St Tropez beaches, from the village coves to Pampelonne and Gigaro
Ten beaches across three communes: what each one is like, how to reach it without losing the morning to traffic, and which suits small children, a dog or a quiet swim.
The St Tropez beaches fall into two groups. Around the village and the peninsula, Saint-Tropez itself has small, sheltered beaches: La Ponche and Les Graniers within walking distance of the port, then La Bouillabaisse, Les Canoubiers, La Moutte and Les Salins further out. On the open sea to the south lie the long sandy bays most people picture: Pampelonne (4.5 km, in Ramatuelle), L’Escalet and, further still, Gigaro in La Croix-Valmer. For a family day, the best beach in St Tropez is usually Les Canoubiers, La Bouillabaisse or L’Escalet; for space and sand, Pampelonne.
The detail that surprises first-time visitors: the beach the world calls ‘Saint-Tropez beach’ is not in Saint-Tropez. Pampelonne belongs to Ramatuelle, the hill village next door, and its car parks, shuttle and lifeguard posts are run by that commune. Gigaro belongs to La Croix-Valmer. Each commune sets its own parking season and its own rules, which is why every practical figure below comes from the commune or tourist office concerned, and why it is worth checking the current year’s dates before you set off.
This guide covers the beaches themselves and how to reach them. We do not list beach clubs: there are many along Pampelonne, they change hands and names, and our concierge books them for guests according to the day you have in mind. If you are still choosing where to stay, our luxury villas in Saint-Tropez are compared further down by the drive from each one to the sand.
The beaches in figures
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
Pampelonne stretches over 4.5 km of fine sand in Ramatuelle; the commune describes it as a remarkable natural area that can receive up to 30,000 people a day.
Source: ramatuelle.fr (Commune de Ramatuelle)Under the beach development plan approved in December 2015, Pampelonne’s establishments use durable, demountable structures that free the sand in winter, and the dune ridge has been restored and protected.
Source: ramatuelle.fr (Commune de Ramatuelle)In 2026 the public car parks at Pampelonne and L’Escalet were paid from 2 April to 4 October; at Pampelonne, parking was free before 11am and from 5pm.
Source: ramatuelle.fr (beach parking)Ramatuelle’s free summer shuttle links the village with L’Escalet and southern Pampelonne; in 2026 it ran daily from 15 June to 22 September, about every 15 minutes in July and August.
Source: ramatuelle-tourisme.com (Ramatuelle tourist office)L’Escalet is a family beach of about 350 m between Cap Camarat and Cap Taillat, continuing into coves and small beaches.
Source: ramatuelle.fr (Commune de Ramatuelle)At Gigaro, in La Croix-Valmer, bathing is supervised from June to September, and the beach marks the entrance to the protected Cap Lardier estate, looked after by the Port-Cros and Porquerolles National Park.
Source: lacroixvalmertourisme.com (La Croix-Valmer tourist office)The best beaches in St Tropez, France, side by side
Ten beaches, from the closest to the village to the furthest south. ‘Supervised’ means a lifeguard post in season, as published by the commune or the tourist office; where nothing is published, we leave it out rather than guess.
| Beach | Commune | What it is like | How you get there | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Ponche | Saint-Tropez | About 50 m of grainy sand on the edge of the oldest quarter, with a concrete area and a ladder into the sea | On foot only, from the port or the citadel | A swim between a morning in the village and lunch |
| Les Graniers | Saint-Tropez | A small sandy cove below the southern slopes of the citadel, beyond the seaside cemetery; free and open all year | On foot from the village, or along the coastal path | A short walk and a quiet swim, even out of season |
| La Bouillabaisse | Saint-Tropez | About 500 m of fine sand and shallow water facing the Maures hills, partly public, partly private; supervised | By car, just before the old village when coming from Port-Grimaud; parking on site and nearby | Young children; wheelchair access with assistance |
| Les Canoubiers | Saint-Tropez | About 200 m of sand lined with umbrella pines, a family feel, toilets and a watersports centre; supervised | About 4 km east of the centre by car, with parking; also by boat or on foot from the port | Families, and sunsets over the Maures |
| La Moutte | Saint-Tropez | About 300 m, wild and quiet, with no facilities and no lifeguard | Access is rather difficult, so it is known mainly to regulars | Adults who want peace rather than services |
| Les Salins | Saint-Tropez | A public beach at the eastern tip of the peninsula, beside La Moutte, often mistaken for the start of Pampelonne | By car from the village | A first taste of the open sea, close to town |
| Pampelonne | Ramatuelle | 4.5 km of fine sand, a protected natural area, about twenty beach establishments in season with public sand between them | Public car parks along the beach; free summer shuttle to the southern end | Space, long walks, watersports and long lunches |
| Bonne Terrasse | Ramatuelle | A sandy arc of about 150 m at the far south end of Pampelonne; not supervised | Stairs from the car park, about ten minutes on foot | Escaping the busiest stretch of Pampelonne |
| L’Escalet | Ramatuelle | A family beach of about 350 m between Cap Camarat and Cap Taillat, extended by coves; snorkelling and kayaks | Paid car park or the free summer shuttle; coastal path towards Cap Taillat | Families who like to snorkel and walk |
| Gigaro | La Croix-Valmer | Golden sand and turquoise water, Blue Flag, an accessible beach area, supervised June to September | Paid parking in season, or the free shuttle from La Croix-Valmer | A long day with a protected headland on foot |
Lengths and services as published by the regional tourist board, the Saint-Tropez tourist office and the communes of Ramatuelle and La Croix-Valmer.
