Gigaro
The honest short answer
Published 11 March 2026. Last reviewed 6 June 2026. Conditions described are typical and never guaranteed.
Gigaro sits on the quiet southern edge of the Saint Tropez peninsula below the village of La Croix Valmer, and it is the answer for anyone who loves the area but cannot face the price and the crush of Pampelonne. It is a calm curve of soft sand and fine pebble backed by umbrella pines, facing the islands offshore, with water that stays clear and usually gentle. The mood is relaxed and local rather than glamorous, which is exactly the point.
The beach is free public sand, and that matters here. A few restaurant concessions rent loungers and serve lunch over the water, names such as Souleias up on the rise and La Plage de Gigaro on the sand among them, but you are never forced through a club gate to reach the sea. Bring a towel, find a spot under the pines and you have spent nothing but the parking. Spend on a long lunch only if you want the table and the view, not because the beach demands it.
The other reason to come is the walk. Gigaro is the trailhead for the coast path through the protected Cap Lardier and Cap Taillat headlands, a stretch of wild, undeveloped shore with small empty coves that feel a world away from the resorts. You can swim at the main beach in the morning, walk twenty or forty minutes along the path and find sand almost to yourself. Bring proper shoes, water and shade, because the path is rocky and exposed.
Who should skip it: anyone chasing club theatre, DJs and a scene, who will be happier at Pampelonne up the coast. Who should go: families, walkers, couples and anyone who wants the peninsula at its calmest. Pair Gigaro with a quiet afternoon at Escalet or a free swim at Salins for a peninsula day that never touches a velvet rope.
Clubs on and near the sand
Gigaro is a free public beach with a small number of restaurant concessions rather than a strip of branded clubs. Lounger rates, menus and opening dates vary by season, so confirm directly and use the French Riviera club directory if you want a fully bookable beach club day elsewhere on the coast.
- SouleiasA restaurant set above the beach with a wide view over the bay and the islands, known for a relaxed lunch rather than a party. Loungers, menus and booking details are to be confirmed directly in season.
- La Plage de GigaroA beach restaurant on the sand itself with loungers along the main stretch and an easy going daytime feel. Lounger rates, opening dates and reservations are to be confirmed directly.
- Free public sandLong open stretches of the beach stay free, so you can lay a towel under the pines and swim without renting anything. Bring your own kit and shade.
Gigaro lies below La Croix Valmer on the southern side of the Saint Tropez peninsula, reached by car in around half an hour from Saint Tropez town along the peninsula roads, with free and paid parking behind the beach. There is no easy rail link, so a car or taxi is the practical way in, and the lanes get busy on summer weekends.
Come earlier in the day to find both a parking spot and shade under the pines, and bring shoes if you want to walk the coast path to the wild coves beyond the beach. June and September give you warm water and the path at its best without the August crowds, and a weekday is always calmer than a peak weekend.
Reserve a day on the French Riviera
Tell us the day and the party, and we will match you to a beach club near Gigaro and pass your request straight to the team.
Is Gigaro beach free?
Yes. Gigaro is free public sand, with a few restaurant concessions renting loungers along it. You can bring a towel, find a spot under the pines and swim for the price of parking, which is the way most people use it.
How do you get to Gigaro from Saint Tropez?
By car in around half an hour along the peninsula roads, with free and paid parking behind the beach. There is no convenient train, so a car or taxi is the practical way in, and the lanes get busy on summer weekends.
Is Gigaro good for families?
Yes. The water is generally calm and shelves gently, the pines give real shade and the sand is soft, which suits children. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed, so judge the sea on the day and stay near any supervised zone.
What is the coast walk from Gigaro?
Gigaro is the trailhead for the path through the protected Cap Lardier and Cap Taillat headlands, a wild stretch of shore with small empty coves. Bring shoes, water and shade, as the path is rocky and exposed.
When is the best time to visit Gigaro?
June and September give warm settled water and the coast path at its best without the August crush. A weekday is calmer than a summer weekend, and arriving earlier means easier parking and shade under the pines.