District · Saint-Gilles
Saint-Paul
The commune's seat: seafront market, marine cemetery, a grid of old streets; a car ride from the resort.
Key facts
- Suits
- The Friday market, old-town history
- Sights here
- 2
- Eats here
- 1
What it's like
- Feels:
- A market town: bustling on Friday and Saturday, calm the rest of the week
- Suits:
- The Friday market, old-town history
- Best time:
- Friday or Saturday morning
- Watch out for:
- Sunday to Thursday for the market.
- In short:
- The commune's seat: seafront market, marine cemetery, a grid of old streets; a car ride from the resort.
About these names
Saint-Gilles is a coastal strip about 6 km long from north to south. The marina and the seafront promenade sit in the middle. North is Boucan Canot, a beach with restaurants under the cliffs. South is L'Hermitage-les-Bains, the long lagoon beach and quieter hotel zone. Inland, on the hills above, Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts is a separate village with the botanical garden. Saint-Paul, with the big market and the cemetery, is a 20-minute drive north-east.
Where exactly
This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Saint-PaulSaint-Paul
seeeat
The commune's seat: seafront market, marine cemetery, a grid of old streets; a car ride from the resort.
Suits: The Friday market, old-town history
On the map: Saint-Paul marine cemetery, Saint-Paul market
Off the map: Roland Garros Airport (RUN) (55–80 min by the usual route).
Where’s what, as a list:
- Saint-Gilles port and seafront (Port de Saint-Gilles): The marina, the promenade, dive and whale desks and the restaurant strip; lively in the evening, hot at midday. Suits: First stay, dinners on foot, boat trips. Price band $$$.
- L'Hermitage lagoon (L'Hermitage-les-Bains): A 3 km lagoon behind the reef, calm water, shaded beach road and hotels close to the sand; fewer restaurants late.A 1.9 mi lagoon behind the reef, calm water, shaded beach road and hotels close to the sand; fewer restaurants late. Suits: Swimming, snorkelling, families, quiet nights. Price band $$.
- Boucan Canot (Boucan Canot): A busy cliff-backed beach with a row of restaurants; the sea is rough and swimming is only allowed when the beach signs say so. Suits: Sunset drinks, watching the surf.
- Saint-Paul (Saint-Paul): The commune's seat: seafront market, marine cemetery, a grid of old streets; a car ride from the resort. Suits: The Friday market, old-town history.
- Sleep area L'Hermitage: suits Swimming, snorkelling, families, quiet nights, price band $$.
- Sleep area Saint-Gilles port: suits First stay, dinners on foot, boat trips, price band $$$.
- Roland Garros Airport (RUN), 55–80 min by the usual route.
Stay here?
Not a base in this guide
See
Opening hours and prices from each place page; (check) means typical hours, not yet verified.
A 20-minute stop after the market: a seafront cemetery with a pirate grave legend and links to the poet Leconte de Lisle, who was born in Saint-Paul; walk quietly and dress modestly.
- Hours:
- Usually open in daylight hours; check on the day.(check)
- Entry:
- Free
- Saint-Paul marketBook a time
The big seafront market: fruit, spices, flowers and Creole snacks; go early on a market morning and take a car.
- Hours:
- The main market days are Friday and Saturday mornings; stalls start setting up about 06:00 and thin out by about 12:00. Check the current days with the tourist office.The main market days are Friday and Saturday mornings; stalls start setting up about 6:00 AM and thin out by about 12:00 PM. Check the current days with the tourist office.(check)
- Entry:
- Free
Eat
What to order and what locals pay, from each eat page. Prices are estimates; check the menu.
- Saint-Paul market food stalls
Graze at the market food stalls on a Friday or Saturday morning: samoussas, bouchons, fruit and cane juice for under €12; go before 09:30.
Order: Samoussa: Trois samoussas, s'il vous plaît.
Price: Samoussas are €1 (≈ US$2) each, bouchons about €1 (≈ US$2), a pineapple €2–4 (≈ US$3–5).
Shopping
Markets and shopping streets from the Saint-Gilles buying guide that name this district.
- Saint-Paul market (marché forain) · Fruit, vegetables, spices, vanilla, flowers, crafts and Creole snacks · Friday and Saturday mornings (check the current days) · haggling: littleThe biggest market on the coast; go early, bring small notes and a bag.
- Bourbon vanilla and spices · Saint-Paul market, supermarkets, specialty shops · Market mornings; shop hoursChoose supple, oily pods in a sealed pack; a small bunch costs about €8–20 (2026 estimate).
Getting there and around
Where to get off
- Saint-Paul seafront, near the town centre · for Saint-Paul marine cemetery
- Seafront market square, Saint-Paul · for Saint-Paul market
- Saint-Paul seafront market square · 2 min walk to Saint-Paul market food stalls
Walks inside the district
- Saint-Paul market → Saint-Paul market food stalls: 2–4 min on foot (Walk to the food stalls)
- Saint-Paul market → Saint-Paul marine cemetery: 8–12 min on foot (Walk along the seafront)
On to the next area
- Car south: about 22 min to Saint-Gilles port and seafront
Minutes are this guide’s typical walking and ride times (p50–p90); traffic and heat stretch them.
Walking loop
A loop that starts and ends at the same place, through this district's sights and eats. Pick a length; download it for Organic Maps, OsmAnd or Google Earth.
About 72 min in all: 12 min on foot, the rest at the stops. 3 stops, back to where you started.
- Saint-Paul marine cemeteryStart here · stop about 15 min
- Saint-Paul market food stalls2 min walk (estimate) · stop about 15 min (snack, or note it for later)
- Saint-Paul market2 min walk · stop about 30 min
- Back to Saint-Paul marine cemetery: 8 min walk
Walking minutes come from this guide’s route graph where it has one; “estimate” means straight-line distance plus a quarter for street detours at an easy pace. Opening hours are not checked: look at “Open now” below before you set off.
Half-day walk
In the day plans: Day 2 — Saint-Paul market, then Boucan Canot and cari (Saint-Gilles in 3 days)
Photo and sunset spots
Light: Morning
Ask before photographing sellers; the fruit and spice stalls make the best pictures.
Safety at night and noise
Saint-Paul market and old townday: oknight: caution
Crowd pickpockets on market days; quiet streets after dark.
Nearby districts
Built from this guide’s Saint-Gilles districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.