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A former fishing village turned legendary resort, Saint-Tropez is first explored on foot, from the old port to the citadel, before heading for the peninsula's beaches. This guide brings together its 7 must-sees and the practical information for getting there, staying and avoiding the summer crowds.
Overview
Saint-Tropez, a former Var fishing village turned French Riviera icon, blends a picturesque harbour, cobbled lanes, legendary beaches and Mediterranean living.
Saint-Tropez is a village in the Var, on the French Riviera, long a simple fishing port before becoming, from the 1950s, one of the Mediterranean's most famous destinations. The painter Paul Signac set up his easel here in 1892 and drew other artists; later, cinema and Brigitte Bardot turned it into a symbol of glamour.
Today it offers a rare mix: a historic core of pastel façades and cobbled lanes, a lively old harbour, a 17th-century citadel, leading museums and, close by, the legendary beaches of Pampelonne. It is a destination to enjoy as much for its heritage as for its seaside atmosphere.
Saint-Tropez sits on a far longer stretch of coast: see the highlights of the French Riviera and the best beaches in the region.
7 places to take with you
In the guide's order, ready for Google Maps or your GPS.
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Half-day catamaran cruise in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez
€65 per person, packed lunch included (GetYourGuide price 2026)
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Return boat trip from Nice to Saint-Tropez
€99 return (GetYourGuide price 2026)
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Pampelonne Beach
In the commune of Ramatuelle, about 6 km from central Saint-Tropez, Pampelonne unrolls almost 5 km of fine sand between Cap Camarat and Cap Pinet. The beach is split into some twenty sectors where beach clubs, from Club 55 to Tahiti Plage, alternate with long free public stretches.
People come for swimming in clear water, water sports and the beach atmosphere. In May-June or September the setting is the same and the mood far more relaxed.
The old village
Saint-Tropez's old village, a former fishermen's quarter, keeps its cobbled lanes and pastel façades. You can wander from the old harbour, where a few traditional pointu boats still moor, to shaded little squares and artisan shops.
This is where Paul Signac, then other painters, found their light in the late 19th century. Between the ochre-belltowered parish church, the café terraces and the market stalls, the historic centre is best explored on foot, with no fixed route.
Citadel of Saint-Tropez
On the hill above the port, the citadel was built in the early 17th century: a hexagonal keep raised under Henri IV, then a bastioned wall completed in the 1620s to defend the gulf against attacks from the sea.
The restored keep now houses the maritime history museum, devoted to Saint-Tropez's sailors and harbour life. From the ramparts the view takes in the old village, the gulf and, on clear days, the peaks of the Maures.
Musée de l'Annonciade
Set in the former 16th-century chapel of the White Penitents on the old port, the Musée de l'Annonciade holds one of the great collections of modern painting in the south of France: Signac, who discovered Saint-Tropez in 1892, Matisse, Bonnard, Derain, Braque and Dufy.
Pointillists, Fauves and Nabis show how the light of the gulf drew painters from the late 19th century onwards. The museum remains open; several works are with specialist centres for study and restoration, ahead of a future rehabilitation.
Place des Lices
Under its plane trees, the Place des Lices is the heart of Saint-Tropez life: the Provençal market is held here on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, 8 am to 1 pm, with producers, flowers, clothes and bric-a-brac.
The rest of the time, locals play pétanque there under the gaze of the café terraces. It is a few minutes' walk from the old port, on the edge of the old village.
Cap Taillat and L'Escalet beach
South of Pampelonne, between Cap Camarat and Cap Lardier, Cap Taillat is an islet joined to the coast by a sand bar. The Conservatoire du littoral bought it in 1987 to block a holiday-village project; the protected site now covers 142 hectares, with no road at all.
You get there on foot along the coastal path from L'Escalet beach, 350 m of sand and rocks where the clear water suits snorkelling. The former customs house, restored in 2011, holds an exhibition about the site.
Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum
On Place Blanqui, the former Saint-Tropez gendarmerie is famous worldwide thanks to the Gendarme films starring Louis de Funès, shot here from 1964. It now houses a museum devoted to the gendarmerie and to the films made on the peninsula.
Posters, costumes and clips tell the story of the shoots, from And God Created Woman to the Gendarme series. Until 7 March 2027, the exhibition "Et Dieu… créa la femme, 70 ans de légende" (And God Created Woman, 70 years of legend) marks the anniversary of the 1956 film with Brigitte Bardot.
