Saint-Tropez in September: why extend the summer at Sezz?

Why visit Saint-Tropez in September rather than in July or August?

During the Indian summer, Saint-Tropez takes on a different pace. The days are still bathed in sunshine, the sea retains its beautiful colours, but the hustle and bustle of summer gradually gives way to a gentler atmosphere

The weather is very pleasant, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine – ideal for enjoying the beach without the summer crowds. Afternoon temperatures average between 24°C and 26°C, and the sea is around 22°C, which is still perfect for swimming.

The beaches at Pampelonne are becoming less crowded again. The restaurants in the harbour are once more taking last-minute bookings. You can walk along the coastal path without bumping into a hundred people. The narrow streets become more pleasant to stroll through. The outdoor terraces invite you to take your time. And at the Sezz, the gardens have a different feel to them: more serene, quieter, as if the hotel were finally able to breathe.

Yannick Durand has been a concierge at the Sezz hotel for over ten years. He’s the one who knows the best spots from the inside: the coves you won’t find on Google, the unusual activities that are truly worth a detour, the times of day when Saint-Tropez reveals what it hides in August. September remains his favourite time in Saint-Tropez: “It’s perhaps our favourite time to help you discover our Saint-Tropez: the one you explore at a leisurely pace, whether it’s a swim, a stroll or a dinner that goes on a little longer.”

September at the Sezz Saint-Tropez, in a glance:

• Sea: 22°C on average

• Weather: 24–26°C in the afternoon, mild nights

• Visitor numbers: significantly reduced

• Restaurant Colette: open Thursday to Monday, with live music on Mondays

• Bistrot Le C: open for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week

• Sezz Spa by Susanne Kaufmann: busy

• Access: 5 mins from the centre of Saint-Tropez, 10 mins from the beaches of Pampelonne

Why September is the month to choose for Saint-Tropez

In August, Saint-Tropez is a spectacle. In September, it’s a destination.

The difference is real and measurable: visitor numbers drop significantly from the very first week of September, the traffic jams on the Route des Salins disappear, and tables on the terraces become available. But what isn’t so easily measured is how this changes the experience itself: the time you take to settle in, the chat you have with the waiter, the way you simply watch the light rather than trying to snap a quick photo before someone walks into the frame.

The sea, for its part, retains everything it has accumulated since June: 22°C, crystal-clear waters, shimmering reflections, and beaches that return to their natural proportions. This is the time when swimming at Pampelonne feels just as you imagined it, not like what you experienced in August.

Yannick, our caretaker, admits that September is his favourite time in Saint-Tropez.

“A swim at Les Salins.

A lunch that goes on forever.

A stroll along the water’s edge.

A few kilometres’ cycle ride through the vineyards.

Dinner in the village’s narrow streets.

And, to finish, the sun disappearing behind the gulf.”

What the Sezz has to offer in September

September isn’t just a short season at the Sezz; it’s a season in its own right, with its own rhythm.

The gastronomic restaurant Colette

Philippe Colinet is in the kitchen, and his menu is evolving. The produce is changing: the first autumn truffles are appearing, figs are at their peak, and mushrooms are starting to arrive from the Var. The ‘Substances’ and ‘Sens’ menus are adapted to the freshest produce. The terrace overlooking the swimming pool is quieter. You can choose your own table, take your time and stay for a while.

Open for dinner from Thursday to Monday, the restaurant welcomes both hotel guests and visitors from outside. Musical evenings take place on Mondays in September, from 8 pm to 10 pm. The programme complements the dinner without overpowering it – exactly the atmosphere that some guests prefer to the busier summer Thursdays.

Practical information — Colette gourmet restaurant:

• Dinner only: 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm

• Open in September: Thursday to Monday (closed on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings)

• Chef: Philippe Colinet, Michelin-starred chef and Maître Restaurateur

• Musical evenings: Mondays from 8 pm to 10 pm

• Menus: ‘Substances’ (5 courses) and ‘Sens’ (7 courses)

• Vegetarian options available

• Food and wine pairings from €66 (3 glasses)

• Wine cellar: 120 wines

• Access for residents and visitors from outside the area

• Services: free valet parking; pets weighing up to 10 kg are welcome on the terrace.

Le C bistro

Open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week. In September, the menu features the latest summer produce: the first autumn vegetables are arriving. The lunchtime barbecue continues. The terraces are less crowded. You can enjoy lunch in the sunshine without having to wait more than 30 minutes for a table.

