Best Attractions in Saint-Tropez

The village of St Tropez is unique amongst the coastal resorts of the Cote d'Azur. Untouched by the hand of 20th century development, it remains a charming and very pretty village. The old cottages down the narrow alleyways have brightly coloured shutters, and flowers spill out of window boxes. The shady square, Place des Lices, is perfect for a game of boules; it also hosts a wonderful market twice weekly. You can find out more about why you should visit St Tropez in our guide to the town.

Sailing is of course, big in St Tropez. You can charter yachts by the day or the week, or for less experienced sailors, you can join a boat trip to explore the beautiful coastline, It is also possible to take a boat to Cannes, or boat shuttles to villages around the bay, such as Cogolin & Port Grimaud.

St Tropez is very popular with the super rich who moor their enormous yachts in the marina, and in fact the marina is an attraction in it's own right.

Overlooking the town of St Tropez is the 17th century Citadel, built as a defence fortress during the Religious Wars. A more refined chateau can be found a couple of kilometres away - Chateau de la Moutte is an old family seat which is open to the public on selected days. The surrounding hill top villages have ruined castles that you can explore, try those at Cogolin and Grimaud.

Cycling is popular in St Tropez for two reasons. One, it is a great way of getting around, particularly in summertime when the roads are snarled up with traffic. There is also a dedicated cycle lane running around the bay from St Tropez to St Maxime. The second reason to get on a bike is to explore the surrounding countryside and villages. To the west of St Tropez is the hilly area of the Massif des Maures, which provides more challenging cycle rides, with views down to the coast.

Although the hot summer months are busy and sometimes oppressive with their heat it is definitely the best time of year to visit if you want to experience the cultural and music festivals. From classical recitals to electronic music and jazz festivals, music plays a big part during the summer.

A visit to the market gives you a flavour of the real Provence, from fresh fruit and vegetables to the old men sipping Pastis in the corner and the odd game of petanque. This is an experience that you MUST have! St Tropez has a market twice weekly, and the surrounding villages hold a market once a week.

With no shortage of restaurants, cafes and French patisseries across Saint-Tropez, dining on delicious food is not a problem. The problem may arise however as you have to make your choice on which restaurant to visit! We've selected some of the best for you to try but you can always ask the locals for a recommendation.

The countryside around Saint-Tropez is second to none. From rolling vineyards to dramatic sea cliffs and coastal walks, it is an area of natural beauty. A walk or cycle through the countryside gives you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the wild flowers, colours and smells of the region. The Massif des Maures to the west of St Tropez is a forested hilly region laced with paths and trails. Further to the east, beyond Frejus, is the Esterel Natural Park - red coloured mountains that spill into the sparkling sea.

For many, the beach is the main reason to come to St Tropez. Pampelonne Beach is the main one, this is where you will find the famous beach clubs such as Club 55 (pronounced cinquante-cinq) and Nikki Beach. The beach is set in a sheltered bay where yachts anchor and water sports are practised. Pampelonne is actually a few kilometres outside St Tropez, many of the hotels offer shuttle services to the beach or you can get a public bus or taxi from the town.

The town itself has a couple of small beaches that you can enjoy, but are not perhaps the best for swimming because of their proximity to the harbour.

St Tropez is certainly a shopping destination and you will find the usual selection of designer labels and local boutiques. The market also provides a great shopping experience, and there is a great choice of clothes, antiques, accessories, and arts & crafts. St Tropez is also renowned for it's art galleries, just wander the streets and you will find plenty of galleries displaying brightly coloured paintings of typical St Tropezienne scenes.

The hilltop villages around Saint-Tropez are beautiful, idyllic and in some cases, otherworldly. It is hard to believe that people actually live in them. Many are built on hill tops for defensive purposes and they may have a ruined castle to explore. The small, winding lanes are home to immaculate cottages, with the odd boutique or bar. The best way to experience them is to park your car (there is usually a car park on the outskirts of the village as many of the villages are pedestrianised) and take your time to walk around to fully appreciate the ancientness.

There is a water park in Sainte Maxime across the bay. Closer to St Tropez is an amusement park called Azur Park (no waterslides, but it does have a ferris wheel, crazy golf and other family entertainments); it's near Cogolin .

The hills surrounding St Tropez are covered in vineyards, producing red, white & rose wines of excellent quality. The south of France is best known for its rose wine, the perfect aperitif at the end of any long day. You can either arrange visits in advance if you would like a tour of the vineyard, or visit the vineyard cave (boutique) to buy direct.