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Glitz, glamour, yachts, and designer shops are certainly the first thing you may notice during a weekend in Saint Tropez. But if you peel back that layer, you’ll see something more.
Under the sun-soaked skies of the French Riviera, you’ll quickly find the stone buildings and cobblestone streets of the charming old port. You’ll admire the rows and rows of vines outside the town as you’re in the heart of Rosé country. There are even small remnants of this former quaint fishing village.
And you may find delight and perhaps even tranquility at the famous Plage de Pampelonne (I know this seems hard to imagine).
Don’t get me wrong, this is a bougie town. There are designer boutiques on every corner and I’ve never seen so many designer bags and clothes being worn in my life (including while spending time in Cannes!).
But there is more than meets the eye here. I mean, I don’t own designer clothes and yet, I was still wandering the streets of this iconic French town. I was still able to frolic on the beach, which even A-list celebs frequent in between sunning on their mega-yachts.
And I didn’t spend a fortune doing this either. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t the cheapest place I’ve visited in France by any stretch of the imagination. But I certainly enjoyed the beach, the quaint village, and even did a little shopping without breaking the bank.
So let’s talk about how to spend 2 days in St Tropez and next door in Port Grimaud for us regular folks.
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Weekend in Saint Tropez Itinerary
While I did spend a lot of time in St Tropez in 2 days, I also stayed and spent time in Port Grimaud just across the bay. So this itinerary combines the two as 1) St Tropez is quite small and 2) Port Grimaud is honestly a must-visit with its charming canals.
Here is a quick run-down of the St Tropez itinerary:
Day 1: Beach Club Day
- Beach club in Plage de Pampelonne
- Dinner in Port Grimaud or St Tropez
Day 2: St Tropez & Port Grimaud
- Senenquier for breakfast
- Saturday Farmers Market in St Tropez
- Explore the Old Port and Coastal Path
- Shop (or Window Shop)
- Lunch at La Petite Plage
- Visit the Citadelle de Saint Tropez
- Snack at Cedric Grolet & Airelles
- Head to Port Grimaud to Explore
- Dinner in Port Grimaud or St Tropez
Day 3: Departure
- Port Grimaud Market
So let’s talk about the best 2 days in St Tropez and Port Grimaud…but for those of us who, you know, aren’t exactly staying in a yacht.
Want to listen to our podcast version instead, check it out here!
Note: This itinerary works as a Friday-Sunday with you departing on Sunday. However, if you’re here on Saturday and Sunday for full days, you can adjust based on the market schedule and do the beach day on Sunday if you like.
Day 1: Beach Club Day
Today is a more relaxing day. I know, you’re probably wondering why we’re not even visiting the town of St Tropez today. Well, you’ll want to visit the town tomorrow (if your first day is a Friday) for the farmers market (which is on Saturday) and explore the city that day!
So, for now, hop in the car (or take a taxi if you plan to party it up at the beach club) and head to the beach!
Now fun fact: there really isn’t a big beach in Saint Tropez proper. This is more of a port town than anything. It’s charming to be sure, but not where you’ll go for a full beach day.
Of course, you do have options for beaches nearby. The closest beach in the town that is a good size is Bouillabaisse Beach. Here, you could opt for a beach day at La Bouillabaisse Plage, which is a restaurant with beach chairs you can rent for the day.
It’s in the bay, and it is pretty nice!
There is also the Plage des Graniers, a little hidden gem beach near the town. Plage des Canoubiers is also decent and near the sailing school.
Plage de la Rabiou is along the coastal path, but you’ll have to hike it in. And for another lovely beach, you can check out Plage de la Moutte.
But, if you’re here to party, or want ample choices of beach clubs to park it for the day, by far the most popular beach to visit while in St Tropez is Plage de Pampelone.
Surprisingly, this Saint Tropez beach isn’t even in Saint Tropez at all; it’s in nearby Ramatuelle.
But here is where you’ll spot the yachts anchored for the day with boats from various beach clubs taking people onshore for lunch. It is here where you may spot influencers, A-listers, and more partying at clubs and relaxing at the beach.
Yes, there are many beach clubs here all offering different things. There are big party clubs, relaxing places that are good for families, and even more bohemian beach clubs. So you can pick which one you want to go to for the day!
