How to get to Saint Tropez

Flying is almost certainly the quickest option and will bring you into the region via Nice Cote d'Azur airport or Marseille Provence airport. You can then make your onward journey to Saint Tropez either by airport transfer or by hiring a car. There is a local airport that is closer, La Mole, just 17km from the village of Saint Tropez, for arrivals by private jet and helicopter; as well as a few charter flights from specific destinations, for those so inclined.

For a more scenic journey you may want to consider taking a boat to Saint-Tropez, either your own charter; or there is a boat-trip you can book on to. Fly into Nice and then the boat trip takes around 2 hours 30 minutes, operating from May to September. It's a lovely way to admire the coast en-route and a fun way to arrive into the Mediterranean's most famous port!

There are three airports suitable for flying to Saint Tropez, La Mole (local), Nice Cote d'Azur and Marseille Provence. The following drive times from the airports to St Tropez are approximate and can be affected by heavy traffic during peak holiday times:

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The local airport at La Mole is about a 40-minute drive from the village of Saint-Tropez and is accessible for international arrivals via Nice airport. La Mole is serviced by several helicopter companies who offer regular flights in summer (May to October), to and from Nice Cote d'Azur airport. Helicopter transfers from Nice or any of the other French Riviera resorts to La Mole are certainly a quicker and far more stylish option than driving! In addition, Air-Glaciers offer flights to and from Geneva and Sion in Switzerland.

The nearest major airport is Nice Cote d'Azur, which is serviced by a number of the major airlines. This wide choice of airlines means that prices are often competitive. Have a look at our Flight Finder to help your planning. As always, prices will be at a premium during the school holidays and at weekends. The driving time from Nice airport to Saint Tropez is around 1 hour 30 minutes.

Marseille Provence Airport is also serviced by a good number of the major airlines. It is slightly further away that Nice and will involve a 2-hour drive to Saint Tropez, if you are hiring a car or taking a private transfer.

For onward travel from the airport, transfers or shuttle services are convenient and car hire is a widely available at all of the airports, allowing you to drive directly to your accommodation. For a luxury experience, you can book helicopter transfers from Nice airport, massively cutting down on travel time. Some of the luxury hotels also offer an airport pick-up service so it is best to enquire about this directly before you book a car.

You can also take public transport (bus or train) from Nice and Marseille airports that will take you to Saint Tropez village.

Airport transfers or shuttle services are a convenient option for onward travel to your destination. Companies generally offer two types of service private and shared transfers.

Private transfers are exclusively for you - once you arrive at the airport they will take you directly to your accommodation. Some hotels offer a private airport pick-up service, so don't forget to enquire about this directly before you travel.

Shared transfers are usually more cost-effective, especially for individuals and couples, the trade-off being you may need to wait for other passengers and the possibility of being dropped-off at a more central location.

You should always book transfers in advance.

From Nice airport, you can get a bus to Saint Raphael where you then transfer to a bus to Saint Tropez. The journey takes around 3 hours. From Marseille airport, you will need to get a bus to Aix-en-Provence and then on to Luc le Cannet (schedules run during the summer months). Out of season, you will need to travel from Marseille, via Toulon, and then on to Saint Tropez.

Saint Tropez is reasonably accessible by high-speed train. The two closest mainline train stations to Saint-Tropez are Saint Raphael and Les Arcs-Draguignan, with taxis or onward bus services to Saint-Tropez available from both of these train stations. As a guide, the journey time from Paris to Saint Raphael on France's SNCF TGV network is around 4 hours 40 minutes.

St Raphael, as well as the nearby city of Nice, are both served by the Auto Train service where you deposit your car on the train and take alternative transport to your destination. Perfect for long journeys and when you want to have your own car when you arrive at your destination.

The main advantage to having a car is flexibility and driving in France can be a pleasure. Being able to drive yourself around the area is far more comfortable and convenient, allowing you to take day trips, visit other resorts, towns and villages.

Nevertheless, the roads around Saint-Tropez are also small, windy and prone to traffic jams. The road from Sainte Maxime to Saint-Tropez is especially notorious for snarled up traffic and it can take an hour to cover this short stretch of road. If you do not think you will need your car in Saint-Tropez, then you may prefer to park your car in Sainte Maxime and take the shuttle ferry over to St Tropez. Or travel off-peak if you can.

You should bear in mind that you will probably be using the main toll roads as you drive through France and this may take much longer if you chose to travel on a busy Saturday during the summer.

If you wish to bring your car with you from the UK, then you will probably take a ferry to Calais where the onward drive is around 11 hours to Saint-Tropez. or a ferry to Bilbao in Spain and then drive across the south-west of France to Saint-Tropez, a journey of around 9 hours. Fuel costs from Calais to St Tropez will be roughly around €150-200 and you will need to budget an additional €100-120 in toll costs.

If you are planning to bring your own sports equipment, perhaps a road bike, or a set of golf clubs, then it’s well worth checking the details in advance. Each airline, train and transfer company will have their own individual policy terms and conditions depending on the type of sporting equipment you are transporting. Here's a snapshot of the different transport options and a guide to their restrictions:

Some airlines charge for taking equipment and this can also apply to bikes, golf clubs, watersports equipment - so check before you book. Make sure you pack your gear well, as it’s not unusual for there to be a few bumps and bruises along the way, if you don’t! The same applies for your bike, whether that be a mountain bike, road bike or touring bike...pack it well and ensure it falls within the packaging guidelines specified by the carrier. For more information see our Cycling and Mountain Biking Guides.

Airport Transfer companies always need to know exactly what you’re bringing, so that they have sufficient capacity in the vehicle.

Travelling by train can involve several changes, depending on your route, and almost certainly lugging your gear up and down a few sets of stairs or escalators. Eurostar has an additional charge of around £30 for their registered luggage service for these types of equipment. Check before you travel.