Travel book · Côte d'Azur

Pampelonne Beach at Ramatuelle: 4.5km of sand and a remarkable natural area

By the AEC Collection team Updated on 28 May 2026 3 min read

A brief clarification of nomenclature: Pampelonne Beach is not at Saint-Tropez. It lies in the neighbouring municipality of Ramatuelle, to the east of the peninsula, and extends for nearly 4.5 kilometres of pale sand, bordered to the north by Cap du Pinet and to the south by Pointe de Bonne Terrasse.

It is the largest beach on the Saint-Tropez peninsula and one of the most emblematic on the Côte d’Azur, as much for its legendary beach clubs (Club 55, Tahiti, Nikki Beach) as for the fact that, contrary to what some visitors imagine, it remains predominantly open and public access.

A remarkable natural area, by decision of the Council of State

By a ruling of the Council of State of 13 November 2002, Pampelonne Beach was recognised as a « remarkable natural area » under the Coastal Protection Law. This decision led, in the years that followed, to a development plan aimed at reducing the footprint of private establishments and restoring part of the dune system.

The site is moreover classified Natura 2000 under the « Habitats » directive, notably for its posidonia seagrass meadow offshore, the Mediterranean « underwater forest », slow-growing and essential to coastal biodiversity and sand fixation.

Five sectors, from north to south

The beach is traditionally divided into five sectors aligned from north to south: les Moulins, les Tamaris, Patch, les Barraques and Bonne Terrasse. Each has its own character.

Les Moulins, closest to Saint-Tropez, is the historic sector of large private beaches and remains the most frequented. Les Tamaris and Patch offer a balance between private beaches and free areas, with easier road access. Les Barraques and Bonne Terrasse, to the south, are the most natural, where the quietest stretches are found, sometimes with feet in the water from the back of the beach.

Access and parking

Access is via around a dozen pathways perpendicular to the Bonne Terrasse road, which runs along the beach some 500 metres inland. Each access point has its own car park, payable in season, sometimes free out of season. Plan for a 5 to 10 minute walk across the back of the beach from car to sand.

Access from the sea (temporary mooring) has been reorganised via the Mooring and Light Facilities Zone (ZMEL) established in 2025, an initiative which should, in due course, replace informal mooring with an organised system of buoys to preserve the underwater seagrass meadow.

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When to go

July-August draws the crowds, including to the public sectors. May-June and September remain the best compromises: the sea is still (or already) pleasant for swimming, the beach clubs are open, the light is exceptional. For regulars, late September remains the favoured moment: almost all beach clubs are still open, but the tourist pressure has eased.

Planning a stay on the peninsula

AEC Collection selects and represents premium villas and houses in Ramatuelle, Gassin and Saint-Tropez. Private beach clubs and sunbeds are booked directly with the establishments.