France
Saint-Tropez is a Provencal fishing port on the southern tip of the Var coast that became one of the most famous summer towns in the world, and the reality is more varied than the legend.
The old port, with its pastel houses, fishing boats and yachts, anchors a compact old town of lanes, a citadel, a modern art museum in a former chapel and a market under the plane trees of the Place des Lices. South of the town, the long sand of Pampelonne and the quiet coves of the coastal path offer beaches for every mood, while hilltop villages such as Ramatuelle and Gassin look out over vineyards that produce the pale rose the region is known for. Across the gulf, Port Grimaud and Grimaud add a canal town and a medieval village, and boats make the water part of the trip. This guide brings together walking tours, food and wine experiences, private boat days and free sights, plus hotels across the peninsula and the gulf, so you can plan a stay with or without a car.
Old Port of Saint-Tropez and the Quai Jean Jaures
The pastel-fronted harbour at the heart of Saint-Tropez, where fishing boats, superyachts and cafe terraces share a single quay, free to enjoy at any hour and best at morning and sunset.
Pampelonne Beach and the Beach Clubs
The long sandy beach south of Saint-Tropez, backed by dunes and famous beach clubs, with public stretches for towels and picnics and a classic summer atmosphere.
Saint-Tropez Food Tour with a Local Guide
A guided tasting walk through Saint-Tropez with a local Tropezien, sampling regional specialities from bakeries, markets and small shops while hearing how the town eats beyond the beach clubs.
The Whispering Angel Wine Tour
A guided rose wine tour in the Var countryside behind the gulf, built around one of Provence's best-known pink wines, with cellar visits, tastings and the landscape of vines that explains the region's summer drink.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The pastel-fronted harbour at the heart of Saint-Tropez, where fishing boats, superyachts and cafe terraces share a single quay, free to enjoy at any hour and best at morning and sunset.
The long sandy beach south of Saint-Tropez, backed by dunes and famous beach clubs, with public stretches for towels and picnics and a classic summer atmosphere.
A guided tasting walk through Saint-Tropez with a local Tropezien, sampling regional specialities from bakeries, markets and small shops while hearing how the town eats beyond the beach clubs.
A guided rose wine tour in the Var countryside behind the gulf, built around one of Provence's best-known pink wines, with cellar visits, tastings and the landscape of vines that explains the region's summer drink.
The shaded plane-tree square behind the port, where locals play petanque and the Tuesday and Saturday morning market fills the stalls with produce, flowers, linens and gifts.
The oldest part of Saint-Tropez, a tight cluster of lanes, small beaches and fishermen's houses on the eastern edge of the port, with a village feel that survives the summer crowds.
The hilltop fortress above the town, whose ramparts and grounds give sweeping views over the roofs, the harbour and the gulf, and whose interior holds a museum of maritime history.
A compact modern art museum beside the port, housed in a former chapel and filled with works by painters who fell for Saint-Tropez, from the Neo-Impressionists to the Fauves.
A circular hilltop village of stone lanes, vineyards and views south of Saint-Tropez, known for its summer festival, quiet squares and a gentler pace than the coast below.
A small hilltop village on the peninsula with sweeping panoramas over the gulf and the vines, quiet lanes and a lived-in feel that makes it a favourite short stop.
A canal-lined lagoon town of pastel houses with their own boat moorings, built in the twentieth century in Provencal style, a leisurely walk and a postcard of the Mediterranean good life.
A footpath that follows the rocky shore from the town toward the beaches of the peninsula, with pine shade, small coves and sea views, free to walk and rewarding at any pace.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Saint-Tropez
A design-led luxury hotel in the Saint-Tropez area, suited to travellers who want a stylish, resort-like base with easy access to the beaches, the old port and the evening scene.
Check rates →Old Town
A central Saint-Tropez hotel for visitors who want to be among the lanes, shops and cafes of the old town, with the port and the Place des Lices both close on foot.
Check rates →Saint-Tropez area
A boutique-style hotel near Saint-Tropez, appealing to couples and friends who want a smaller, characterful stay close to the town and the peninsula beaches.
Check rates →Ramatuelle
A Provencal-style hotel in Ramatuelle, set among the hills above Pampelonne, for travellers who prefer the quiet countryside and village life to the bustle of the port.
Check rates →Ramatuelle
A long-established hotel in Ramatuelle, offering a Provencal setting between the village and the beaches, with a calm atmosphere suited to couples and families.
Check rates →Ramatuelle
A bed-and-breakfast style stay among the vines near Pampelonne, for travellers who want a smaller, rural base within reach of the beach and the village of Ramatuelle.
Check rates →Gassin
A budget-friendlier option in the Gassin area, handy for travellers who want a base near the gulf and the peninsula without paying Saint-Tropez prices.
Check rates →Gassin
A Provencal farmhouse-style hotel in Gassin, in the hills of the peninsula, for guests who want a refined, countryside base within reach of Saint-Tropez and the beaches.
Check rates →Ramatuelle
A hillside hotel in the Ramatuelle area with Provencal charm, views over the countryside and a relaxed, upscale feel, within reach of Pampelonne and the village.
Check rates →Sainte-Maxime
A hotel on the Sainte-Maxime side of the gulf, convenient for the ferry across to Saint-Tropez, with beaches, a promenade and a livelier, more affordable setting.
Check rates →Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Old Port of Saint-Tropez and the Quai Jean JauresStay
Hotel SEZZ Saint-TropezSaint-Tropez
Do
Pampelonne Beach and the Beach ClubsStay
Hôtel Le YSaint-Tropez area
Do
Saint-Tropez Food Tour with a Local GuideStay
Hôtel de Paris Saint-TropezOld Town
A practical primer for a first visit to Saint-Tropez and the peninsula: how many days you need, what to book ahead, how to get around and which sights belong at the top of your list.
How to choose between staying in Saint-Tropez itself, on the hills of Ramatuelle and Gassin, or across the gulf in Sainte-Maxime, with notes on traffic, budget and the style of each base.
A three-day plan for Saint-Tropez and the peninsula, balancing the old town, the beaches, the hilltop villages and a day on the water, with advice on timing and traffic.
A guide to eating well in Saint-Tropez without overspending: the local rose, the market, the famous cream-filled tart, how to read a quayside menu and where to find better value.
When to go to Saint-Tropez for swimming, quiet lanes, festivals or lower prices: what each season feels like, what closes out of season and how to handle the summer traffic.
A guide to swimming around Saint-Tropez: the long sand of Pampelonne, the quiet coves of the coastal path, boat-access bays and tips on parking, shade, beach clubs and safety.
