Experience the best of Philipsburg

Philipsburg stands on a narrow strip of land between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond, on the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin, which is shared with France. It was founded in 1763 and named after John Philips, a Scottish captain in Dutch service. Front Street runs along the bay, lined with shops, cafés and old wooden houses, and a boardwalk follows the sand. Wathey Square, with its courthouse of 1793, is the heart of the town.

Fort Amsterdam, the ruins of a Dutch fort of 1631 on the headland, overlooks the town, and the Sint Maarten Museum tells the island's history, including its salt trade. The island's Dutch and French halves are separated by a boundary marker rather than a border post, and Marigot, the French capital, is a short drive, with the seafood restaurants of Grand Case and the long beach of Orient Bay. At Maho Beach, planes land low over the sand.

Johnnycakes, saltfish, conch and grilled lobster are staples, with French pastries and crêpes from the other side. The driest weather comes between December and April, and tropical storms are most likely from late summer into autumn. Guavaberry liqueur, made from a local berry and rum, is the island's drink.