Best things to do & places to stay:
Saint-Tropez, Cote d'Azur, France
Little Saint-Tropez has an enormous reputation as the hippest, most hedonistic resort in France. An artists’ colony in the late 19th century and the post-war Left Bank on the Med (think Sartre, Picasso and Juliette Greco), today’s Saint-Tropez owes much of its charisma to its muse, Brigitte Bardot.
With its stunning hotels, fabulous restaurants, hip boutiques, iconic beaches and nightclubs, Saint-Trop (its nickname, ‘Saint Too Much’) is one of the world’s top places to see and be seen (with prices to match), attracting film stars, models, VIPs and Russian oligarchs, while still maintaining an informal, bohemian sense of fun.
The town sits on a beautiful wooded peninsula, clustered around the Vieux Port with its mega yachts and cafés gazing across the Gulf towards the Massif des Maures.
Another hub is the Place des Lices, scene of St-Tropez’s delightful outdoor market. Luxurious villas nestle in the hills, while most of St-Tropez’s famous 5km of white sandy beaches are a few kilometres away in Ramatuelle; other parts of the stunning coastline are a nature reserve.
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest
Saint-Tropez, Cote d'Azur, France
This pretty 16th-century chapel turned gallery has one of France’s top collections of post-Impressionist art. See paintings by Matisse, Derain, Braque, Vlaminck, Bonnard, Utrillo, Roualt and Vuilllard. Open daily, except Tuesday.
Best for ages: 18+ | £5
Saint-Tropez, Cote d'Azur, France
The Cote d’Azur’s most famous and atmospheric beach, with public sands and private clubs for every taste. The sea here is a lovely turquoise. Among the beach clubs, 55 is for serious star-spotting, Les Jumeaux is for families, Moorea and Aqua Club are laid-back, and Nikki Beach is for blingy party types.
Best for ages: Any | Free
Saint-Tropez, Cote d'Azur, France
Just outside the capital of bling, Saint-Tropez, this 18km coastal path, starting at beautiful Gigaro beach and signposted in yellow, is one of France’s wildest, most beautiful coastal paths.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 5-7 hours
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Cannes
€71 | Rating 4.33 / 5 [106 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Nice
€145 | Rating 4.4 / 5 [15 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay in this destination
Saint-Tropez, Cote d'Azur, France
A small, immaculate and affordable hotel with a pool, a few minutes’ walk from St Tropez. Opposite the golden sands of Bouillabaisse Beach, and with much sought-after free parking.
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Saint-Tropez, Cote d'Azur, France
A light-filled former Provencal farmhouse that’s now a luxurious contemporary hotel, with peaceful private terraces and a striking pool. Close to the buzz and glamour of St Tropez, and a short walk to its beaches.
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Saint-Tropez, Cote d'Azur, France
A romantic jewel of a boutique hotel has tropical gardens and a pool, hidden in the centre of St Tropez town.
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Saint-Tropez, Cote d'Azur, France
A luxurious, architect’s-dream hotel set in oasis-like gardens, but close to the buzz and beach clubs of St Tropez.
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Unlike Nice, Monaco and its surroundings, St-Tropez seriously closes down out of season: as the only town on the Cote d’Azur to face north, it’s unsheltered from blustery winter winds and weather. Beach and nightclubs generally close in early September; after the early October Voiles de St-Tropez historic yacht race, the final one of the season on the French calendar, the town once again becomes a sleepy little Mediterranean port.
By road, it can take 90 minutes or up to three hours from Nice Airport to St-Tropez. There are direct Beltrame buses from the airport to St-Raphael, where you’ll need to transfer to another bus to St-Tropez.
You can also take a train to St-Raphael, and a seasonal ferry from there to St-Tropez. Or arrive in style by helicopter: in July and August. Heli Securite run a regular service that takes 20 minutes from Nice Airport.
Another option is to fly into Hyeres-Toulon Airport, 50 minutes away, which has seasonal connections around Europe, then take a taxi or bus – they run five times a day to St-Tropez.
The beaches are out of town, and while there are plentiful taxis and boat taxis, having some form of wheels is useful; if you haven’t brought the Lamborghini, hire a scooter or a bike, both of which are far easier to park.
Your main decision in St-Tropez is whether to stay in town where it’s convenient to the bars, restaurants and nightlife, or out near the beaches. Some of the smarter hotels in town provide shuttles to the beaches, a good solution if don’t want to hire a bike.
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