Bonjour! Welcome to Saint-Tropez, one of the most emblematic towns on Cote d’Azur. Once a small fishing village, now a world-renowned travel destination loved by celebrities and tourists alike. The pastel-colored old town, luxurious yachts, iconic beaches, coastal walks, striking views, fancy shopping, vivid nightlife… Saint Tropez perfectly blends luxury, natural beauty, and old-world charm. No wonder that it attracts thousands of people each year! Will you love it too? Let’s find out! Keep reading and discover things to do in Saint Tropez, France.
Interesting fact. The name Saint-Tropez comes from Torpes, a Roman officer who was converted by Saint-Paul which provoked the Nero emperor’s anger. He was decapitated, his body was placed in a small boat that landed on the shores of Saint-Tropez.
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Saint Tropez, France FAQ
Saint-Tropez is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in the Var department in Southeastern France. It lies somewhere between Cannes and Marseille, close to other popular places like Grimaud, Saint-Raphael, or Frejus.
Celebrities, luxurious yachts, glamor, vivid nightlife – those are the words that come first to mind when hearing ‘Saint Tropez’. It’s not without reason that this town is considered one of the most chic resorts in Europe! But apart from the glitz, Saint-Tropez is also known for its charming old town, magnificent beaches, and beautiful coastal scenery. Oh, and for a delicious dessert called tarte tropézienne.
In the 19th century, Saint Tropez was still a small village, concentrated on fishing and shipbuilding. A bit later it was discovered by intellectuals and artists (like famous neo-impressionist painter Paul Signac) and the fame started. In 1955 Saint Tropez gained even greater fame thanks to the movie ‘And God Created Woman’ starring Brigitte Bardot, one of the most famous French artists ever lived. And the fame lasts to this day.
Yes, one day in Saint Tropez is enough to see all the main landmarks and get a good feel of what this town is all about. But it’s definitely not enough to see all that the town offers. So if you want to experience Saint Tropez more, we recommend staying at least 2-3 days.
French Riviera is an all-year-round destination with a pleasant Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. If you prefer smaller crowds and lower temperatures (15-20°C), choose any month in the lower season. If high temperatures (around 30°C) don’t bother you and you want to spend time on the beach – visit St Tropez during the high season, from June to September.
It’s pronounced [san(t) tʀuˈpes]. Still don’t know how to read it? Here’s a YouTube video where you can listen to correct pronunciation.
Things to do in Saint Tropez, France
Saint-Tropez Port
Saint Tropez Port is one of the largest ports on Cote d’Azur with 700+ moorings for boats of all sizes, from fishing boats to luxury yachts. It’s an ideal place for a walk with stunning views all around – over the boats, sea, waterfront colorful houses, Saint Tropez town and its surroundings. We recommend walking through the whole port, including a walk to the lighthouse from where there are the best views, at least in our opinion.
In Saint Tropez Port you’ll find many cafes and restaurants ideal for a break with a cup of coffee and tarte tropézienne or tasting local dishes for dinner. Of course, there is no shortage of various shops either! Walking around the port is definitely one of the best things to do in Saint Tropez, one you don’t wanna miss.
On the east side of the port, you’ll also find the 15th-century Portalet Tower (fr. Tour Portalet), one of the four ancient towers and one of two that is still standing. Portalet Tower is the starting point of a walkway that goes around the city coast, before connecting to the Sentier du Littoral path.
Saint Tropez Tourism Office is located in the port area too, on its west side on Allée du Quai de l’Epi, close to the Annonciade Museum.
Book now: Half-Day Saint Tropez Coastline Catamaran Sailing Tour
Saint Tropez Old Town
Saint Tropez’s old town is located behind the port and at the foot of the Citadel. And there’s no better way of getting to know it than just getting lost exploring its charming streets and squares. Streets filled with pastel-painted houses, luxurious shops, elegant cafes and restaurants, interesting museums, lively markets – all of that, and more, is waiting for you there. Wherever you turn, you’ll find something interesting among Saint Tropez streets.
Among St Tropez old town streets, you’ll find points of interest like Citadel, Place des Lices – square where locals gather to play pétanque and where Provencal market takes place on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, Notre Dame de l’Assomption Church, Marine Cemetery, Brigitte Bardot statue, Chapelle de la Miséricorde, and few museums.
