Saint-Tropez is often associated with stars, sparkle, and yachts, but let’s not forget that what charmed Brigitte Bardot 65 years ago was the simplicity and beauty of this small Provençal fishing port.
This, if you want to enjoy its authenticity, what better season than the winter season?

On the one hand, Saint-Tropez is a village that lives year-round. This means that most businesses are open, even in the winter.
On the other hand, the mildness of our Mediterranean climate allows us to enjoy temperatures above ten degrees on average in January, February, and March.
Of course, you won’t go swimming, but you can wander through the village with a light coat and even dip your feet in the water if you wish.
Finally, visiting a vacation spot out of season allows you to familiarize yourself with its neighborhoods, beaches, and restaurants and thus prepare for your summer vacation.

Here are 5 activities to do in Saint-Tropez in January:

1. Wander through the streets of the village

If you go to the Tourist Office, you can of course be advised on the streets and monuments not to be missed, but I find it more pleasant to start with an unplanned visit. Simply to soak up the atmosphere of the place, without expecting anything, hoping for nothing. You will notice details that you will find in no travel guide but that touch you personally.

2. Visit the Annonciade Museum

It houses a collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings and often highlights artists from the region. The port of Saint-Tropez, which was « discovered » or rather brought to the forefront of the pictorial scene by Paul Signac in 1982, is represented by illustrious painters including Signac, as well as Édouard Vuillard, Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse, Maurice de Vlaminck, and Robert Delaunay. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3. Take a boat ride along the coast and enjoy the view of the sea

The cold light of the winter sun gives a particular radiance to the Great Blue. Several companies offer marine excursions in various formats. For example, La Pouncho company offers a ride on the boat with a champagne tasting at sunset every Wednesday in January.

4. Walk to la Môle a few kilometers away

The village is the starting point for many hikes that allow you to discover beautiful panoramas of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. There is also a castle in which Antoine de Saint-Exupéry grew up until the age of 7. 

The author of The Little Prince once said: « When I was a little boy, I lived in an old house and the legend said that a treasure was buried there. Of course, no one ever knew how to discover it, or perhaps even searched for it. But it enchanted the entire house. My house hid a secret at the bottom of its heart… Whether it be a house, the stars, or the desert, what makes their beauty is invisible! »

5. Discover the culinary specialties of the region

They include bouillabaisse, vegetable tian, and of course, the famous tarte tropézienne.

The story goes that the recipe comes from the Polish grandmother of a baker and pastry chef named Alexandre Micka. It was Brigitte Bardot who suggested the name of this pastry during the filming of the mythic film And God Created Woman in 1956.

Today, three artisan baker and pastry chefs each offer their own interpretation of the tropézienne:

• Le Café Sénéquier
• Aux deux frères rue des Commerçants
• Marcel et Cavazza rue Georges Clemenceau