Located in the south-eastern region of France, Saint-Tropez is a small town in the Var department of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur on the French Riviera. With a serene village-like atmosphere, Saint-Tropez thrives on its rustic image that brings in regular vacationers and the rich-and-famous crowd to its shores all through the year. Summertime, in particular, is a busy time of the year for Saint-Tropez when thousands of tourists travel to this part of France to make the most of its warm sunny climate and golden sandy beaches. Delicious Provencal cuisine and luxury shopping boutiques add an extra element of sophistication to the region that makes it a preferred vacation destination among all kinds of travellers. Here is all you need to know about the top things to do in Saint-Tropez.

One of the most popular Saint-Tropez attractions, the city’s old port is packed with fishing boats, trendy cafes and vibrant little houses spread all around. Visitors to the harbour can choose to stroll through the idyllic setting of the port and admire the colourful paintings sold by local artists, or simply relax in one of the cafes and enjoy people-watching. Stop over at Place aux Herbes, the ancient open market that sells fresh local produce, including fruits, vegetables and even flowers. Halle aux Poissons is the daily fish market here offering the freshest catch from the day that gets sold to even the restaurants of the region.

Another prominent highlight of the town, Saint-Tropez’s beaches are lovely stretches of golden sand with bright turquoise waters. One of the most famous beaches here is Plage de Pampelonne, best known for being the location of the movie ‘And God Created Woman’, which essentially put Saint-Tropez on the map. This beach also features a number of private beach clubs along its stretch. Plage de Bouillabaise and Plage des Canoubiers are large public beaches with free showers and washroom facilities. Plage de la Ponche and Plage de la Fontanette are smaller coastlines located in the La Ponche neighbourhood; mostly popular among sunbathers who prefer less crowded areas. While picnics are a great option on these beaches on a warm sunny day, the calm waters make snorkelling or bathing in the sea also a fun activity to try here.

You don’t really need to own a boat to enjoy the water tours in the area; you can simply rent one for a day and visit all the popular tourist sites like the Maritime Museum and the Citadel. Although it might appear to be a pricey pastime for some, the private guided boat tours can be shared by up to 8 people and is an activity definitely worth exploring in Saint-Tropez. Travellers coming in from surrounding cities like Nice or Cannes can even choose to reach Saint-Tropez via boat and turn it into a fun day tour. 

The Citadel is located high above the town of Saint-Tropez and dates back to the 17th-century. Apart from offering brilliant views of the city from the top that include vistas of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and the mountain range Massif des Maures, this hexagonal shaped fortress also houses the Musee d’Histoire Maritime in its dungeons where visitors can get to learn all about Saint-Tropez’s maritime history. It also contains artefacts, model ships, maps and personal accounts from 17th-century sailors and officers, along with accounts of the city’s fishing history. The Citadel was originally built after the French Wars of Religion to serve as a key defence between Antibes and Toulon.

La Ponche is the old town of Saint-Tropez that borders the old harbour of the city. Travellers can begin their exploration of this old neighbourhood from Rue de la Citadelle and wind their way about the pedestrian section that includes narrow alleys and cobblestone streets lined with little stores, cafes and boutiques. La Ponche isn’t just one of the most picturesque towns in the city but also the historic centre of the fishing village of Saint-Tropez. Other notable structures worth visiting here are the Eglise de Notre-Dame de l’Assomption – a beautiful Italian Baroque church; Hotel de Ville – the Town Hall; and the Palace of the Bailiff Pierre-Andre de Suffren. 

The beautiful path of Sentier du Littoral begins just outside the old neighbourhood of La Ponche and runs around the Saint-Tropez peninsula. Hiking through this route is a great way to explore the natural beauty of the rugged coastline, hillside steps and the white, sandy beaches. The path has been marked with a yellow painted line with plenty of signs for the ease of the travellers. The trail also leads a detour to the Salins Beach; on your way to the Salins Beach, travellers can also stop by the Salins Creek and the tomb of Emile Olivier, who was the last head of the government under Napolean III.