Plage de Pampelonne

Drop anchor off Pampelonne, the legendary 5km sweep of white sand that put Saint-Tropez on the map — Brigitte Bardot filmed here in the 1950s and the place never looked back. The bay is sheltered and the water genuinely turquoise, with a string of beach bars and restaurants lining the shore if you want to head in by dinghy. It's glamorous but surprisingly laid-back, and the southern end near Ramatuelle stays calmer and more affordable than the celebrity-magnet spots up north.