its one-time Scandinavian ruler.
Built in 1787, the fort occupies a prime position on a hill overlooking the capital. For tourists, one of the essential things to do in St Barts is to go to the top of the fort and witness astounding panoramic views of the island and the sea. Plan a visit during the early evening, as Fort Gustav is also an idyllic spot to view memorable sunsets.
One of three citadels built to protect the harbor, Fort Gustav is mostly in ruins today. However, you can still see four ancient cannons that were at one time placed on the hill to protect the port.
While visiting Fort Gustav, you’ll also encounter a white and red lighthouse on the same hill. The iconic St Barts structure, built-in 1961, is still very much in use.
Stop at the Inter Oceans Museum
There are undoubtedly countless marine-centered museums across the globe. However, few can claim to be as eccentric and distinct as the Inter Oceans Museum in St Barts.
The passion project of a single individual, Ingenu Magras, Inter Oceans, comprises a collection of over 9000 shells from different parts of the world. If the shells weren’t enough, Margas also has samples of sand from various places on Earth. Also on display are several aquatic curios, particularly from beneath the Caribbean Sea.
Located in Corossol, plan a day where you can visit the museum, roam around the streets, and spend time sunbathing at the village’s small beach. Uncrowded and sandy, this is also one of the few places on the island where you’ll come across local fishermen’s boats known as “doris.”
Rent a car for offbeat adventures
When it comes to fun and convenient things to do in St Barts, rent a car to explore its many offbeat nooks. A vehicle gives you unlimited access to the island’s hidden corners, from viewpoints to beaches, showcasing a different side of its character.
Since St. Barts is small, it is easy and safe to cover it entirely by car. Driving around is fairly simple, but remember that it has a slightly hilly terrain with winding roads.
The island has plenty of car hire companies. Since a popular way to arrive at St Barts is by boat, most places will deliver the car to the port for your convenience. And if you are looking to book tickets to or from St Barts, Ferryscanner offers online ferry booking that is timely and fast.
At the time of renting a car in St Barts, it is essential to take full insurance. Furthermore, if the weather is sunny, opt for a convertible to relish a top-down, hair-in-the-wind drive.
Enjoy diverse watersports
Considering St Barts has numerous gorgeous beaches and a stunning coastline, watersports is an integral part of any vacation on the island. Moreover, tourists can participate in an array of water-based activities, ideal for both beginners and professionals.
Scuba diving excursions are an excellent option to discover the island’s aquatic life. There are over 20 fantastic dive spots nearby, including reefs and wrecks. First-time visitors should check out the famous Kaïali wreck, Ile Coco, and Ile de la Pointe, known for barracuda spotting. While there are several dive centers on the island, La Bulle is one of the oldest and most trusted.
Deep-sea fishing and catamaran cruises are on the opposite end of exciting activities in St Barts. The former requires a bit of luck and a lot of sweat, while the latter is a relaxed way to enjoy a sunny day.
Unknown to many, one of the fun things to do in St Barts is taking surf lessons. There are quite a few well-known swells around the coast. Although some surfs like Toiny and Pointe Milou are challenging and best attempted by experts, others such as Lorient are perfect if you are new to the sport.
Jet skiing, paddleboarding, and kayaking are the more common watersports available at most beaches in St Barts that see tourist activity.
Savor St Barts’ artisanal rum
La Gloriette is an iconic café in St Barts that, until recently, was the best place to have snacks and drinks when spending a day at the Grand Cul de Sac Beach.
Now shifted to the center of Gustavia, near the harbor, it’s more of a hidden gem that offers delicious smoothies, healthy vegan bowls, sandwiches, and international classics like Thai vegetable curry.
However, the highlight of a visit to La Gloriette is the opportunity to taste and buy their locally made infused rum. Concocted by the proprietor Albert Balayn, the different rums consist of classic island ingredients like passion fruit, coconut, pineapple, coffee, and banana.
Boasting a unique tropical flavor, the maker recommends savoring the rums at room temperature, before and after any meal. While vanilla rum is a bestseller, other flavors include coffee, pomegranate, gingembre, and more. You can buy a 70cl bottle of Rhum La Gloriette as a souvenir for €22.00.