The Var’s most famous destination is a thriving resort between May and August when tourists, millionaires and celebrities descend on St Tropez to wine and dine and wander the boutiques and galleries lining the side streets.

Year round, St Tropez attracts visitors that stop by for prestigious events and traditional festivals such as Les Bravades (a historical annual procession paying homage to the town’s Patron Saint Torpes), Fête de St Pierre (celebrating the patron saint of fishermen), and yachting fixtures Giraglia Rolex Cup and Les Voiles de St Tropez.

Read on for Bespoke Yacht Charter’s Essential Guide to Yacht Charter in St Tropez so you can get the most out of your time in this region.

Tips for chartering a yacht in St Tropez

As one of southern France’s premier destinations, there really is no better way to experience St Tropez than on a luxury yacht charter.

Bespoke Yacht Charter recommend researching luxury yacht charter companies that offer the best value, and booking as far in advance as you can especially in peak summer season.

Imagine sitting on the aft deck of a superyacht with a chilled glass of Provençal Rosé or champagne as the yacht’s Chef whips up a delicious meal of ocean-fresh seafood or fresh French produce handpicked from the stalls in St Tropez market. Sound tempting?

Bespoke Yacht Charter are experienced in arranging all the details for chartering a yacht in St Tropez so you don’t have to worry about all the individual components such as accommodation, dining, transportation that are needed to enjoy your time in this region.

From a day charter to an extended stay, Bespoke Yacht Charter deliver a high level of service that offers professionalism, discretion and attention to the finer details matching each client’s needs to a vast portfolio of luxury charter yachts and yacht crew.

Best beaches in St Tropez

Beach life in St Tropez is one of the main draw cards for visitors and contrary to belief you’ll find a mixture of public and private beaches so it’s possible to find somewhere to sunbathe without hiring a sun lounger and mattress!

Free public beaches include Plage de la Ponche, Plage de la Fontanette and Plage des Graniers.

Pampelonne Beach is the most famous stretch of sand near to St Tropez and located around 5 kilometres from St Tropez at Ramatuelle with numerous beach restaurants and water sports companies to entertain visitors. For more details about Pampelonne Beach, read Bespoke Yacht Charter’s article on beach clubs at Pampelonne.

Recommended restaurants in St Tropez

Here are Bespoke Yacht Charter’s recommendations for places to dine in or near to St Tropez:

Cristina Saulini, 13 rue des Feniers, 83990 St Tropez. Telephone: +33 (0)4 94 97 46 10

Located half-way between the port and the Citadelle in a narrow alleyway, you’ll be transported to the back streets of Rome or Florence with Italian food that elevates St Tropez dining to new heights.

Open evenings only, ensure you make a reservation at this welcoming restaurant where you can dine on burrata accompanied with warm focaccia drizzled in olive oil, truffle ravioli or sea bass cooked in salt.

Le Pescadou, Place Dei Barri, 83580 Gassin. Telephone: +33 (0)4 94 56 12 43

Situated in Gassin, a hillside village a short distance from St Tropez, enjoy the panoramic views from the vine-covered pergola where the menu features octopus carpaccio, risotto with scallops and asparagus and fig tarte tartin for dessert. Reservations essential.

www.lepescadou-gassin.net

La Pesquiere, 1 rue des Remparts, 83990 St-Tropez. Telephone : +33 (0)4 94 97 05 92

A family-run restaurant overlooking the small bay at La Ponche, you’ll be able to order a three-course formule (set menu) for under €30.

Perfect for a casual lunch, cuisine is seafood dominant with dishes including stuffed sardines with Provençal tomatoes, and mussels with cream and white wine sauce. They have children’s menus and a dessert selection that will tempt any sweet tooth.

La Vague d’Or, Résidence de la Pinède, Plage de la Bouillabaisse, 83990 St-Tropez. Telephone: +33 (0)4 94 55 91 00

With a wonderful seaside location, La Vague d’Or is the cream of the crop in St Tropez. Three Michelin stars is proof of the exceptional level of service and food. Reservations necessary.

www.chevalblanc.com/fr/maison/st-tropez/restaurants-et-bars/la-vague-d-or-st-tropez/

Best night life in St Tropez

If you’re looking for entertainment close to your yacht berth, join the port side action at Le Quai, 22 Quai Jean Jaurès, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Telephone: +33 (0)4 94 97 04 07. Enjoy a leisurely dinner watching all the front row action along the waterfront, then be entertained by nightly live shows and DJ’s until late with a mixture of singers, saxophonists and fire eaters.

www.lequaisaint-tropez.com

Les Caves du Roy, Hotel Byblos, avenue Paul Signac (actual entrance for the club is on avenue du Maréchal Foch). Telephone: +33 (0)4 94 97 16 02

If you’re looking for a St Tropez institution, you can’t go past Les Caves du Roy. Extremely popular, especially in July and August when it opens nightly, be prepared for a lengthy entrance queue if you haven’t taken a table reservation.

