This lovely, reef-ringed volcanic isle offers an array of options for family-friendly accommodations, dining, and activities. Snorkeling a sheltered cove, chartering a sail, walking the quai in Gustavia to check out the mega yachts, or relaxing poolside at your private beachfront villa: Caribbean dreams come true on a St. Barts family escape!
In this guide, we’ll go through the best things to do in St. Barts with kids, from family-friendly activities, to watersports and beach-hopping to casual dining. We’ll also spotlight some of the very best accommodations on the island — both private villas and beachfront hotels — for families with kids.
You get to combine these stellar setups with the comprehensive logistical support and concierge services we offer here at WIMCO Villas. That’s a surefire recipe for a dream family vacation on captivating St. Barts!
When it comes to things to do in St. Barts with kids, you’ve landed in the right place. The following list of St. Barts’ activities gives you a taste of how wonderful this corner of the French West Indies can be with children in tow.
Calm waters (plus some fun surf) and extensive coral reefs make St. Barts well-suited for family-friendly aquatics. Swimming, snorkeling, and shelling opportunities are abundant.
You can also find a variety of watersports suitable for teenagers as well, such as surfing and kitesurfing. Or consider renting a super-fun SEABOB, an underwater electric scooter that turns young and old alike into dolphins. Then there’s all the fine fishing on St. Barts, from surf-casting to offshore charters after marlin and other big game.
Smaller and bigger kids alike will enjoy a sailboat or catamaran cruise. The Yellow Submarine offers unique glass-bottom boat tours.
Kids will enjoy seeing the wild critters that call St. Barts home. Beachgoers, snorkelers, and boaters often see sea turtles, especially in Grand Cul de Sac, Petite Cul de Sac, and Marigot Bay, alongside various reef fish.
Humpback whales spout in local waters from February to May, while bottlenose dolphins may be seen year-round. On land, watch for Lesser Antillean iguanas, tortoises, and feral goats.
Birdwatchers have a heyday here. You can spot everything from seabirds (frigatebirds, royal terns, brown pelicans, etc.) to Caribbean Elaenia and Lesser Antillean bullfinches.
It’s not just the younger crowd that will thrill at the sight of planes landing and taking off at Gustaf III Airport. You can happily watch the little aircraft accessing the famously short runway right from the sands of St. Jean Beach.
Right beside the sports stadium in St. Jean, you’ll find the well-equipped St. Barts Playground. It’s a popular destination for families with younger kids. Early evening and morning hours are recommended so you can find some shades. It can get hot during the day.
You’ll find plenty of stroller-friendly pavement on St. Barts. Gustavia’s sidewalks offer numerous ambles, for one thing. Another good choice is the scenic mile-long stretch of roadway between Tamarin restaurant and Saline Beach trailhead. The road from St. Jean to Lorient has a sidewalk and is also a possibility for those after a bit of a stroller-pushing workout.
With more than a dozen outstanding beaches, St. Barts has ample seashore pleasures to offer. A good proportion of these beachfronts are kid-friendly, but the following are arguably the very best in that department.
This mile-long crescent beach is the most popular stretch of sand on St. Barts.
Best For: Watching planes take off and land, enjoying a beverage at one of the beach clubs and generally having everything you need at your fingertips.,
Amenities: St. Jean Beach has loads of amenities close at hand, from restaurants like Pearl Beach, Lil Rock and Gypsea to shops to watersport rentals.
Accessibility: Easy to access. Reach St. Jean Beach via the parking lot at its west end, by the airport runway.
WIMCO’s Insider Tip: The peninsula of Eden Rock splits St. Jean Beach into two sections. The western side has more extensive sands and better surfing. Many families will gravitate to the eastern section, with its calm, kid-friendly waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
This handsome and spacious beach lies at the north end of St. Barts. It’s only a mile from St. Jean.
Best For: Full family days at the beachfront. Lorient Beach promises lots of elbow room, ideal for sunbathing and sand-castle-making.
