French Riviera

I had the opportunity to go to the French Riviera this past October and it did not disappoint! From the vivid blue waters, to the intricate architecture, and the flavorful wine and food, there was nothing to complain about. We stayed in Antibes and traveled to a new city each day. Depending on how much you like to explore each town, you could stay at each place multiple days or do day trips. We explored the range from the west coast of Saint-Tropez to the most east part of the French Riviera in Menton along the Italian border. Each town has a coastal feel and its own unique charm. 

CANNES

Cannes is a larger city, lined with sandy beaches and known for its international film festival. I recommend walking along the streets and window shopping along the designer stores, perusing the local farmers market (we bought grapes and figs) and walking up to the old fort Musée des explorations du monde for a great view of the city. There are plenty of great restaurants and bakeries to try, you can’t go wrong. 

MENTON

Menton is a quieter town with colorful streets, known for their lemons and the most eastern part of the French Riviera with mountains in its backyard. There is phenomenal seafood throughout the coast, but Menton may have had the best oysters I’ve ever eaten. 

MONACO

Monaco is unlike any other place I’ve visited. Rolls Royces, Lamborghinis and Buggatis line the streets as the city oozes wealth. The Monte Carlo Casino is truly a sight to see with its intricate architecture and large stature. If you go, make sure to bring your passport! You do have to pay to go into the casino itself and no pictures are allowed, if your time allows, I would recommend it. However, if you choose not to go in, there are plenty of designer stores to peruse through. I would also recommend spending some time exploring Hotel de Paris. We ate Em Sherif, a Lebanese restaurant and would highly recommend it, it was incredible!

NICE 

Nice is in the main city of the French Riviera and a good place to stay if you are wanting to do day trips both east and west. It’s known for its architecture and long beach. I personally loved just walking around the streets and exploring local markets, restaurants and cafes. They have a beautiful open square called Place Masséna and park in the middle of the city. Walking on the boardwalk along the sea and going up to the historic hill overlook at Colline du Château is a free and lovely way to see the city.  For museum lovers, they have the Matisse and Marc Chagall museums. 

ANTIBES

Antibes is a 30 minute drive from Nice and is such a quaint town. There are many beautiful beaches, we stayed near Plage de la Garoupe and hiked around the peninsula doing the Cape Antibes trail which is a stunning 3 mile walk. If you’re looking for a delicious bakery item, you can’t go wrong atThe Tiny Bakery (and the owners are lovely). For Picasso fans, check out the museum!

VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER

We did not spend much time in Villefranche but had fun wandering around in the city with a new shop and restaurant at every turn. The Rue Obscure is a medieval underground street that makes you feel like you are time traveling. 

EZE

Eze is a small village from the middle ages with shops and restaurants and a perfume factory. It reminded me a lot of San Gimignano in Italy, with the enclosed walls and medieval aesthetic. We did not go during peak season but I can imagine it being quite busy and crowded during that time. I would get a drink and an app but would skip on a full meal at the restaurants. 

SAINT JEAN CAP FERRAT

Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is such a quiet, beautiful town. Enjoy a leisure walk along the peninsula looking at yachts and ships coming in. We ate at Le Bar du Port and would recommend it; the mussels were incredible. 

VERDON GORGE

Verdon Gorge is a river canyon located 2.5 hours outside of Nice, although it took us much longer than our GPS predicted. I would recommend renting a boat (off season has limited options) which you can choose from 1 hour to a full day. Get there early and pack drinks and snacks to enjoy on the water or a picnic on the shore. We had limited time and unfortunately were unable to hike but there are many beautiful hikes along the gorge. 

On the way, depending on the route, there are many quaint towns to drive through and stop for a cappuccino, stretch break or scenery stop. One town we stopped in was Castellane & caught the tail end of a market. The roads are windy along the mountain so pack nausea meds if you get motion sickness.  

SAINT TROPEZ

Boats, boats and more boats! There was a sailing competition while we were there, however that particular day was cancelled due to poor wind conditions but it allowed us to walk around the boardwalk and take in all the stunning boats. We got a drink at Senequier and watched the boats come in and hear the cannons fire. If you did not get enough window shopping at the other locations, fear not, there are plenty more designer stores here. 

No matter where you stay or explore, you will be met with beautiful sights and plenty of Aperol Spritzes!

Santé