Half-day catamaran cruise in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez
Three hours on a catamaran from Port-Grimaud, at the head of the gulf: an aperitif on boarding, a sail along the coast, then an anchor stop for a swim, with masks and a kayak available, and a packed lunch served on board. The highlight: the swim at anchor, far from the crowded beaches.
Allow €65 per person on GetYourGuide, with free cancellation. Summer departures sell out: book several days ahead, and reach Port-Grimaud by shuttle boat rather than by car.
- 3 hrs
- €65 per person, packed lunch included (GetYourGuide price 2026)
Return boat trip from Nice to Saint-Tropez
To come from Nice without facing the coast road: a 2.5-hour crossing in the morning along the Riviera, a free day in Saint-Tropez for the old port, the citadel or the Place des Lices market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, then the return in the late afternoon. The highlight: arriving by sea in the old port.
Allow €99 return on GetYourGuide, with free cancellation. Pick a market day to make the most of it.
- 10 hrs
- €99 return (GetYourGuide price 2026)
Hike from L'Escalet to Cap Taillat on the coastal path
The finest stretch of the peninsula's coastal path starts at L'Escalet beach and runs past coves and rocks to the sand bar of Cap Taillat, a protected Conservatoire du littoral site with no road at all. The highlight: reaching the sandy isthmus, with the sea on both sides.
No booking needed: bring walking shoes, water and swimwear, and check that morning that the path is not closed for fire risk. Set off early in summer, as the path is very exposed.
- 3-4 hrs
- Free (L'Escalet car park paid in summer)
Getting there
No station in Saint-Tropez: train to Saint-Raphaël then bus, or fly into Toulon-Hyères (~50 km) or Nice (~100 km).
Saint-Tropez has no railway station. The nearest are Saint-Raphaël-Valescure and Les Arcs-Draguignan; from Saint-Raphaël, buses (ZOU! network) reach Saint-Tropez in roughly 1h to 1h30.
By air, Toulon-Hyères airport (TLN) is about 50 km away, while Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) is around 100 km with more international flights. In summer, a good trick is to park at Sainte-Maxime and take the Bateaux Verts shuttle ferry (~15 min) to avoid the often-congested coast road.
Getting around
The centre is walkable; for Pampelonne and nearby villages, a car, summer shuttle or boat are the handiest options.
The heart of Saint-Tropez is best explored on foot: the old harbour, the lanes, the citadel and Place des Lices are all close together. A car is mainly useful for reaching Pampelonne and the hinterland, but parking in town is limited and expensive — use the Lices or Nouveau Port car parks.
In summer, shuttles serve the beaches, and the boat shuttle links Sainte-Maxime to the harbour. Bikes and scooters are also handy for short trips outside the centre.
What to do
Wander the old village, visit the citadel and museums, swim at Pampelonne or L'Escalet, hike to Cap Taillat and sail the gulf.
The ideal day starts early at the old port, before the crowds, continues with the citadel and the Musée de l'Annonciade, then the Place des Lices market on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The afternoon is for the beach: Pampelonne for the clubs, L'Escalet and Cap Taillat for nature.
To see the gulf from the water, Bateaux Verts shuttles link Saint-Tropez with Sainte-Maxime and Port-Grimaud, and several catamaran trips leave from the gulf in summer.
Climate & seasons
When to go to France?
Monthly averages over the past 5 years (Open-Meteo).
Best months
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our take | ||||||||||||
| Weather | ||||||||||||
| High | 13° | 14° | 15° | 18° | 22° | 27° | 31° | 31° | 26° | 22° | 17° | 14° |
| Rain (mm) | 73 | 71 | 88 | 70 | 67 | 25 | 5 | 17 | 53 | 140 | 105 | 105 |
| Beach | Beach June | Beach July | Beach August | Beach September | ||||||||
| Hiking & nature | Hiking & nature January | Hiking & nature February | Hiking & nature March | Hiking & nature April | Hiking & nature May | Hiking & nature September | Hiking & nature November | Hiking & nature December | ||||
| City sightseeing | City sightseeing January | City sightseeing February | City sightseeing March | City sightseeing April | City sightseeing May | City sightseeing June | City sightseeing September | City sightseeing October | City sightseeing November | City sightseeing December | ||
| Safari & savanna | Safari & savanna June | Safari & savanna July | Safari & savanna August |
What to do by season (autumn)
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Beach
Warm air and water, little rain.
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Hiking & nature
Mild temperatures, stable conditions.
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City sightseeing
Pedestrian-friendly most of the year.
When to go
May-June and September offer warm weather with far fewer crowds and lower prices than the July-August peak.
