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Shell Beach

A stroll from the shops of Gustavia, Shell is St. Barts’ “city beach.” Blanketed not by sand but by seashells (hence the name), it’s the nontraditional beauty among the island’s many beaches. Its unique allure owes more than a little to its resident eatery, the irrepressibly groovy DO Brazil. 

Anse de Petit Cul-de-Sac

The locals’ little secret, this cove on the island’s northeast coast is a complete charmer. And although sunning and swimming are the obvious pursuits, these warm waters are part of a vibrant (and highly protected) marine park, making Petite Cul-de-Sac a snorkeler’s dream.

Anse de Grande Saline

The heavyweight champ of beaches on St. Barts, nudist-frequented Grande Saline (named for the expansive salt pond that sits behind it) is 550 yards of sublime white sand caressed by crystal-blue water that’s a reliable 84 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.

Anse de Colombier

You’ll have to don your hiking shoes (or your boat shoes) to get to this cove, also known as Rockefeller Beach, on the island’s far western tip, but the reward — a wholly gorgeous and largely unfrequented crescent of white sand — is well worth the effort.

Baie de St. Jean

St. Barts’ “it” beach, St. Jean is a Caribbean take on France’s chichi Cote d’Azur. It’s a broad arc of sand where bronze-tone beautiful people bask in the sun and nurse $25 cocktails. Party like the proverbial rock star at the Nikki Beach Club, or take a room at the celeb-laden Eden Rock Hotel.