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With practice, negotiating St. Barth's narrow, steep roads soon becomes fun. Infrastructure upgrades and small, responsive rental cars have improved driving. Free maps are everywhere, and roads are smooth and well marked. The tourist office has annotated maps with walking tours that highlight sights of interest.
On the far side of the harbor known as La Pointe, the charming Municipal Museum on the first floor of the restored Wall House has watercolors, portraits, photographs, traditional costumes, and historic documents detailing the island's history over many hundreds of years, as well as displays of the island's flowers, plants, and marine life. There are also changing contemporary art exhibitions. It's a must-stop on your St. Barth visit, and it's free.
The shallow, reef-protected beach is nice for small children, fly-fishermen, kayakers, and windsurfers—and for the amusing frigate birds that dive-bomb the water fishing for their lunch. You needn't do your own fishing; you can have a wonderful lunch at one of the excellent restaurants nearby and use their lounge chairs for the afternoon. You may see some turtles in the shallow water. After storms the water may be a bit murky.
Because it's so secluded, this beach continues to be a popular place for nude sunbathing. Truly beautiful, it has blissful swimming and views of St. Kitts, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Venture here at the end of the day and watch the sun set behind the hills. The road here from Gustavia also offers spectacular vistas. Legend has it that pirates' treasure is buried in the vicinity. There are no restaurants, toilets, or other services here, so plan accordingly. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: nudists; sunset; swimming; walking.
Like a mini Côte d'Azur—beachside bistros, terrific shopping, bungalow hotels, bronzed sunbathers, windsurfing, and day-trippers who tend to arrive on big yachts—this reef-protected strip is divided by the Eden Rock promontory. Except when the hotels are filled, you can rent chaises and umbrellas at the Pearl Beach restaurant or Eden Rock, where you can lounge for hours over lunch. Bathrooms are available at the hotel.
This beach is popular with families and surfers, who like its waves and central location. Be aware of the level of the tide, which can come in very quickly. Hikers and avid surfers like the walk over the hill to Pointe Milou in the late afternoon when the waves roll in.
Located on the northwestern coast of the island, this beach offers a peaceful escape from the more tourist-heavy spots. It's a bit rocky and can get fairly windy on some days, marking it a beloved spot by surfers who like to challenge themselves.
