Marigot Market — Attraction in Saint Martin (France)

I grew up traveling back and forth to St. Martin and have fond memories of the Marigot Marketplace as a vibrant hub of activity. It was once a bustling place filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, beachwear, beads, necklaces, and—most famously—delicious homemade pepper bottles. The marketplace was alive with color, laughter, and the incredible craftsmanship of older women who sold their goods to make a living or earn a little extra money. Their personalities and wisdom added to the marketplace’s charm, making it an essential part of the island’s culture.

However, over the years—particularly after Hurricane Irma—I’ve noticed a decline. The marketplace now feels like a shadow of its former self. It’s no longer the consistently lively place it once was, filled with daily energy and excitement. Instead, it operates mainly in sync with the cruise ship schedule. Without the steady flow of tourists, many vendors no longer set up their stalls, making the marketplace feel eerily empty on non-cruise days.

The rise of online shopping and changing consumer habits have impacted the value placed on handmade craftsmanship, and it’s disheartening to see such a culturally rich space struggle to maintain its former glory. While traces of its past charm remain, the magic that once made the Marigot Marketplace so special feels lost. It’s a bittersweet reminder of the changes time brings and the importance of supporting local artisans to keep...

The market in Marigot was a fresh outdoor fair with plenty of vendors with homemade crafts, clothes and souvenirs to choose from. Prices may seem a little high but every vendor we visited with sold us items for less than marked after visiting with them and some friendly negotiation. Many have the exact same products but the prices differ at the different tents, shop around before making the final choice. The location is perfect for an open market and they do have free public (clean) restrooms across the street. The best item we found was Tagua Ivory/Nut Ivory. Looks like real animal ivory except it comes from the Tagua seed of the ivory palm (from south america). This vendor crafted 100's of unique animals from it. We ended up with the mini palm tree and turtle. Fun Fact: This is also the location from the movie Speed 2 where the cruise ship crashed into the dock. This was all rebuilt from...

This is a post card experience. We visited here on a royal caribbean cruise. The island of St. Martin is picturesque. Beautiful landscape with hills and mountains and white beaches! Our tour guide Frank was awesome. He suggested areas of the island where we experienced authentic local food on both sides of the island, Dutch and French. He was extremely accommodating and patient. He took us shopping and sightseeing. The food was delicious and the shopping was even better. Prices were a little expensive but tourism is their only source of income and it's seasonal. So I understand. By the way, Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Sea cruise ship is the way to travel. We felt...