In the French Riviera, around an hour from Nice Airport, Villa Pins D’Italie enjoys an enviable location within walking distance to the beach and a selection of restaurants, only half an hour by car (even less by boat!) from the glitz of Saint-Tropez.
It’s just a ten-minute walk down to the Mediterranean coast where you will find a number of beaches, some sandy, others with pebbles, rocks and crystal-clear sea. Stroll a little further and you will reach a stunning natural area with towering pine trees and rocky paths leading to coves, a perfect spot for a picnic with spectacular views.
There are also plenty of restaurants close by as well as a supermarket and useful shops such as a bakery and pharmacy – it’s an ideal location if you don’t wish to depend on a car for all of your stay. Wander down to the village port where there are watersport centres offering parachuting, jet-ski, sea-karts and fly-boarding as well as gentler pursuits such as snorkelling, paddle-boards and kayaking.
Summer boat shuttles depart from the local port to Saint-Tropez, taking around 25 minutes – a great way to beat the traffic. You can also hire private yachts for days out with a skipper exploring the bay of Saint-Tropez and beyond.
The lovely seaside town of Sainte Maxime (7km) is a short drive away, passing many wonderful stretches of beaches on the way, ideal for families and also offering a wealth of watersports. Visit Sainte Maxime on a Thursday morning to experience its atmospheric market and pick up all sorts of local delights.
The Place des Lices Market in Saint-Tropez is also not to be missed by food-lovers, spreading out over the square on a Tuesday and Saturday morning. Afterwards, wander around the historic quarter admiring the beautiful architecture and charming lanes, perhaps followed by lunch at one of the high-end restaurants near the marina. The brilliant beach south of Saint-Tropez is also a must - Pampelonne (28km) with its sandy shores, yet more watersports and famous beach clubs such as Club 55.
As well as Saint-Tropez, don’t miss some of the idyllic hilltop villages such as Grimaud (20km), Gassin (23km) and Ramatuelle (25km), all picture-perfect places with flower-filled cobbled lanes, old churches, authentic restaurants and incredible views.
Keen hikers and experienced cyclists can head inland to the Maures mountains or even as far as the world-famous Verdon Gorge, about two hours away, a spectacular place for canoeing, kayaking or just appreciating the scenery. Closer to home, there are also many fantastic walking trails around La Croix-Valmer coastline, just over half an hour away.
Golf-lovers are spoilt for choice with the 18-hole Golf Blue Green near Sainte-Maxime, the prestigious Beauvallon Golf Club also close by and Golf Club Saint-Tropez just a little further.
The Region
Once a traditional fishing village, Saint-Tropez is now one of the most glamourous destinations of the Côte d’Azur and welcomes visitors from across the world.
However, there’s more to Saint-Tropez bay than exclusive beach clubs, glitzy boutiques and fine dining restaurants. From the family-friendly beaches of Sainte-Maxime to the vineyards of La Croix Valmer, Oliver’s Travels guests can truly admire this enchanting corner of the French Riviera whilst staying in one of our handpicked villas in and around Saint-Tropez.
Soak up the luxurious yet laidback vibe of Saint-Tropez as you wander around its marina lined with huge yachts contrasting colourful fishermen’s houses overlooking the bay. The old quarter is a warren of winding lanes with French designer boutiques, picturesque cafes and restaurants whilst Place des Lices hosts a vibrant Provençal market on a Tuesday and Saturday morning. Enjoy the most glorious vistas from Saint-Tropez’s 17th century citadel and maritime museum. Boat trips are another superb way to tour this part of the coast and passenger ferries cross the bay.
Just south of the town, follow Brigitte Bardot’s footsteps as you visit one of Plage de Pampelonne’s exclusive beach clubs, the most famous being Le Club 55 (always book well in advance). Stretching over 5km, Pampelonne’s long sandy beach is also loved for its vast range of summer watersports including jet-skiing, windsurfing and paddleboarding.
The picture-perfect villages of Saint-Tropez bay are beautifully located to make the most of the French Riviera scenery. On the hillside overlooking Plage de Pampelonne, Ramatuelle has attracted artists and writers over the years and is full of charm – look out for performances during its theatre and jazz festivals in the summer months. Meanwhile, hilltop Gassin is classified as one of France’s 'Plus Beaux Villages’ whilst flower-filled Grimaud is such a pretty medieval village with yet more stunning views of the coast.
Driving into the Maures hills, discover the characterful villages of La Garde-Freinet and Le Plan-de-la-Tour surrounded by oak and chestnut forests, a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, horse-riding enthusiasts and other outdoor adventurists.
Back to the coast, take a boat tour of Port Grimaud, known as the ‘little Venice of the Côte d’Azur’, and experience its atmospheric Monday evening summer market. Across the other side of the bay, Sainte-Maxime is a lovely sheltered seaside town with pretty cafes, a daily market and gorgeous beaches. Families adore this area – there are tree-top adventures, tennis, mini-golf, a water park and coastal paths for biking and hiking.
Golf-lovers can appreciate a choice of courses – Golf Blue Green as well as the prestigious Beauvallon Golf Club and Golf Club Saint-Tropez. Wine connoisseurs should head to the wine châteaux of Saint-Tropez and Pampelonne as well as the vineyards of La Croix Valmer.
Not forgetting the idyllic shores of soft sand and crystal-clear sea of La Croix Valmer’s coastline from Plage de Sylvabelle to Plage de Gigaro, also home to a wonderful coastal walking trail with the most incredible flora and fauna alongside sensational views of the Mediterranean as you hike towards Cap Lardier and beyond.
