A couple of hours from The Mall Sanremo, Saint-Tropez has its own special charm, a combination of contemporary glamour and the authentic soul of an ancient fishing village.

We start the day with a buttery croissant and a large coffee at Sénéquier in the Vieux Port, which we can also admire from Môle Jean Réveille, a favourite place for impressionist painters and writers. From here we head to La Ponche, the historic heart of Saint-Tropez. In Place aux Herbes we find the traditional market with stalls selling local products, and not far away, the fish market in the Halle aux Poissons, complete with marble counters and mosaic walls. Pop into the nearby Church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption then take Rue de la Citadelle for a visit to the Museum of Maritime History in its fortress with stunning views. We go back down the hill for lunch at Le Bagatelle – or, if it’s Saturday or Tuesday, the Marché des Lices, among colourful stalls and games of pétanque (the national sport here!) – and we’re ready for an afternoon on the beach.

For the blue Saint-Tropez sea, check out the large Plage des Canebiers, a favourite among the locals, or the exclusive Plage de Pampelonne, maybe at Casa Amor, the celebrated boho-chic beach club designed by Dolce&Gabbana.

Aperitifs on the rooftop terrace at Les Toits Restaurant & Lounge , then we head for a real local institution, Hôtel Byblos, for an Asian dinner at Zuma, and end the evening at Les Caves du Roy, the legendary nightclub frequented by Brigitte Bardot, Bernard Buffet, Grace Jones and many others.

If you stay for a second day, dive into art at Musée de l’Annonciade, home to masterpieces by the likes of Signac, Bonnard and Matisse.