The best photo spots in Saint-Tropez: where can you take the best photos?
Published in Sezz St Tropez
From Sezz to the beaches of Les Salins and Les Canebiers, discover the best spots and times to take photos of Saint-Tropez.
19 August is World Photography Day. A great opportunity to discover the spots in Saint-Tropez that lend themselves particularly well to photography.
Some hotels are meant to be explored. Others are meant to be admired. The Sezz, however, is meant to be photographed, almost in spite of itself. Christophe Pillet’s architecture wasn’t designed with Instagram in mind. It was designed for Mediterranean light. And that is precisely why it photographs so well.
There’s no artificial staging here. What photographs well at Sezz is what has been well designed: Christophe Pillet’s architecture that plays with Mediterranean light, vegetation that has taken its time to grow, and a swimming pool whose reflections change four times a day. And the light of Saint-Tropez in August does the rest.
Here are the spots, in the order of a day, from sunrise to sunset.
The photo spots at Sezz, at a glance:
The 200 sqm swimming pool: reflections, palm trees, white sunbeds
The palm-lined path: minimalist architecture, filtered light
The private terraces: garden, privacy, morning light
The Colette restaurant: tableware, the Chef’s specialities, floor-to-ceiling windows
The Dom Pérignon bar: cocktails, sunset, subdued lighting
The Sezz Spa by Susanne Kaufmann: jacuzzi, fountain, natural materials
Architectural details: light-coloured concrete, wood, cast shadows
Nearby: Canebiers beach, the Sentier du Littoral coastal path, Salins beach, Place des Lices, the port of Saint-Tropez, La Ponche, the Citadel of Saint-Tropez.
The swimming pool, the Sezz's iconic feature
With its 200 sqm surrounded by palm trees, white sun loungers and Mediterranean vegetation, the swimming pool offers one of the most photogenic backdrops at the Sezz.
What makes this swimming pool particularly photogenic are the reflections. At the end of the day, when the low-angled light falls on the water, the palm trees and the hotel’s façades are reflected with almost surreal clarity. This is the time when smartphones come out, and when the photos turn out best.
The best time: the golden hour, which usually begins 45 to 60 minutes before sunset. In August, the timing varies depending on the date: remember to check the exact time of sunset. The light is warm, the shadows are long, and the blue of the sky begins to change.
What to photograph: the pool from a bird’s-eye view on the terrace above, the reflections of the palm trees on the water, a glass resting on the edge with the pool in the background, the white sun loungers arranged symmetrically.
The palm trees alley, architecture and lines
Between the lobby and the guest rooms, an avenue of palm trees runs alongside the hotel’s façades. This is one of Christophe Pillet’s most striking architectural details to capture: vertical lines, shadows cast upon the light-coloured concrete, and a perspective that tapers neatly into the distance.
It is also where the morning light is at its most interesting; it streams in from the side, creating sharp contrasts between the façades and the vegetation.
What to photograph: the view of the avenue from a low angle, the play of shadows cast by the palm trees on the ground, the horizontal lines of the rooms against the blue sky.
Best time: 8 am–10 am, when the sun is still low and the light comes in from the side.
Private terraces, a photo you will treasure
Every room at Sezz has a terrace and a private garden. Some suites have a private swimming pool. This is one of the most intimate areas of the hotel, accessible only to guests staying there.
The morning light in these gardens is particularly soft, filtered through the foliage, without the harshness of the midday sun. It’s the ideal time to photograph breakfast on the terrace, the details of the outdoor furniture, or simply the shadows of the trees on the paving slabs.
What to photograph: the breakfast spread on the terrace with the garden in the background; the textures of the outdoor furniture; and, for the relevant rooms, your feet in the grass with the private swimming pool in the background.
Best time: 7.30–9.00 am, soft, golden light.
Colette restaurant, when fine dining becomes a visual experience
The Colette restaurant is a Michelin-starred establishment, and also a setting that photographs beautifully. The terrace overlooking the swimming pool, the olive trees in the background and the late-afternoon light filtering through the foliage create a particularly photogenic setting.
Chef Philippe Colinet’s dishes are themselves highly visual; designed around the raw ingredients, they boast a minimalist aesthetic that photographs well with little staging. The red mullet in squid ink, the braised aubergine, the apricot and honey dessert: dishes crafted as much for the eye as for the palate.
The floor-to-ceiling window at The Chef's Table offers a unique vantage point: the kitchen in the background, the kitchen team at work, and your table in the foreground. It is the only place at Le Colette where you can dine whilst watching the kitchen, and where the kitchen can watch the dish taking shape.