For a classic, you’ll love Le Club 55. This has been an iconic place since the 1950s. It’s a bit more lowkey than the all-out party beach clubs, but you can still have some fun here or just relax. It is a mix of people, and you may spot a celeb or two here depending on your visit.
Other great places for a relaxing beach club day include Gigi Rigolatto, which has a pool, kids area, wellness center, and more to make your stay relaxing, Indie Beach, and Club Les Palmiers.
If you’re here to party with your friends, I highly recommend getting a taxi to/from the beach here and clubbing it up at places like Verde Beach, Bagatelle Beach, Loulou Ramatuelle, or Nikki Beach. Now these places aren’t going hard at 10 am when many open.
But if you make a later lunch reservation, you’ll see people partying by mid-to-late afternoon onwards.
Other great lowkey clubs include Jardin Tropeziena, Moorea, and Tropicana La Plage.
Whichever one you choose, be sure to make reservations in advance if you can! These get booked up SO quickly in the summer. I’m talking about trying to book months and months out if possible.
I waited a little closer to time and ended up going to Tropicana La Plage. Honestly, it was great! It was on the southern end of the beach and pretty quiet and not crowded at all. The service was nice, it was fairly affordable, and it wasn’t a club in the middle of the day which was great.
If I could do it over, I’d try to opt for a place like Le Club 55 or Gigi Ramatuelle just for a little more atmosphere. However, this was great to get a feel of the beach here!
I ended up walking along the beach (note that part of the Plage de Pampelonne is clothing optional- so it that is shocking to you, beware!), swimming, snorkeling a little, and even renting a paddleboard and did that for a bit.
In between that, I laid in my sunchair, ordered a delicious and fresh seafood lunch, tried a scrumptious Tarte Tropezienne (a brioche halved and filled with pastry cream and buttercream and topped with pearl sugar), and sipped spritzes.
Overall, a pretty relaxing day. I was there almost the full day so it was great!
But is Plage de Pampelonne overrated? 100%. Maybe it was because I was solo traveling and wasn’t planning to party by myself. I think I would come back with my husband Chris or with girlfriends to party just to see how that is.
However, if you’re coming to Plage de Pampelonne solely for the beach and water, you’ll likely be disappointed. The beach and water are full of seaweed, and you have to get pretty far out for really clear water without seaweed floating around.
I can see why the yachts were parked further out and the people on them really only came in for lunch and to party. The water was perfect where they were.
There are far better beaches in the South of France (like Cannes and Juan les Pins) and far better snorkeling opportunities in places like Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
But, it is a decent, sandy beach. The beach clubs are nice, and the food is pretty good. I certainly had a relaxing day here! However, as someone who loves watersports and snorkeling, I was a tad bit disappointed.
St Tropez is known for its beach clubs, so a visit here for the day is a great idea to take it all in!
Note: If you’re not planning on partying, there is plenty of parking. This will save you a LOT of money as taxis to/from the beach can really add up.
After a relaxing beach day and getting some sun, you can enjoy a lovely dinner. As I was staying in Port Grimaud, I ended up having dinner at Don Peppe for some delicious pizza.
Look, beach clubs aren’t the cheapest for a day of sipping spritzes and eating good food. So pizza was honestly just the thing to keep me on a semi-budget!
But, if you want to enjoy dinner in St Tropez, you can check out several restaurants.
There are ample restaurants to choose from between fine dining and more casual.
There are 3 Michelin-star restaurants in St Tropez including La Terrasse-Cheval Blanc St Tropez, La Vague d’Or at Cheval Blanc St Tropez, and Colette.
For something a little less expensive, you can make reservations for places like La Table de Leon, La Ponche, La Ramade, and Chez Madeline (oyster bar), or even go to places like La Petite Plage or Senequier along the port.
And if you want to stay in St Tropez and party, some of these cafes along the port turn into bars in the evening for partying. There are also nightclubs like Les Caves du Roy, Gaio Saint-Tropez, Pablo, and VIP Room.
