Car Hire Saint-Tropez

Car Hire

The city of St Tropez is one of the most exclusive resorts in the south of France. Its appeal as a tourist destination stems from its spectacular beaches, laid-back ambiance and numerous opportunities for recreation. Once you’ve tired of celebrity-spotting, its chief attractions include scenic beaches with turquoise waters, an impressive harbour and a generally well-heeled atmosphere. The town possesses a great variety of fine restaurants, some good museums and markets, top-notch sporting and recreational facilities, and unbeatable nightlife. It’s a great place from which to explore the picturesque coastline of the Côte d’Azur by hire car.

Who to Book With
Car rental is possible at the nearest international airport in Nice and in St Tropez itself. You will find all of the major car rental agencies represented: Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Avis and Hertz. When booking a car, particularly during the peak months for tourism (July and August), travellers are advised to make use of our online car rental aggregator site to compare car hire companies and thus obtain the best deal.

Best Time to Go
Though peak season is July and August, you’ll find the city less crowded and less expensive outside of this period. What is more, there is considerably less congestion on the roads in the region during the off-season months. Late spring and autumn are thus ideal times to visit. Average temperatures hover in the low 20s (°C) in the daytime and around 18°C at night. In general, the resort has a mild Mediterranean climate throughout the year.

Need to Know Essentials
Don’t forget to have the following paperwork at hand when hiring a vehicle:

- An International Driving Permit or a driving licence issued by the DVLA
- Passport or another valid form of identification with photograph
- The credit card that you used to make the reservation
- A printed copy of the reservation confirmation

Check out our FAQ page.

Driving
With its narrow streets and crowds of tourists, Saint-Tropez isn’t the best town in which to drive. It’s better to leave your rental car in a car park on the outskirts of the town and then make your way into the town centre on foot. Approach traffic in high summer can be very congested, but regional routes offer great scope for daytrips.

Read more on driving conditions in France here

Transport

Downtown St Tropez is best explored on foot: there are lots of things to do and see, ranging from studios and museums, such as La Citadelle and l’Annonciade, to galleries and markets. The waterfront is packed with cafés and upmarket boutiques. Head a little inland to snap up better deals on luxury items.

Trains
St Tropez’s closest SNCF railway station is in the nearby resort of St Raphael. From here, it’s a short ride by car, taxi, bus or boat to the town.

Boats
St Tropez is easily and quickly accessed by Bateau Verts boat from a number of neighbouring locations, such as Cannes, Nice and St Raphael.

Buses
You can get to the city by bus from Toulon-Hyeres Airport, Nice International Airport and from the town of St Raphael.

Taxis
Taxis are plentiful in St Tropez but be aware that fares match the destination’s jet-set image. What with the winding, mountainous roads and the speed at which taxi drivers drive, be prepared for the odd white-knuckle ride. Use licensed cabs to avoid unpleasant surprises when it comes to fares.

Exploring

Renting a car gives you access to other spots along the coast, St Tropez’s beautiful hinterland and fascinating villages. Drive along the stretch of coastline between Hyères and St-Raphael–Fréjus or head inland and explore the natural wooded hills of Massif des Maures. The medieval hilltop villages of Collobrières and La Garde Freinet are also worth checking out. For a great day out by boat, take a ferry to the picturesque Îles d'Hyères, which features some of the finest fauna and flora in the provence.

Recommended Drives

Port Grimaud - Situated just two miles east of St Tropez, this faux-medieval village makes for an interesting daytrip. Take the D98A west from St-Tropez, drive for about 2.5 miles then take the D559 north to the Port Grimaud exit. Built on reclaimed marshland by its promoter, Francois Spoerry, Port Grimaud features Provençal style houses, many of them with Italianate window arches.

Collobrières - Located some 25 miles inland from St Tropez, Collobrières is an attractive village with long streets, old houses - many of them painted in pastel colours - and plenty of shops and cafés. There’s a stone bridge that dates all the way back to the 12th century as well as the famed Confiserie Azuréenne, where delicious candied chestnuts (marrons glacés) are made.

Ramatuelle - High up in the hills above St Tropez lies the tiny, quaint town of Ramatuelle with its spectacular views of the Bay of Pampelonne. Take the D93 or the D98A followed by the D61 to get here. The town has lots of ancient stone houses and winding narrow streets. In the summer, it hosts several festivals of classical music and jazz.