Saint-Tropez is one of the world’s most coveted luxurious destinations, but does it have its own airport?
Saint-Tropez is remarkably small and doesn’t have its own airport, but there are several within close proximity. For example, there’s Nice, which has an international airport and is located around sixty-five miles from Saint-Tropez.
Read on to learn more about Saint-Tropez, why it’s so luxurious, and how you can get there.
Are You Going To Saint-Tropez?
Today, Saint-Tropez is widely regarded as a playground for the world’s elite. It’s a glittering and picturesque destination on the French Riviera, dramatically small but considerably luxurious, just like its neighbor, Monaco.
Saint-Tropez enjoys a favorable location on the Mediterranean coast, being surrounded on almost all sides by sparkling ocean, cliffs, and beaches. It’s a relatively minuscule town, boasting a population of just four thousand people, but it’s an intensely popular area for tourists.
The history of Saint-Tropez is long and storied, with its origins being rooted in Roman history. It’s said that ‘Saint Torpes’ was a Christian martyr, decapitated for refusing to renounce his religion while in the service of Emperor Nero.
As the story goes, Saint Torpes’ beheaded body washed up on the shores of what we now call Saint-Tropez after being set adrift on a boat, years before. Whether this actually happened or not is more or less subjective, as there’s no real way to validate the story.
However, following the decline of the Roman Empire and the subsequent withdrawal of Roman forces from Europe, Saint-Tropez was open for occupation. Its position on the coast made it a frequented spot for pirates and bandits.
The area changed hands several times, the ownership passing from ruler to ruler, and from family to family. At one point, it was an Arabic-Muslim colony, then taken over by the French in the 10th century.
Most recently, Saint-Tropez was designated as a tactical location that could be used in the attempted resolution of the Second World War. As part of Operation Dragoon, allied forces landed at Saint-Tropez to make their way upwards into France and liberate the nation.
It’s alleged that this is where the somewhat quaint town was first discovered by anyone other than the locals. Reportedly, many soldiers would return there after the war, and so began the development of Saint-Tropez as a key tourist destination along the French Riviera.
Let’s Take A Trip
As it’s so small, Saint-Tropez can be a little difficult to actually get to. There’s no airport in the immediate region, the harbor serves only yachts and pleasure boats, and there’s no direct train line nearby.
However, there are several airports close enough that they present an opportunity to easily reach Saint-Tropez. All you’ll need to do is hire a car, jump on a bus, or order a taxi or chauffeur service.
Although, there are those who’ll opt to arrive in style to Saint-Tropez, either by steaming in on a superyacht or arranging to be flown in by helicopter. It’s not an uncommon sight, considering Saint-Tropez is a popular destination for celebrities and the super-rich.
Ultimately, Saint-Tropez is something of a paradise, and the introduction of a train line or airport would sour that notion. One glance at a satellite map of Saint-Tropez tells the whole story; sparkling blue oceans and glittering swimming pools standing alongside super-clean streets and sun-drenched terracotta rooftops.
It might be a remarkably small town, but it’s quite a dense location and there’s plenty packed into the six square miles that Saint-Tropez covers. You’ll not be hard-pressed for something to do there, as there’s an abundance of restaurants, shops, museums, and amenities.
The tiny town is home to some extremely luxurious shopping destinations, such as Hermès, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Giorgio Armani. You could easily spend tens of thousands of dollars just walking along a single street in Saint-Tropez.
It’s the lifestyle that few are used to and many aspire to experience. You’ll wake up one morning, hop in your personal helicopter, and buzz over to Saint-Tropez for a weekend of extravagant shopping, fine dining, and glorious sunshine.
Although, it isn’t just the world’s elite that can enjoy Saint-Tropez. Like many other expensive destinations, such as Monaco, there are some welcoming and affordable hotels that the average person can happily stay in for a week or two.
We’ve published many articles exploring Monaco as a holiday destination, one of which you can check out here if you’d like to learn more about the nation.