Shopping

St. Barth is a duty-free port, and it caters to its sophisticated visitors who revel in its some 200 shops and boutiques. Those lucky enough to be on the island during the soldes will reap bargains galore! Forbes has named it one of The World’s 10 Best Shopping Destinations. We agree.

Serious shoppers on a mission, and window shoppers alike, might best choose to begin in Gustavia. The bustling little capital has three major shopping streets including the harbor-side Quai de la République, nicknamed rue du Couturier. It rivals New York's Madison Avenue and Paris's avenue Montaigne for elegant displays in exciting designer shops including Louis Vuitton, Tod's, Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard and Hermès. It’s the perfect spot to pick up a Dior bikini, a Rolex watch or a Chanel bag.

St. Jean’s Pelican Shops, La Villa Créole, known for its chic boutiques should not be missed and Vaval shopping area on the road to Lorient, is great fun.

What to buy?

Designer duds and haute couture (but, of course) – French and Italian fashion lines, not available in the US – and the trendiest beachwear are all readily available. Watches, jewelry (the St. Barth map bracelets and pendants are charming) French perfumes, vintage wines and Cuban cigars for smoking in situ are all available.

Looking for local products? The women of Corossol and Colombier intricately weave the native latanier palm straw into delightful baskets, handbags and broad-brimmed hats. Locally-produced beauty lotions and oils made from island plants make unusual and interesting gifts. A few shops offer a selection of made-in-St Barth clothing and accessories. St. Barth is home to many talented artists and their works can be discovered in the numerous galleries. Don’t forget to pick up some rhum vanille.

As in France, many shops close for a long (two-three hour) midday déjeuner but stay open as late as 7 PM. Many are closed on Wednesday afternoons as well.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Dining – St. Barth is truly a paradise for gourmets and foodies alike. Its over 80 restaurants range from gastronomique dining rooms, many housed in high-end hotels, to sidewalk cafes and feet-in-the-sand beachside grilles. Some venues can be quite expensive but there are lots of affordable options with great ambiance and amazing views. Reservations, always recommended, are a must in high season.

With provisions flown in from Paris, and often paired with local seafood, dining here is considered to be the best in the Caribbean, and rivals any city in the world.

The same local delicacies and wines served at the top eateries can be picked up at a number of excellent delis and markets – many offer take out as well. Make it a point to sample the wonderful breads and pastries offered at the French bakeries. Picking up freshly-baked croissants and a baguette is often the first order of the day. Visitors will find all the components to put together a beach picnic or an easy and delicious supper for dining-in.

For a real treat, consider hiring one of the island's private chefs to prepare a meal at your villa.

Nightlife

St. Barth can be relatively quiet and is perfect for those who would like to relax and leisurely enjoy a fine dinner. However, a number of the restaurants do morph into a bar scene later with live music and dancing. And there are some nightclubs that “get it started” about midnight and folks boogie until the wee hours. Be advised there are no casinos but there is plenty of nightlife for those who seek it.

Water Sports

Scuba Diving

St. Barth has a healthy and well-balanced reef which makes it ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling. Many sites have structures that divers can swim including some large caves and there are two wrecks. The best diving is considered to be around Pain de Sucre, an islet just off Gustavia harbor, and around Coco Islet and a small cape, l'Ane Rouge, off Colombier Bay. There are a number of diving schools and these operations offer full day expeditions to neighboring islands and night dives. PADI certification is also available.

Boating, Sailing & Yachting

The options here are numerous and include everything from crewed luxury-yachts, big-game fishing charters, waterskiing, and Catamarans for snorkeling excursions and sunset cruises, to renting dinghies and Jet Skis.

Windsurfing

The windsurfing on St. Barth is much like the island itself, slowly paced and spectacularly beautiful. No high winds but rather warm, steady moderate trade winds at 10-20 knots. Think in terms of 5.0m to 7.0m slalom and long board cruising.

This island offers a number of windsurfing operations for rentals and lessons right on the beaches. Gentle Grand Cul de Sac is a particular favorite. No wet suits needed! Lively St. Jean Beach is another great spot that windsurfers love.

Golf

St. Barth has no golf courses but excursions to other islands can easily be arranged. Folks looking to practice their swing can do so at a unique aqua driving range on the Etang de Grand Cul de Sac. Balls are hit from Astroturf tees at a number of flags placed strategically in the lagoon. The balls return naturally on the tide. A few Euros will provide you with balls and clubs. Fun!

Tennis

Court times can be arranged, for a fee (around €15-20) at the Flamboyant courts in Grand Cul de Sac. There are also some courts in Colombier. Several tournaments are organized every year, including a major event in August which welcomes the participation of visitors for friendly competition.

Hiking

Hiking can be a great way to explore the island. The most popular itinerary is the goat path from Petite Anse (about 20 minutes) to the stunning Colombier Beach that otherwise can only be accessed by the sea. You may also want to visit the “washing machine” on the island’s southeast side – take the path off the road in Grand Fond.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding: instruction and guided tours that follow foot paths through the island’s northwest ridges, and then down on to beautiful Flamands Beach are available and can be fun and exciting. There are also a number of ponies for children.

SPA Services

Several of the hotels have full-service spas open to the public, offering massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and other treatments. Arrangements can also be made for in-villa services offered by several of the independent private spas.

Fitness

There are three independent fitness clubs on the island. Yoga classes and individual instruction are available in beautiful outdoor sites. Personal trainers are available and will go to your villa upon request.

Museums

Inter-Oceans Museum – located on the beach in Corossol, this unique museum houses a private collection of seashells from all over the world and totaling over 9000 pieces.

The Wall House Museum on Gustavia Harbor is a recently restored historic building dating from the Swedish period – 1785 to 1878 – and features artifacts and pictorial documents from St. Barth’s past.