A Solo Traveller's Guide To St Tropez

St Tropez is a great destination for people travelling on their own. Here’s our guide on where to go and what to do for the independent traveller.

St Tropez has a very small town centre so you can walk everywhere. For some of the more famous beaches, you’ll need a car – they’re a short drive away.

What To See and Do

The beaches and coastal walks are outstanding. They are wild and rugged so take appropriate footwear if you plan to take any long walks, other than from the car to the sand. Visit the Cap Camarat lighthouse and walk the coastal path down to the Bonne Terrasse beach and have a picnic. Or walk around the headland at Pointe de la Rabiou, and end at the restaurant Les Salins for a drink or a pizza. Alternatively walk the length of Pampelonne beach, which is made up of Tahiti Beach and Nikki Beach too. Tahiti Beach is a “clothing optional” beach.

https://instagram.com/p/BLRLyVLDTzp/

Alternatively, head to one of four museums in town. The Butterfly House has over 35,000 species of butterflies (both native and exotic) and the Museum of Police and Cinema is in the old police station and explains the town’s long history with movies. St Tropez has been used as a backdrop to a number of films and was where many of the players in France’s New Wave of cinema used to hang out. Brigitte Bardot still keeps a house nearby.

The Citadel houses the Museum of Maritime History in the old dungeons (which have had protected status since 1921) and offers amazing photo opportunities. The Citadel is also a great place just to hang out and read. The Musée de l’Annonciade is an old converted chapel from the early 16th century. It used to be home to Penitent monks but now is home to lots of lovely artwork, many of the local area painted by Paul Signac in the late 19th century when he first arrived.

https://instagram.com/p/5L4jbtniBe/

Where To Eat

Eat at Café des Arts, which is off the beaten track and very friendly. They have a nice little terrace for the summer months and are open all day long. Or try El Mas, which is another little restaurant, run by a husband and wife, who do great tapas dishes with an emphasis on seafood.

https://instagram.com/p/BKuwPaSjDKm/

If you don’t want to take a table by yourself, head to one of the beach restaurants, where you can eat from your sun lounger. People love La Bouillabaisse on Bouillabaisse Beach, which is on one of the few town beaches. Or head to one of the beach restaurants out of town, like L’Esquinade Plage on Pampelonne Beach or Bagatelle Beach on Nikki Beach (a short walk south).

https://instagram.com/p/BK74mIfDtTA/

Where To Stay

There are some wonderful small hotels in St Tropez. Hotel Ponche is a 22-room boutique hotel with lovely views over the old fishing quarter, La Ponche. Alternatively, sleep directly on the beach at one of the oldest beach clubs, Tahiti Beach. It opened in the 1950s. Both should offer the opportunity for a more intimate type of accommodation and the chance to either meet people in relaxed surroundings or just to do your own thing.

https://instagram.com/p/BSDumZlBUAA/

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.