Best Beaches in Saint Martin for Families with Kids

The island of Saint Martin has 37 gorgeous beaches each with its own unique characteristics. If you’re planning a trip to Saint Martin with kids you will want to be familiar with the island’s most kid-friendly beaches. Lucky for you, there are so many great options in Saint Martin for visiting with kids. In many of these areas you will feel like you are swimming in a pool because the water is so still.

PS – stick around for our very favorite beach for kids at the very end of this article.

Great Bay Beach

Running along the heart of Philipsburg is Great Bay Beach one of St. Martin’s best-known and most popular beaches. There is a boardwalk that runs along Great Bay Beach making it easy to switch between lounging at the beach and popping into the shops and restaurants.

Great Bay Beach is a great option for families with young children because of its still waters and wide beaches. Best yet, the water is crystal clear and the kind of turquoise blue you have to see for yourself.

You should be aware that cruise ships dock here and it can get more crowded with a spring-break type vibe when there are a lot of ships are docked. Some consider Great Bay to be too touristy to be considered one of the best beaches in Saint Martin.

On Great Bay Beach there are lots of vendors offering lounge chair rentals sometimes as part of a package deal that includes the two chairs, drinks, Wifi and access to restrooms. Some will offer chairs and an umbrella for free with purchase of lunch and drinks. The areas past where the boardwalk ends tend to be the quietest so keep walking if you’re looking for a more tranquil atmosphere.

Where to park at Great Bay Beach:

Parking can be tricky at Great Bay Beach so it is best to get there early (by 9:30/10ish should be fine but the earlier the better). There is a public parking lot across for the KFC which is a short walk down to the beachfront (pick any alleyway to access the beach from here).

Little Bay Beach

Located across the way from Great Bay beach, Little Bay Beach does not get the cruise ship crowd.The views from the top overlooking Great Bay Beach are incredible and worth a trip to Little Bay if only for that reason. The entrance to the beach is straight through the resort breezeway.

Little Bay does have some gentle waves and a bit of a drop off and as such I would consider it a bit less child friendly than it’s sister beach Great Bay if you’re traveling with less experienced swimmers. Still I would consider it a great beach to check out.

There are lounge chairs available for rent from Divi Beach Resort or walk down a little ways for another vendor with chairs for rent. There is also a bar right on the beach that can sometime be noisy with music and guest entertainment. Right off the beach there are great areas for snorkeling with lots of fish and coral.

Where to park at Little Bay Beach:

To get to Little Bay Beach you can park at the entrance to Divi Beach Resort (the spots on your left before you would go through the gate). From there you walk down the hill (it’s not terribly steep but is certainly a hill so just be prepared). You’re going to pass by the area with the best views on your way down so have your phone ready.

Mullet Bay

Running alongside Saint Martin’s only 18-hole golf course is Mullet Bay. It is near Maho Beach and known for being a bit calmer both in terms of atmosphere and the water. It is very popular with tourist and locals alike and a favorite beach on Saint Martin for many. There are chair and umbrellas available for rent for about $15-20 per day. If you’re traveling with children head for the south end of Mullet Bay where you will find a cove with areas shaded by sea grape trees that is perfect for smaller children. This area has several picnic tables in the shade that are excellent spots to share a meal or snack.

Mullet Bay is also absolutely fantastic for snorkeling even for the most early of beginners. There is a rock formation at the far left and you do not have to swim out far in the calm water to see some amazing fish and other sea creatures.

You should be aware that the vibe at Mullet Bay can quickly turn into a party scene on the weekends. It can be one of the busier beaches at all times of the day but the weekends especially can get crowded.

Where to park at Mullet Bay:

You will find plenty of parking for Mullet Bay just a few feet away from the beach. *Tip* walk behind Da Waterhole towards the left for the best beach area for little kids and close to the rock formation where you will find incredible snorkeling.

Alternatively, you may be able to park along the golf course to access the far right side of the beach. There you can usually find beach volleyball games going on but fewer people (note, there are no chair rentals on the far right side so don’t go there if you need a lounge chair).

Friar’s Bay Beach

Located on the French side of the island, Friar’s Beach is one of the few places on the French side of the island that was not impacted by Hurricane Irma. Friar’s Bay Beach is a wonderful option for families because it is protected from wind and has more gentle water. It has a more local crowd and is not as well known by tourist making it a hidden gem among the beaches in St Martin.

There are two beach bars with drinks, food and chair rentals. Friar’s Beach is a perfect spot for those just learning to surf and there is a vendor at the beach offering rentals. Hot tip – Kali’s Beach Bar serves what I think is the best Guavaberry Colada on the island. Controversial statement I know. If you disagree leave a comment with where you think serves the best one on the island. Also if you don’t know what a Guavaberry Colada is check out this article.

Also keep an eye out for iguanas on the rocks that line the left side of the beach. If you arrive early enough you will see lots of them sunning themselves on the rocks.

Where to park at Friar’s Bay Beach:

Parking at Friar’s Bay beach couldn’t be easier. There is a dirt lot right in front of the beach and near Kali’s Beach Bar. From there you are only a few steps from the beach.

Baie Rouge

Named after the reddish color of the sand, Baie Rouge on the French side of the island is a terrific options for families visiting St Martin. The waters are typically calm here though they may get a bit rougher as the day goes on and/or if there are storms coming in. If you are traveling with children the area to the far right if you are facing the water is typically the calmest with a wide beach and rock formations that our children enjoyed playing on when they were taking a break from the water. This area also has some shade along the gorgeous rock formations.

