Thinking of visiting Saint-Tropez in winter? It’s a great idea! Between the port, the market, the museums and the town’s excellent addresses, you’re sure to have a pleasant stay. Enjoy an enchanting and elegant seaside getaway outside the high season. Escape the hordes of tourists and enjoy the splendid Mediterranean scenery of this emblematic Côte d’Azur town.
Here are our tips for discovering this seaside resort in winter: activities, weather, temperatures…
Plus information on how to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve on site.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Visiting Saint-Tropez in winter: is it worth it? Our review
Our review
In our opinion, visiting Saint-Tropez in winter is well worth it, especially if you don’t like crowds! You’ll even be able to enjoy more of the monuments and museums, which remain open during the winter period. Although the colors of Mediterranean landscapes are less vivid than under a summer sun, the hues are still vivid. Provençal facades are a joy to behold, even in the dead of winter!
What’s more, you’ll be able to take advantage of the city’s must-do activities despite the colder weather: a stroll around the port and the city center, a visit to the citadel and its museum, or the Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum, a trip to the colorful market on Place des Lices… However, you should be aware that some Saint-Tropez establishments close during the winter season.
Benefits
- the sun shines and the sky is blue, even in winter,
- walks are cooler but more pleasant,
- it’s easier to park and get around the city,
- the crowds are smaller,
- temperatures are more bearable than in summer,
- most tourist attractions remain open,
- hotels are less expensive (but some take a winter break).
Disadvantages
- it’s colder,
- there’s less greenery and plants,
- the risk of rain is low, but still higher than in summer,
- someactivities are unavailable or not recommended,
- the sea water is very fresh,
- swimming is reserved exclusively for daredevils.
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
Weather, temperatures and conditions
Saint-Tropez enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate. Winters are pleasant, with minimum temperatures down to 3° and maximums around 14°. The sea never drops below 13°. Even if sunbathing is out of season, it’s still possible to swim in a wetsuit!
As the days are shorter in winter, you’ll be able to admire superb sunsets even before dinner. It can snow (very rarely), but as the city is by the sea, the snow never lasts long.
Things to do in Saint-Tropez in winter?
The activities available in Saint-Tropez in winter are pretty much the same as in summer, apart from swimming, sunbathing and water sports.
In particular, you can:
- stroll around the port,
- explore the city center,
- visit the citadel and its Maritime History Museum,
- admire the Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption,
- visit Saint-Tropez’s museums (including the Musée de la Gendarmerie),
- discover the city’s architectural heritage (more info here),
- meet local artisans and shopkeepers,
- shop for fresh seasonal produce at the Provencal market,
- oxygenate on deserted beaches,
- taste the local wines and visit the vineyards,
- hiking or other activities in the Ramatuelle nature reserve.
See our selection of the best attractions in Saint-Tropez.
To complete your stay, we also recommend trying out Saint-Tropez’s excellent restaurants. We were won over by the Provencal flavors that warm the taste buds. In fact, we have very fond memories of our meal at Hotel Sezz’s Restaurant Chez Colette, which was as beautiful as it was good. Each dish was a new journey, a bold culinary discovery.
See our list of the best restaurants in Saint-Tropez.
Near Saint-Tropez, you can:
- visit the medieval hilltop village of Gassin,
- discover Port Grimaud and its charming canals,
- climb up to the ruins of the village of Grimaud,
- explore Ramatuelle‘s circular layout,
- explore the hinterland of Provence,
- visit Cannes and walk along the famous Promenade de la Croisette,
- explore Antibes and its seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins,
- discover Nice and its Promenade des Anglais,
- let Monaco surprise you.
Don’t miss the most beautiful villages around Saint-Tropez.
What you can’t do in Saint-Tropez in winter:
- sunbathe for several hours on the beach,
- some water sports activities,
- night markets in July and August,
- swim in the sea if you’re sensitive to the cold.
But you can still walk on Saint-Tropez’s most beautiful beaches.
A LITTLE MORE patience
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How to get to Saint-Tropez
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.
More details in our guide on how to get to Saint-Tropez.
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.
Christmas in Saint-Tropez
In the south of France, festivities are the order of the day, and the festive season is no exception! Are you planning to spend Christmas in Saint-Tropez? What a great idea! Every year, the town offers a wide range of events: parades, shows for young audiences, concerts and, of course, the unmissable Christmas market!
Towards the end of November, the city is decked out in luminous decorations and takes on a festive air. We recommend you discover them during your evening strolls. A Christmas village is set up in the harbour, with numerous chalets run by local traders. Your kids can even meet Santa Claus! As the holidays approach, check out the city’s official website here for more information.
New Year’s Eve in Saint-Tropez
To celebrate New Year’s Eve in Saint-Tropez, there are several options to choose from.
Don’t miss the fireworks to round off the year in style. Find out more here.
If you want to make like a real local, this is your chance to try the icy New Year’s bath! More information on the Golfe de Saint-Tropez website here. This free swim usually takes place on December 31st or January 1st. There are several throughout Provence.
Alternatively, you can spend a pleasant night in one of the city’s top hotels. Hôtel Les Lauriers opens exclusively for the New Year’s weekend, so you can enjoy the festivities in complete privacy!
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