Practical information — Bistrot Le C:

• Lunch: 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm

• Dinner: 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm

• Open 7 days a week

• Access for residents and visitors from outside the area

• Cuisine: chic bistro by Philippe Colinet, Michelin-starred chef and Maître Restaurateur

• Barbecue: lunchtimes only, cooked in front of you

• Prices: from €17 to €58 depending on the dish, with vegetarian options

• Services: free valet parking; pets up to 10 kg are welcome on the terrace.

The Dom Pérignon bar

September sunsets are often more beautiful than those in August. Enjoy them by the pool, with a glass in hand. The sky is clearer, the colours more intense. The perfect time: 7.30 pm.

Practical information — Dom Pérignon Bar:

• Open 7 days a week from 11.00 to midnight

• Open to residents and non-residents

• Cuisine by Chef Philippe Colinet

• Prices: drinks from €8 and a snack menu from €17, with vegetarian options

• Services: free valet parking; pets weighing up to 10 kg are welcome on the terrace.

The Sezz Spa by Susanne Kaufmann

September is when the spa is at its most peaceful. Treatments are more readily available, and the sunrise and sunset yoga classes take place in a tranquillity that you won’t find during the peak season. A Slow, Glow, Flow or Duo retreat at this time of year has a different quality to it.

Practical information — Spa Sezz by Susanne Kaufmann:

• Treatments from 10.00 to 20.00 — hammam and jacuzzi until 21.00

• 2 treatment rooms, including one DUO room

• Private shower

• Outdoor fitness area

• Yoga classes (sunset & sunrise), by booking

• Spa boutique

• Relaxation terrace

• Treatments from €70

• Open to residents and non-residents

Saint-Tropez in September: things you can do there that aren’t possible in summer

The market, September edition

On Tuesday or Saturday mornings, head to Place des Lices.

The Saint-Tropez market runs all year round, from 8 am to 1 pm: seasonal fruit and vegetables, flowers, Provençal specialities, crafts, clothes and treasures to discover amongst the stalls.

For a more relaxed experience, Yannick’s advice is simple: come early. Before the village really comes to life, take the time to stroll beneath the plane trees, pick out a few items for an impromptu lunch and soak up the market atmosphere.

The market really comes to life in September. The producers are there, as are the locals. Loïc de Saleneuve, a goat farmer from Collobrières, runs a stall there. It’s the perfect opportunity to chat to him, sample his cheeses and find out where the food we eat in restaurants actually comes from.

Practical information — Saint-Tropez Market:

• Address: 33 Pl. du 15eme Corps, Saint-Tropez (Place des Lices)

• Access: 7 minutes (2.8 km) by car from the Sezz.

• Car park: Espace des Lices (paid parking).

• Admission: free.

• Booking: no booking required.

• Best time to visit: early in the morning.

How to enjoy the beaches differently

The beaches are returning to their natural state. Parking available. Water temperature 22°C. And an atmosphere that’s more like what the peninsula used to be before it became a mass tourist destination.

Here are some recommendations from Yannick, concierge at the Sezz:

For a day with your feet in the sand, head to Les Salins. Just a few minutes from Saint-Tropez, the beach offers a more intimate atmosphere, which is particularly pleasant when September brings a touch of calm back to the peninsula.

Our routine: arrive in the late morning, enjoy a swim, have lunch overlooking the sea, then let the afternoon unfold with sunbathing, reading and a nap.

Practical information — Les Salins Beach:

• Access: 4 minutes (2 km) by car from the Sezz.

• Lifeguards on duty in high season.

• Parking: free parking nearby.

• Admission: free.

• Booking: no booking required.

• Best time to visit: early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Closer to the village, Les Graniers is one of those little spots we love for its simplicity. A cove, a few pine trees, the sea within easy reach… and the chance to extend your swim with a spot of lunch. The perfect place to get away for a few hours without really leaving Saint-Tropez.

Practical information — Graniers Beach:

• Access: 10 minutes (3.4 km) by car from Le Sezz — follow the Chemin des Graniers after the maritime cemetery

• Location: below the citadel of Saint-Tropez.

• Unsupervised swimming

• Parking: on-street parking; a small car park is available near the maritime cemetery.

• Admission: free.

• Booking: no booking required.

• Best time to visit: sunset.

Dinner tables

September also brings the pleasure of rediscovering Saint-Tropez after dark, when the narrow streets quieten down and you can finally take the time to stroll around. The concierges at the Sezz Hotel recommend two unique spots.

