Saint-Tropez beyond the glamour

Saint-Tropez brings to mind huge yachts, the jet set and the golden years of Brigitte Bardot. Behind all that is a village with a simple, rustic soul and a fascinating history. On this private day, we show you the side of Saint-Tropez that has drawn artists and free spirits for decades.

Arriving by sea

The coastal roads are famous for their summer traffic jams. We take a better route:

1. By car to the seaside town of Sainte-Maxime.
2. By ferry: a 15-minute crossing of the Gulf.
3. The view: luxury yachts all around and a cool sea breeze. Arriving by water is the best way to see Saint-Tropez.

Discovering the village

• Place des Lices market: on Tuesdays and Saturdays, a colorful market of local linens, olives and crafts.
• The lanes: narrow pastel-colored alleys with designer boutiques and hidden courtyards.
• The Citadel: climb to the 17th-century Citadel for a view of red-tiled roofs against the turquoise sea.
• Lunch by the sea: French cooking and fresh seafood at a seaside restaurant.

The Tarte Tropézienne

You can’t leave without tasting the village’s most famous treat. In the 1950s, a Polish pastry chef, Alexandre Micka, opened a small bakery in Saint-Tropez and created a brioche filled with a blend of two creams, from a secret recipe. Brigitte Bardot discovered it while filming And God Created Woman, loved it, and suggested the name.

We will take you to the best place in the village for a slice of the original, still made from the family’s secret recipe.

How Bardot changed everything

Before 1956, Saint-Tropez was a quiet fishing village where painters came for the light. Then director Roger Vadim arrived with his young star, Brigitte Bardot, to film on Pampelonne beach.

The film’s international success made the little fishing port world-famous almost overnight, and the elite followed, from Gunter Sachs to Mick Jagger. We will help you find the quiet corners where the bohemian spirit of the 1950s is still alive.

Why book this private tour

• No traffic jams: the boat crossing saves you hours in the car.
• Before the crowds: enjoy the village before the busy evening rush.
• Shopping tips: high fashion or local crafts, your guide knows where to go.
• Your pace: a long lunch or a brisk history walk, the day is yours.

Ready to see the Riviera’s most famous village without the stress? Contact us to book your private Saint-Tropez day.

Guy Alfonsi. Born in Nice, 20+ years of guiding. TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence since 2014.