St. Tropez in July and August is the Mediterranean’s most concentrated expression of premier summer living. The port, the beaches, and the restaurants form an ecosystem that has attracted the world’s most discerning travellers since the 1950s, when Brigitte Bardot first put the village on the global map. In 2026, the season is expected to be the busiest on record, with superyacht traffic in the Gulf of St. Tropez projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 30%. This is the summer to charter, and the strategy matters more than ever.
Yacht Charter — The Vessel Selection
The Gulf of St. Tropez rewards vessels in the 30–50 metre range, which can access the shallow anchorages of the Pampelonne beaches while still offering the onboard amenities that define the experience. Our preferred vessels for the region include the 42-metre motor yacht «Mare Blu», which offers a beam of 8.5 metres, a master suite with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a beach club that opens onto the swim platform. For those seeking something larger, the 55-metre «Ocean Pearl» offers a helipad, a cinema room, and a crew of 14, though her draft limits access to the shallower anchorages. Charter rates for a week in high season range from €120,000 for a 30-metre vessel to €400,000 for a 50-metre-plus superyacht.
The Anchorages — Where to Drop Hook
The Pampelonne Beach coastline offers a series of anchorages that correspond to the beach clubs along the shore. The most famous is the stretch off Club 55, where the water is deep enough for vessels up to 40 metres and the beach club’s tenders run a continuous shuttle service. For a quieter experience, the anchorage off Bouillabaisse Beach offers deeper water and a shorter tender ride to the port. The Baie de Canebiers, on the eastern side of the peninsula, offers protection from the prevailing westerly winds and a sunset view that is unmatched on the coast.
On-Shore — The Tables That Matter
Club 55 remains the most consequential lunch reservation on the French Riviera. The beachfront restaurant serves a menu that has changed little since the 1960s — grilled fish, salads, and the legendary éclair au chocolat for dessert — but the value is in the people-watching, not the cuisine. Securing a table on the front row (the one that touches the sand) requires a relationship with the restaurant’s owner and a willingness to be flexible with timing. Octobere maintains a direct allocation of front-row tables at Club 55 for members chartering in the region.
For dinner, Le Sénéquier in the port is the establishment choice, serving bouillabaisse and other Provençal classics in a setting that has hosted everyone from Picasso to Bezos. The restaurant’s first-floor terrace offers the best people-watching in the port, and the wine list is deep on Bandol rosé and Provençal reds. For a more discreet evening, La Vague d’Or at the Cheval Blanc St-Tropez holds three Michelin stars and requires booking at least three months in advance.