In the narrow streets of Old Saint-Tropez, Au Caprice des Deux offers homemade French ‘bistronomic’ cuisine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. A restaurant with real character, ideal for taking your time over dinner and discovering hearty dishes made with the finest ingredients.

Practical information — Au Caprice des Deux:

• Address: 40 Rue du Portail Neuf, Saint-Tropez. Approximately 8 minutes’ walk from the Sezz.

• Opening hours: 7 pm to 11 pm, Wednesday to Monday.

• Prices: à la carte menu from €18, wine list from €9.

• Parking: Espace des Lices (paid parking).

• Booking: recommended (online or by telephone).

Another of their favourite places to go in the evening: La Part des Anges. Mediterranean and bistronomic cuisine, a friendly atmosphere and an ideal location in the heart of the village.

Practical information — La Part des Anges:

• Address: 7 rue de l’Église, Saint-Tropez. About 7 minutes’ walk from the Sezz.

• Opening hours: 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm and 7.00 pm to 11.30 pm, Thursday to Tuesday.

• Prices: Lunch set menu at €27. À la carte menu from €12.

• Parking: Nouveau Port car park or Espace des Lices (pay-and-display).

• Booking: recommended (online or by telephone).

The vineyards are in the middle of the grape harvest

September is harvest time in Provence. The Domaine de Fondugues-Pradugues, recommended by Yannick Durand, offers tours and tastings during this period. Watching the teams at work in the vineyards, tasting the grapes straight from the vine, and understanding how a Provence rosé is made is an experience that no summer month can offer.

Practical information — Domaine de Fondugues-Pradugues:

• Address: 7677 Route des Plages, Ramatuelle. Approximately 20 minutes from Le Sezz.

• Opening hours: 10.30 am to 10.30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. 10.30 am to 6.30 pm on Mondays.

• Prices: bottles from €19 to €45.

• Experiences:

  • wine tasting, tour and on-site wine sales (€35–55),

  • idyllic lunch in Fondugues-Pradugues (€100),

  • tapas and pétanque evening at L’Éphémère (menu from €10),

  • culinary evening at Le Chai overlooking the vineyards, dinner amongst the vines in the heart of the vineyard (from €12/€16).

• Car park: on the estate. Charging points for electric vehicles available.

• Booking: online or by telephone.

• Best time to visit: at the end of the day, to enjoy the light over the vineyards.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the event that transforms the bay during the indian summer

There is a time in September when the Gulf of Saint-Tropez becomes something truly unique in the world.

Every year, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez brings together around 250 of the finest boats in the Mediterranean: classic sailing yachts, some of which are over a century old, large yachts and ultra-modern vessels.

In 2026, the event will take place from 26 September to 4 October in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, according to the following programme:

• 27 September: arrival of the Coupe d’Automne

• 28 September – 4 October: races and regattas in the bay

• Part One: modern and classic sailing yachts

• Part Two: Maxi yachts

The regattas can be viewed from land or sea. Access to the Les Voiles village is free for the public. To experience the event from the sea, boat trips are offered by local companies, which Yannick or Maxime can arrange via the Sezz concierge service.

Practical information on traffic: during Les Voiles, traffic in Saint-Tropez is heavy. Ferry services from Sainte-Maxime or Port-Grimaud are strongly recommended. The Sezz’s valet parking service remains available, but please allow extra time for journeys.

Practical information — Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez:

• Venue: Port and Gulf of Saint-Tropez.

• Dates: 26 September to 4 October 2026.

• Opening hours: 9.00 am to 9.00 pm.

• Activities: numerous exhibition stands to visit, entertainment at the Village des Voiles, live music.

• Organised by: Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.

• Admission: free.

• Booking: free entry.

Practical information — The Sezz hotel in September

• Address: 151 Route des Salins, 83990 Saint-Tropez

• Access: 5 mins from the centre of Saint-Tropez, 10 mins from the beaches of Pampelonne, right next to Canebiers beach and the Sentier du Littoral coastal path, 45 mins from Cannes, 1 hour from Nice

• Sea temperature in September: around 22°C

• Weather: 24–26°C during the day, mild nights from 16–18°C

Saint-Tropez isn’t just a place to visit. In September, it’s a place to savour.

Book at Sezz and discover a different side to Saint-Tropez.

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Sezz Saint-Tropez, 5-star hotel in the heart of Saint-Tropez