Discover the French Riviera

Your Guide to the French Riviera

Most of people visiting the French Riviera, or Côte d'Azur, go there for the good weather, the beaches, and the Mediterranean food. There is also a well known luxury atmosphere within the region, especially the areas of Cannes, St-Tropez and Nice. The region has increased in popularity and now has more non-French than French visitors.

About the French Riviera | Getting to the French Riviera | How to Get Around the French Riviera | Activities in the French Riviera

About the French Riviera

Much like Brittany and Normandy, the French Riviera is very popular with visitors from the UK and Paris, most coming to experience a luxurious type of lifestyle.

Location

The French Riviera is located from the mediterranean coast to the Italian border of Menton. Monaco is also sometimes considered to be a part of the region.

Climate

Being close to the mediterranean means that the weather is mostly sunny and warm, although being by the sea means that it is windy for a lot of the time, especially in the winter.

Language

The official language of the French Riviera is French. Because of the close proximity with the Italian border some locals can also speak Italian.

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Getting to the French Riviera

	Train	The largest train station in the region is in the city centre of Nice, called Nice Ville and is well connected with many bus and tram stops near by.Visitors can also arrive by train into Toulon, Cannes, Monaco, Antibes or Menton which is especially convenient for visitors arriving from Italy. All stations are close to or in the city centres, from there visitors can use the bus services to travel to the smaller cities or towns.
	Bus	With the bus company, Ouibus, visitors can take a bus to Nice from many different places within France. Buses mostly stop by the airports in the region. With Eurolines tourists can also get to Toulon, Cannes and the suburb of Cannes, Le Cannet.
	Flights	The biggest airport in the region is Nice Côte d'Azur. You can find flights departing several times daily from all over Europe. There is a train station very close to the airport and from there visitors can continue to the city center or to other large cities in the region.Shuttle buses operate from the airport connecting to the city center. Flights to Nice depart from all major London airports.

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How to Get Around the French Riviera

Train

It is easy to travel by train throughout the region of the Riviera as most cities are on the line from Marseille to Nice and continues on to Italy. The regional trains within the region make it fast and cheap to travel, for example a journey from Nice to Cannes takes 35 minutes and costs just over five Euros.

Car and Bus

The highways in the region make it easy for visitors to get from one city to another. Instead of using the highways visitors can also travel along the coast by car, although it’s slower it’s much more scenic. Regional bus companies are another cheaper solution for travelling between cities and towns in the region and run regularly.

Walking and Hiking

There are many hiking routes throughout the region although there are more in the mainland than on the coastline. One of the more beautiful ones is the official GR51 path from Menton to Gourdon.

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Places to Visit

St. Tropez

St. Tropez used to be a small quaint fishing harbour until it was discovered in the 1950’s by French celebrities. Since then it has become a luxurious seaside resort visited by people from around the world. Vistors not only come to St. Tropez to see this beautiful and charming city, but for the opportunity to spot celebrities and experience the parties on the harbour.

Monaco

After the Vatican, Monaco is the second smallest state in the world. Monaco has many nice beaches but is most famous for it’s many casino’s as well as luxurious hotels which bring tourists from all over France, the UK and the US. Because Monaco is so small tourists can travel everywhere by foot which is the best way to see the pretty gardens and impressive architecture.

Toulon

Toulon is the third city in the south east of France after Marseille and Nice. It is home to the biggest military harbour in France, and the well known provence market takes place every morning, except Mondays, on the Cours Lafayette. The city centre of Toulon is stunning, as are the beaches. From Toulon harbour visitors can also take a ferry to Corsica or Sardinia.

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Activities

Beaches

All along the coast of the French Riviera visitors will find lovely beaches and there is one perfect for every visitor, some are sandy, others are stone beaches. Two of the most famous are the Beau Rivage beach along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice and La Croisette in Cannes. In Monaco there is only one beach which is also well known as the Larvotto. Visitors looking for a relaxing and luxurious break will find the French Riviera a perfect choice.

