The best way to pass a day in St. Tropez is at the private beach clubs, which line pretty Pampelonne beach, a short drive from town. While there are plenty to choose from, these are the ones to know on a first trip.

Classic: Club 55 When Roger Vadim shot And God Created Woman, he used Club 55 as a snack shack between takes. Though a genuine landmark presiding over a stretch of Pampelonne, it has remained a family business. The ever-gracious Patrice de Colmont keeps track of every reservation and knows his glittery clients’ favorite tables.

Party Scene: Nikki Beach It’s not for everyone, but those in search of endless Champagne and bass-thumping DJs should spend an afternoon lounging at Nikki.

Sophisticated: Club Les Palmiers Ramatuelle This beach club has a great, somewhat serene vibe, fostered by all-white parasols and lounge chairs, from which patrons can enjoy Niçoise salads, fish carpaccio and pasta.

This early 17th-century citadel overlooks the town of St. Tropez. Although the short climb to visit can be brutal on a hot summer day, it’s worth it for the views of the Riviera as well as for the evening concerts held in the amphitheater. Kids will love the peacocks that roam the grounds.

A mythic club from the 1970s (formerly known as Le Papagayo), GAÏO attracts big-name European sophisticates on special DJ nights. Otherwise it’s packed with young model wannabes and twenty-something singles.

In a grove of oaks and pines with a view of the Gulf of St.-Tropez, this private eighteen-hole club is the swankiest in the area. Reservations are a must.

Explore the marshland of the Camargue, which is full of flora and fauna, including flamingoes, ibis and egrets, as well as horses and bulls. Horseback riding is also an option. Indagare members can contact our bookings team for options.

Provence is home to many famous chefs as well as bountiful markets. Depending on your interest, group size and level of culinary experience, we can tailor a cooking class to suit you. Begin exploring the markets and shops in a small village or in a state-of-the-art professional kitchen. Indagare members can contact our bookings team for options.

Whether you want to hire a boat for the day, go biking or visit villages and learn to play boules or to make perfume or pastries with locals, we can arrange for custom family activities. Indagare members can contact our bookings team for options.

The area where the chic and wealthy hide out in private hillside villas is also renowned for its Côtes de Provence vineyards. Locals adore Château des Marres, where award-winning whites are created. Other Côtes de Provence vineyards are scattered along Route D61, in nearby Gassin. Among the best: the classic Château Minuity, which makes delicious fruity rosés and highly rated reds; buy directly from the cellar, and have a peek at the 18th-century chapel on the grounds. And don’t miss the equally top-notch Château de Barbeyrolles. Indagare members can contact our bookings team to arrange for a guided tour.

Château des Marres Route des Plages, Ramatuelle 33-4-9497-2261 www.chateaudesmarres.com

Château Minuty 2491 Route de la Berle, Gassin 33-4-9456-1209 www.chateauminuty.com

Château de Barbeyrolles Route de la Berle 33-4-9456-3358 www.barbeyrolles.com

The beach club and restaurant on the shore of Pampelonne Beach has a relaxing, free-spirited vibe that aims to reflect authenticity and friendliness. Bright colors and natural elements combine with the sights and smells of the Mediterranean to make this an ideal spot to chill by the beach before moving on to the bustle of Saint-Tropez nightlife.

A tangle of secret paths bordered by bamboo, these stunning gardens are worth a day’s excursion. Occupying a stretch of wild coastline between Le Lavandou and St.-Tropez, this government-protected park is my favorite place for a family outing. Rare plants from six continents abound, including Australian mimosas, Chinese persimmons, Mexican cacti, Aleppo pines and cork oaks. There are also special gardens (South African, New Zealand and India/East Asia) created by renowned French landscape designer Gilles Clément. And don’t forget your swimsuit; you can go snorkeling and explore an underwater garden. If you’ve worked up an appetite, bring a change of clothes and dine at the nearby restaurant of the Hotel Les Roches (1 Avenue des Trois Dauphins, Le Lavandou; +33-4-9471-0507).

Patrice Colmont, owner of Club 55, recommends this preserve of virgin forest in Ramatuelle. As he raves, “It’s hard to imagine something like this could still exist in a place where real estate properties are so incredibly sought after. The area is beautiful, with over 2,000 hectares of cork oaks, umbrella pines, and vines…Even in the height of the summer, it’s peaceful because the government classified the area as a “zone of silence”—which means no construction, no motorcycles, and no helicopters flying overhead.”

Run by Jean Roch, the owner of Paris’s celeb-crammed club by the same name, VIP is a hip-hop techno haven where everyone goes when they’re not at the Caves du Roy.

Getting a table at this glam nightspot is tricky, since it’s the Riviera’s top nightclub (guests staying at the Hôtel Byblos should get to know the concierge, who sometimes can help score a reservation). Les Caves has the ultimate scene: flowing Dom Perignon, a dance floor packed with beauties and open-shirted playboys, and a crowded VIP section. The uproarious atmosphere rages until dawn.

Sailing enthusiasts are drawn to the yacht races held every October. Les Voiles de St. Tropez, which began in 1987, hosts a slew of classic boats that arrive to swoop across the bay in pursuit of the Rolex trophy. Dates vary by year but usually the regatta runs from late September through early October.

Take a shopping break to visit this tiny museum, hidden in an alley off boutique-heavy Rue Allard. The exhibit of butterflies stretching over two floors was collected by painter/entomologist Dany Lartigue, the son of photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue. April-November, closed Sundays.

In a 16th-century chapel on the edge of the port, the museum has a small but superb collection of artists who were influenced by the brilliant St.-Tropez light. Works by Signac, Matisse, Bonnard, Van Dongen, Dufy, Marquet, Braque, and Vuillard are on view, as are paintings by Fauvists, Pointillists and the Nabis School. There are also some lovely landscapes by lesser-known artists. Call for opening hours and days.

Hikers shouldn’t miss the sentier littoral, a coastal footpath that begins at the Plage des Graniers and ends at the nearly deserted Cap Lardier and its breathtaking Plage de l’Escalet. The entire path runs at least twenty-five miles, but there’s a manageable nine-mile loop starting from the village and heading towards Tahiti Beach along the coast (seven miles). Return via the Rue de Tahiti (two miles) to get back to town.

One of the best ways to explore the coast around St. Tropez is by boat. We can arrange everything from small sailboats or catamarans to yachts. The best areas to visit are the Esterel Mountain coast, a scenic stretch of red rock cliffs that drop into perfectly blue seas, and Porquerolles, the western-most island in the Îles d’Hyères. Much of the island is national park, but there is also a small port and sandy beaches along the northern coast. Hit the high seas in the morning and picnic on board, or moor in front of Club 55 for a truly stylish St. Tropez arrival. Indagare members can contact the bookings team for pricing on charters and day trips.