The town is also a fantastic destination for shopping lovers – many art galleries and elegant boutiques are scattered around the alleys. From big names like Armani, Dior, Chanel, Gucci or Louis Vuitton to small designer boutiques and craftsmen shops – there is something for every taste!
Oh, and while strolling around Saint Tropez don’t forget to taste tarte tropézienne, a local dessert created in 1955 by Alexandre Micka, a Polish baker who moved to the town after the war. How did it become famous? All thanks to Brigitte Bardot who developed a taste for it while filming ‘And God Created Woman’. It was even she who suggested the name, which Micka registered as a trademark in 1973.
Discover: Accommodation options in Saint Tropez
Notre Dame de l’Assomption Church
Notre Dame de l’Assomption Church (fr. Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption) is a main church in Saint-Tropez. It dates back to the 18th century and is located just a few steps from the port and Portalet Tower. The church is best known for its characteristic bell tower, visible from many places around the town. It’s quite simple both from the outside and inside – simple but beautiful.
Citadel of Saint-Tropez & Maritime History Museum
For amazing views over Saint Tropez and its surroundings, as well as for a small bite of history head to the Citadel (fr. Citadelle de Saint-Tropez). It’s a 17th-century fortress which was the most significant defensive building between Antibes and Toulon back in its heyday! Nowadays it houses a museum with nautical exhibits in its dungeon – Maritime History Museum (fr. Musée d’histoire Maritime) where you’ll learn about the maritime history of Saint-Tropez.
Entrance to the Citadel costs €4 and is free for children under 12 years old (July 2024). For current prices and opening hours visit sainttropeztourisme.com website.
Book now: Saint-Tropez and Port Grimaud Full-Day Tour
Marine Cemetery
Marine Cemetery (fr. Cimetière Marin) is located below the Citadel and is one of the rare seaside cemeteries in France. It’s a beautiful resting place where you’ll find stunning views over the St Tropez coastline and bay, as well as many beautiful tombstones, including Paul Signac’s. Aren’t those who rest there lucky?
Saint Tropez Beaches
We don’t think anyone needs to be convinced that Cote d’Azur is a real beach paradise and one of the best things to do in Saint-Tropez is definitely hitting the beach. Along its coastline, you’ll find many magnificent sandy beaches, perfect for soaking up the sun and taking a refreshing dip in clear azure waters. No matter if you’re looking for a lively beach with many amenities around or a more quiet and secluded spot – you’ll be spoiled with beach choices in Saint Tropez and for sure you’ll find the perfect one for yourself.
The most popular beaches in Saint Tropez include:
- Pampelonne Beach – the legendary 5km-long sandy beach that became famous thanks to Brigitte Bardot and the ‘And God Created Woman’ movie.
- Bouillabaisse Beach – sandy beach with shallow waters located close to the old town.
- Les Graniers Beaches – beaches located at the bottom of Citadel Hill in a peaceful and unspoiled natural setting.
Other nice beaches include La Moutte Beach, Salins Beach, La Ponche Beach, and Canoubiers Beach. A map at the bottom of this post has them all marked.
Some of these beaches are located along Sentier du Littoral, a scenic coastal path leading from the Portalet Tower to Pampelonne Beach.
Book now: Half Day Private Yacht Charter on Pershing 40 in Saint Tropez
Museums in Saint Tropez
If visiting museums is your thing, Saint Tropez has something to offer in this area too:
- Annonciade Museum (fr. Musée de l’Annonciade) is located in a 16th-century converted chapel, just a few steps from the port. There you’ll find a rich collection of paintings by artists linked to Saint-Tropez like Signac, Matisse, Bonnard, or Camoin. For more information, prices, and opening hours visit the saint-tropez.fr website.
- Butterfly Museum (fr. Maison des Papillons) is located in a house-museum of artist Dany Lartigue, close to Place des Lices square. There you find exhibitions with thousands of butterflies against painted backdrops. There are more than 30k species including exotic, and protected ones! For more information, prices, and opening hours visit the sainttropeztourisme.com website.
- Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum (fr. Musée de la Gendarmerie et du Cinéma) is a cinema-history museum located in a former gendarmerie building. It shows not only the history of a cinema linked to Saint-Tropez but also the history of the former garrison, presented in quite an original way. For more information, prices, and opening hours visit the sainttropeztourisme.com website.
Discover: Accommodation options in Saint Tropez
Explore local attractions
How to get to Saint Tropez, France?
