How to Get to Saint-Tropez (without getting in a fight)
I can’t help it. Every time someone asks me how to get to Saint-Tropez, I hear Dionne Warwick’s 1968 hit, Do You Know the Way to San Jose.
Old songs aside, Saint-Tropez isn’t easy to get to, which indeed adds to its allure. Let me rephrase—reaching Saint-Tropez is easy if you have a car, the time, the money, and don’t plan to arrive between June and September.
But, if you want to avoid arguments, headaches, and possibly even a breakup with a partner or bestie, consider avoiding the drive to Saint-Tropez during the summer months. I’m serious about this. More fights occur while sitting in frustrating traffic than anywhere else. There must be a stat to support this, right?
For 20 years, I’ve had a house in Sainte-Maxime, the village facing Saint-Tropez, just across the gulf. I’ve driven there in all seasons, and the frustrations and fights occur during the summer when traffic is heavy and moves at an escargot’s pace along the two-lane road between the two towns.
There are also roundabouts, and one particularly insane intersection with multiple lanes, turns, and don’t-miss merges. I won’t even mention the summer parking challenge once you get into Saint-Tropez.
Seriously, you’ll thank me later.
Here are my tips for getting to Saint-Tropez (cue the Dionne Warwick song).
From Nice Airport
Driving is the easiest way to get to Saint-Tropez at the end of the French Riviera. If you’re worried about driving yourself, don’t be. The roads are well-marked and well-paved, and directions are straightforward: Take the A8 toward Antibes/Marseille, exit at 36. Follow the signs to Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Tropez.
Tip: There are a few toll booths along the highway, and you can tap your credit card. Just have it ready so you don’t anger the car behind you.
If you don’t want to rent a car, taxis and private drivers are available, and you can expect to pay between €200-€300*, one way. Depending on the time of year, they might only take you as far as Sainte-Maxime and encourage you to catch the ferry.
The new Var Express is a game changer and will collect you in an air-conditioned shuttle van, dropping you off in Saint-Tropez starting at €86* and in Sainte-Maxime starting at €59 for about
A bus just outside Terminal 2 will take you to Saint-Raphael bus station for about €22. They leave about every 2.5 hours, but check the schedule as they don’t run early morning or late at night.
From Saint-Raphael, you can connect to other buses on the Zou! network that stop in Sainte-Maxime (exit at Tour Carré for the port of Sainte-Maxime), and in Saint-Tropez (just on the outskirts of the old village) for about €3*.
Tip: The bus schedules between the airport and Saint-Tropez don’t sync up well. To avoid waiting around for a long time, consider hiring a taxi or Uber from Saint-Raphael, or grab a coffee and wait.
Sainte-Maxime offers easy access to Saint-Tropez via the Bateaux Verts boat shuttle
From the Port of Sainte-Maxime
Take the Bateaux Verts, a ferry line that will take you in 20 minutes directly to the Port of Saint-Tropez. During the summer, the boats go every 20 minutes from 7:30 a.m. in July and August (8 a.m. other months), until later than I stay up. I’m on this several times a summer, and it’s honestly the BEST way to travel to Saint-tropez. The cost is €9 one way and €16 round-trip. The good news is that you just buy a ticket for the day you want to take the boat, not a specific time, so there’s no pressure if you hit traffic or want to stop for lunch.
I recommend you purchase your boat tickets online. They’ll send you a barcode via email, and you can show it to them upon boarding or print it out. Someday they’ll have an app, I hope.
Tip: Lineups are longest in the mornings, especially on Tuesday & Saturday, when Saint-Tropez’s market unfurls on Place des Lices. Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before your desired departure time to avoid missing the boat.
Tip: Bring sunscreen and an umbrella or hat, as you could be waiting in the direct sun.
From Saint Raphael
The Bateaux Verts also leave from Saint-Raphael (Frejus), about a 25-minute drive east of Sainte-Maxime. The advantage of Saint-Raphael is that it has a train and bus station (Gare Routière), and regional and TGV trains stop here from other parts of France and the French Riviera.
Rent a car or hire a private driver for easier arrival
Private Drivers & Chauffeur Services
I know it’s an absolute luxury to have a private driver, but time is valuable to me, so I often book one to pick me up in Saint-Raphael and bring me to my apartment in Sainte-Maxime (which is a bit of a hike to the bus stop, especially with luggage).
Ride shares like Uber are also becoming MUCH more reliable in the area, and is especially helpful if you don’t want to rent a car but want to get out of the village of Saint-Tropez to check out the wineries, surrounding restaurants, and beach clubs of Pampelonne.
*Prices change, so always check before booking
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