Saint-Tropez and Port Grimaud Day Trip from Cannes

The Old Port of Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez was a quiet fishing and boat-building village until the early 20th century, and its harbour still has the look of an old Provençal port: tall houses painted in ochre, pink and lemon yellow stand shoulder to shoulder along the quay, while traditional wooden fishing boats moor beside some of the most beautiful yachts in the Mediterranean. Small art stalls set up along the waterfront, and the café terraces are perfect for watching the comings and goings.

Your guide introduces the history of the town, from its role as a fortified outpost guarding the gulf to its rise as a glamorous resort. Walk out along the harbour wall to the small lighthouse for the classic photo of the whole port with the hills of the Massif des Maures behind. A Saint-Tropez day trip from Cannes is the easiest way to see it without worrying about summer parking.

La Ponche and Place des Lices

Behind the harbour, the old quarter of La Ponche is the true heart of the village: a maze of narrow lanes, archways and stone steps leading down to a tiny beach where fishermen once pulled up their boats. Its houses are draped in bougainvillea, and the old round tower that guarded the harbour entrance still stands at the water's edge.

A few minutes away, the Place des Lices is a large square shaded by plane trees, where locals play pétanque in the afternoon. On Tuesday and Saturday mornings it hosts one of the most colourful markets on the Riviera, with Provençal fabrics, olive wood, soaps, herbs, fruit and local specialities. If your tour falls on a market day, your guide leaves you time to wander through it.

The Citadel of Saint-Tropez

Crowning the hill above the village, the citadel was built in the early 17th century to defend the gulf and is one of the best-preserved coastal fortresses in Provence. Its hexagonal keep now houses a museum of maritime history, telling the story of the sailors, fishermen and navigators of Saint-Tropez, and peacocks often stroll in the grounds.

Even without entering the museum (entry is not included), the ramparts and the path around the walls give the best panoramic views of the area: the red roofs of the village below, the whole Gulf of Saint-Tropez, and across the water the far shore of the gulf and the distant Esterel. The climb takes about 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the harbour, along a gentle but steady slope.

Port Grimaud, the Venice of Provence

A short drive across the gulf brings you to Port Grimaud, one of the most unusual villages in France. It was built from the 1960s on former marshland at the edge of the sea, designed as a lagoon village where almost every house has its own mooring. Its canals are crossed by small humpback bridges and lined with houses painted in warm Mediterranean colours, giving it its nickname, the Venice of Provence.

You have time to stroll along the quays, cross the bridges and visit the small church with its modern stained glass, and from its tower on certain days you can look out over the canals and rooftops. Many visitors also enjoy the small electric boat shuttles that glide along the canals (not included). Port Grimaud is calm, car-free in its centre and particularly lovely for families and photographers.

The Coast Road and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez

The drive from Cannes is part of the day. Leaving the city, the road skirts the Esterel massif, whose red volcanic rocks contrast with the green pine forest, before reaching the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, a deep bay surrounded by the forested hills of the Massif des Maures. The journey takes around 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 each way, depending on traffic.

How to get to Saint-Tropez is a real question in summer, when the single coastal access road is often congested and parking is scarce and expensive. Travelling with us in a small air-conditioned vehicle, with a guide who knows the timing and the best drop-off points, takes away that stress. The best time to visit Saint-Tropez is May, June or September, when the weather is warm and the village is less crowded than in July and August.