French by law and Caribbean by soul, Saint Barthélemy (St. Barts) fuses coral-blue lagoons with Paris-level cuisine and a fiercely protected natural landscape. Once a Swedish-ruled free port (you’ll still see Swedish street signs in Gustavia), the island today is a petite playground of coves, hills, and red-roofed villas where every bend in the road reveals another beach.

May is shoulder season—calmer seas, easier dinner reservations, and great conditions for hiking and boating. The currency is the euro, driving is on the right, and roads are narrow and steep (your rental car is perfect). Pack reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for rocky entries, and make restaurant bookings a few days out for the hottest tables.

Cuisine runs the gamut: Creole plates at no-frills favorites, toes-in-sand grills, and fine dining with harbor views. With your Tropical Hotel base in St-Jean (arrive May 20 at 4 pm, depart May 26 at 11:50 am) and a car, the farthest beach is rarely more than a 20-minute drive. This itinerary balances adventure—hikes, snorkel spots, private charter—with unhurried time on iconic beaches.

Gustavia (Saint Barthélemy)

Gustavia, the island’s tiny capital, curls around a yacht-dotted harbor backed by 18th-century Swedish-era forts. By day, it’s a window-shopping dream—Hermès and Cartier neighbor indie island designers. By sunset, church bells mingle with clinking glasses and the sky goes cotton-candy over the lighthouse.

• Top sights: Fort Karl above Shell Beach, Fort Gustave’s lighthouse viewpoint, the Musée Territorial du Wall House (local history), and Shell Beach for a quick swim steps from town.
• Shopping: Rue de la République and Quai de la République house global maisons and beloved local brands (look for Poupette St Barth’s breezy prints and Laurent Effel leather).
• Cafés & eats: Bar de l’Oubli for breakfasts and spritzes; Fish Corner for ultra-fresh tartares; Eddy’s Ghetto for Creole classics in a leafy courtyard.
• Fun facts: Gustavia’s street grid and fortifications date to its Swedish period (1784–1878). Duty-free status makes shopping especially tempting.

Where to stay (if not already set): Browse villas and hotels in/near Gustavia and St-Jean on VRBO and Hotels.com. You’re already booked at Tropical Hotel in St-Jean—an excellent central base a short stroll from St Jean Beach.

How to get here: Most travelers connect via St. Maarten (SXM) or San Juan (SJU) to a 10-minute puddle-jumper into SBH; expect ~$100–$180 one-way for the hop, and 1–1.5 hours connection time. Search long-haul flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; then book the SXM–SBH hop with a regional carrier. Ferries from St. Martin (45–60 minutes) are another option if seas are calm.

Day 1: Arrival, First Dip at St-Jean, Sunset Start

Afternoon: Land around 4 pm, pick up your rental car, and check into Tropical Hotel. Shake off the flight with a 5-minute drive (or stroll) to St Jean Beach—calm water, soft sand, and planes swooping in for a bit of theater.

Evening: Toast the first night with a beachfront cocktail at Gypsea Beach (boho vibe, rum-forward list) or at the Sand Bar at Eden Rock (polished, by-the-sea). Dinner at Sand Bar is a scene—think local mahi with citrus and Jean-Georges-inspired sides. Prefer toes-in-sand? Gypsea’s wood-fired fish and Caribbean spiced ribs hit the spot.

Night: If you’ve got a second wind, drift to Papillon Ivre in St-Jean for a glass of natural wine and small plates, or swing by Bar de l’Oubli in Gustavia for a casual nightcap. Early night is fine—you’ve got a big week ahead.

Day 2: Gustavia Walkabout, Shell Beach Swim, Designer Boutiques

Morning: Coffee and croissants from La Petite Colombe (St-Jean) or Bar de l’Oubli (Gustavia). Park by the Wall House lot (usually the easiest) and stroll the harbor. Climb to Fort Karl for panoramic views, then descend to Shell Beach for a quick swim—look for polished cowries among the shells.