Amenities: Two restaurants and a market lie just across the street from the beach
Accessibility: There’s plenty of parking for Lorient Beach by the Surf Club hut.
WIMCO’s Insider Tip: Grownups might appreciate visiting the grave of famed French rocker Johnny Hallyday, buried in the Lorien cemetery across the street.
Beloved by locals, Petit Cul de Sac offers a secluded, pristine-feeling beachfront in the island’s northeast end.
Best For: Peace and quiet on an uncrowded stretch of undeveloped sand.
Amenities: Part of the appeal of Petit Cul de Sac is the lack of development. You won’t find any facilities here, so bring everything you need for beachgoing.
Accessibility: Reach Petit Cul de Sac via a short path heading along the dead-end access road.
WIMCO’s Insider Tip: You sort of need to hunt Petit Cul de Sac out. (Here again, that’s part of the fun of it!) Find this secluded shorefront by taking a left turn after the salt pond on the drive out toward Toiny.
Colombier Beach on the northwestern shore is another remote and tranquil strand, reachable only by foot.
Best For: Beach picnics with plenty of privacy.
Amenities: As with Petit Cul de Sac, Colombier Beach lacks facilities.
Accessibility: There are two footpaths reaching Colombier Beach. The best one, especially for families, is the 20-minute hike from the end of Flamands Beach.
WIMCO’s Insider Tip: Check out the ruins of the old David Rockefeller residence on the west side of Colombier Beach.
There’s no mystery as to why this lively Gustavia beach got its name. The innumerable tiny shells and shell fragments composing it are likely to fascinate kiddos.
Best For: Combining beach time with Gustavia’s shopping, dining, and more. Shell Beach is an easy stroll from downtown. As you can imagine, this is also a great place for collecting seashells.
Amenities: Amenities and facilities are close by at Shell Beach. There’s even a restaurant right on the beach: Shellona, which often hosts live music.
Accessibility: There’s plenty of street parking behind Shell Beach, plus valet parking at Shellona.
WIMCO’s Insider Tip: If St. Jean Beach tempts with plane-watching, Shell Beach entertains with all the flashy yachts anchoring offshore.
St. Barts is one of the best places to dine in the Caribbean. Its French and Caribbean Creole cuisine is justly celebrated, and there’s plenty of other international fares to be had here.
Eating and enjoying good company are taken seriously here: Meals can run long on St. Barts! The following restaurants — representative of the culinary variety the island offers — are especially well-suited for families with kids.
This relaxed restaurant on the beach features the best stretch of beach, with gentle waves and the optimal location for watching the planes take off and land – a perfect diversion for most kids. The menu features Latino, French and Caribbean dishes plus standards like burgers, chicken fingers, and fries.
Outstanding French cookery is the name of the game at this Gustavia restaurant. Kids will happily tuck into the burgers, pastas, sweet crepes, and galettes, not to mention the ice cream.
St. Barts with kids might just mean a few pizza hankerings here and there. This friendly pizzeria has you covered and also offers sandwiches, pastas, and some scrumptious Italian desserts.
If it’s fast food you want on St. Barts, try Burger Palace. The burger options are varied, and besides in-person dining, this joint will deliver to your villa.
This beloved French boulangerie (which offers several St. Barts locations) bakes up irresistible, fresh, pastries and baguettes. With its sandwiches and other on-the-go items, it’s an ideal place to stock up for a beach picnic.
One of the best ice-cream parlors on St. Barts is sure to be a winner with both kids and adults.
Organic ice cream, sorbets, gelatos, and other frozen goodness make Natural Delights a must-stop on a St. Barts vacation with kids.
Enjoy the bohemian waterfront vibe at this Caribbean/Mediterranean eatery along St. Jean Beach. There’s a smorgasbord of grilled items on offer, from rock lobster to veggies.
There’s a finely rendered and crowd-pleasing French-Caribbean menu available at Le Tamarin. Dining on seafood, steak, vegetarian offerings, and more, you’ll all love the gorgeous garden setting dominated by an ancient tamarind. There is room for the kids to run around on the large lawn.
