Is Saint-Tropez worth a visit? Need some inspiration to plan your weekend or vacation in Provence?
Renowned the world over for its famous port, which has attracted some of the world’s biggest stars, the town is also very popular for its charming, colorful streets and Provencal market. With its beaches, museums, culinary specialties, vineyards and nature reserve, you’ll love discovering this must-see seaside resort on France’s Côte d’Azur!
In this article, we give you our 12 reasons to visit the city, along with our practical tips and photos.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is Saint-Tropez worth a visit?
Totally! Saint-Tropez, the jewel of the Côte d’Azur, is a Provencal town in southeastern France. It’s renowned for its lively port, beaches and history of artists, celebrities and jet-setters from all over the world. If you decide to visit this seaside resort in summer, be prepared to bump into stars (like Brigitte Bardot!). It’s a popular vacation destination for its festive atmosphere, luxury boutiques, gourmet restaurants and nightlife.
Beyond its People side, Saint-Tropez has many other treasures to offer! We loved strolling through the colorful alleyways, and discovering the city’s cultural offerings. The magnificent Mediterranean coastal landscapes and the Ramatuelle nature reserve totally seduced us! Outside the summer season, the city’s atmosphere is less glamorous and more elegant, which we appreciated.
Discover our article on the best things to do in Saint-Tropez!
WHERE TO STAY IN Saint-Tropez
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
Option 1: Downtown
Enjoy the charm and liveliness of the old town.
Hôtel Le Yaca – Check photos and availability
Hôtel Les Lauriers – Check photos and availability
Option 2: on the road to the beaches
Hotel Le Pre de la mer – Check photos and availability
Hotel Sezz – Check photos and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Saint-Tropez
Reason 1 – For its unmissable harbour, home to the stars
The port of Saint-Tropez is the epicenter of life in this iconic seaside town. Dotted with luxury yachts, colorful fishing boats and elegant cafés, this picturesque port offers breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. Lined with seafood restaurants and chic boutiques, it embodies the authentic charm of the South of France and the glamour of the Côte d’Azur. We loved its warm, friendly atmosphere! If you’re curious by nature, we recommend a tour of the port and city with a local guide.
Find out more about our guided tour of Saint-Tropez harbor and downtown with a local.
Reason 2 – For its Provencal market (Place des Lices)
The Saint-Tropez market is an experience not to be missed! It takes place on Place des Lices, one of the town’s landmarks, every Tuesday and Saturday morning. It’s famous for its colorful stalls loaded with local produce, fresh fruit and vegetables, Provencal specialties and handicrafts.
Strolling between the stalls, you’ll be able to sample local produce and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere typical of markets in the south of France. It’s an essential meeting place for locals and tourists alike. In fact, we recommend taking a guided gourmet tour of the market to discover the local cuisine and wine culture of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
Find out more about the guided tour of the Saint-Tropez market.
Reason 3 – For its cruises
Choose a cruise and discover exceptional Mediterranean landscapes from the sea. Beyond the green boats that cover short distances (more info here), head to the port of Saint-Tropez for longer excursions.
If you’d like to take advantage of your stay to visit other towns in Provence, we advise you to book your return trip in advance. In particular, there’s a ferry from Cannes to Saint-Tropez – see prices, photos and availability.
From Nice, you can also take the shuttle to Saint-Tropez – see prices, photos and availability.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Reason 4 – To discover local culinary specialties and the famous Tropezian tart
In our opinion, culinary exploration is part of travel, so make the most of your stay in Saint-Tropez to awaken your taste buds! Discover the local gastronomy in this city of excellent restaurants. Mediterranean flavors transported us. You’ll discover a cuisine that combines land and sea, using local Provencal produce.
How can you visit Saint-Tropez and not taste the tarte tropézienne? This emblematic pastry generally consists of a soft brioche cut in 2 and filled with a delicious, creamy filling. Sprinkled with powdered sugar, it is appreciated for its delicate taste and its history linked to Brigitte Bardot, who is said to have helped popularize it. If you’re a gourmet (like us) and would like to learn more about the local cuisine, don’t hesitate to take a guided tour, including a tropézienne tasting.
See our article on the best restaurants
Reason 5 – For its vineyards
The vineyards of Saint-Tropez produce wines of recognized quality. They benefit from a Mediterranean climate conducive to the cultivation of grape varieties such as grenache, cinsault, mourvèdre and rolle, which produce wines that are fresh, fruity and delicate on the palate. In fact, the region is particularly famous for its rosé wines, some of which have the AOC Côtes de Provence label. You can discover these vineyards on a guided tour, during which you’ll taste different vintages. We warmly recommend this activity to oenophiles.
Discover the vineyards of the Golf de Saint-Tropez on an organized tour.
Reason 6 – For its public and private beaches
The beaches of Saint-Tropez are renowned for their beauty, lively atmosphere and crystal-clear waters. Made famous by Brigitte Bardot in the 50s, Plage de Pampelonne is one of the most famous beaches in France. Just a 10-minute drive from the town center, it offers an exceptional setting for relaxing on the water. We enjoyed the many beach bars offering parasols and deckchairs for hire. We also really liked Plage des Graniers and Plage Bouillabaisse, which are closer to the city.
Our article on the most beautiful beaches in Saint-Tropez.
A LITTLE MORE patience
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Reason 7 – For its nautical activities in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez
If you love water sports, take advantage of your stay in Saint-Tropez to explore the Mediterranean coastline. Between jet-ski, boat, towed buoy and kayak outings, you’ll be spoilt for choice! We particularly recommend kayak excursions, as you’ll have plenty of time to contemplate the coastline, and even snorkel in the clear waters. During this activity, you’ll discover secluded coves, secret beaches and spectacular rock formations!
