Car Hire in St Tropez

One of the most stunning towns in France, for 9 months of the year, and then a tourist ravaged nightmare for the other 3, St Tropez literally transforms overnight from a beautiful, townhouse surrounded port town in the winter, spring and autumn, to a crowded tourist attraction for the summer months.

Best to visit you’ll assume out of season, you’ll instantly realise why the town is so popular with film makers, artists, and those writing music, and you’ll see no hint of the suntan link the town has in the UK. In the quieter months the town is often home to a number of retreating celebrities, who mix effortlessly with the locals who are happy to ignore their fame and keep themselves to themselves, often over a game of petanque.

If you come to St Tropez out of season you’ll want to hire a car, enabling you to get around the surrounding area, and you’ll find parking easy. In the middle of the summer a car to get to the beach is still wise, but remember that parking gets far tougher.

What to do when you hire a car in St Tropez

Walking the Coast

IF walking is your thing, then the area surrounding St Tropez has some of the best coastal walks in France. Pick up a guide to the footpaths at the many tourist centres in town and pick a route, before heading off on an adventure that will take in hidden and secluded coves, high cliff tops and rocky islands just out to sea.

Tomb of Emile Olivier

At the end of the Plage des Salins beach you’ll notice a rock which is very slightly out to sea. This rock is home of the tomb of Emilie Olivier, who was first minister to Napoleon III in the 1860s. The tomb looks out to sea at another famous collection of rocks, the Le Tete de Chien, or Dogs Head, which is named after a famous dog who decided not to eat the remains of St Torpes.

Cap Taillat

Famous for being once owned by Club Med, who tried to turn the stunning cape into the biggest Club Med in the world, it was saved and purchased by Conservatorie du Littoral, who have preserved the area, and maintained its wooden cliffs and sandy shore. You can even see Harmann tortoises here and you can access the cape from Gigaro.

Plage De Pampelonne

Connected to the Plage de Tahiti, the stunning long beach is famous for being the home to some of the best, but most expensive bars and restaurants in the area. You can access the beach walking from the town, or drive to the beach along the d93, with seven different roads leading to various portions of the beach.