Stretching for over 3 miles (4.8 kilometers), Pampelonne Beach is the longest beach in the vicinity of Saint-Tropez. The original influencer, Brigitte Bardot catapulted the place to fame when she filmed And God Created Woman on the beach. Now, its popularity means the golden sands are considerably busier than in Bardot’s 1956 movie, and polished beach clubs rub shoulders with water sports centers offering everything from chartered yachts to snorkeling and paddleboarding.
It’s still a hot spot for celebrity spotting, but you don’t need a champagne budget to enjoy Pampelonne Beach. Beach clubs only take up a small portion of the beach, with plenty of areas being free to access. Even without the abundance of delicious food and drink options, it’s easy to see why this beach is popular: The soft sand here is a welcome change to the pebbly coves that characterize much of the coastline.
The bus from Saint-Tropez to Ramatuelle, where the beach is located, takes around 15 minutes (a taxi is even faster). There are also six car parks at various intervals along the beach, all of which charge a fee. The closest airport is in Toulon, 27 miles (43.5 kilometers) away; but Nice’s airport is better served by international flights and is still a mere 39 miles (62.8 kilometers) away.
It goes without saying that Saint-Tropez is at its busiest during the summer. In July and August, advance reservations for both beach clubs and loungers are recommended. This is also when the beach comes alive, the clubs overflowing with the rich and beautiful. Most of the beach clubs close for the winter, but people who do go during this season are rewarded with vast stretches of sand devoid of tourists and the odd little restaurant serving delicious seafood.
A light, fluffy brioche filled with vanilla and lemon cream, Saint-Tropez’s signature pastry is as chic and refined as the town itself. It was originally created by a Polish chef who adapted his grandmother’s recipe and was named by Brigitte Bardot when she was filming in town. Head to La Tarte Tropézienne on Boulevard Vasserot to sample it.