Pampelonne beach, beyond the beach clubs
Pampelonne beach runs for 4.5 km between Cap Pinet to the north and Cap Camarat to the south, with centuries-old vineyards behind it. It is the beach of the postcards and the one that fills first, since the commune reckons it can take up to 30,000 people a day. Where along it you settle changes the day completely.
Since the development plan approved in December 2015, the beach establishments have been rebuilt as demountable structures that leave the sand clear in winter, and the dune behind the beach has been restored and protected. About twenty establishments open in season. Between them the sand is public, and anyone may lay down a towel.
The lifeguard posts give a useful idea of how the beach works. In 2026 the main post at Patch was staffed from 2 April to 4 October, with secondary posts at Gros Vallat (27 June to 30 August) and Tamaris (13 June to 6 September). At the far south end, Bonne Terrasse is a 150 m arc reached by stairs from its car park. It is not supervised, and it is noticeably calmer.
- Arrive before 11am. The public car parks were free until then in 2026, and the sand is at its quietest.
- Leave the car in Ramatuelle for the south end. The free shuttle stops in the Bonne Terrasse sector, with access to the greenway footbridge towards Gros Vallat.
- Look under the water. A marine trail lets snorkellers follow the seagrass beds and their fish just offshore.
- Coming by sea. Five public, demountable pontoons serve the beach, shared between operators, which suits a lunch reached by tender.
The beaches of St Tropez around the village and the peninsula
Saint-Tropez has no road running along its shoreline, so its beaches are reached one by one, down separate lanes or along the coastal path. The two closest, La Ponche and Les Graniers, are walks rather than drives. La Ponche lies between the Portalet tower and the Tour Vieille, at the edge of the oldest quarter; Les Graniers sits below the citadel, beyond the seaside cemetery. Neither is large, and both suit a swim fitted between a market morning and lunch rather than a full beach day.
La Bouillabaisse, on the way into town from Port-Grimaud, is the easy family option: fine sand, shallow water, a supervised stretch, toilets and wheelchair access with assistance. Les Canoubiers, about 4 km east of the centre, has pine shade, a lifeguard in season and a watersports centre, and the tourist office singles out its sunsets over the Maures. Both look back across the gulf rather than out to the open sea.
Further out, La Moutte and Les Salins share the eastern tip of the peninsula. La Moutte is about 300 m long, wild and without facilities, and the regional tourist board warns that access is rather difficult. Les Salins is often taken for the northern end of Pampelonne, which it is not. If you would rather stay within reach of these quieter beaches than of the busy south, our villas near Saint-Tropez page explains the trade-off between the peninsula, Gassin and Ramatuelle.
Driving into the village to walk to La Ponche or Les Graniers? In 2026, on-street parking in Saint-Tropez was paid from 1 April to 11 November, and the Nouveau Port car park, with 1,477 spaces, is by far the largest.
L’Escalet, Cap Taillat and Gigaro: the quieter south
L’Escalet is where Ramatuelle’s coast turns wild. The beach itself is a family one, about 350 m long between Cap Camarat and Cap Taillat, with snorkelling and kayak hire, and its lifeguard post was staffed from 13 June to 6 September in 2026. From there the coastal path continues through coves and small beaches; the Ramatuelle tourist office puts Cap Taillat about 40 minutes away on foot.
Cap Taillat was classified in 1993 and now belongs to the Conservatoire du littoral, the public body that protects France’s coastline. The cape splits the sea into two bays, Briande on the La Croix-Valmer side and Bonporteau on the Ramatuelle side, and the tourist office notes that a sheltered spot can be found there whatever the wind. At its foot, the Plage de la Douane takes its name from a customs house built under Napoleon I and recently restored; it is not supervised.