The musical evenings on Mondays (in September and October) or Thursdays (in July and August) add a luminous and atmospheric dimension that daytime photos cannot capture. It’s also the ideal setting for a video.
What to photograph: the chef’s dish set on the white tablecloth, the illuminated terrace, the floor-to-ceiling windows of The Chef's Table, and details of the tableware.
Best time: 7.30–8.30 pm, when natural light is still present and the lamps are lit.
The Dom Pérignon bar, the most photogenic aperitif in the Gulf
The Dom Pérignon bar is the spot at Sezz where the late-afternoon light is at its most striking. Overlooking the swimming pool, with the Saint-Tropez sky as a backdrop, it captures the very atmosphere that hotels on the Riviera often strive to recreate artificially, yet which exists here naturally.
The setting lends itself particularly well to backlit photos, when the sky begins to take on orange hues. A glass of champagne or a signature cocktail, between 6pm and 7pm in August.
What to photograph: the signature cocktail backlit against the orange sky, a glass of champagne with the swimming pool in the background, the evening reflections on the glasses.
Best time: 5.30 pm–7.30 pm. The resident DJ’s set in July and August, from 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm, also adds to the atmosphere.
The Sezz Spa by Susanne Kaufmann, between light and tranquility
The Sezz Spa has been designed in the spirit of Christophe Pillet’s ‘In & Out’ concept, where the boundaries between indoors and outdoors blur and natural light takes centre stage. This architectural approach results in photographs of an unusual softness for a hotel spa: there is no cold artificial light.
The spa is the most challenging area of the Sezz to photograph, and yet, paradoxically, one of the most beautiful. The outdoor jacuzzi, the fountain in the relaxing garden, the natural materials (wood, stone, greenery) – everything lends itself to being photographed in natural light. These are the sort of photos you keep to yourself.
During the photo shoots carried out at Sezz by our digital agency, the spa’s natural light is particularly interesting to work with. It encourages us to favour simple compositions and to focus on the textures rather than overcomplicating the shots. In practice: switch off the flash, switch to portrait mode, and get close to the textures.
What to photograph: details of Susanne Kaufmann products on a wooden surface, the jacuzzi with greenery in the background, the filtered shadows on the garden paving slabs, the bathrobes.
Best time: 10 am–12 noon, when the morning light is still low.
The architecture details, the things most visitors don't photograph
The Sezz is a 5-star design hotel, and this is evident in the details as much as in the overall scale of the building. Christophe Pillet has worked with light-coloured concrete, wood, greenery and furniture as graphic elements that complement one another.
Beyond the grand spaces, the architectural details also offer plenty of opportunities for framing. The shadow of a palm tree at 10 o’clock in the morning. The texture of the wood in the spa. A light fitting tucked away in a corner of a bedroom. It is these images that linger in the memory.
It is the close-ups of textures that make for the best images. The teams who work here regularly know this: the Sezz photographs just as well in macro as it does with a wide-angle lens.
It is the close-ups of textures that make for beautiful photos:
Light-coloured concrete with the cast shadow of a palm tree,
Greenery spilling out onto the paths,
The lines of the outdoor furniture against the midday sky,
Door handles, light fittings, bathroom details – carefully chosen objects that deserve a close-up.
Best time: 11am–2pm for the sharpest shadows, or 4pm–5pm for long shadows.
The most beautiful lights of the day: a practical guide
The light in Saint-Tropez changes significantly four times a day.
In Saint-Tropez, the light changes rapidly throughout the day. To achieve the desired effect, the time of day is just as important as the location.
Here’s how to make the most of it:
Sunrise — check the exact time depending on the date.
Low, pink light. The Sentier du Littoral from Canebiers beach, the empty swimming pool before the hotel comes to life, the gardens in the light morning mist. The best time for architectural photos: no crowds, no harsh shadows.The morning — 8am–11am.
Golden light, still low in the sky. The private terraces, the palm-lined avenue, al fresco breakfasts. The foliage is fresh, the colours are rich.The golden hour — around 45 to 60 minutes before sunset.
This is the most sought-after light. It’s the time when smartphones are whipped out at the Dom Pérignon bar without anyone even realising it. The light does the work; no one needs to pose. The swimming pool, the Dom Pérignon bar, the Colette terrace. The sky shifts from blue to orange, and the reflections on the water become extraordinary.Evening — after 9 pm.
Artificial light takes over: the subdued lighting of the bar and Colette. This is the time for atmospheric shots, with a higher ISO and a wide aperture. The result is often more memorable than daytime photos.
