Is Saint-Tropez Worth Visiting? Our Perfect Day on the French Riviera

Saint-Tropez is one of those destinations that needs no introduction. Synonymous with mega yachts, designer boutiques, and Riviera glamour, it has long attracted artists, celebrities, and travelers looking for a taste of the good life. Yet beyond the luxury labels and beach clubs, we found a surprisingly charming town filled with colorful lanes, bustling markets, and beautiful Mediterranean views. During our day trip from Nice, Saint-Tropez felt less like a playground for the rich and more like a picturesque Provençal port with an irresistible Riviera sparkle.

Saint Tropez, the Côte d’Azur seaside town, is a Romantic Port of call which became a spectacular resort destination after World War II.  Drawn for its unbeatable setting and glamorous vibe, St Tropez saw an influx of artists of the French New Wave then the European and American jet setters came along.  But it was legendary actress Brigitte Bardot who put the town on the map when she filmed “And God Created Woman” here. 

One day in Saint Tropez

When we were in Southern France, we spent a perfect day in Saint Tropez! While we didn’t get to the beach we spent a leisurely day exploring the town. We didn’t have a plan like we most always do when boarding the boat to Saint-Tropez, we just wanted a day out in the Mediterranean waters, just a relaxing day. And that is exactly what it was, a Provencal escape!

We enjoyed our boat ride from Nice to Saint Tropez and saw some mega yachts in the water as we crossed Cannes and Antibes.  When we reached the Old Port of Saint Tropez, it was filled with many more million-dollar yachts and the town had chic fashion shops and boutiques. 

We browsed through the provincial markets, we saw the hustle and bustle of the port in the La Ponche fishing quarter, walked around the cobbled lanes leading to St.Tropez Church and the 17th century Citadelle de St. Tropez.  This spot has fantastic views of the city! (scroll down to see it…)

Getting to Saint-Tropez from Nice

One of the most common questions travelers ask when planning a French Riviera itinerary is whether Saint-Tropez is worth visiting as a day trip from Nice. The good news is that it absolutely is, though getting there takes a little planning.

Unlike many towns along the Côte d’Azur, Saint-Tropez does not have a train station. This means you’ll need to arrive by car, ferry, bus, or a combination of train and local transportation.

By Car

Driving is the most flexible option and allows you to explore some of the beautiful coastal villages along the way. The drive from Nice to Saint-Tropez takes approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on traffic. During the summer months, traffic along the Riviera can be significant, especially approaching Saint-Tropez, so plan for extra travel time.

The route winds through some of the most scenic stretches of the French Riviera, passing glamorous seaside towns such as Cannes and Antibes.

If you chose to drive from Nice, it would be a leisurely day trip along the Côte d’Azur. The changing scenery, glimpses of turquoise coves, and charming coastal towns made the journey enjoyable.

Parking in Saint-Tropez can be expensive and fills up quickly during peak season. Arriving early in the morning will give you the best chance of securing a spot close to the harbor.

By Ferry

For a more memorable arrival, consider taking a ferry across the Mediterranean. Seasonal ferry services operate between Nice and Saint-Tropez, typically from spring through early autumn.

The journey takes around 2.5 hours and offers spectacular views of the French Riviera from the water. Watching the coastline unfold from the deck while enjoying the sea breeze is part of the experience. The ferry arrives directly at Saint-Tropez’s picturesque harbor, placing you within walking distance of the town’s main attractions.

If you’re visiting during the summer months, booking tickets in advance is highly recommended.

We saw many Mega Yachts & Boats we saw along the way…

Best things to do in Saint-Tropez

Exploring the town of Saint Tropez

After stopping at the provincial market and picking up some cheese and bread we walked around the cobbled lanes leading to St.Tropez Church and the 17th century Citadelle de St. Tropez for the best spot to see views of the city! I was kicking myself for not planning a stay in this charming town.

We then walked around town to check out some stores and do some shopping.

