Within walking distance to a sandy beach and restaurants, just a 4km drive to the delightful town of Sainte-Maxime, Villa Polo enjoys a fantastic setting in the French Riviera with wonderful views of the bay of Saint-Tropez.
It’s around a ten to fifteen minute stroll down the hill to the coast where the nearest sandy beach can be found, alongside a selection of restaurants. There are even more beaches within close proximity – walk or cycle a further kilometre to reach a lovely sandy spot backed by pine trees or drive towards Sainte-Maxime and beyond for family-friendly beaches and all sorts of watersports. The beach at Port Grimaud is another favourite for families and easy to find. Hiring bikes is a great way to explore the beaches along this stretch of coastline, especially as sometimes parking can be limited.
Sainte-Maxime (4km) is a delightful town with a relaxed seaside vibe alongside historic charm and a number of good restaurants and shops. Don’t miss the lovely market on a Thursday morning. You can also hop on one of the boat shuttles to Saint-Tropez, a great way to beat the summer traffic.
Saint-Tropez (13km) is of course famous for its glitz and glamour with its impressive marina and high-end restaurants, yet it still retains the charm of a fishing village with pastel-coloured fishermen cottages and picturesque winding lanes filled with enchanting places to eat and shop. Driving south, discover Pampelonne Beach (17km) and dine at one of the upmarket beach restaurants, home to the well-known Club 55.
This is also a great location for visiting some of Var’s wonderful villages such as Grimaud (10km) with its flower-filled streets, Gassin (12km) with its exceptional views and lovely Ramatuelle (14km).
The region is also home to a number of golf courses, the closest being under 2km away and others including Gary Player’s Golf Club Saint-Tropez (10km) in a truly spectacular setting. Horse-riding is also possible in the area whilst walkers can experience wonderful trails through the Maures hills or along the wild La Croix-Valmer coastline.
There are yet more family attractions around Fréjus (27km) or drive as far as beautiful Cannes (65km) for a great day out.
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.
