St. Barts (or, more officially, Saint Barthélemy) is one of the most charming islands of the French West Indies. A favourite amongst the rich and famous, the island is both glamorous and quite European in its outlook. With world class accommodation, pristine beaches and plenty of activities to suit all tastes and ages, St. Barts is a true Caribbean jewel.
Despite the islands small size, it nonetheless boasts some 22 spectacular beaches. Anse du Gouverneur, on the south side of the island, is one of the most popular beaches, partly due to its proximity to the island’s capital Gustavia. The nearby Grand Saline beach is less developed, perfect for swimming and very popular with the locals. Grand Cul-de-Sac beach, meanwhile, is one of the best for both swimming and water sports. The water here is incredibly calm thanks to an enclosing reef, making it the perfect place to learn how to sail or windsurf.
Gustavia is both the island’s capital and harbour town. Due to a period of Swedish colonial rule, the town is an intriguing mix of French and Swedish architecture. Slightly to the east of Gustavia, the town of St. Jean has become a tourist hotspot with its numerous chic restaurants and bistros, most of which are distinctly French. If relaxing on beaches and eating great food all day doesn’t suffice, then horseback riding, scuba diving, sailing, and deep-sea fishing are all readily available.
Large commercial jets cannot land on St. Barts’ small runway. However, regular ferries run passengers from St. Martin, a larger island served by a handful of major airlines.