As for me, I’m not a big partier these days and was staying in Port Grimaud. So I just ate dinner, relaxed, and went to bed. But you do you! Just note that if you do want to go to a nightclub, you’ll want to make reservations ahead of time, especially if you’re visiting in the summer months.
Day 2: Breakfast at Senequier, Saint Tropez Market, Old Port, Citadel, and Port Grimaud
Today is the perfect day to explore the town of Saint Tropez! And, as this is a St Tropez weekend trip, aim for this day to be a Saturday so you can go to the market! So let’s talk about the best things to do in St Tropez in a day!
To begin your day, you’ll want to get to St Tropez (if you aren’t already staying in the heart of the town). For me, I actually stayed in Port Grimaud across the bay because 1) there was hotel availability and 2) it was cheaper.
So I took the boat from Port Grimaud to St Tropez. If you’re staying in the heart of Port Grimaud in the canals, you’ll easily see the stations for the boat. This boat service is actually called Les Bateaux Verts. And for a round-trip ticket to the town, it is only around €16-17.
Just try to make sure you take the boat going to the old town. That way, you can easily walk around to places. And pick up a schedule so you know when you can catch the boat back later.
There is also the option to drive into the city. However, parking can get pricey and fills up quickly on the weekends. So, you’ll want to get in before 9 am to get a good spot.
Once you’re in the town of St Tropez, you can get some breakfast at the iconic Cafe Senequier. This place has been a red-chaired staple in St Tropez since 1887.
So yes, there will be a line to get in, but if you go early enough and are patient, you’ll get in eventually.
Have a seat on one of the red canvas chairs and face toward the port, where you can people-watch to your heart’s delight! I ended up ordering a coffee and the complet breakfast with toast, a Viennoiserie, fruit salad, and juice.
Sit back and take it all in! This is the best place for watching the world go by. You’ll spot yachts coming in, see many fashionable people walking around, and enjoy the nice breeze off the bay.
Once you’ve wrapped up your time at Senequier, you’ll want to head to Place des Lices for the market. This market can get quite busy, but there are some fun finds here!
If you’re still hungry, there are ample booths selling fruits, veggies, snacks, breads, etc.
But the best thing to do here is to shop. I mean there are some cheaply made things here but there are some unique finds too.
The best area was the part of the market selling vintage designer goods. Sure, some are definitely worn down, but where else can you spot vintage Louis Vuitton trunk cases for sale or Hermes scarves that are gently used?
I’ll take it! And this is where I did a little shopping. Yes, in the main market area I bought a cheap, silk scarf that is beautiful. But I wandered over to the designer goods area and found the most adorable and perfect scarf I’ve ever seen by Hermes.
I’ve always wanted a vintage Hermes scarf, but for the price, it had to be perfect. And yes, this was a pricey scarf (although far cheaper than a brand new one in the store), but I was SO happy with my purchase. I wear it all the time.
After the market, you can wander through the old port. Admire the cobblestone streets, adorable boutiques, and even stroll past some tiny beaches like Plage de la Glaye as you walk along the sea. The Quai de la Pesquiere is also lovely with many people swimming around it in the summertime.
You can continue along the sea to the Sentier du Littoral Saint-Tropez. This coastal path has pretty views, the St Tropez Cemetery, and even a spot or two to dip in if you want!
You can opt to hike a little of it and turn back around or hike for longer- it really is up to you and your time frame (and if you packed stuff for hiking a bit). If you’re like me and wore cute flat sandals to explore St Tropez in style, you may want to just wander a bit and turn around before the trail.
After your little walking excursion away from the crowds, you can come back into the old port and wander past all the designer boutiques. I found anything from Louis Vuitton and Dior to Hermes and Celine. Seriously, they aren’t hard to find.
Many of these shops can be found along Rue Francois Sibilli and Rue Gambetta.
While these were definitely out of my price range, I did enjoy walking around and window shopping.
And if you want to feel luxurious and grab a coffee, Dior does have a cafe here with a lovely garden.
I will say that if you want to buy a cute beach bag, fun accessories, or even a straw tote without breaking the bank, check out MANA Saint Tropez!
Alright, after shopping (or just window shopping let’s be real), it is probably time for lunch.
I ended up making reservations at La Petite Plage back at the port and it was amazing! First of all, this place has sandy floors to make it feel like you’re at a beach club in the heart of town!
