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"Everything I love, I've got here. The sea, the sun, the hot sand, music, and eating," said Juliette Hardy, played by Brigitte Bardot in And God Created Woman. Saint Tropez has held allure for libertines and the luxurious from far and wide since Bardot's performance.
However, if anything, Hardy misses some of the area's most glorious aspects. The rolling cypress-crested hills interposed with farmhouses and fishing shacks, their terracotta roofs resembling the red-hued rocks and sun-kissed soil.
Now, though, Saint Tropez is all of those things and more: the crisp rosé, splendid cuisine incorporating a variety of influences, the quaint old towns and the palatial villas scattered amongst sprawling vineyards. Saint Tropez has held onto the sleepy aura of its past, the quaint fishing village with rustic boats bobbing in the bay. Yet, it has grown into a remarkable trophy in the French Riviera's cabinet.
To ask "where is the best place to stay in Saint Tropez", is to ignore the variety of what Saint Tropez has to offer. It also ignores the predilections of the person asking. Is one looking for a serene mountaintop villa with panoramic views of both the lush Provencal countryside and turquoise seaside, or is one's desire to spend the days frequenting some of Pampelonne's world-famous beach clubs?
For inspiration on the best spots in Saint Tropez off the beaten track, discover our article for all the secrets of the area.
Discover our guide to Saint Tropez that will help to separate the ways in which you can spend a holiday in the area, whether you are looking to meander the streets of the port, venture to village markets, rub shoulders with celebrities in beach clubs or seek solitude in an out-of-town villa.
Pampered in Pampelonne
Pampelonne beach is Saint Tropez's longest and best-known beach, where the lavish lean into languid summer days by lounging at beach clubs and swigging ambrosial cocktails and Provencal rosé. The beach is located in the Ramatuelle commune not far from Saint Tropez. This beach is busy and with good reason. There are a number of excellent clubs and restaurants bordering this brimming stretch of Mediterranean shoreline.
The famous Club 55, a distinguished archetype of the beach-club scene in Saint Tropez, entices people from everywhere and anywhere. Celebrities are often seen arriving, like apparitions, on the sturdy wooden pier, framed by the iridescent shades of blue behind, before strutting onto the club's golden, sandy doorstep. Club 55's etymology doffs its cap to the period when Brigitte Bardot and her cast traipsed along the golden beaches, unwittingly catalysing this beautiful part of the world's popularity.
The best place to stay near Pampelonne is to be in the thick of the action. In the evenings, after a day on the beach or a prolonged lunch in the shelter of trees at Club 55, Indie Beach begins to liven up and some of the best places to go out start to come alive. The trendy, yet slightly Bohemian atmosphere is reminiscent of Ibiza; eclectically, but meticulously decorated to give a relaxing space to spend an evening on the sand, a cocktail hanging from your hand.
Best place to stay near Pampelonne
Villa Maestra is an easy recommendation for this particular location. This villa somehow modestly fits into its surroundings, which is surprising when you consider its striking, contemporary architecture. This villa has everything you need, from a grass garden, heated swimming pool, and barbecue to a cozy fireplace and hammam.
An escape to l'escalet
This is for those seeking the quieter pleasures of Saint Tropez's surrounding areas. Although L'Escalet is busy in the high season, there is plenty of opportunity to seek seclusion in a quiet cove. Cap Taillat is a peaceful peninsula nature reserve a 30-minute walk along winding coastal paths from the relative bustle of Plage de l'Escalet.
Once here, you can extend your explorations to Plage du Brouis, which is about a 45-minute walk from l'Escalet car park. This beach is an unspoilt stretch of tranquil coastline. It is a place of innate beauty, where pine forests, seemingly acting as guardians against modernity, oversee and maintain the quietude.
Tucked away in the arms of Cap Taillat and Cap Lardier is Domaine de la Tourraque - a vineyard perched between sea and land, that brushes the bay of Briande. This winery produces superb organic wines in a setting of environmental wonder and wildness. The vines and olive trees give a distinctly French feel, and, at the end of it all, you can sip away on the fruits of their labour in the cool of a leafy terrace.
Slip into the small and quiet village of Ramatuelle and get lost in its labyrinthine streets, which make it feel so much bigger than it is. The attractive town is bolstered by panoramic views. Feast in a tucked-away restaurant for lunch, such as the homely Italian restaurant: Comme à la Maison.
For more inspiration, discover our list of the best restaurants in Saint Tropez.
Best place to stay near L'Escalet
Tucked away out of town, Villa Manon offers a slow perspective on Saint Tropez and is one of the best areas to stay in. This contemporary, pine structured house seamlessly combines modern elegance with tranquility, nestled in a serene, green environment.
Do you know the way to Saint Tropez?
Saint Tropez town is undoubtedly busy during the summer, but it has held onto its fishing-village charm, the sleepy state of being that existed before it sprang onto the world stage with a whirl of vigour and a gust of Mediterranean sea breeze. Saint Tropez is quite simply one of the best luxury holiday destinations in the world.
There is a wealth of delightful joys to be uncovered in Saint Tropez town. To watch the passersby ambling in the summer heat, linen shirts and flowery skirts flowing and rippling with movement and the gentle wind, settle into one of Sénequier's red chairs. This is best enjoyed in the morning, as you witness the spectacle of a vibrant summer town slowly stirring in the cool of the brightening dawn. We recommend an iced coffee and a brioche.
Spend the rest of your morning exploring the market at la Place des Lices buying, or just admiring, the simplicities of locally grown produce. If it is a Monday or Sunday, days when the market is not on, play boules or pétanque in the shady confines of the square.
For lunch, wend your way towards La Plage des Salins, where a flotilla of blue umbrellas sways on the edge of the lapping sea. This is a great spot for lunch, but you will need to book. By evening, lose yourself in the backstreets, away from the rush, on your way to and back from a delectable dinner of Provencal cuisine.
For a day of exploring, go to Port Grimaud. This was an ambitious project in the 1960s by French architect François Spoerry to create a Venetian-like town on the marshlands, but in the style of a French fishing village. It is a fascinating and quirky place to spend the afternoon navigating the canals by boat.
Best place to stay in the centre of Saint Tropez
Holidays in the south are as much about food, rosé, beaches, and exploring as they are about having a place to stay and call home, to share in the moments with friends and family. Villa Nathalia is a fantastic large villa close to the town of Saint Tropez.
To discover even more unique homes in Saint Tropez, take a look at our interview with Alexandra Saguet, the interior designer of Villa Rossa, a rustic luxury refuge.
