Saint Tropez

The small dock is intended for private yachts rather than cruise vessels, so passengers tender to either the Vieux (=old) Port or Nouveau (=new) Port, which are only 150 metres apart. From the new harbour, walk past the old one and straight into town. Saint Tropez has no cruise terminal, but a tourist information centre stands near each landing stage. Cafés, restaurants and shops surround both ports.

Take a printable map ashore.

Once an unimportant fishing village, this jet-set haven gained popularity as an artists' colony during the late 19th century. Roger Vadim's film And God Created Woman, made here with Brigitte Bardot, then created the international cult of Tropezian sun, sex and celebrities. At the end of its own peninsula, St. Tropez suddenly became a jet-set talking point, propelling the tiny port to worldwide fame.

A hundred years ago, St. Tropez did not even have a proper road and was reached mainly by boat. Novelist Guy de Maupassant sailed his yacht into the harbour in 1880, followed by neo-Impressionist painter Paul Signac and numerous other celebrated artists and writers. By World War I, St. Tropez was firmly established as a Bohemian haunt.

The old quarter around the harbour forms the focal point. Narrow streets squeeze between Quai Jean Jaurès, Place des Lices and the remains of the 16th-century citadel. Sleek, shining yachts now fill the harbour in place of simple fishing boats. Pastel-coloured houses encircle the waterfront, creating the classic St. Tropez scene of pavement cafés and small boutiques selling the latest fashions.

St Tropez is very easy to cover on foot. It is not particularly large and contains many narrow, quaint streets plus several genuinely old towers beside the Port Ancien Bassin.

Although taxis are available, walking around is much easier unless your destination lies outside the town.

Port Grimaud (10 km) is a picturesque small town constructed during the sixties across a network of waterways. Grimaud itself is medieval and has a ruined château. The Bateau Verts provide easy access

Farther away (25 km), historic Roman Fréjus has a Roman arena and a 12th-century cathedral. Be aware that coastal roads can become very busy during summer.

St. Tropez is known for topless and some bottomless beaches. The better private beaches, including Tahiti Plage, lie beyond the headland at least 3 km away on the Pampelonne stretch of sand. Reach them by taxi or one of the frequent beach-shuttle minibuses from Place des Lices. Beach fees apply, and traffic leaving town can be heavily congested, especially in midsummer.

Stylish shops are packed across St-Tropez, although there is no single shopping street; most occupy tucked-away corners of the old town. Major names include Hermès, Sonia Rykiel and Dior. Galeries Tropéziennes at 56 rue Gambetta fills its showrooms near place des Lices with hundreds of gifts, some worthwhile and others silly. Its merchandise is Mediterranean, breezy and sophisticated.

On Tuesday and Saturday mornings, an outdoor market selling food, clothing and brocante, or flea-market finds, fills place des Lices. It is among southern France's best Provençal markets, with more than 100 traders offering everything from tableware to homemade bread. The fish, vegetable and flower market sits down the tiled place aux Herbes alley behind the tourist office. In summer it runs daily from 8am to noon, and in winter Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to noon.

Euro is used.

Ask the local tourist office at Quai Jean Jaurès beside the old harbour about internet access.

The local emergency number is 112.

Most French shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks stay open throughout the day. Smaller shops and enterprises are the exception and may close for lunch between 12.30pm and 2pm. Typical hours are 8 or 9am–6.30 or 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday for large shops and Tuesday to Saturday for smaller ones, although some small shops may open on Monday afternoon. Even when others close, food shops and boulangeries can always be found open, normally until noon on Sunday.