I’m not going to lie, the rollicking summer beach parties in Saint-Tropez and jet-set social scene absolutely live up to the hype, and I’m here for it. But it’s far from the whole story of this storied French Riviera village.
I’ve been coming here each summer for more than two decades (wow, time flies), but it’s in September that Saint-Tropez gives me all the Oh! La! La! feels.
With fewer crowds and more room to breathe, Saint-Tropez in September has a soupçon of fall in the air, but there’s just enough summer and glamour left to remind you of where you are. Not to mention, during September, two great sailing events blow into town!
When September travel calls, make sure you find your way to Saint-Tropez. Here’s what to do when you get there.
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Saint-Tropez in September: At a Glance
- Best For: Fewer crowds, warm weather, coastal hiking, and a more relaxed local feel
- Weather: Warm days, cooler evenings, and plenty of sunshine, ideal for walking and wine-tasting
- Crowds: Significantly quieter than July and August, with a less chaotic more chill vibe
- Beaches: Beach clubs remain open through mid-month,
- Wine Harvest: September marks vendange (harvest season ) at nearby wineries
- Dining : Easier reservations at top restaurants and port-side cafes
- Events: Late-summer sailing events SailGP and Les Voiles bring glitz without peak-season intensity
- Shopping: Boutiques are open, market browsing feels more relaxed
- Getting Around: smoother travel, boat and wine tours are easy, village is less jammed
In September, Sailing Takes Center Stage
Two fantastic events blow into the sherbet-hued village in September, making the atmosphere both festive and refined. Yes, you can buy tickets and sit in the grandstands, but I recommend just wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere.
Up first is France’s only SailGP event, the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix, taking place over two days in mid-September, with 12 foiling catamarans racing at breakneck speed mere feet from the harbor wall.
Meanwhile, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, one of the Med’s most prestigious regattas, blows in at the end of the month, bringing a spectacle of wind, water, and sportsmanship to the village as dozens of classic and modern sailing yachts slice through the Gulf of St. Tropez’s sapphire waters.
I highly recommend dropping by Le Sube along the port. It’s my favorite spot, even in the summer. The nautical-themed bar has prime time viewing of the yachts and sailboats, especially if you can score one of the few tables on the balcony. But even if you can’t the interior bar is fun (air-conditioned) with great people watching too.
September Walks on the Wild Side
With the weather so good in Saint-Tropez in September, it’s a perfect time for a hike along the Sentier du Littoral, a coastal trail that snakes along nearly all of France’s vast coastlines.
In Saint-Tropez, the path hugs the peninsula’s rugged shoreline, dips through pine-scented woods, passes in front of some pretty amazing villas (knock! knock! knock!), and will take you to some secret beaches and turquoise coves too.
Lace up your sturdy hiking shoes (flip flops won’t cut it). The path is uneven most of the time (except in the village). If you’ve taken the Bateaux Verts to the port (see my post on getting to Saint-Tropez) you can start right away, near the Tour du Portalet, no car needed!
Keep your eyes peeled for wooden signs with subtle yellow dashes marked pietons (pedestrians) or Sentier du Littoral. They’re your breadcrumbs on this coastal adventure.
Or ask directions to the Saint-Tropez Marine Cemetery. The coastal path goes right by it, and it’s one of the rare seaside cemeteries in France, where village residents, soldiers, and French notables, including the recently laid-to-rest Brigitte Bardot, are buried.
What to Do in Saint-Tropez in September?
Saint-Tropez if sull of galleries, but don’t skip the Musée de l’Annonciade, housed in a 16th-century chapel right on the port. It’s home to a surprising treasure trove of Post-Impressionist art by masters who found their inspiration on the French Riviera.
Just outside the village is the palm-fringed park surrounding the Château de la Moutte. This Provençal bastide once belonged to Émile Ollivier, Napoleon III’s last Prime Minister, and is open for guided afternoon tours. It’s also open to the public during the European Heritage Days, held the third weekend of September.
Book a sunset cruise boat tour, Pampelonne Bay tour, or get up close to some of the races during Les Voiles aboard Brigatin II. Or get out on a private RIVA boat tour on your own time —the ultimate glam experience.
Where to Shop in Saint-Tropez
Shopping is a sport in Saint-Tropez, and the narrow cobbled streets surrounding the port are easily walkable from one to the next.
Give yourself time to wander, and you’ll stumble upon haute couture shops, local boutiques, home goods stores, and pharmacies—don’t overlook those in France—great for face creams to nourish those sun-kissed cheeks. I especially love Nuxe and Avène products.
For the ultimate Saint-Tropez souvenir, drop by Rondini, where artisans have been handcrafting leather sandals since 1927, and will fit them to your feet on the spot.
I adore the weekly Saint-Tropez Market, held on Tuesday and Saturday on the Place des Lices, in the center of town (just a 10-minute or less walk from the Bateaux Verts docks). It’s where I find dresses, gifts, cotton fouta towels for the beach, baskets, lavender soap, place mats, and of course food—so much good food!
Summer is obscenely crowded at the market—I mean, like cigarette burns on your elbows, might step on a dog crowded (unless you arrive by 7 a.m.) But September chills out both literally and figuratively, especially near the end of the month.
If you can’t get to the market for towels and placemats or want to bring a dash of French Riviera style to your home, stop by Marinette on Rue Georges Clemenceau (a narrow pedestrian street connecting the port to Place des Lices).
Rue François Sibilli is widely considered the main luxury fashion street in Saint-Tropez, lined with major haute couture boutiques like Prada, Gucci, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, and more.
Another central shopping street is Rue Gambetta, where you’ll find both well-known luxury labels and upscale contemporary boutiques, including stores like Vilebrequin and elegant resort wear.
Where to Eat & Drink in Saint-Tropez
Like summer fashion, dining spots ebb and flow fast out of Saint-Tropez, but the classics never go out of style. Case in point: Le Sénéquier. It’s an institution in Saint-Tropez and the best people-watching perch on the port.
In September, the brasserie tables and barstools start to fill up with locals again, returning to reclaim their turf and catch up on town gossip. There are plenty of places to grab a high-end meal or a fancy coffee, and you might even snag a good table this month, sans reservation!
I’ve been a fan of Salama since it was tucked into a tiny street off the port. It’s now a slice of Morocco in a gorgeous and grand space behind Place des Lices. With a group for a celebratory night out, it’s a blast.
Grab a coffee or lunch at Le Sporting and watch fierce pétanque rivalries unfurl under the century-old plane trees on Place des Lices, or venture out to Chez Camille on the wild end of Pampelonne Beach for a homemade bouillabaisse. La Ponche has also been a longtime favorite for languid seafood lunches in a convivial village setting by the sea.
Rosé is the elixir of choice here, and Saint-Tropez sits in one of the best rosé wine-producing regions of the world. Many of the vineyards are within easy reach of the village, and visiting them on a guided tasting tour around the area’s wineries can be a lot of fun, especially with a group of friends.
Best of all, September is generally harvest time for wineries around Saint-Tropez and much of the Provence wine region, so the grapes will be plump and the wineries humming with activity.
Where to Stay in Saint-Tropez
There are numerous hotels and guesthouses in and around Saint-Tropez, and some remain open year-round.
I’m sure you heard the news that the next season of White Lotus will be filmed at the ultra-posh Airelles Chateau de la Méssardière. Yep. And it’s every bit as dreamy and expensive as it looks.
There are a lot of options, and budget is a serious consideration in Saint-Tropez. Here are my favorite Saint-Tropez hotels.
If you’re ready to go, in September, or any time, read my guide on the best ways to get to Saint-Tropez
