Shopping
Island treasure and hidden gems await you in St. Maarten. Our duty-free markets and shops are filled with brands you love, and unique local specialties you won't be able to find anywhere else. Truly a shopping destination, St. Maarten offers the retail therapy you deserve while staying on the island.
Shopping on island Sint Maarten is tax-free, so the price you see is the price you pay. Though Sint Maarten’s official currency is the Antillean Guilder, all businesses on the island accept the American dollar and Euros. While all banks on the island offer currency exchange services, local businesses tend to offer better rates. With so many options to choose from, here on Sint Maarten you can shop till you drop! We can guarantee you will find a gift for everyone.
Philipsburg Shops
The city of Philipsburg is laid in a colonial brick-style fashion and the streets, lined with palm trees and shops, invite you in. Live out your shopping dream as you browse through the many stores lined up on Front Street and Back Street. A shopping experience filled with warmth, color, and unique finds. Front Street offers access to luxury shopping experiences including brands like Cartier, Rolex, Dior, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, and others. Buy a beautiful sapphire necklace for your someone special at one of our many jewelry stores. Along Front Street, you can find electronics, treasured souvenirs, top-shelf alcohol, tobacco, and more all at duty-free prices. If you’re looking to score some locality specialties like the famous Guavaberry Rum, and Guavaberry flavored sauces, spices, and more, a visit to the Guavaberry Emporium is a must.
Back Street is just a street away and is known for its affordable and colorful fashion clothing, handbags, and shoes. Whether you’ve forgotten to pack something back home or need a new bikini, just go for a stroll on Back Street where you will find everything you need and more. As you shop through Philipsburg, check out the local murals sprinkled throughout the city, as part of the Color Me SXM project. Looking for European brands, head over to the capital of the French Side, Marigot. There you will find brands such as L'Occitane, Yves Rochers, Max Mara, and more high-end boutiques. Shopping on the French Side will require the usage of Euros, so be sure to exchange your cash in advance.
Shop Local and Discover our Markets
Though the island is a harbor for luxury shopping, make sure to check out and support some of the island’s local brands and small businesses that you cannot find anywhere else! Buy local artwork from the great Roland Richardson at his gallery in Marigot or local artist Tess Verheij in Philipsburg at the Local Art Gift Shop. Taste the local rum made by Sint Maarten Guavaberry or visit Topper’s Rhum distillery in Cole Bay. Nourish your skin and hair with some local botanicals made by St. Maarten Nectar. Wear the garments crafted by local designers like La Bella Sorton Or take a piece of St. Maarten home with you with the collection from OneOfTwo.
Discover the local markets on the island, each with its own variety of local vendors, like the Marigot Market, with over a hundred stalls. It is one of the largest open-air markets of its kind in the Caribbean. Located in the capital of the French side of the island, visitors can find vendors selling freshly-caught fish, tropical fruits and vegetables, and “rhum arrangé,” among other local specialties. Be sure to visit the Spice Lady while you’re there, where you can find the freshest aromatic spices native to our island. On the Dutch side of the island, don’t forget to stop by the Philipsburg Market for unique custom-made jewelry and clothing. Don’t forget to get your favorite souvenirs at the local arts and crafts market behind the Court House.