Classic brasserie/bistro eats await at waterfront L’Entracte, with burgers and daily specials sure to hit the family-dining sweet spot.
French-Creole cookery featuring plenty of seafood defines Santa Fe, along with stirring views. The kids will likely find the tank of live lobsters particularly engrossing.
The views of St. Jean Beach is just as spectacular as the wide-ranging menu at “barefoot-chic” Nikki Beach. The whole gang can keep their eyes peeled for celebrity diners while chowing down.
The luxury of staying in your own private villa on St. Barts is definitely appealing for a family vacation. You’ll have your own living space like you do at home, plus a private pool to cool off in. You can explore all of WIMCO’s kid-friendly villas here, and we’ll also profile three standout properties below.
This five-bedroom hilltop villa in Gouverneur dazzles with its views especially at sunset. Spacious living spaces, flatscreen TV, a heated infinity pool, and an outdoor pavilion make a superb space for families. So does the close proximity of the postcard-perfect beachfront.
Villa Pelican, a four-bedroom villa, overlooks the picturesque bay of Anse des Lezards. It also boasts a winning setup for family vacations, with a semi-covered outdoor living room connecting its two units. Satellite TVs, a two-level deck, a private terrace, and a garden translate into a dreamy kid-friendly accommodation. A small sandy beach is only a two-minute walk down the road.
This lavish eight-bedroom surfside villa sits right on Flamands Beach and boasts its own private tennis court and extra large pool. More than ten guests can dine at the outdoor covered terrace’s dining table, tailor-made for at-home feasts. The rooms are spread among separate bungalows, a desirable floor plan for family groups. And the pool terrace is sure to be popular.
You won’t find any all-inclusive family resorts on St. Barts; however, the island does offer numerous kid-friendly properties. Here are three top resort choices for a St. Barts vacation with children.
Rosewood Le Guanahani hotel is a haven of casual luxury, comfort, and elegance. It features colorful guest cottages scattered along garden paths that wind through lush bougainvillea, hibiscus, and palms.
This charming hotel sits on its own private peninsula with two beaches and two pools. It’s home to the Rosewood Spa, the engaging Rosewood Explorers children’s club, an array of watersports, a fitness center, and a tennis court.
With more than 60 rooms, suites, bungalows, and villas, Cheval Blanc Isle de France is one of the top resorts on St. Barts. There are many kid-focused activities and amenities, from treasure hunts to birthday parties. Child-sized bathrobes and flip-flops are also available for the kiddos. Kid menus and made-to-order baby food are other perks here.
Le Barthélemy’s beachfront setting makes it fabulous for family getaways. You and the crew will have access to beach gear, paddleboards, snorkeling equipment, and glass-bottom kayaks. Numerous organized children’s activities are also possible at this resort, which boasts 44 rooms and suites and a pair of villas.
Both luxury hotel resorts and private vacation villas can provide a wonderful home base on St. Barts for making some Caribbean memories together as a family. And here at WIMCO Villas, we can help you select the perfect accommodations for your needs, wants, and wishes.
St. Barts resorts may appeal to you given their extensive on-site amenities and 24/7 concierge support. Many also have dedicated family programming and other kid-focused activities. Resort restaurants often offer kid menus too. There’s also the attraction of socializing with other vacationing families on the grounds.
A St. Barts villa rental, meanwhile, can offer greater privacy and tranquility for a family getaway to the French West Indies. All of the St. Barts villas we offer here at WIMCO come with their own private swimming pools, another boon. And the WIMCO team is here to land you the same 24/7 concierge assistance at your villa that you could expect at an upscale resort.
If you can’t quite decide between a St. Barts resort or a vacation villa, we’ve got some good news. At WIMCO Villas, we can position you at your own private villa on the grounds of a luxury resort.
We’d love to help walk you through accommodation options for a St. Barts vacation with kids in more detail. Feel free to get in touch with the WIMCO team for more information and to start planning an unforgettable Caribbean idyll with the entire family.