Just a few minutes from Sezz, the best photo spots in Les Salins neighbourhood
The Sezz Hotel is situated on Route des Salins, 5 minutes from the centre of Saint-Tropez and 10 minutes from the beaches of Pampelonne. This neighbourhood is one of the most photogenic on the peninsula, and most of its attractions are within walking distance of the hotel.
Les Canebiers beach
Access: 5-minute walk from the Sezz
Ideal light: 7 am–9 am.
Best time to visit: early in the morning, when this beach is almost deserted – a side of Saint-Tropez that
few photos capture.
What to photograph: turquoise water, white sandy seabed, golden rocks
The Sentier du Littoral
Starting point: Les Canebiers beach
Distance: 12 km of coastline amongst rocks, Mediterranean vegetation and sea views.
The first kilometre from Les Canebiers is among the most photogenic: umbrella pines against a backdrop of the Mediterranean, reddish rocks in crystal-clear water.
Best time: in the morning before it gets too hot.
What to photograph: umbrella pines against a backdrop of the Mediterranean, reddish rocks, crystal-clear water.
Les Salins beach
Access: 10-minute walk
Larger and wilder than Les Canebiers.
Best time to visit: sunset
What to photograph: orange reflections on the shallow water, a natural beach with no sun loungers or beach clubs.
The Place des Lices
How to get there: 5 mins by car from the Sezz
Best time to visit: before 8 am, when the square is empty.
What to photograph: century-old plane trees, side light filtering through the trees, café terraces still closed, a ground of sand and beige pebbles – this is the Saint-Tropez of the pre-tourism era, and it has changed very little.
The harbour, at sunset
Access: 5–10 mins by car
Best time to visit: sunset.
Best angle: from the Môle Jean Réveille, looking towards the village.
What to photograph: yachts, the colourful façades of the houses along the quay, orange light on the white hulls – this is the most famous image of Saint-Tropez, but it remains spectacular when captured well.
The Citadel of Saint-Tropez
Getting there: 8 mins by car
Best times to visit: in the morning or late afternoon.
What to photograph: the view of the Gulf, the rooftops of Saint-Tropez, the boats in the bay.
The Ponche
How to get there: 10 mins by car
Best time to visit: early in the morning, before the town centre gets busy.
The sea temperature ranges from 20 to 26 degrees.
What to photograph: the narrow alleyways, colourful façades, staircases, small doors, and the proximity to the seafront.
The quai Jean-Jaurès
Access: 8 mins by car
Best time to visit: late afternoon.
What to photograph: colourful façades, yachts, the harbour, reflections, the light.
And around Saint-Tropez: Ramatuelle
To broaden your horizons, the narrow streets of Ramatuelle and the panoramic views of the peninsula also offer some lovely subjects, particularly at the end of the day.
Access: 23 minutes by car from the centre of Ramatuelle.
Practical informations — Sezz Saint-Tropez Hotel
Address: 151 Route des Salins, 83990 Saint-Tropez.
Access: 5 minutes from the centre of Saint-Tropez, 10 minutes from the beaches of Pampelonne, right next to Canebiers beach and the Sentier du Littoral coastal path.
Rooms: 37 rooms and suites, all with a terrace and private garden.
Swimming pool: 200 sqm, heated.
Dining: Colette gourmet restaurant (Michelin-starred, dinner only), Le C bistro (lunch and dinner), Dom Pérignon bar.
Wellness: Sezz Spa by Susanne Kaufmann.
Parking: free with valet parking.
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Sezz Saint-Tropez, 5-star hotel in the heart of Saint-Tropez
Five-star design hotel, the Sezz Saint-Tropez offers several particularly photogenic decorations: its 200 sqm heated swimming pool surrounded by palm trees, its contemporary architecture signed Christophe Pillet, its private terraces and the Dom Pérignon bar facing the pool. Located route des Salins, 5 minutes from the city center.
The best photo spots in Saint-Tropez: the swimming pool of the hotel Sezz at golden hour, the beach of Les Canebiers early in the morning, the Sentier du Littoral from Canebiers, the Place des Lices before 8 o'clock, the harbour at sunset. All are accessible from the Salins district in a few minutes.
The best lights are usually those of sunrise, early morning and golden hour, about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset. The exact times vary depending on the date: remember to check them before your photo outing. For portraits and landscapes, prefer the morning and golden hour. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., the harsher light can be interesting for photographing architecture and graphic shadows.
Hotel accessible to people with reduced mobility