Once inside, shine up your credit card and pop the champagne as you rub shoulders on the dancefloor with beautiful people including supermodels, F1 race car drivers and musicians.

www.lescavesduroy.com

Nikki Beach St Tropez, Route de L’epi, 83350 Ramatuelle. Telephone: +33 (0)4 94 79 82 04

Part of the global Nikki Beach chain, the St Tropez location drips in hedonism and is infamous for themed parties around the pool as bikini-clad babes dance to top DJ’s.

You don’t arrive by road here – do what the jetset crowd do and park your tender just off the beach (Boat coordinates are 43° 13′ 21.885” N; 6° 39′ 14.88” W).

Love it or hate it, Nikki Beach St Tropez is a must-try experience! Magnums of champagne compulsory.

saint-tropez.nikkibeach.com

Hôtel Bar du Sube, 23 Quai du Suffren, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Telephone : +33 (0)4 94 97 30 04

If you fancy a change from the chrome and neon of other St Tropez establishments, head to this upstairs bar at the Hôtel Sube for a low key and relaxed vibe.

With an interior decorated with wooden beams, leather armchairs and photographs of sailing regattas, you’ll feel like you’re having a drink somewhere with clientele that seem a mix of Ernest Hemingway and Captain Jack Sparrow.

Try to get an outside table for a birds eye view over the superyachts in the old port of St Tropez.

www.hotelsubesainttropez.com

Things to see and do in St Tropez

Citadelle

Located just east of the town, stop into the Musée de la Citadelle that showcases the military history of St Tropez and the navy.

Afterwards, stand on the Citadelle ramparts where you’ll be rewarded with views over St Tropez and across the Gulf.

Many visitors to St Tropez are unaware that film director Roger Vadim is laid to rest in the Cimetière Marin just below the Citadelle on chemin des Graniers.

Musée de l’Annonciade, place Georges Grammont

Situated in the former chapel by the old port of St Tropez, the art collections contain stunning Post-Impressionist works from the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries including works from Paul Signac, Pierre Bonnard, Raoul Dufy and Charles Camoin.

Place des Lices market

A cornerstone of St Tropez, this is the place to go to see a slice of St Tropez market life.

Held twice weekly on Tuesday and Saturday between 8am and 1pm, St Tropez residents and local chefs get there early to bag the best produce so try to visit before 9am when the tourists arrive.

You’ll find a mixture of wares here including antique furniture, Provençal linen, fragrant soaps and seasonal produce including lemons, peaches, olives, courgettes and melons.

Afterwards, quench your thirst at one of the cafes fringing the market and on non-market days it’s still a pleasant square to visit where locals challenge each other to a game of boules under the shade of the plane trees.

Port Grimaud

Located a short distance west of St Tropez, Port Grimaud was conceived and built in the 1960’s by an Alsace architect, François Spoerry, who lived there until his death and is now laid to rest at the town church, St-François-d’Assise.

Christened the ‘French Venice’, the entire port is traffic-free and the labyrinth of canals and rainbow-hued townhouses are scattered with restaurants and shopping boutiques.

The local coches d’eau (water taxis) leave from Place du Marché and transport visitors around the waterways, see here for more details: www.hpco.fr/les-coches-d-eau-port-grimaud/

Wine routes

St Tropez falls under the Côtes de Provence wine appellation which is noticeably strong on rosé varieties (75-80% of the harvest). If you’re not partial to a chilled rosé, you’ll still find some red or white at one of the numerous domains in the region. For wine tasting, head to these 3 vineyards near to St Tropez:

Domaine des Tournels at Ramatuelle www.domaine-des-tournels.com

Domaine La Tourraque at Ramatuelle www.latourraque.fr

Château Minuty at Gassin www.minuty.com

This article was written by Rebecca Whitlocke, who with over 10 years travel industry experience loves to share ‘must-do’ destination tips and hidden spots to discover in France and beyond.

To discuss your St Tropez yacht charter requirements, please contact Alexander Coles at Bespoke Yacht Charter:

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