This is another great area in Saint Martin for snorkeling. You can see a cave like rock formation in the near distance from Baie Rouge and adventure seekers may consider swimming underneath through it to find another very secluded beach. If you decide to do this beware that there are a lot of sea urchins close to the cave area and it gets very narrow so you are going to be coming in close-ish contact with sea urchins. It’s still safe but I would not recommend young children attempt this. Instead of having him swim through it, I took my oldest on a floating lounger and swim him through.

Baie Rouge is in an area that was hard hit by Hurricane Irma and you will not find any options for dining or chair rentals here so bring everything you need with you.

Where to park at Baie Rouge

Baie Rouge is one of the many beaches in St Martin where you will have to go through a security guard gate to access the beach. Simply let them know you are there to visit the beach and they will let you in. There is a public parking lot for Baie Rouge right by the beach.

Le Galion

Le Galion is a horseshoe-shaped beach that has a reputation as being one of the best spots on the island for families. The water here is calm and very shallow for quiet a distance so it feels like a zero entry kiddie pool.

Unfortunately Le Galion was severely impacted by Hurricane Irma and the beach is not the same as it was before the hurricane. The shore is much more narrow than it was before the hurricane and there is a lot on the bottom of seafloor that is beautiful for watching fish swim by but may bother smaller travelers who don’t want to feel anything on their feet while in the water. There are no dining or restroom options here so come with everything you need. There are water sports available from a vendor like wind surfing.

Le Galion is located near the Butterfly Farm so combine these two destinations for a fun family outing though at the time of this writing the Butterfly Farm was closed. Check their hours here before visiting.

Where to park at Le Galion:

There are two sand/dirt parking lots at Le Galion. If you go toward the left you will be at the wider section of the beach, which is overall a better spot for swimming/lounging. If you go toward the right by SXM Surf Club there is another large area to park but the beach is less ideal here.

Anse Marcel

Anse Marcel is a sheltered and protected cove with calm waters and seriously stunning views. It is close to Port Lonvilliers on the northern end of Saint Martin. You may chance upon sea turtles here. There are two resorts that share the shoreline with lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent. Anse Marcel Beach Restaurant is a wonderful spot to eat with gorgeous views of the beach. You may want to book in advance, it is a popular spot. Find more about the restaurant here.

The drive to get to Anse Marcel is steep and uphill but even our little rental car made it up with no issues. On your drive up you will see a great spot to stop and take some pictures overlooking the whole area. It’s right before where there once was a gate.

Anse Marcel will certainly please adults with it’s amazing views.

Definitely don’t miss this one.

Grand Case

As soon as you are on the island you will likely have locals suggesting to you that you check out Grand Case and for good reason. Grand Case is another beach with a well deserved reputation of being great for young children. The water is crystal clear and nearly as calm as a swimming pool. The views from Grand Case are STUNNING and well worth the trip for that reason alone. The crowd at Grand Case tends to be a mix of locals and tourist alike.

In my opinion, Grand Case has some of the best shopping on the island and you will find many great boutiques along the main road that runs parallel to the beach.

The area is still being rebuilt after being devastated by Hurricane Irma and that devastation is still evident at Grand Case. You will also need to watch your step since as with many beaches in St Martin there is some glass litter you need to look out for while walking (it was not a problem for us, you just need to be aware and preferably wear water shoes). Psst, be a good human while you are there and pick up some of that litter.

Where to eat in Grand Case

Grand Case is considered the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean and it has many amazing restaurants ranging from local lolos to high end French cuisine (hello parent’s night out).

There are four lolos all located together close to the public parking lot. The pictures below are from two of the four to give you an idea of what they have to offer. The last time we were here there was even someone playing steel drums at one of the lolos.

If you are looking for something a little more upscale, Rainbow Cafe and Captain Frenchy are both popular options. They both offer lounge chairs and would be great places to spend the day.

Where to park in Grand Case

There is a public parking lot at Grand Case. Unfortunately most of the best beach spots are a bit of a walk down the main road from the public parking lot. There are other paid lots (around five euros) and you may be able to park on the side of the street but it can be tricky to determine what street parking is actually available and which areas are private access only.

Which Beaches to Avoid with Children in Saint Martin

While every family is different, I want to also share some beaches I think are not going to be worth your time to visit if you are traveling to Saint Martin with children.

Orient Bay

The Orient Bay area is lovely and it has lots of great restaurants and shops. Unfortunately the tide here tends to be rougher and that is the primary reason I would not recommend it for families traveling with children. It does have a large nude area as well that it is quite famous for so depending on how you feel about that you may want to avoid Orient Bay for that reason as well.

Kim Shah Beach

Kim Shah beach has a reputation as being a party beach. There are lots of water activities available which may or may not be something you are looking for depending on the ages of your children. The water here also tends to be rougher.

Indigo Bay

Another beautiful area is Indigo Bay. It was hard hit by hurricane Irma but there is a lot of new development going on. Indigo Bay is home to a fantastic restaurant that may be worth checking out. It’s on our list of places you may want to avoid with families though because the water is a bit rougher and it is a little bit of a trek to drive down to off the main road.

Dawn Beach

Another great beach to visit without the kids is Dawn Beach. The water here again is a bit rougher so there are definitely more family friendly options on Saint Martin.

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