What can you do in Saint-Tropez in a few hours, a day or several days? Between the old village, the harbour, the beaches of Pampelonne, the coastal path and the villages of Gassin and Ramatuelle, the peninsula offers many ways to make the most of a stay.
To help you plan your visit, here are our essentials according to the time you have.
Key facts
- Half a day: discover the harbour, the streets of the Ponche and the Citadel.
- A full day: add the Place des Lices market and an afternoon on the beach.
- Three days or more: set off to explore the coastline, the sea and the villages inland.
- If it rains: enjoy the museums of Saint-Tropez.
- The market is held all year round, on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.
The essentials at a glance
Each experience takes a different amount of time, and some are best enjoyed at a particular moment of the day. Here are the peninsula's essentials, with the time to allow for each.
| Experience | Where | Time to allow | Best moment | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The harbour and the streets | The village | 1 hr to 1 hr 30 | Early morning | The harbour takes 20 to 30 minutes to walk |
| The Provençal market | Place des Lices | 1 hr | Tuesday and Saturday, 8 am - 1 pm | All year round |
| The Citadel and its museum | The village | 1 hr 30 | Late afternoon for the view | 5 €, free under 12, 10 am - 6.30 pm from April to September |
| The beaches | Pampelonne | Half a day | Early, before the crowds | 10 minutes by car |
| The coastal path | From the village | 2 to 3 hrs | The morning | Closed shoes |
| A trip out to sea | From the harbour | 2 to 3 hrs | Middle of the day | By reservation |
| The hilltop villages | Gassin, Ramatuelle | Half a day | Late afternoon | 15 minutes by car |
If you only have half a day
If you have just a few hours, focus on the village of Saint-Tropez.
Start with the harbour, then lose yourself in the small streets of the Ponche, the old fishermen's quarter. Then gain some height by walking up to the Citadel.
From up there you enjoy a fine view over the village, the harbour and the gulf of Saint-Tropez. The maritime history museum is also inside the Citadel.
Allow around 3 hours to discover these three essentials without rushing.
You will also find our guide to visiting Saint-Tropez.
If you have a full day
With a full day, you can take the time to discover the village in the morning before heading to the beach in the afternoon.
Start with the Place des Lices market
If you are in Saint-Tropez on a Tuesday or a Saturday, do not miss the Place des Lices market. It is held from 8 am to 1 pm, all year round.
You will find local produce, fruit and vegetables, fish, crafts and many Provençal specialities.
After the market, make the most of the town centre for lunch before heading for the coast.
Spend the afternoon at Pampelonne
About 10 minutes by car from the village, Pampelonne beach is one of the great essentials of the peninsula.
You can choose between the public stretches of beach and the various beach clubs, with loungers and dining.
To discover the different beaches and their moods, see our guide to the most beautiful beaches in Saint-Tropez.
In the evening, head back to the village for dinner and enjoy the atmosphere of Saint-Tropez after the day.
Discover our guide to the best places to eat in Saint-Tropez as well.
If you are staying three days or more
If you are staying several days, take the opportunity to leave the centre of Saint-Tropez and discover the landscapes of the peninsula.
On the programme: a walk along the coastal path, a trip out to sea and the discovery of Gassin and Ramatuelle.
If you are travelling as a couple, our guide to Saint-Tropez for couples sets out a detailed two-night programme.
The coastal path
The coastal path is one of the finest ways to discover the coastline.
The trail follows the sea from Saint-Tropez and passes the beaches of Les Graniers, Les Canoubiers and La Moutte, before reaching Les Salins.
Allow around 2 to 3 hours to walk a good part of the path.
In summer, set off in the morning to avoid the heat. Remember to wear proper shoes, as some sections are rocky.
You can also choose a shorter stretch if you would rather not walk the whole way.
The sea, by boat or from the coves
The sea can also be discovered by boat, or from the coves along the coastal path.