Afternoon: Lunch at Shellona on Shell Beach—grilled octopus, Greek salads, and rosé under white pergolas. Browse Gustavia’s boutiques after: pop into Poupette St Barth for airy resortwear, Cartier for sparkle, and independent galleries along the quays. Visit the Wall House museum for island history in bite-size panels.

Evening: Sunset at the Gustavia lighthouse (Fort Gustave) for postcard harbor views. Dinner at Bonito (French–Peruvian; their ceviche tasting and slow-cooked short rib are destination dishes) or Orega (French–Japanese; reserve for the omakase-style menu and a yuzu-kissed miso cod). Finish with a serious pour at Rhum Room, where staff guide you through rare agricole bottlings.

Day 3: Colombier Hike and Snorkel, Flamands Flavors

Morning: Quick breakfast from La Petite Colombe (try the guava danish) and drive to the Colombier trailhead (Upper trail via the end of the road in Colombier; 20–25 minutes each way). The path drops to a crescent of white sand you can only reach by foot or boat—bring water and a picnic.

Afternoon: Snorkel along the rocky edges for turtles and rays; visibility is superb on calm days. On the way back, stop at Petite Anse (near Flamands) for an easy snorkel cove. Late lunch/early dinner at La Langouste in Flamands—choose your live Caribbean lobster by weight and have it grilled with garlic butter; tables overlook the tiny harbor.

Night: Smooth out the hike with digestifs at your hotel or a sundowner on St-Jean. If you’re up for music and dancing, check dates for Ti St-Barth in Pointe Milou—part dinner, part cabaret, and all celebration.

Day 4: Grand Cul-de-Sac Lagoon—Kayak, Turtles, and Kites

Morning: Head to Grand Cul-de-Sac, one of the Caribbean’s most protected lagoons. Rent kayaks or SUPs from the beachfront outfitters and paddle the seagrass meadows—turtles graze here year-round; keep a respectful distance. Adventurous? Book a beginner kitesurf lesson (steady trade winds, shallow water).

Afternoon: Lunch at Le Sereno’s Al Mare (Mediterranean seafood, sleek deck) or Aux Amis Plage at Le Barthélemy (refined yet beachy; tuna tartare is a favorite). After, try a seabob session for dolphin-like glides through the lagoon, or relocate for a quiet swim at Marigot Bay.

Evening: Dinner at Zion in St-Jean—creative Caribbean-French plates like lionfish ceviche, octopus with plantain, and an excellent rum list. Want a garden setting? Le Tamarin’s tropical grounds feel like a secret—order the truffle linguine or whole grilled fish.

Day 5: Private Boat Day—Île Fourchue and Hidden Coves

Morning: Charter a powerboat or catamaran from Gustavia harbor (operators include well-reviewed local outfits; expect ~$1,200–$2,500 for a full day with captain, fuel variable by boat). First stop: Île Fourchue, a rugged, uninhabited islet with clear water and schooling fish—great snorkeling on the moorings.

Afternoon: Cruise back toward Pain de Sucre (a classic snorkel stop just outside Gustavia) and Colombier Bay for a swim off the stern. Your captain can tender you to a beach club for a late lunch (Shellona or Nikki Beach if seas permit) or set a chic picnic onboard. Keep an eye out for turtles and, in season, spotted eagle rays.

Evening: Freshen up and go for a lively dinner at Bagatelle on the harbor (DJ nights and shareable Mediterranean plates) or keep it refined at Le Fouquet’s at Le Carl Gustaf (contemporary French by chef Pierre Gagnaire with sweeping harbor views). Nightcap along the quay as superyachts twinkle.

Day 6: Saline + Gouverneur—Beach Hopping and Foodie Favorites

Morning: Park at the Saline lot and walk over the sandy dunes to one of St. Barts’ most photogenic beaches—no services, just water in every shade of blue. Swim when it’s calm; there can be a shore break on windy days. Pack water and an umbrella if you can.