But they serve up some delicious cocktails, like a Spritz, of course, as well as incredible food. I had the best mussels I had ever tasted.
Yes, it was more expensive, but the food was good so I didn’t mind it!
The restaurant is also so stylish and there is great people-watching on the port!
After lunch, it is time to walk around a bit more and head to the top of the Citadelle de Saint-Tropez for epic views of the city!
This fortress was built in the 17th century and is now a nautical museum discussing things like the history of fishing here, how yachting became so popular in the town, yacht racing history, and more!
It was fun to visit and the views from the top are incredible of Saint Tropez and the bay!
On the way down and back to the port, you can stop at the famous Cedric Grolet & Airelles. This is a famous pastry shop selling beautifully designed sweets.
I ended up picking up a citron pastry and eclair Tropezienne. However, don’t wait to eat it, especially on a hot day! I waited until I got back to Port Grimaud and it had melted. It still tasted good though!
After that, I recommend hopping on the boat to Port Grimaud.
This place is full of canals, and you can walk along the bridges here, pop into fun shops, and then perhaps head to the beach inside of an upscale camping area in Port Grimaud.
This is a great place to just chill, grab an aperitif, and relax before dinner. This is outside of the canal area so exit the canals and go onto the mainland toward the beach to find it!
Then, you can either head back to St Tropez for dinner or, if you’re staying in Port Grimaud, grab dinner here.
As I was staying in Port Grimaud, I made reservations for dinner at La Table du Mareyeur. This is a fantastic seafood restaurant along the canals. Here I ordered crab and cucumber gazpacho and scallops with green pea puree and bacon.
For dining in St Tropez, see Day 1 for suggestions.
Day 3: Depart St Tropez
Sunday happens to be market day in Port Grimaud. So, if you’re staying here on a Sunday, this is a great chance to check it out! Wander through the market (can you tell I love markets?) and grab some breakfast here!
You can find clothing, fruits, veggies, and more at the market in Port Grimaud. When I was here, I really enjoyed a stand that sold fresh orange juice and croissants.
So before you leave for your next destination (I was off to Antibes!), you can stop here for a bit.
Note: Parking during market day isn’t allowed in the canal part of the town where the market is. There is a huge parking lot outside of this area though that you can use.
After your visit to the market, it is time to continue your journey! I had a great time visiting St Tropez in combination with Port Grimaud and hope you will too!
If You Have More Than 2 Days in Saint Tropez
Have more than a weekend in Saint Tropez? I recommend perhaps checking out some of the wineries nearby, especially as this is the Cote de Provence, an area well known for its amazing rosé.
Made primarily with Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mouvedre grapes, you can taste high quality rosé in this part of the world at places like Chateau Minuty, Domaine Bertaud Belieu, Chateau Barbeyrolles, Domaine Tropez, and more!
Other unique things to do in and around St Tropez include a horseback riding and wine-tasting tour and even an evening catamaran party.
You can also explore more beaches in the area listed above, explore Sainte-Maxime, go to another beach club, take up tennis, go horseback riding, or even hiking nearby.
Where to Stay in Saint Tropez
Now there are a ton of options on where to stay in the St Tropez area. You could stay in and around St Tropez, you could stay in Port Grimaud, or you could even stay in Sainte-Maxime. So let’s talk about your options.
Best St Tropez Hotels:
Hotel Lou Cagnard: Located in the city of St Tropez itself, this is a lovely mid-to-higher-range place to stay. There is a lovely garden and a pool, and the rooms are bright and airy.
Hotel des Lices Saint-Tropez: Another mid-rangeish option for staying in the town of St Tropez, this stunning hotel has a beautiful pool, villas, apartments, and rooms that are lovely, and even a delicious restaurant.
Hotel Les Lauriers: With relaxing rooms, a cozy garden, and a bohemian vibe, you’ll love this little hotel with only 20 rooms near Place des Lices.
Note: Mid-range in St Tropez can be decent in the off-season, but pretty high in the high season. In December, some of these places are around $250 per night. But during tourist season, you’re looking at $350-800+ per night.
However, if you want to go full-on luxury and cost is of no concern, here are a few places to stay nearby.