Consult our kayak outings in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
Reason 8 – For its Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption
Located in the heart of Saint-Tropez, the Église Notre-Dame de l’Assomption is one of the town’s most emblematic buildings. Built in the 18th century, it is distinguished by its Italian Baroque architectural style. With its ochre and sienna colors, its bell tower is topped by a campanile. It’s a highly visible geographical landmark throughout the city. We also appreciated the richly decorated interior, with its majestic organ, sculptures and woodwork, as well as the bust of Saint-Tropez.
Reason 9 – For its cultural offering (citadel and museums)
Between the citadel and its Museum of Maritime History, the Gendarmerie and Film Museum, and the Musée de l’Annonciade, Saint-Tropez has a rich cultural scene. Depending on your personal tastes, you may prefer one or the other. Visiting the citadel museum, we discovered splendid panoramic views over the Bay of Saint-Tropez and retraced the region’s naval history!
If you’re a fan of Louis de Funès films, and in particular Les Gendarmes de Saint-Tropez, we encourage you to visit the Musée de la Gendarmerie to immerse yourself in this cult French comedy from the 60s. Are you drawn to another art form? Visit the Musée de l’Annonciade, home to a collection dedicated to painters of color.
Reason 10 – For its Ramatuelle nature reserve and Cap Camarat
In our opinion, the most beautiful landscapes in Saint-Tropez are concentrated in the Ramatuelle nature reserve. We captured the photo above on your way to the Cap Camarat lighthouse. We were completely charmed by this magnificent view of lush vegetation, the sea and the mountain range on the horizon. You can also enjoy a variety of activities, such as an electric bike tour with wine tasting – see prices, photos and availability.
If you like animals, the same animation is available but on horseback – see prices, photos and availability.
Reason 11 – For Azur Park, amusement park and miniature golf course
Located on the outskirts of Saint-Tropez in Gassin, Azur Park is an amusement park for families looking for fun. You’ll find rides, arcade games, inflatables, bumper cars and other activities for children. Minigolf is particularly popular with toddlers, who will discover dinosaurs as they go! Find out more here.
Reason 12 – For its proximity to Gassin, Grimaud and Port Grimaud
Gassin
Gassin is a charming medieval hilltop village in the Var department. Classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, we loved discovering its cobbled streets, picturesque stone houses and views over the Bay of Saint-Tropez. It is also famous for its fortified church, old windmill and vineyards.
Grimaud (inland village)
Located in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the village of Grimaud is an enchanting destination that combines medieval charm, rich history and spectacular views. In our opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful villages on the Côte d’Azur!
It is dominated by the ruins of a castle, a symbol of the region’s power in ancient times. Grimaud is also famous for its vineyards, which you can visit on horseback.
Port Grimaud (seaside village)
Designed by French architect François Spoerry in the 1960s, Port Grimaud resembles a little Provencal Venice, with its canals, bridges and colorful houses. This lakeside town boasts original architecture. We loved its network of navigable canals and fishermen’s houses!
See our article on the most beautiful villages around Saint-Tropez.
Some disadvantages of a trip to Saint-Tropez
Crowds and traffic
Saint-Tropez is a busy place, especially during the summer season. If you have the opportunity, we advise you to go outside of this busy time of year. Traffic jams are frequent and numerous at peak times, due to the density of the population and tourism. However, we recommend you bring your own vehicle, as the city is not well served by public transport. If you’re coming from Paris, there’s no direct train connection.
The rates
As you will have gathered from this article, Saint-Tropez is a glamorous and relatively expensive city. To get the most out of your experience, you’ll need to budget accordingly. Even more so if you decide to go during the high season, when prices rise sharply. Some hotels offer top-of-the-range services, which explains their price. By the way, we really liked the Hotel Sezz, whose incredible pool you can see above – see prices, photos and availability.
The weather
Saint-Tropez enjoys a mild to warm Mediterranean climate. Temperatures rise dramatically in summer, which can make outdoor activities uncomfortable (especially if you’re sensitive to heat). We advise you to visit the city and its surroundings in spring, autumn or winter.
Practical tips for getting to Saint-Tropez, France.
Saint-Tropez is located in southeastern France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
Here’s our map of Saint-Tropez to help you find your way around the Côte d’Azur:
How to get there
In our opinion, the car should be the preferred choice. You’ll enjoy greater comfort and freedom during your stay. We had our own vehicle on our trip to the Côte d’Azur, and enjoyed our experience immensely. Especially as Saint-Tropez is not easily accessible by public transport.
There is no railway station in the town. The nearest stations are Toulon, Draguignan and Saint-Raphaël. You’ll then need to take a cab or hire a car to reach Saint-Tropez. This is also the case for airports, the 2 closest being Marseille and Nice. They are more than 1h30 away by car.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE Côte d’Azur
- Inspiration
The most beautiful landscapes in 30 photos
Best things to do on the Côte d’Azur
Most beautiful villages
Best beaches on the Côte d’Azur
Most beautiful gardens
Best boat tours (coming soon)
Most beautiful islands
Secret places
- Practical advice
Successful travel on the Côte d’Azur (coming soon)
Rent a car in Provence – in Nice – in Cannes – in Marseille – in Aix-en-Provence.
Itineraries: 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
Weekend ideas: best-of – romantic – luxury – unusual
- Where to stay
Where to stay on the Côte d’Azur
Best luxury hotels on the Côte d’Azur
Hotels by the sea
Best boutique-hotels
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