Afternoon: Early lunch at Le Grain de Sel near the Saline parking (salt-cod accras, Colombo curry, grilled fish). Then 10 minutes by car to Gouverneur Beach: a grand half-moon ringed by green cliffs, excellent for long swims and lounging. Spa time, if you fancy—book a treatment at Cheval Blanc or Le Barthélemy for a serene reset.

Evening: Gustavia finale: choose L’Isola (elegant Italian; house-made pastas, branzino baked in salt) or Black Ginger (modern Thai beneath a lantern-lit courtyard; crisp duck and fragrant curries). For an after-dinner local rite, stop by Le Select for a simple drink and a nod to its “Cheeseburger in Paradise” lore.

Day 7: Last Swim, Coffee, and Departure

Morning: One last dip at St-Jean before check-out. Grab espresso and an egg sandwich at Bar de l’Oubli or a smoothie bowl at Kiki-é Mo. With an 11:50 am flight, aim to return your car and check in by ~10:15 am—SBH is small but lines ebb and flow with inter-island hops.

Afternoon: Wheels up. As you climb over St-Jean, look down—those coves and ridgelines are the exact mix of wilderness and style that make St. Barts so addictive.

Evening: —

Insider Logistics and Bookings

• Driving & parking: Most drives are 10–20 minutes; park in Gustavia at the Wall House lot or along the stadium. Parallel spots are tight—take it slow.
• Reservations: Book Bonito, Orega, L’Isola, Le Fouquet’s, Tamarin, Sand Bar, and Shellona 2–5 days in advance (more in peak weeks). Many beach clubs cease table service at sunset.
• Gear: Bring a dry bag, snorkel set, and reef-safe SPF. Natural pools near Grand Fond require calm seas—check with locals before going.
• Charters & dives: Reputable local operators run powerboats, cats, and scuba (Gustavia-based dive shops). Expect ~$110–$150 for two-tank dives, weather permitting.
• Alternate stays: If extending, compare villa and hotel options on VRBO or Hotels.com to suit different vibes (waterfront in Gustavia, serene cliffs at Pointe Milou, feet-in-sand at Flamands).
• Flights search: For international legs compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com; allow enough connection time in SXM/SJU for the short SBH hop.

Eat & drink short list (by area):

• Gustavia: Bonito (Franco-Peruvian, views), Orega (French–Japanese), L’Isola (elegant Italian), Black Ginger (Thai), Shellona (on Shell Beach), Fish Corner (seafood), Bar de l’Oubli (all-day café), Rhum Room (serious rum bar), Bagatelle (DJ dinner).
• St-Jean / nearby: Sand Bar at Eden Rock (refined beachfront), Gypsea Beach (boho BBQ), Zion (inventive Caribbean-French), JoJo Burger (casual), Papillon Ivre (wine bar), La Petite Colombe (bakery), Kiki-é Mo (smoothies/bowls).
• Elsewhere: La Langouste (Flamands; lobster), Le Tamarin (garden restaurant near Salines), Le Grain de Sel (Creole near Saline), Le Fouquet’s (Carl Gustaf; fine French).

Adventurous highlights you’ll check off: Colombier Beach hike and snorkel; kayak/SUP with turtles at Grand Cul-de-Sac; private boat to Île Fourchue and Pain de Sucre; Saline–Gouverneur beach day; lighthouse sunset and historic forts; boutique crawl in Gustavia; optional kitesurf lesson or scuba dive.

For lodging comparisons, start with VRBO and Hotels.com, and line up flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com to match your arrival window.

Trip wrap-up: In one compact week you’ll hike to a beach with no road, paddle with turtles in a glassy lagoon, and spend a sun-drenched day hopping coves by boat. Evenings belong to Gustavia’s kitchens and the sound of ice in a shaker. St. Barts pairs raw coastal beauty with refined pleasures—and you’ve sampled the best of both.