Airelles Saint-Tropez, Chateau de la Messardiere: This hotel is a chateau and the epitome of luxury. With a wellness center complete with a spa, gym, yoga studio, and pool, you can fully relax in between beach clubs and tennis courts. This place also has a kids’ club, several pools, pool bars and a regular bar, multiple restaurants, and their own beach club, Jardin Tropezina.
Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez: Another 5-star luxury hotel in Saint Tropez, this place, located along Bouillabaisse Beach, has a beach club, pool, spa, hair salon, fitness center, 2 Michelin-star restaurants (with amazing views), and a bar.
Where to Stay in Port Grimaud
This is the town where I stayed and took the Bateaux Verts into St Tropez. Here are places to stay in Port Grimaud.
Hotel Suffren: Located along the canals and next to the market, this is a great place to base yourself for exploring Port Grimaud and even St Tropez! This is where I stayed and really enjoyed it!
Prairies de la Mer: Located in the large campsite by the beach in Port Grimaud, you can also opt to stay in a small villa.
Where to Stay in Sainte-Maxime
Le Petit Prince: For more budget-friendly and just more accommodations in general, Sainte-Maxime is great. This place is a nice hotel with clean and comfortable rooms and a garden to relax in.
Best Western Premier Hotel Montfleuri: Just a 10-minute walk from the port to catch the Bateaux Verts, this place has a garden, pool, bar, and places to relax in between visiting St Tropez.
Getting to Saint Tropez/Getting Around
Sadly, there isn’t a train station or large airport in St Tropez, so getting here does take a little bit of work.
The closest big airports include Nice and Marseille. From Nice, it is about an hour and a half drive to St Tropez, and from Marseille, it is about 2 hours away.
Check flight prices to the South of France here!
There is a smaller airport in St Tropez, but, being a wealthy person’s playground, it is meant for private jets.
The nearest train station to St Tropez is Saint-Raphael, which is still an hour away via car from St Tropez.
So really, your best bet for visiting this area is to have a car. I rented a car for my 2-week South of France road trip, so I just drove to Port Grimaud, visited the town via the Bateaux Verts, and took a taxi to Plage de Pampelonne (although I definitely should’ve just driven).
And if you’re staying in Sainte-Maxime or Port Grimaud, you can just take the Bateaux Verts to the main town.
Once you’re in St Tropez, the main city is walkable so you can explore on foot if you’re able. And to get around the surrounding area like the beach, you’ll need a car or taxi.
Is St Tropez Expensive?
In one word: yes. But it doesn’t have to be really expensive. In fact, you can visit and enjoy it without spending a ton of money. I certainly didn’t spend my life savings here.
Now, if you’re here to shop designer goods, spray people with Champagne showers on the beach, and take private tennis lessons near your chateau hotel, yes, it’s very expensive.
But if you’re like me and stayed nearby, took the boat in, explored for the day, and did a reasonably priced beach club, you can do this affordably.
Here is what I ended up spending in St Tropez:
Hotel: $635 for 2 nights at Hotel Le Suffren in Port Grimaud. I did use my Capital One travel credit to get this down to only $335, though.
Boat to St Tropez: €16.60 for a round-trip boat ride to the town. Honestly, this is likely cheaper than parking.
Dining in St Tropez: €30 for breakfast at Senenquier, €64 for lunch at La Petite Plage, and €36 for pastries and tea at Cedric Grolet. Total: €130.
Other Things in St Tropez: €10 for a cheap scarf at the market, €280 for a vintage Hermes scarf (both of these things are completely optional- no need to go shopping!), and €4 to visit the citadel.
Note that things like window shopping, people-watching, and wandering the town were all free and fun!
And dinner in Port Grimaud I didn’t keep track of, but I’d say it was similar in price to La Petite Plage.
For the beach club day, here is what I spent:
Taxi To/From the Beach From Port Grimaud: €98. 0/10 do not recommend doing this unless you’re planning to party and need a safe ride back. I could’ve easily avoided this price if I had just driven myself and parked by the beach.
Sunbed and Umbrella Rental at Tropicana La Plage: €40.
Aperol Spritzes: €14 each.