Watersports

There are many different watersports to try in the French Riviera, some of the most popular are those by the harbours on the coast where visitors can rent yachts and boats, or try jet skiing, kite surfing, or even diving from one of the many companies along the beaches that offer equipment hire and lessons.

Golfing and Casino's

Golfing is one of the more popular sports within the region, and there are many great courses throughout the region. The French Riviera is also known for the vast amount of casino’s in the area, the most famous of which is the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco.

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Events

Nice Carnival

Nice Carnival is the largest carnival in France and takes place over two weeks in February.

The Grand Prix

The Grand Prix takes place annually during the month of May on the Circuit de Monaco. It is widely known as the most prestigious races in the world and is famous for the narrow track through the streets of Monaco.

Plages Electroniques

This music festival takes place in Cannes over weekends in July and August on the beach in front of the Palais des Festivals.

Things to do in the Côte d’Azur

Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur really has it all. Hitchcock films, F. Scott Fitzgerald books and Matisse paintings encapture the South in ways which can only be described as a romantic myth, too good for Earth.

The history of its culture, art, cuisine, fashion and celebrities makes this 31,000km2 region as appealing as it was back in the Golden Age of Travel. The prestigious Film Festival of Cannes, world-renowned models such as Brigitte Bardot, and the fairy-tale story of Hollywood star turned Princess, the late Grace Kelly call the Côte d’Azur home; this is really no surprise.

There is just something so romantically idyllic, fresh and pure about this place. Many locals, ex-pats, and travel bloggers agree with us and have shared their top tips on what to see, what to eat and activities in the region.

Must see places

My favorite afternoon was spent hiking around the peninsula of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. From Nice, take the train a short 20-minute ride to Villefranche Sur Mer. You can walk to the start of the hike past the beach. The views are stunning and you’re rewarded with lovely private beaches along the way.

Must eat

Fish! The seafood is fresh and delicious. The Nicoise Salad is the region’s specialty and was on almost every menu. We also tried socca from street vendors, a Nice specialty made with chickpea flour, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It’s simple, yet so satisfying.

Must do activities

Of course, you’ll see Monaco and Cannes, but take the time to venture to lesser known places like Antibes. It was my favorite beach and a quaint town to boot.

French Riviera Traveller

Must do activities

Most of the year the inimitable Saint-Tropez is a little Provençal town where locals play boules or shop at the bi-weekly market in Place des Lices. In August battalions of celebrities head to the legendary sandy beaches and chic beach clubs of nearby Ramatuelle. In autumn wind whistles across the dunes and over vineyards bursting with grapes while locals discuss the summer scandals over pastis in a dockside bar.

Food tip

Settle for nothing less than a real Salade Niçoise which is best in summer when tomatoes are in season. Mesclun and spring onions are a necessity, topped by hard-boiled egg, tuna, and small black Niçois olives. After that it becomes contentious. Anchovies? Artichokes? Fava beans? Red peppers? One thing is sure: all vegetables must be raw.

Must do activities

All along the coast, the sea water is crystal clean and warm. To appreciate the true Riviera lifestyle, choose a local beach club and rent a lounge chair and umbrella for at least a half-day. Let the Mediterranean sun and a chilled glass of rosé banish all thoughts of winter.

Must see places

You can’t visit the Riviera without taking a trip to the vibrant lavender fields at the Provence, with gorgeous vistas of the surrounding area and mountain peaks of Eze. The beautiful coastline is covered with pebbled beaches at Nice and sandy beaches at glamorous Cannes and Antibes.