Gigaro, in La Croix-Valmer, is the gentler end of the walk: golden sand under pines, a Blue Flag, an accessible beach area and lifeguards from June to September. It is also the gateway to the Cap Lardier estate, a protected natural area looked after by the Port-Cros and Porquerolles National Park, with a marine trail about 20 minutes’ walk away at the Plage de Jovat.
- Take water and proper shoes: the coves along the coastal path have few or no services.
- Choose L’Escalet or Gigaro for children, and the coves beyond for confident swimmers only.
- On a windy day, aim for Cap Taillat and pick the side out of the wind.
Getting to the beaches: parking, shuttle and boat
Traffic on the peninsula is the real constraint of a summer beach day, more than the beaches themselves. These are the published arrangements for 2026; the communes renew them each spring.
- Know which commune you are heading to
Saint-Tropez, Ramatuelle and La Croix-Valmer each run their own car parks, seasons and shuttles. If you are flying into Nice, our Nice to St Tropez guide covers the journey to the peninsula before any of this applies.
- Time Pampelonne around the car parks
The public car parks were paid from 2 April to 4 October 2026 and free before 11am and from 5pm. Payment is at automated stations where you scan your ticket. Two-wheelers park free, and the first half hour is free for drop-offs.
- Use Ramatuelle’s free shuttle
It leaves from the bus stop at the village stadium, where there is free parking, and serves eight stops including the Bonne Terrasse sector and L’Escalet. In 2026 it ran daily from 15 June to 22 September: every 20 minutes from 9am to a last departure at 7.40pm in June and September, every 15 minutes from 8.30am to 7.10pm in July and August. Animals are accepted, as are wheelchair users who can board independently.
- At L’Escalet, pay by the time you stay
The charge is calculated on your length of stay and varies with the time of day and the season, so a morning swim costs less than a full day. Pay at the meters or with the commune’s parking app.
- At Gigaro, park early or take the shuttle
Beach parking is paid from 1 June to 30 September, 9am to 7pm. A free shuttle runs from the village over the same months, non-stop from about 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
- Or arrive from the sea
With boat hire arranged by our concierge, Pampelonne’s public pontoons and the coves around Cap Taillat become a short hop from the bay, and the car stays at the villa.
Which beach for which day
The best beach in St Tropez depends on who is coming and what the weather is doing. This is how we would match them, using only what the communes and tourist offices publish.
| If you want | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Paddling with toddlers | La Bouillabaisse, Les Canoubiers | Shallow water at La Bouillabaisse, a lifeguard in season at both, toilets on site |
| Watersports for teenagers | Pampelonne, Les Canoubiers | Activities along Pampelonne in season, and a watersports centre at Les Canoubiers |
| No car at all | La Ponche, Les Graniers | Both are reached on foot from the village |
| Wild and quiet | La Moutte, Bonne Terrasse, Plage de la Douane | No lifeguard at any of the three, so for confident swimmers |
| A sheltered swim on a windy day | Cap Taillat | Its two bays mean one side is usually out of the wind |
| Step-free access | La Bouillabaisse, Gigaro, Les Canoubiers | Wheelchair access with assistance, an accessible beach area, and disabled access respectively |
| Your dog along | Saint-Tropez’s beaches, at set hours | In 2026, dogs were allowed from 6am to 9.30am and 6.30pm to 10pm between 16 July and 15 September |
| A winter walk | Les Graniers, La Bouillabaisse | Both are listed as open all year |
Lifeguard dates and dog rules are set each year by municipal order: check the commune’s website before you go.
Villas near the beaches, by drive time
Every villa below has been visited by our team, and the times are those given in each villa’s own description. The comparison of bedrooms, bathrooms and living space follows with the villa cards. For the village itself, its markets and evenings, see our Saint-Tropez travel guide.
| Villa | Distance to the beaches | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Villa Solara, Saint-Tropez | A few minutes’ walk from the beaches of Pampelonne; the village about twelve minutes by car | Families: play area, tennis court and a guest cottage for older children |
| Villa Orea, Saint-Tropez | Pampelonne and the Place des Lices each about eight minutes by car | Days split between the beach and the village |
| Villa Vittoria, Saint-Tropez | Right on the water; the village six minutes and Pampelonne about sixteen minutes by car | Mornings on the bay, afternoons on the open sea |
| Villa Evara, Saint-Tropez | In the hills above the gulf; Pampelonne about sixteen minutes by car | Views over the gulf, ten guests |
| Villa Amara, Saint-Tropez | Sea views; the village about ten minutes and Pampelonne under twenty by car | Large groups across two independent buildings |
| Villa Calista, Saint-Tropez | On the waterfront; the village about twelve minutes and Pampelonne about twenty by car | Guests arriving by helicopter, on the private helipad |
Our villas within reach of Pampelonne and the bay
Saint-Tropez villas, from a short walk to the sand to a garden on the water.
