10 Best Things to Do in St Tropez

Pampelonne Beach, also known as Plage de Pampelonne, is the trendiest beach in St Tropez. Of course, it’s the sun, sea and sand that have most of the jetsetters flocking to the coastal town. The beach is also the longest and most popular. You can find it in a lovely, sheltered bay not far from the village of Ramatuelle.

Pampelonne is famous for its exclusive beach clubs that are packed with A-list celebrities, but you can also pull up your own towel or rent a deckchair along much of its length. If Pampelonne doesn’t appeal, numerous other public beaches in and around St Tropez are just as stunning, including Plage de Bouillabaisse and Plage des Salins.

St Tropez’s Old Town evokes the kind of spirit that most people imagine when they think of the charming, character-rich south of France. Much of the appeal is in simply getting lost in its charm. Here you can wander the narrow, pastel-hued alleyways as they meander into one another, and feel the cobblestones beneath your feet as you take in the sights.

Popular attractions include the Church of Notre-Dame, or the Église Paroissiale Notre Dame de l'Assomption as it’s also known, while there are also restaurants, bars and cafes in this bustling, atmospheric neighbourhood.

The Maritime History Museum, or the Musée d’Histoire Maritime in French, traces St Tropez’s rich, enduring past as a maritime city. And that long predates the town’s more recent reinvention as an on-trend destination for moneyed jetsetters. The museum is in a fitting, photogenic spot: the dungeon of St Tropez’s citadel.

Its location means that once you’ve explored the exhibitions of artefacts relating to voyages off the French coast and far beyond, you can also take in the stunning 17th-century citadel itself. The citadel comes complete with lookout points over the sea and mountains, which are must-sees for incredible, sweeping vistas.

The Annonciade Museum, created in 1922, showcases paintings by prominent artists of the 20th century who lived in or near St Tropez. The museum is housed in a humble, former 16th-century chapel, from which it gets its name.

Inside, you’ll find paintings and sculptures from 1890 to 1950, with works by well-known artists such as Henri Matisse and Georges Seurat decorating the walls of their 8 rooms. The paintings reflect the Navis, Fauvist and Pointillist movements, and there are occasional events held throughout the year.

Place des Lices and its market are where you want to head to for great ingredients in St Tropez. Even those who aren’t necessarily foodies know that Provence is the place to come in France for choice cheeses, meats, bread, pastries and more. For some of the best in Europe, as many would tell you, Place des Lices showcases it all.

The twice-weekly market is the perfect place to stock up if you’re staying in self-catering accommodations in St Tropez, or to pick up supplies for an impromptu picnic. There are also handcrafted goods and homeware to discover, just be sure to get here early.

Portalet Tower is a defence tower built in the 15th century to protect the coast and port of St Tropez. It was 1 of 4 defence towers in the area, and although only 3 remain, you can visit each of them to experience a bit of St Tropez's history.

The observation tower is a great spot away from the crowds to get scenic views over the port both day and night. It's situated in the historic Fisherman’s town of La Ponche, and on the other side of the cove to the east, you’ll find a second tower, Tour de La Vielle, just a 4-minute walk away.

Housed in an old law enforcement building, the National Gendarmerie Museum tells the story of the town’s cinematic roots. It’s proof of St Tropez's rich, vibrant and long-lasting history of cinema production and how it became a centre for film and the arts.

You can take in the different films that have been produced in St Tropez and the surrounding area and, in a nice crossover that pays homage to the venue’s past, see how the police have been depicted in French films over the years. The museum also has exhibitions that pick apart the various myths surrounding the glamour of St Tropez’s prestigious movie theater industry.

Place aux Herbes is the original morning market square in the Old Port, or Vieux Port in French, where you can get a feel for the slightly more modest side of St Tropez. It serves as a great alternative when you need a breather from all the glamour and glitz of its beaches and bars.

Browse the deliciously fresh southern French produce that benefits from all the richness of the Mediterranean sun. If you have somewhere to cook back at your accommodations, you can pick up a few items to whip up a French feast of your own. Take time, too, to stop for a coffee and some people-watching on the terrace of the famous Café Senequier nearby.

St Tropez Harbour, or Port de Saint-Tropez, is one of the most picturesque places in the coastal town. Besides offering plenty of Instagram-worthy angles and being a popular spot among the luxury yachting crowd, it’s lined with chic cafes and shops. Little sums up France better than the deeply ingrained ritual of taking an aperitif before dinner, and this is an ideal spot for l’heure d’apéro, or apéro o’clock in English.

Open from early morning until late, Café Senequier is a good spot to sip something refreshing as you watch the sun sink down over the Côte d’Azur. The trendy and aptly named Bar du Port also has outside seating and makes for an equally solid choice.

The Carré Sainte Maxime is a multi-disciplinary performing arts theatre in the city of the same name, about half an hour’s drive north from St Tropez. If you’re looking to fill up on culture after spending your days bronzing on the beaches and your evenings celebrity-spotting in the nightclubs, then you’re in luck.

There’s a diverse and eclectic programme of events on offer here throughout the seasons, from dance and theatre to live music performances, and even circus-style spectacles. The venue itself is open every day of the year.