For all the far-flung places on our bucket lists, there is still nothing quite like the French Riviera for a dose of effortless glamour. It is close enough for a long weekend, reliably warm from late spring to October, and packed with the kind of scenery — turquoise water, pastel old towns, hillside vineyards — that looks almost unreal until you are standing in front of it. If you are planning your first trip from the UK, here is how to do the stretch between Nice and Saint-Tropez properly, and in style.

Arriving in Nice

Most British travellers land at Nice Côte d’Azur, the Riviera’s main airport and one of the easiest short-haul hops from London, Manchester or Edinburgh. Within minutes of leaving the terminal you are beside the sea, with the Promenade des Anglais curving along the bay and the pastel façades of the Old Town just behind it. Nice rewards a day or two before you move on: a morning at the Cours Saleya flower market, a plate of socca eaten standing up at a counter, an afternoon climbing Castle Hill for the view that has launched a thousand postcards, and an early-evening apéritif in a square that hums well past sunset.

Getting around without the stress

Here is the one piece of advice seasoned Riviera-goers repeat: do not hire a car for the coast unless you genuinely love narrow roads, hairpin bends and hunting for parking in July. The corniches are beautiful but demanding, and a long lunch with a glass of rosé and a hire car simply do not mix. Arranging a professional private chauffeur in Nice is the smoother option — someone who knows the roads, handles the luggage and lets you actually look out of the window. It is the difference between arriving frazzled and arriving in the mood for a spritz.

The coastal run to Saint-Tropez

The drive from Nice to Saint-Tropez is one of the great European road trips: roughly two hours of coastline, vineyards and glimpses of the Mediterranean between the pines. You will pass Cannes with its film-festival glamour, the fiery red rock of the Estérel massif tumbling straight into the sea, and the rolling wine country of the Var before the road finally curls down into the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Booking a private transfer from Nice to Saint-Tropez ahead of time means you can break the journey wherever you fancy — a coffee stop on the Croisette in Cannes, a photo above the Estérel — without watching the clock or wrestling with sat-nav directions in a foreign language.

Saint-Tropez, beyond the cliché

Saint-Tropez has a reputation for superyachts and celebrity-spotting, and yes, the harbour delivers on both. But linger a little and the village reveals a gentler side. Mornings are for the Place des Lices market, where Provençal linens, olives and sun-ripe tomatoes fill the square under the plane trees. The old town’s ochre lanes climb up to the Citadel and a sweeping view over the bay. And the light — the same clear, silvery light that drew Signac, Matisse and a whole generation of painters here more than a century ago — is worth the trip on its own.

Where to eat and drink

This is where the Riviera really earns its reputation. Along the harbour, the classic move is a long, unhurried lunch of grilled fish and a chilled bottle of Côtes de Provence rosé, the pale local wine that somehow tastes of the region itself. For something with a view, the rooftop terraces above the old town catch the evening sun and a proper golden hour over the water. Out at Pampelonne, the famous beach clubs run the full range from barefoot-chic to full-blown party, but even a simple beachside salad and a carafe here feels like an occasion. Whatever you do, save room for a slice of tarte tropézienne, the cream-filled brioche invented in the village and still its sweetest souvenir.

Beyond the village

If you have a few days, the surrounding hills reward a little exploring. Ramatuelle and Gassin are two of the prettiest perched villages in Provence, all cobbled lanes, bougainvillea and long views back down to the coast — ideal for a slow lunch away from the harbour crowds. Port Grimaud, the so-called “Venice of Provence”, is a photogenic detour of pastel houses and little canals. Inland, the vineyards of the Var open their doors for tastings, and a chauffeur-driven afternoon means nobody has to be the designated driver.

When to go

Timing makes all the difference. July and August are electric but crowded and expensive, and the village can feel genuinely overwhelmed at the height of summer. May, June and September are the sweet spot — warm sea, long days and room to breathe. Late September in particular is a local secret: the water is still warm from the summer, the crowds have thinned, and the vineyards inland are heavy with the coming harvest.

Making it easy

A trip like this is meant to feel indulgent, not logistical. Pack light, book your key dinners in advance (the best harbour tables go early in season), and let someone else handle the driving so the Riviera can do what it does best — slow you down. Do that, and the stretch from Nice to Saint-Tropez stops being a transfer and becomes part of the holiday itself: two hours of coastline you will remember long after the tan has faded.