Sightseeing
One of the main sights of the town is La Citadelle, a walled fortress with stunning views across the bay, now housing a maritime history museum. Set back from the harbour, the old town itself with little alleys and cute squares like Place des Ormeaux as well as the boutique-lined main street, Rue Gambetta.
Eating out
You will be spoilt for choice with dining options, although fresh fish and seafood is particularly good, of course. Cocktail bars line the waterfront, the place to be seen or to people-watch, whilst little cafés and restaurants can be discovered in back streets in the old town.
Shopping & markets
There is plenty of opportunity for retail therapy here, particular designer goods. On Tuesday and Saturday morning a market is held in Place des Lices in the dappled shade of 100 year old plane trees. Or head to the covered market place by the harbour, ‘Les Halles’, any day in season for fresh produce and local specialities such as fougasse bread or the delectably creamy Tarte Tropézienne. In the evening there is a great atmosphere, with live music, food stalls and apéritifs.
Beaches
There are a handful of public beaches in easy walking distance of the old town, and further larger beaches around the headland east or west. But undoubtedly the most famous beach of the area is Plage de Pampelonne in Ramatuelle, made famous by Brigitte Bardot and other celebrities. It is a long bay with golden sands, with numerous beach clubs but also with free access public beaches.
Boat to St Tropez
As the roads into St Tropez can be very busy in summer, it is worth looking into taking a ferry from Port Grimaud or Sainte-Maxime to avoid the queues and enjoy a boat trip at the same time!
Only about 12km from St Tropez, the medieval township of Grimaud is full of Provençal character with its stone houses, cobbled streets and burgeoning bougainvillea. Its jewel is the hilltop castle which presides over the town, but there is also a charming museum, the Museum of Folk, displaying goods of an everyday nature from past epochs.
Nearby
A short drive down to the coast, Port-Grimaud was built in the 1960s to the design of French architect François Spoerry. The concept was that there should be islands linked by bridges, a bit like Venice, and each property should have its own mooring. It is one of the most visited sites in France, but has a pleasant village feel about it. You can take a boat trip from here or hire a little self-drive boat.