The best time runs from late spring (May-June) to early autumn (September): the weather is warm, the sea pleasant and the crowds far thinner than at the height of summer. July and August are the liveliest months but also the priciest, busiest and most challenging for traffic and parking.
Two highlights mark the year: the Bravades, around 17 May, the patron saint's day, when the bravade corps parades through the village firing salutes to the beat of drums; and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, a regatta of more than 250 yachts, in late September-early October (26 September to 4 October in 2026). Out of season, many beach clubs and some shops close.
Budget
Expensive in summer (hotels, beach clubs), but sightseeing is affordable: €5 for the citadel and the Gendarmerie museum, €5-6 for the Annonciade. Pampelonne car parks are free before 11 am.
Saint-Tropez has a reputation for being expensive, especially in July-August: accommodation, port restaurants and beach clubs charge high prices. The Pampelonne clubs charge for sunbeds and service, while the public sections of the beach stay free.
Sightseeing, on the other hand, stays affordable: €5 for the citadel, €5 for the Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum, €5-6 for the Musée de l'Annonciade, free under 12. Pampelonne car parks are free before 11 am and after 5 pm; L'Escalet's is paid in summer.
To keep costs down: travel in May-June or September, stay in Ramatuelle, Gassin or Sainte-Maxime, and make the most of the Place des Lices market.
Where to stay
From a legendary palace in the heart of the village to more affordable options in Ramatuelle, Gassin or Sainte-Maxime, depending on budget and season.
Saint-Tropez has upscale hotels and a few charming addresses in the village itself, ideal for enjoying the harbour and the lanes. Rates are among the highest on the Riviera, especially in July-August.
For a more reasonable budget, the neighbouring villages — Ramatuelle, Gassin, Sainte-Maxime — offer more choice while staying close. Book well ahead for high season and major events.
Safety
Saint-Tropez is a safe destination; the main precautions concern summer pickpocketing and swimming.
Saint-Tropez is overall a very safe destination. The rare nuisances are pickpocketing in the summer crowds, around the harbour and markets: keep an eye on bags and personal belongings.
On the beaches, respect the swimming flags and signage. In an emergency, dial 112 (the European emergency number).
Formalities
Saint-Tropez is in France: EU nationals only need a valid identity card or passport.
Saint-Tropez is in France, within the Schengen Area. EU travellers only need a valid national identity card or passport; no visa is required.
Non-EU travellers should check France's entry requirements (a Schengen visa where applicable) with the French consular authorities. The currency is the euro.
Tips
Arrive early at the sights, park in Sainte-Maxime and take the shuttle in summer, and enjoy the market on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
- Visit the citadel and museums early in the morning to avoid crowds and heat.
- In summer, park in Sainte-Maxime and arrive by the Bateaux Verts shuttle ferry.
- Book Pampelonne and the beach clubs ahead in high season.
- Don't miss the Place des Lices market, Tuesday and Saturday mornings.
- Choose May-June or September for a quieter, cheaper stay.
FAQ
The best time is May-June or September; Saint-Tropez has no station and is reached via Saint-Raphaël or the Toulon-Hyères and Nice airports.
When is the best time to visit Saint-Tropez?
May-June and September offer warm weather with far fewer people than the July-August peak, which is the priciest and busiest period.
How do you get to Saint-Tropez?
There is no train station: reach the town by train to Saint-Raphaël then bus, or via Toulon-Hyères (~50 km) and Nice (~100 km) airports. In summer, the boat shuttle from Sainte-Maxime avoids the coast road.
How do you reach Pampelonne beach?
Pampelonne is in the commune of Ramatuelle, about 6 km from the centre. Get there by car (paid car parks in summer) or via seasonal shuttles; the public beach is free, the clubs are paid.
When is the Place des Lices market held?
The Provençal market runs Tuesday and Saturday mornings (approx. 8am-1pm), year-round.
When do Les Bravades de Saint-Tropez take place?
They are held every year in mid-May (16, 17 and 18 May in 2026), honouring Saint Torpès, the town's patron.
Sources
The figures in this guide come from the sources below, checked on the publication date.
- www.saint-tropez.fr
- fr.wikipedia.org
- www.saint-tropez.fr
- fr.wikipedia.org
- www.sainttropeztourisme.com
- fr.wikipedia.org
- www.sainttropeztourisme.com
- www.saint-tropez.fr
- www.sainttropeztourisme.com
- www.saint-tropez.fr
- www.saint-tropez.fr
- www.conservatoire-du-littoral.fr
- www.ramatuelle.fr
- www.saint-tropez.fr
- www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
- commons.wikimedia.org
- commons.wikimedia.org
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