Huge Spritzes: €16 each.
Glass of Rosé: €10 each.
Lunch With Dessert: €70. This is without a drink. I ordered a salad, had grilled octopus, and got a tarte Tropeziene for dessert.
SUP Rental: €20.
So here are some ideas on how expensive it is to visit a beach club and spend the day in St Tropez.
What to Wear in St Tropez
I will say that people do like to see and be seen in St Tropez. It is a playground for the rich, the famous, and the elite.
But, it is also a city that anyone can visit. I will say that you do NOT need to be covered head-to-toe in designer clothing and accessories to be treated nicely. Just look nice and you’ll be fine in the town.
I literally wore a cute puff-sleeve top from a boutique I visited while in Stockholm, an adorable skort, and flat sandals for walking around and it was completely fine.
For the beach, I love my bikini from Summersalt (shop the top here and bottom here), my sandals again, and a linen dress that I purchased at a market in Provence. I put all my sunscreen and Kindle and such in a straw bag that I again, just brought with me from a market in Provence.
Just look nice and you’ll be good!
When to visit St Tropez
The French Riviera is a delight year-round, however, St Tropez definitely has a season, and that season is summer.
Now summer is the busiest time to visit, particularly around July and August. But this is the place to be in June-September for many people.
Conversely, winter is pretty empty. Beach clubs are closed up and many restaurants are closed for the season. Yes, you can visit and get some great hotel deals, but you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure attractions and restaurants are open during your visit.
Obviously, if you’re visiting in the winter, you’re likely not coming for the beach, as it’ll be too cold for that.
Places start reopening again in the spring around April. However, you likely won’t want to go for a swim at the beach until around late May.
So, if you want to avoid crowds, get okay hotel prices, and potentially go for a swim, I’d opt for late May/early June and late September/early October.
I was there in mid-July and some beach clubs weren’t busy on a Friday afternoon, but the town of St Tropez was definitely busy. However, if you wander just outside of the port area, you’ll have more peace and quiet.
Other Tips For Visiting Saint Tropez
Ready to book that trip to Saint Tropez for a weekend? Then, here are a few key tips to know before you go!
- Book in advance. We’re talking hotels, restaurants, clubs, beach clubs, etc. If you can book in advance, do it. Either book online, call directly, or see if your hotel can call and make reservations. This will help you a ton, especially if you’re visiting in the height of summer.
- Sunscreen is key. Sun protection will be your best friend, whether you’re shopping in St Tropez or laying beachside. French pharmacy skincare and sunscreen is elite, so just pop into a pharmacy while you’re there for great sun protection. I love La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen for your face and Anthelious 50+ Lait Hydratant Sunscreen. Also, you may want to bring a hat, sunglasses, etc.
- Learn a little French. While a lot of people in St Tropez speak English, it never hurts to know a little of the local language while traveling in general. Even “hello,” “goodbye,” and “thank you,” in French will take you far. Here is my list of 17 useful French phrases to know.
There you have it, the ultimate 2 days in Saint Tropez itinerary that’ll leave you with a good idea of the culture, glitz, glamour, and beauty of this famous French Riviera town. Would you like to visit?
Want more South of France travel ideas? Check out these posts:
- Ultimate 7-Day South of France Road Trip
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- 1 Day in Cannes
- 3 Days in Cannes
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- Ultimate Gordes Travel Guide
- Best Things to Do in Saint-Remy-de-Provence
- Best Things to Do in Cassis
- Ultimate Luberon France Villages Guide & Itinerary
- How to Visit the Ochre Trail in Roussillon
- 10 Ways to Spend 10 Days in France
- Most Beautiful Cities in France
- Top French Road Trips
- France Bucket List
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Kat is the France travel expert behind France Voyager. After studying abroad in Grenoble and traveling throughout France, she fell head over heels for the country. She has since visited many times since 2012 and is sharing all the tips for visiting France in this blog, which she has run for 3 years. Kat shares places she has traveled to and provides tips based on her own personal experiences of traveling and living in France. Aside from France Voyager, Kat also has a couple’s travel blog called World Wide Honeymoon and a podcast that she co-hosts with her husband, Chris, called the World Wide Honeymoon Travel Podcast.