Saint-Tropez is located about 40km from Saint-Raphael, 70km from Cannes, 110km from Nice, and 130km from Marseille. The most convenient way to get to the town is by car.
Where to park in Saint Tropez?
In Saint Tropez you can leave your car in one of many paid parking lots. We can recommend leaving a car in the Parking Foch located just a few steps from Place des Lices square.
Airports near Saint Tropez
The closest airports to Saint Tropez are located in Nice (110km away) and Marseille (145km away). Unfortunately, there is no direct connection with the town from any of them. Looks like the easiest way is to travel by rented car or first get to Saint-Raphael by train and then continue to Saint-Tropez by bus, ferry, or taxi. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.
To Saint Tropez by train
Unfortunately, there is no train station in Saint Tropez. The closest one is located 40km away in Saint-Raphael and there you can easily get from many nearby places like Nice, Antibes, Marseille, Cannes or Toulon. To learn more about train connections that interest you visit sncf.com or rome2rio.com website.
To Saint Tropez by bus
From some nearby places you can also reach Saint Tropez by bus but it isn’t the best option either. For example, a trip from Saint-Raphael will take about 2h (€3), and 45min from Grimaud (€3). To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Camping Saint Tropez
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Camping Les Mûres, Camping de la Plage Grimaud, or Holiday Marina Resort might interest you. They are located close to Saint Tropez.
To Saint-Tropez with an organized tour
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. For a wide selection and well-reviewed tour options be sure to visit GetYourGuide or Viator.
Book now: Round-Trip Transportation to Saint Tropez by Boat
Things to do in St Tropez, France – Summing up
Now you’re ready to explore iconic Saint Tropez and immerse in its elegance and beauty. As you can see, this town has plenty to offer for all kinds of travelers. No matter if you’re looking for natural beauty, sandy beaches, a charming old town, art, history, or partying… Saint Tropez has it all. Be sure to add it to your French Riviera bucket list and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. Enjoy your time there!
Our video from Saint Tropez
Our opinion about Saint Tropez
For us, a visit to Saint Tropez was a day trip, combined with a visit to Grimaud Port and Village, from Cannes where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it in early December and during that time the town was fairly quiet, with just a handful of other tourists. We needed about 6 hours to explore all the places we wanted in Saint Tropez.
Unfortunately, Saint Tropez didn’t impress us that much. It was nice and pleasant with nothing to complain about, but also with nothing special to remember. Sorry! But we probably had our expectations set a bit too high and all we got was a typical Cote d’Azur town with amazing views and a charming old town. Also, maybe it was thanks to the fact that we visited in low season and we weren’t able to see the glamor everyone is talking about.
What did we like most? Strolling along the port while admiring yachts, boats, colorful houses, and magnificent views of the surroundings. Town streets and views from the citadel were great too! Overall, Saint Tropez didn’t strike us as the most exciting place on Cote d’Azur (we prefer Antibes or Cannes with similar vibes) but we think it’s worth a visit. It’s a good spot for a day trip on Côte d’Azur, as well as nice summer beach holidays.
Book now: Saint-Tropez and Port Grimaud Full-Day Tour
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Saint-Tropez?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Saint-Tropez:
Where to sleep in Saint-Tropez?
Hotel Byblos
Hotel Byblos is a luxurious accommodation in Saint Tropez known for its exclusive ambiance and high-end amenities. Nestled in the iconic French Riviera, the hotel offers a blend of Mediterranean charm and modern elegance, featuring beautifully decorated rooms, a spa, and a gourmet restaurant. It's a popular destination for celebrities and discerning travelers seeking a sophisticated retreat in one of the world's most glamorous locations.
Toison D’or
Toison D'Or is a unique beachfront accommodation offering African-style lodgings set amidst exotic Mediterranean gardens. Located on Pampelonne Beach and surrounded by vineyards, the resort provides a range of activities including water sports, a fitness room, and a spa. Guests can enjoy dining options like a beach restaurant, snack bar, and creperie, with easy access to the vibrant markets of Saint-Tropez town.
Hotel Brin d’Azur
Hotel Brin d'Azur in Saint Tropez is a charming accommodation known for its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and picturesque setting. The hotel features comfortable rooms with modern amenities, a lush garden, and a refreshing outdoor pool. Located just a short walk from the beach and close to the vibrant nightlife of Saint Tropez, it offers an ideal retreat for those looking to experience the charm and luxury of the French Riviera.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
