while the beach clubs and nightlife in st tropez are all about excess, opulence and european house music, the port is actually a very beautiful place to be.

there’s a market in the place des lices square every tuesday and saturday and it is a must for visitors looking for fresh french produce, stylish trinkets or perhaps a bit of abstract art.

my favourite stalls are the food ones, naturally, so i tend to spend my time breathing in the intoxicating fumes; fromage, tartes and just-out-of-the-oven baguettes. heaven.

having been many times before we didn’t visit the church a short way into the town but if you are visiting you must stop by it is rather beautiful.

wandering away from the market through the winding streets, past dior, gucci and dolce, and you will find yourself at the port.

walk past the huge yachts, with the eye-wateringly rich enjoying breakfast before setting out for the day, and take in the views.

in previous years we have been lucky enough to be on a boat during our trip but this year our feet were firmly on dry land. still, i love having a nosey around the port and checking out the impressive vessels. roberto cavalli’s purple and blue boat was taking pride of place in the port during our stroll. you really cannot miss that thing if you tried!

if you are looking for a bit of traditional french fare then there are plenty of places to eat and we stopped off for a cheesy crepe and a chocolate waffle. carbocide but oh so worth it.

for sun-worshippers head to pampelonne beach, a short drive (or sail if you are so lucky) away from the port for a day of bronzing and celeb spotting.

we tried to eat at le club 55 but it was fully booked so we ended up just renting beds and enjoyed the soaring temperatures on the sands. sheer bliss.

can someone take me back please?