Our St. Tropez travel essentials cover everything you need to know to make the most of your French Riviera holiday, from getting around to events and landmarks, even electricity type. You’ll learn what type of plug you need for wall outlets, the currency used, how to make an emergency call if you need to and practical information regarding things to see and do.
We’ll show you climate information, the best time to visit and the major types of transportation. You’ll discover several popular destinations and the festivals and celebrations you can expect at certain times a year.
When is the best time to travel to St Tropez?
- St. Tropez's climate is classified as a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm, humid summers.
- The most rainfall can be seen in October, with an average of 104.9 mm of rain that month.
- The warmest months of the year are July and August, averaging about 27° C each month.
- The best time to visit the beaches is July and August, but to avoid crowds, head here in the winter around December and January, with mild temperatures and good deals on lodging.
St Tropez basics
- The plug type is socket E, which is also compatible with plug C or Plug F if it has an additional pinhole.
- Electricity and current are 230V with a standard frequency of 50 Hz.
- The currency is the Euro.
- The International Dial Code is +33.
- For emergency telephone calls, call 15 for SAMU (ambulance), 17 for police, and 18 for fire or general emergencies, 112 is an EU-wide emergency number.
How to get to my hotel in St Tropez?
Travel and transportation in Saint-Tropez are both convenient and reliable. Whether you’re looking to fly in, catch a transfer from the airport to your hotel, or get around the resort town from your villa to any of the major sites in the region. This town offers just about every kind of transportation you could want, from flying into the airport to taking a train from another EU location or even seafaring transport into a local port. Here’s the lowdown on how you can get to your hotel.
Airports
Flying can be a good way to get to town if you’re willing to take the second leg of travel. The biggest international airport near Saint-Tropez is Nice Airport, which is also among the largest in France, just after Paris. From here, you can catch a train, bus, or car hire to get to Saint Tropez. The nearest airport with international and regional flights is Touton-Hyères, about 50 minutes away. La Môle – Saint-Tropez Airport is just about 25 minutes away from the city, but it’s a very small regional airport and best suited for private jets and charter flights.
Major train stations
Trains do run to the vicinity of Saint-Tropez and can be a comfortable way to see the countryside. You won’t find a major train station in the city itself. The main nearby train stations to the city are St. Raphael and Les Arcs Draguignan. Both are roughly 25 miles from the city centre. After you catch your train, you can take a bus into town to get to your hotel. Some hotels may also run shuttles that go straight to the hotel from the station.
Ports
Saint Tropez is an oceanfront resort town, and that means cruises are a very popular way to see the sights here. The Vieux Port and Nouveau Port, just 150 metres apart, both host regular passenger boats. Cruise ships drop anchor in the bay, and passengers take boat ferries to shore. For the most part, the Vieux Port is reserved for private yachts, but ferries will take you to the Nouveau Port and straight into town from there. In the summer, regular ferries run between St. Tropez and Nice, St. Raphael, Cannes, and Sainte-Maxime.
photo by Florian Pépellin (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
How to get around St Tropez?
Travel tips
Saint-Tropez is a very walkable town, and exploring on foot is quite popular. However, many outlying points of interest require some means of transport. Many people choose car hire to get around, especially since public transport in the town is limited. Discount means of getting around include 10-trip tickets on the bus service. Though limited, you will find modest means of taking public transportation from place to place.
Taxi and rideshare apps
Saint-Tropez has lots of taxi services available to get you wherever you need to go. You can call a cab to pick you up wherever you happen to be or catch one at the ports, the airport or the train station outside of town. A taxi station at the Vieux Port can be found in front of the Musee de l’Annonciade. Uber also runs in Saint-Tropez and may be more reliable than catching a cab to get you where you need to go.
Bus network
The bus network in town is very modest. It will get you from place to place and doesn’t cost a lot to take, but there aren’t many buses in town. Buses run very infrequently. Varlib runs them. If you keep with the timetables, however, bus service does run to most of the resorts, towns and villages around the Saint Tropez region. Pets who can sit in an owner’s lap or fit in a bag or basket are allowed on buses.
Car Hire
Car hire is by far the most popular means of getting around Saint-Tropez if you choose not to just walk around the city. All the major car hire companies are represented here and function just as they do anywhere else. You can find offices at the nearby airports, train stations and near the ports. As a fair warning, however, parking is pricey, and traffic can be heavy in the city. However, it’s a reliable way to see the region if you have the patience for it.
Bicycle Hire
Bicycle hire allows you to get around and get some exercise at the same time, and Saint Tropez does offer a wide variety of services. Some allow walk-ins while others require booking, with online booking available. Most bicycle hire are privately owned businesses, so you will want to check around to find the company that best suits your and your family's needs. A few of the top companies for bicycle hire include Rolling Bikes, Blue Bikes Saint-Tropez and Locazur Saint-Tropez.
What are the main annual events in St Tropez?
Les Bravades de Saint Tropez
- When: May
- What: This festival is a traditional celebration of the army, created in the 16th century to defend the city. Expect the city to be decorated in traditional colours with music, dance, food, drinks, parades and vendor stalls selling local arts and crafts.
- Where: Saint Tropez city centre
Les nuits du château de la Moutte
- When: August
- What: This festival is a celebration of classical and jazz music with fantastic concerts held in the courtyard of a 19th-century castle. A moonlight recital and the opera aria evenings are highlights every year.
- Where: Château de la Moutte
La Grande Braderie de Saint-Tropez
- When: October
- What: This event is a shopper’s paradise when all the local boutiques have a big pavement sale, vending all their high-end wares at discount prices. It lasts over 4 days, and you’ll find famous brands from Chanel to Prada, Gucci and others in a festival atmosphere.
- Where: Saint-Tropez Shops
What are the main landmarks in St Tropez?
Citadel of Saint-Tropez – Museum of Maritime History
The Museum of Maritime History showcases the importance of the sea in the development and economy of Saint-Tropez over the last 500 years. You’ll learn about famed naval vessels, merchant ships, fishing vessels and the heroic people who sailed aboard them over the years. You’ll discover pirates and navy stories, tales of fishermen surviving storms and much more.
St Tropez Old Town
The Old Town of Saint-Tropez, also called ‘La Ponche’ is adjacent to the Vieux Port and below the citadel. The historic town centre offers pedestrian-friendly alleyways lined with boutique shops, cafes, restaurants and small arts and crafts stores. Most shops and eateries here are tucked into historic buildings, some dating back hundreds of years.
Château de Grimaud
This medieval ruin is a registered historical monument, and the foundations date to the 11th century. It is mentioned in a deed of gift to the Abbey of Saint-Victor de Marseille. Today it’s a place where not only can you walk romantic ramparts but learn all about the region’s history. The castle is free to visit year-round.
Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum
This vibrant museum tucked into a historic building offers a unique look at 2 unrelated but equally important pieces of local history: the French Police Force and the history of film in the region. You’ll learn the surprising ways these 2 overlap and learn about the myth vs reality of Saint-Tropez as the cinema presents it.
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