French escapes: 48 hours in St. Tropez

I found my preconceived ideas of St Tropez as an exclusive playground for the rich and famous were wrong. I discovered there was a lot more to this place than what you read in the glossy magazines.

The charming port is surrounded by beautiful beaches and mountain terrain. Perhaps the charm of St Tropez is that it is physically hard to get to, which ensures the unique small town feeling is maintained.

St Tropez was originally a small fishing town, which attracted impressionist painters such as Paul Signac. It became famous for discovering French star Brigitte Bardot, while shooting ‘And God Created Women’.

It is a now a favourite spot for the ‘jet set’ with celebrities often coming during the summer season. In the off season, the atmosphere is calmer, and restaurants and nightclubs are a lot easier to book.

Discover

Take a walk around the Vieux Port.

The old town is full of small, windy cobbled streets and ancient houses, tempting you to discover each tiny laneway. Walking around the town is easy, as the port is quite small.

Enjoy the high end fashion shops as well as specialist French stores, selling wine, cheese and other specialities.

Try a Saint Tropez drink

People-watching in the port is fun, especially at the time of aperitif.

Try a drink ideal for the hot summer in Saint Tropez: a rosé wine spritzer. It’s refreshing and a good spot to set the mood for the evening.

Enjoy the glittering St Tropéziens playing in the port, whilst overlooking the extravagant yachts.

Taste

I had breakfast at Senequier in the port, a restaurant featured in the new Dior ad, inspired by Brigitte Bardot. Traditional breakfast including orange juice, coffee, French pastries, yoghurt etc., at fairly reasonable prices.

Or if you are after an upmarket breakfast, why not try breakfast at Dior? There is a large garden where breakfast is served, with Dior haute couture pieces featured in the old house. It’s definitely worth a visit here.

Hit the town

There are several nightclubs where you may be lucky enough to spot some celebrities. VIP room is one of them, with a rotating dance floor; it’s a particularly good spot for dancing.

Les Caves du Roy is the most exclusive nightclub in St Tropez. Beware of prices, as drinks start from 26 euros. This glamorous nightclub is definitely worth a look inside, and entry is free.

Getting there

If you are coming from Paris, the easiest way to get there is to take the train to St Raphael, from there take the bus or even quicker is to take the ferry.