Shopping in Saint Tropez

A great spot for Lunch or Dinner is the Dior De Lices located in the stunning Jardins de L’Ambassade,  Dior the fashion brand has an amazing restaurant in St Tropez, with a 3 Star Michelin Chef leading the kitchen.  If not for a meal, stop by for some coffee, desserts, people watching and of course shopping.

Chanel sets up a popup store in Saint Tropez during the summer months.  Gabrielle Chanel created a lot of her designs by getting inspiration from the Mediterranean atmosphere in Saint Tropez. The summer pop-up store is in the center of the town, until the first week of October, in the gardens of La Mistralée mansion.

For such a small village, Saint Tropez has some big brand stores. You will find the likes of Louis Vuitton, Hermes and more, in fact Saint Tropez is the number one shopping destination in all of Cote d’Azur. 

After stopping by for a snack of French macarons from Laduree, we walk around the Provencal market where we saw everything from flowers, fresh fruits to olive oil, sausages and cheese.

Browse Place des Lices market for goodies

Place des Lices in the heart of Saint Tropez is a delightful place where the open-air market is held. There were so many varies of cheese, pasta, bread and so many great offerings including straw bags.

When it is clear of people and the markets, you can see how it is lined with 100-year old plane trees.  When we walked through there later in the afternoon the canopies from the market were cleared and you could see the 60 feet plane trees lined up in the beautiful square.

Try a Tarte Tropézienne

Made popular by French actress, Brigitte Bardot, who was in Saint Tropez filming her debut movie, “And God Created Women” Tart Tropezienne is a must-try when visiting Saint Tropez. This French pastry which is a brioche filled with a special cream should be available in all bakeries in St. Tropez.

Best Beaches in Saint-Tropez

Pampelonne Beach is the iconic Saint-Tropez beach known for its beach clubs and golden sand. Butttt we didn’t even know such beautiful sandy beaches existed on the coast since most of the Cote d’Azur beaches were so pebbly. So we didn’t really plan on going to the beach in Saint-Tropez!

On the way back to Nice, we saw some sandy feet on the boat and found out about the beaches.  Unlike the beaches of Cannes and Juan Les Pins, St Tropez has some of the best and beautiful beaches…. glorious deep white sand stretches out into fabulous azure blue water that gently slopes away into the bay.

Bummer!! We totally missed it but now I have an excuse to go back!

Here what we found out after our trip: The wealthy Plage Port Grimaud is the best beach to see and to be seen lounging in a Burberry bikini. Plage de Tahiti is notorious for its “unspoken” clothing-optional policy and risqué atmosphere.

The best beaches for families can be found at Plage de la Bouillabaisse, Plage des Graniers and Plage des Jumeaux, which also offer beachside playgrounds.

Most of the Côte d’Azur’s other beaches (with the exception of the gorgeous Plage Mala in Cap d’Ail) are bordered by roads, apartment buildings, and even railway tracks!

Plage de Pampellone is 3 miles of beautiful beaches, bars and places to stop for snacks.  Pampelonne Beach or Plage de Pampellone is actually not even located in St Tropez itself, but rather in the neighboring commune of Ramatuelle.

This is not the case with Plage de Pampelonne! There are more than 25 beach clubs on Pampelonne offering something to suit every taste.  The 5 famous beach clubs are Club 55, Bagatelle, Les Palmiers, Nikki Beach and Tahiti Beach. You do not need to be a millionaire to go there as most of these beaches offer sunbeds from around €30-40. How much you spend on drinks is of course totally up to you 🙂

Where we ate  

Near the harbor, we enjoyed a delicious meal and a glass of local favorite, Côte de Provence rosé at a sidewalk café – Cafe de Paris, I think we have ate at every possible Cafe de Paris we came across on this trip.

Best Restaurants in Saint Tropez

Some of the best restaurants in Saint Tropez I’m saving for next time are:

The Michelin star La Voile restaurant inside La Reserve Hotel & Spa offers delicious meals and a way to get to know this top hotel in Saint Tropez.

