Plage de La Ponche makes it possible to combine the old town and a swim without leaving the centre of Saint-Tropez. There is no drive towards Pampelonne and no large beach club. From the streets of the old town, you can simply walk down towards the water.

La Ponche was historically the fishing quarter of Saint-Tropez, and its position still makes that past easy to understand. Houses cluster directly along the shoreline, with small passages and steps connecting the streets above with the sea.

The beach itself is modest in size. This is not somewhere to expect a long stretch of sand or rows of sun loungers. Its appeal is the location: you can spend the morning exploring Saint-Tropez, stop for a swim and be back among the cafés and streets of the old town within minutes.

Continue along the waterfront and you will also find places where locals and visitors simply lay down a towel beside the sea. The Môle Jean Réveille and the small waterfront around La Ponche provide open views across the Golfe de Saint-Tropez.

Early morning and later in the afternoon are particularly pleasant times to come. The light is softer, the old façades sit directly behind you and the waterfront feels quite removed from the busier Vieux Port nearby.

La Ponche shows that a beach day in Saint-Tropez does not necessarily mean travelling to Pampelonne. Sometimes the sea is simply part of a walk through the village.

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