For some urban exploring, a must visit is the quaint medieval villages of Gourdon and Saint Paul De Vence, the Roman architectural ruins at Nîmes or the buzzing Port of Marseille lined with yachts. For some natural exploration the Mercantour National Park, inland from Nice is a nice alternative to the beautiful coastline. If the heat gets too much, cool down in one of the many museums – the International Museum of Perfume in Grasse or the Musée Picasso has a lovely collection of paintings and sketches of Pablo Picasso in Antibes. Whatever you decide to do you will never be disappointed – Art, culture, heritage, history, and fashion together sum up the entire Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

Food tips

The Signature dish of Marseille is Bouillabaisse, made up of Fish. Wash this down with a glass of Pastis, which is an aniseed liquor. For desert, move East along the coast to try the Signature cake of Saint Tropez – the Tarte Tropézienne. A must try food is locally produced cheese which can be had either along with wine or added to salads. You can’t visit Nice without trying the Ice cream at Fenocchio ice cream parlor. It is really amazing and loaded with a great number of options. For a drink in the evening, I would suggest the Absinthe Bar in Antibes.

Tarte Tropézienne

Must do activities

Try the segway tour in Nice which combines both fun and cultural experiences. After a segway tour, go get your feet wet! You can try out many different water sports in Nice and nearby areas: try canyoning, kayaking, and rafting. If that wasn’t enough, I would suggest going hiking, horse riding, cross country cycling in Grasse. A great and romantic way to travel is to explore the French Riviera by train or car along the coast.

Alternatively, you can enjoy the gorgeous creeks on a yacht ride at Nice, Grasse, Cannes or Marseille. If time permits go for a cruise to Monaco from Nice – and if you have any extra cash to spend go shop at some gorgeous boutiques in Cannes.

Best of Nice

Must see places

The soul of Nice can be found in its historic old town, Vieux Nice, where you can get delightfully lost in its kaleidoscope of colorful streetscapes, explore the Cours Saleya open-air produce and flower market, and then pop through one of the ancient archways and you’re on the beach!

Across from the beach, take the free elevator to the top of the Chateau, where you’ll find amazing views, a massive waterfall, ancient ruins… but no actual chateau. Click here to find out why… There is more to this historic hill than meets the eye!

Food tips

Le Bistro du Fromager – an ‘only-in-France’ experience, with its eclectic cheese-inspired cuisine served in a wine cellar. Don’t miss the pasta tossed in a giant wheel of parmesan, it’s one of my personal favorites. Chez Palmyre started as a mother/daughter team in 1926 and changed hands 8 years ago when the 93-year-old mother died and the 77-year-old daughter retired. It’s kept the country store ambiance and friendly prices while elevating grandma’s cuisine to something heavenly.

La Rossettisserie – a delectable selection of spit-roasted meats; specify if you want a private table or the long communal table where you can make new friends.

Must do Activities

Matisse Museum: when Matisse first came to Nice it rained for the whole month, so he sadly painted the interior of his hotel room over and over. On the final day, the sun came out and when he saw the light he was hooked: he stayed in Nice the rest of his life.

Cours Saleya Monday Antique Market: explore the sprawling Nice Brocante, where you can find antiques, collectibles, and fascinating French bric-a-brac.

Jazz: home of the Nice Jazz Festival, Nice is a town that knows how to swing, from the most established jazz club to the tiniest hole-in-the-wall… Shapko in Old Nice is one of my favorites, with live jazz, blues and funk every night of the week.

Must see place

Whilst in Nice, head up the Castle Hill and enjoy the picture postcard view from the top of the historic Tour Bellanda. Soak in the Mediterranean sun glinting on the Baie des Anges, admire the Belle Epoque architecture of the Promenade des Anglais and marvel at the colorful baroque rooftops, domes and spires of the Old Town of Nice.

Food tips

When exploring the stunning perched village of Eze, stop at the Nid d’Aigle restaurant right at the top for a simple but very tasty traditional meal in a medieval setting before going to explore the magical Botanical Garden with its panoramic views over the eastern Riviera.

Must do activities

To enjoy the French Riviera, just walk… There are numerous beautiful coastal paths where the mountains blend in with the sea – my personal favourite is the walk around Pointe Sainte Hospice on the eastern side of Cap Ferrat where you can enjoy lovely beaches and creeks in pristine waters facing the Italian coastline.