Best known as a beach-lover and fashionista mecca, the town of St. Tropez sits some 100 kilometers to the west of Nice along the south coast of France in the French Riviera. Like other central points along this region of the Mediterranean, it was an important military point and relatively unassuming fishing village until the mid-20th century, when artists began to flock there and international VIPs followed. Thereafter, the town became known as a well-known luxury seaside resort. To get there, take a standard flight via most major European airports to Toulon-Hyères or the Nice-Cote d’Azur airport 1.5 hours away, or take a boat from St Raphaël.

Steeped in history and well-known for being a base point for French new Wave artists as well as the suave 1960’s-style Ye-Ye music, the town is more than just a beach vacation spot. Major annual St. Tropez events include June’s Giraglia Rolex Cup sailboat regatta, the mid-summer classical music festival Nuits du Château de la Moutte, and October’s Braderie, the end-of-season shopping bonanza where tourists flock to find all the best bargains on high end clothing brands. If shopping isn’t quite your style, check out the beautiful restaurants, bars and people as you stroll around at the Quai Jean Jaurès, then head the center square and grab a latte at the Café des Arts.

In St. Tropez, walking is the best option, but you’ll want to hire a car, bicycle or scooter to get to the major beaches which are a ways out of town. But walking is sweet, as there’s no shortage of beautiful scenes: between the stunning luxury yachts in the harbor and skinny streets with squished in, colorful buildings at La Ponche, there’s plenty to take in. The 16th century Musée de l’Annonciade, filled with original works by Matisse and Seurat, is a wonderful stop for art fans. If you’re in for a long walk and some nature check out the coastal flora and fauna along the rugged seven-mile Sentier du Littoral seaside walk to the infamous Pampelonne beach. And don’t forget to keep your eye out for celebrities—Brigitte Bardot has a home there, and Leonardo DiCaprio, and Elton John are just a couple of the many celebs that frequent the area.