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Getting to St Barts the best ways

Getting to St. Barts

Your step-by-step guide to reaching paradise—via St. Maarten, San Juan, or private charter—no matter if you’re flying from the USA, Europe, Asia, or Australia.

Find Your Route Check St. Barts Villas

St. Barthélemy (St. Barts) is a French Caribbean gem with a famously short runway at Gustaf III Airport (SBH). Most travelers connect to St Barts through St. Maarten (SXM) or San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) before a quick hop to Gustavia Harbor. Below are the fastest routes geting to St Barts by region—plus ferry tips and smart booking advice to St Barts.

USA Europe Asia Australia Ferries

From the USA

Fly to San Juan (SJU) or St. Maarten (SXM) from hubs like Miami, New York, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte. Then connect:

SJU → SBH: ~40-min premium shuttle (e.g., Tradewind Aviation).
SXM → SBH: ~15-min island hop (e.g., Winair) or seamless ferry to Gustavia.

Book USA → St. Barts Details

From Canada

Fly to San Juan (SJU) or St. Maarten (SXM) from Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), and Vancouver (YVR)./em>. Then connect:

SJU → SBH: ~40-min premium shuttle (e.g., Tradewind Aviation).
SXM → SBH: ~15-min island hop (e.g., Winair) or seamless ferry to Gustavia.

Book Canada→ St. Barts Details

From Europe

Connect via Paris, London, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt to SXM or Guadeloupe (PTP), then hop to SBH or take the ferry.

CDG/ORY → SXM/PTP: Long-haul, then short regional flight to SBH.
CDG/AMS/LHR → SXM: One-stop solution; quick transfer to SBH.

Book Europe → St. Barts Details

From Asia

Best connections via Paris (CDG) or major US hubs (JFK, MIA). Then continue to SJU or SXM and onward to SBH.

Tokyo/Hong Kong/Singapore → CDG → SXM/PTP → SBH
Tokyo/Hong Kong/Singapore → JFK/MIA → SJU/SXM → SBH

Book Asia → St. Barts Details

From Australia

Route via the USA (LAX → JFK/MIA → SJU/SXM) or via Europe (SYD/MEL → CDG → SXM → SBH). Consider a city-break stopover.

SYD/MEL/BRI → LAX → JFK/MIA → SJU/SXM → SBH
SYD/MEL → CDG → SXM → SBH

Book Australia → St. Barts Details

Ferry to St. Barts

Prefer the sea? High-speed ferries run from St. Maarten (Philipsburg) to Gustavia (~45–60 min). It’s scenic—and luggage-friendly.

Best for: Those arriving at SXM who want a relaxed transfer.
Tip: Book earlier sailings in winter; seas can be choppier later in the day.

Book Ferry Tickets Explore Gustavia Harbor

Smart Booking Tips to St Barts

Peak season: Dec–Apr; secure SXM/SJU connections early.
Luggage: Small aircraft to SBH have strict weight/size limits.
Smoothest arrival: Aim for long layovers at SXM to catch the SBH hop or ferry.

Free Route Planning Concierge

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Getting to St. Barts is part of the adventure—and the reward is worth every connection. The most reliable routes funnel through St. Maarten (SXM) or San Juan (SJU), where short hops on Winair or Tradewind deliver you to Gustaf III Airport (SBH).

Whichever path you choose to St Barts , plan ahead. Peak season (December–April) sells out quickly, so book inter-island legs early. Build buffer time at SXM, respect small-plane baggage limits, and coordinate villa, driver, or yacht transfers for a smooth handoff. Travel insurance and daylight arrivals help minimize weather and runway-slot surprises. In the end, the best way is the one that fits your timeline, comfort, and budget. Fly light, connect smart, and let Gustavia Harbor be your first postcard moment—boutiques, beach clubs, and that unmistakable St. Barts sparkle waiting just beyond the dock. Welcome to sunlit, sparkling paradise.

Round out your plan with travel insurance, concierge coordination, and pre-arranged transfers to your villa, driver, or yacht. In the end, the “best” way is the one that fits your schedule, budget, and comfort—SJU or SXM + short hop for speed, ferry for scenic simplicity, or charter for full control. Do that, and your first postcard moment at Gustavia Harbor—sun, sails, and French-Caribbean sparkle—arrives right on time.