The villas side by side
Guests, bedrooms, bathrooms, living space and highlights, as listed for each villa.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villa SolaraSaint-Tropez | 12 | 7 | 7 | 451 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Tennis Court, Wine Cellar, Massage Room |
| Villa OreaSaint-Tropez | 12 | 6 | 7 | 510 m² | Heated Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Massage Room |
| Villa VittoriaSaint-Tropez | 16 | 8 | 9 | 460 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Massage Room, Gym |
| Villa EvaraSaint-Tropez | 10 | 5 | 5 | 368 m² | Heated Pool, Wine Cellar, Gym, Gated Estate, Garage |
| Villa AmaraSaint-Tropez | 25 | 14 | 14 | 900 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam |
| Villa CalistaSaint-Tropez | 12 | 6 | 6 | 400 m² | Heated Pool, Wine Cellar, Gym, Gated Estate |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
What we arrange around the beach
The beach is public; the logistics around it are where a villa stay gains or loses its days.
Loungers and tables booked
Our concierge reserves the beach club that suits the day you describe, a quiet lunch or a long afternoon, so you are not queuing at the entrance in July.
Transfers timed to the car parks
A chauffeur can be arranged on request, dropping you at Pampelonne before the morning rush and collecting you when the children have had enough.
The coves by boat
Boat hire can be added to your stay, which turns the coastline beyond L’Escalet and Cap Taillat into an easy morning rather than a hike.
Distances we have checked
Every residence is visited by our team, and some are available without being published online. Ask which villas fit your beach and we will tell you plainly.
St Tropez beaches: your questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamAre there public beaches in St Tropez?
Yes. The Saint-Tropez tourist office lists La Ponche, Les Graniers, La Bouillabaisse and Les Canoubiers as free to access, and La Moutte and Les Salins are public beaches too. On Pampelonne and La Bouillabaisse, public sand alternates with beach establishments, and you may settle on any public stretch with your own towel. What you pay for, where it applies, is parking, loungers and service.
Where is St Tropez beach?
The beach most people mean is Pampelonne, which is not in Saint-Tropez but in Ramatuelle, on the open sea south-east of the village. It is reached along the Route des Plages and runs for 4.5 km between Cap Pinet and Cap Camarat. The village has its own smaller beaches, La Ponche and Les Graniers, both within walking distance of the port.
Is Pampelonne beach free?
Access to the sand is free. What is charged in season is the public parking: in 2026 the car parks were paid from 2 April to 4 October, but free before 11am and from 5pm, and two-wheelers parked free. The Ramatuelle shuttle to the southern end of the beach is free too. Beach clubs charge for loungers and service; the public stretches between them cost nothing.
How do you get to Pampelonne beach from St Tropez?
Most people drive along the Route des Plages and use the public car parks. The free shuttle leaves from Ramatuelle’s village stadium, not from Saint-Tropez, so it suits those staying on the Ramatuelle side. Walkers and cyclists can use the greenway footbridge towards Gros Vallat, and pontoons along the beach take boats and tenders. A chauffeur can be arranged on request.
Is there a nude beach in St Tropez?
The commune of Ramatuelle publishes a specific naturism regulation for L’Escalet, alongside its general beach police rules and parking information. Read it on the commune’s website before you go, since it sets out what applies on that beach. Elsewhere, the general rules of each commune apply.
Are dogs allowed on St Tropez beaches?
In summer 2026, a municipal order allowed dogs on Saint-Tropez’s beaches from 6am to 9.30am and from 6.30pm to 10pm, between 16 July and 15 September, with owners asked to clean up after them. Outside those arrangements, the tourist office lists beaches such as Les Graniers and Les Canoubiers as closed to dogs. The Ramatuelle beach shuttle accepts animals.
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Choose the villa, then the beach
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad which beaches you want within reach and who is coming, from toddlers to a group of friends. They will suggest the villas that fit and plan your days around the car parks, the shuttle and the boat. Write on WhatsApp at +33 7 80 98 05 43 or to contact@lutetia-group.com: we usually reply within the day, and rates are on request.