How much does the bus cost in St. Maarten?

Between $1 and $2 depending on distance, paid in cash to the driver. Philipsburg to Marigot or to Mullet Bay is $2, shorter hops within those routes are $1 to $1.50. Children under 3 and adults over 65 ride free. Carry small bills, because drivers do not always have change.

How do you catch a bus in St. Maarten?

Raise your hand as one approaches. There are few marked stops on most routes, so you flag a bus down wherever you are along the line. Look for BUS on the license plate and a white sign with red lettering in the windshield, and tell the driver where you want to get off.

Do St. Maarten buses run on a schedule?

No. The vans are privately owned and run their routes without a fixed timetable. Service is frequent through the day, roughly 5am until midnight, and thins out at night. If you are catching a ferry or a flight, build in real buffer time rather than trusting a departure window.

Does the bus go from Philipsburg to Maho Beach?

Yes. Line 2 runs from Emmaplein in Philipsburg via Bush Road, Cole Bay, Simpson Bay and the airport to Maho, and officially continues to Mullet Bay for $2. The windshield sign usually just says Maho, so tell the driver directly if you want to carry on to Mullet Bay or Cupecoy.

St. Maarten Bus Routes: Every Line, Stop and Fare

How the system works

St. Maarten’s buses are privately owned minivans that run a public route network under government oversight, recognizable by “BUS” printed on the license plate. There’s no fixed timetable, frequency is high during the day and drops off later in the evening. You flag a bus down by raising your hand as it approaches, and tell the driver where you’re headed since stops aren’t always marked.

Fares run $1 to $2 depending on distance, cash only, small bills recommended since drivers don’t always carry change for large notes. Children 0-3 and adults over 65 ride free.

A white passenger minivan pulled over at the roadside with its side door open and a passenger stepping aboard — The vehicle is a minivan like this one, not a coach. You wave it down and it stops where you are.alljengi from EdinburghWikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 2.0

A Sint Maarten licence plate reading B 120 mounted on the back of a vehicle, with the island coat of arms between the letter and the numbers — The B prefix is the bus class, and it is how you tell a licensed bus from any other white van. This plate is on the 2019 to 2020 commemorative base.DickelbersWikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 4.0

The five Dutch-side lines

All depart from Emmaplein (“Central Station”) or the adjacent Clem Labega Square in Philipsburg, about a 10-minute walk from the cruise port.

Line 1: Philipsburg to Marigot

The main cross-border route, connecting the two island capitals. Runs via Bush Road and Cole Bay, along the north side of Simpson Bay Lagoon, to the Marigot bus station (where all French-side buses also depart).

Notable stops: Carrefour, Port de Plaisance hotel and marina, the Concordia border monument.

From	To	Fare
Clem Labega Square	Marigot	$2.00
Clem Labega Square	Senna Drive & Bush Rd. intersection	$1.00
Clem Labega Square	Cole Bay Substation	$1.50

Line 2: Philipsburg to Maho / Cupecoy (via Mullet Bay)

The line most relevant to beach-focused visitors. Runs from Emmaplein via Bush Road, Cole Bay, Simpson Bay, and past the airport to Maho. The official route continues to Mullet Bay, but bus signage just says “Maho,” if you want to continue to Cupecoy, tell the driver directly.

Connects Philipsburg and Great Bay Beach to Kim Sha Beach, Simpson Bay Beach, and Maho Beach, plus IGY Marina and the St. Maarten Yacht Club.

From	To	Fare
Clem Labega Square	Mullet Bay	$2.00
Central Station	Senna Drive & Bush Rd.	$1.00
Central Station	Cole Bay Substation	$1.50
Central Station	Welfare Rd./Simpson Bay Bridge (Royal Palm)	$1.50

Line 3: Philipsburg to St. Peters

Runs through the Cul de Sac Valley via Bush Road, ending in St. Peters. Passes Emilio Wilson Park and Rainforest Adventures Park.

From	To	Fare
Clem Labega Square	St. Peters	$1.50
Clem Labega Square	Senna Drive & Bush Rd.	$1.00
Clem Labega Square	L.B. Scott Rd. (ballpark)	$1.50

Line 4: Philipsburg to French Quarter

Heads into the hills toward Dutch Quarter, then crosses into French Quarter, connecting to the French-side bus network from there.

From	To	Fare
Clem Labega Square	French Quarter	$2.00
Clem Labega Square	A.Th. Illidge Rd. substation (Amsterdam Shopping Centre)	$1.00
Clem Labega Square	Dutch Quarter	$1.50

Line 5: Philipsburg to Sucker Garden / Middle Region

A shorter residential route northeast of Philipsburg.

From	To	Fare
Clem Labega Square	Sucker Garden / Middle Region	$1.50
Clem Labega Square	Defiance	$1.50

French-side routes

All French-side buses depart from Marigot’s bus station, next to the football stadium. Routes head to Grand Case and Grand Case Airport, Orient Bay, or French Quarter depending on the bus. Ask the driver in advance to confirm your stop is on the route, coverage varies bus to bus.

Ferry connections

The bus network connects to inter-island ferry terminals:

Philipsburg: ferries to Saba, Statia, St. Barths, and St. Kitts
Simpson Bay: ferries to Saba and St. Barths
Marigot: ferries to Anguilla and St. Barths

If you’re using the bus to reach a ferry, build in extra time given the no-fixed-schedule reality.

A narrow Philipsburg side street between two-storey buildings, with parked cars along one side and the hills visible at the end — A Philipsburg back street. Buses run the main road, so the lanes off it are on foot.

Practical tips

The line and destination display as a white sign with red lettering in the windshield
Raise your hand clearly and in time, a full bus may pass you by, but another usually follows shortly
Tell the driver where you’re getting off, especially if you’re new to the island
Emmaplein is at the far end of Philipsburg, about a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal

Back to the transportation hub for every other way around the island, or the plan your trip hub for the rest of the trip.