Three Michelin Star, La Vague D’Or at Cheval Blanc is the best restaurant in Saint Tropez followed by L’lsoletta, a charming Italian bistro in the Relais Chateau property La Bastide de Saint Tropez. Le Pationata‘s terrace inside Hotel de Paris is another popular spot for a meal at a reasonable price.

How to get to Saint Tropez 

While there is no direct train to Saint-Tropez, budget-conscious travelers can take a train from Nice to the nearby town of Saint-Raphaël and then connect to a local bus service.

This option takes longer, often around three hours each way, but can be significantly cheaper than driving or taking the ferry. It’s also a good choice for travelers who prefer using public transportation and want to avoid the stress of navigating Riviera traffic.

You can also drive from either Nice or Marseille to Saint Tropez. Nice is 90 minute drive away and Marseille is 2 hours away.

Travel Tip: If you’re visiting between June and September, start early. Saint-Tropez is one of the most popular destinations on the French Riviera, and both the roads and parking lots can become crowded by mid-morning. Arriving before the day-trippers and beach crowds gives you a chance to enjoy the old town’s quiet streets before the bustle begins.

Our Recommendation

For a first-time visit, we recommend either driving or taking the ferry. Driving gives you the freedom to explore the French Riviera at your own pace, while the ferry transforms the journey itself into part of the adventure.

We took the Trans cote d’Azur boat from Nice which left the port at 9am and it took us two hours to get to Saint Tropez, we took the 4 pm boat back to Nice.

Planning a trip to the French Riviera? See where we stayed in Nice

Other things to do in Saint Tropez (If we go back again)

Saint-Tropez is one of the liveliest towns along the coast during the summer. You can delight in the sandy beaches, culture, gourmet food and nightlife of St. Tropez. If we go back again, we will plan on spending a few days there.  We loved the quiet fishing village that has turned into a glamorous little town.  The town was busy during the day with day-trippers like us but it gets pretty quiet after dusk.  

Art lovers can admire the works of Signac, Denis, Matisse, Picasso and more at the Musée de l’Annonciade, converted from a 16th-century chapel to an eclectic modern art museum. The collection on show, ranges from 1890 to 1950 and is both of surprisingly high standard and homogeneity. The artists displayed have based their work upon the study of color as well as shape, the whole collection is composed of top range pictures, essentially belonging to the pointillist, Nabis and Fauvist movements.  

I really wanted to go but did not have time for it.

Where to Stay in Saint Tropez

Here are a couple of hotels that are on my list when we go back next time.  Hotel de Paris-Saint-Tropez has elegant rooms and suites that evoke refined luxury. The hotel has been totally redesigned recently and even has a suspended glass-bottomed swimming pool.  There are several restaurants and the rooftop lounge “Les Toits” is popular for sun-downers.

Just a few minutes from St Tropez and overlooking the Mediterranean, La Reserve Ramatuelle Spa Hotel has a large spa with a huge range of state-of-the-art treatments. The hotel has 9 rooms and 19 suites each with a private terrace or garden and a few luxurious villas. This design hotel boasts some of the best views and the PERFECT place for a voluntary exile!

With only 31 rooms and suites, Cheval Blanc St-Tropez is another beautiful hotel for the Tropezian holiday.

Located in the heart of the village and each room uniquely decorated in a Provençal theme Byblos Saint-Tropez is dreamy as it gets!

Is Saint-Tropez Worth Visiting?

While Saint-Tropez is famous for its yachts and designer boutiques, what we remember most are the pastel-colored streets, the lively market, and the feeling of spending a carefree day by the Mediterranean. For us, Saint-Tropez wasn’t about luxury… it was about slowing down and enjoying the Riviera one beautiful view at a time.

If you like Saint Tropez, you might also like Roussillon, Saint Remy, Antibes and Gordes

You might also like: French Riviera Itinerary and Monaco

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