A Weekend in Saint-Tropez: The Complete Insider's Guide

Saint-Tropez needs no introduction. Yet behind the clichés of Place des Lices and Quai Jean-Jaurès lies a destination with a thousand facets, where ochre alleys and parasol pines still conceal the Riviera’s most confidential addresses. Here is our complete itinerary for an exceptional weekend, designed for discerning travellers.

Day 1 — Old Saint-Tropez, authentic and timeless

Morning: Place des Lices market

A Saturday in Saint-Tropez must begin at Place des Lices. From 8am to 1pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the market unfolds its stalls beneath century-old plane trees. Nice olives, Var lavender honey, artisanal tapenade, AOP Baux olive oil: it is the ideal occasion to compose the perfect basket for a lunch at Villa Canopy.

Nearby, pétanque players animate the square year-round. Stopping at Café des Arts for a coffee is a Tropezian ritual that even Brigitte Bardot practised.

Lunch: Sénéquier or La Tarte Tropézienne

Two institutions stand out. Sénéquier, with its iconic red chairs facing the harbour, remains where one sees and is seen. But for a more authentic experience, cross the threshold of La Tarte Tropézienne on rue Clemenceau: the original 1955 recipe, invented by Alexandre Micka for the filming of “And God Created Woman”, is still enjoyed in its historic setting.

Afternoon: Citadel and Musée de l’Annonciade

The Citadelle de Saint-Tropez, on the heights of the village, offers one of the most beautiful panoramas of the gulf. The Maritime History Museum it houses elegantly tells the corsair past of the town. Ticket: €3, allow an hour.

Descending, the Musée de l’Annonciade by the harbour holds an exceptional collection of post-impressionist and fauvist painters. Signac, Matisse, Derain and Vuillard have left their vision of the peninsula. An essential cultural interlude to grasp the soul of Saint-Tropez.

Day 2 — Beaches, leisure and exceptional dining

Morning: Pampelonne Beach

Five kilometres of fine sand, a dozen private beaches, an inexhaustible cinematic mythology. Pampelonne is to Saint-Tropez what Copacabana is to Rio.

For a memorable lunch, three addresses stand out:

• Club 55 — Bernard de Colmont’s institution. Reservation required sometimes weeks in advance.
• La Réserve à la Plage — Michel Reybier’s subtle refinement, cuisine signed by Eric Canino.
• Loulou Ramatuelle — The talk of the coast since opening, between dolce vita and Italian cuisine.

Afternoon: Ramatuelle and the Moulin de Paillas

The village of Ramatuelle, perched 5 km from Pampelonne, is an overlooked gem. Its spiralling alleys, Provençal blue shutters and shaded square deserve an hour’s wandering. The marine cemetery holds the tomb of Gérard Philipe, in a setting that would have moved Camus.

At the summit, the Moulin de Paillas offers a 360° panorama over the gulf of Saint-Tropez, the Maures mountains and the sea. An ideal spot for sunset.

Dinner: The starred tables of the peninsula

Saint-Tropez today counts five Michelin-starred tables that rival each other in creativity:

• La Vague d’Or* (3 stars) — Arnaud Donckele, an absolute genius. Cheval Blanc address.
• La Palme d’Or* (2 stars) — Claude Anthès at Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez.
• Colette* (1 star) — Hotel Sezz, contemporary cuisine.
• Cuisine* (1 star) — Villa Marie, gastronomy with a view.
• La Résidence de la Pinède* (1 star) — Classical elegance reimagined.

For a more relaxed but equally memorable alternative, La Maison Bleue in Gassin serves refined Mediterranean cuisine in a dream garden.

Day 3 — The hinterland: Gassin, Grimaud, Port Grimaud

Morning: Gassin, one of France’s most beautiful villages

Ten minutes’ drive away, Gassin is classified among the most beautiful villages in France. Perched at 200 metres, the village offers a breathtaking view over the gulf and the Hyères islands on clear days. Place des Barrys, shaded by enormous hackberry trees, is the perfect spot for a contemplative coffee.

Gassin also houses L’Androuët, one of the best cheesemongers in the Var, and La Table du Mas de Chastelas, a gastronomic address hidden among the vines.

Lunch: Port Grimaud, the Provençal Venice

Designed in the 1960s by architect François Spoerry, the lake town of Port Grimaud is a small urban miracle. Its colourful houses and canals make it a unique place on the Riviera.

For lunch, La Table du Mareyeur serves the freshest seafood, and L’Amphitryon remains a safe bet for traditional Provençal cuisine.

Afternoon: Wine tasting in the vineyards

The Côtes de Provence appellation produces 75% of France’s AOC rosés. Three estates particularly warrant the detour:

• Château Minuty — The essential, pioneer of high-end rosé
• Domaine Bertaud-Belieu — Exceptional organic vineyard in Gassin
• Château La Croix — On the La Croix-Valmer estate itself

Most offer guided visits with tasting by appointment.

Off-the-beaten-path addresses

For a memorable brunch: La Plage Blanche in Ramatuelle, facing the sea.

For a boat trip: Rental at Sillage, Cavalaire harbour. Heading to the Golden Islands (Porquerolles, Port-Cros) or Cap Taillat.

For a massage: The spa at Hotel Byblos, a discreet institution.

For confidential shopping: The Sessùn boutique in the old town, and the workshops of Tropezian sandals at Rondini (since 1927).

For a jazz evening: Summer Thursdays, the Ramatuelle Festival invites the biggest names of the French scene.

Best time to visit Saint-Tropez

June and September offer the best compromise: ideal temperature (25-28°C), warm sea (22-24°C), reasonable attendance, hotels and restaurants fully open.

July-August: Saint-Tropez at its peak. Incomparable atmosphere but accept the crowds and book weeks in advance.

May and October: Golden season for lovers of calm. Terraces are open, beaches are empty, light is magnificent. Some private beaches close at the end of September, however.

For an exceptional stay in immediate proximity to Saint-Tropez, Villa Canopy welcomes you in La Croix-Valmer, on a 7,000 m² private estate 15 minutes from the peninsula — all the proximity, none of the inconveniences.