A trip out to sea is booked directly at the harbour, for half a day or a full day. Allow 2 to 3 hours for a short outing, enough to follow the coast and see the village from the water. It is the finest viewpoint over Saint-Tropez.
The coves along the coastal path are free and quieter than the equipped beaches. You can swim there between two stretches of walking, away from the clubs.
At Pampelonne, Cybele, the beach club of the Kube Saint-Tropez, welcomes you for the day to have lunch facing the sea.
The hilltop villages and the vineyards
A quarter of an hour from the harbour, Gassin and Ramatuelle offer fine views over the gulf and a calm that Saint-Tropez no longer knows in high season.
Listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France since 1994, Gassin sits at almost 200 metres above sea level. Its lanes can be explored in about an hour, from the Porte des Sarrasins to the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, by way of the rue de l'Androuno, said to be one of the narrowest in the world. From the top of the village, the eye takes in the whole gulf of Saint-Tropez.
A few kilometres away, Ramatuelle spreads around its church, in a maze of lanes running down towards the sea. The village is also the gateway to Pampelonne and hosts its festival each summer in an open-air theatre.
Between Gassin and Ramatuelle stretch the vineyards of the peninsula, in the Côtes de Provence appellation. Several estates open their doors for visits and tastings. In September, the grape harvest gives the landscape a particular atmosphere and offers another way to discover the terroir of Saint-Tropez.
What to do when it rains or off season
When the weather turns, Saint-Tropez can be discovered differently, notably through its museums.
Set in a former chapel facing the harbour, the Musée de l'Annonciade holds a collection that is remarkable for a town of this size, with works by pointillist, fauve and nabi painters. Entry costs 5 to 6 € depending on the exhibition and remains free for under-12s. The museum is closed on Mondays, except in July, August and September when it opens every day.
Off season, keep the annual closures in mind as well: the Annonciade closes from 15 January to 10 February and from 15 to 30 November. The Citadel, for its part, stays open all year round.
To choose the best moment for your stay, see our guide to the best season to visit Saint-Tropez: crowds, sea temperature and which addresses are open, month by month.
The Kube Saint-Tropez as a starting point
The Kube Saint-Tropez, set on the heights of Gassin, makes an ideal starting point for exploring the peninsula. Just 10 minutes from Pampelonne and 15 minutes from the harbour, you can easily reach the main sites without crossing the village at its busiest hours.
On site, the rooftop of Le Petit Célestin offers an open view over the gulf at sunset. The myBlend spa, open every day from 10 am to 8 pm during the season, invites you to extend the moment, while Cybele beach welcomes you directly at Pampelonne.
Our advice
Do the village early and the hinterland late. The harbour before 10 am and Gassin at sunset stay calm even in high season, whereas the same places are very busy in the middle of the day.
FAQ
The harbour and the streets of the Ponche in the morning, the Place des Lices market if it is on, then a beach in the afternoon and the Citadel at the end of the day. The market is held on Tuesday and Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm: it is what sets the programme.
The harbour, the village streets, the market and the coastal path can all be visited freely. Only the museums and the Citadel charge admission, at around 5 €.
One day is enough to discover the village, two to three days to add a beach and a trip out to sea, and a week to take your time over the coastal path, the hilltop villages and the vineyards.
Two to three hours to reach Les Salins beach from the village. The stretch as far as Les Graniers beach takes less than half an hour, which makes it accessible to everyone. Bring proper shoes.
Gassin, listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France since 1994. Perched at 200 metres and a quarter of an hour from the harbour, it is the only village in the association washed by the Mediterranean between Spain and Italy. It overlooks the whole gulf and is home to the rue de l'Androuno, one of the narrowest streets in the world.
The Musée de l'Annonciade, for its collection of pointillists, fauves and nabis, and the maritime history museum in the Citadel. The Annonciade is closed on Mondays, except from July to September.
On Tuesday and Saturday mornings, from 8 am to 1 pm, on the Place des Lices, all year round.