By Enzo01
Saint-Tropez
A fishing port turned legend, the citadel above the rooftops and the Pampelonne beaches next door. For beach and nightlife lovers, by car or by boat.
Table of contents(10 sections)
Where things are
Map
of the French Riviera
The seven towns of this guide, from west to east, from Saint-Tropez to Menton. Hover over a marker to find it in the list.
Seven stops
The best towns
on the French Riviera
Each town has its own pace. For a first trip without a car, Nice remains the best base: airport, train station and connections to almost the whole coast. For beaches and nightlife, look at Saint-Tropez or Juan-les-Pins. For a quieter stay, Villefranche and Menton.
02
Cannes
The Croisette, the Suquet and the Lérins Islands a short boat ride away. For a chic, practical stay, with the train station in the center.
03
Antibes / Juan-les-Pins
An old town inside ramparts, the Picasso Museum and sandy beaches at Juan-les-Pins. For families and anyone who wants sea and culture in the same place.
04
Nice
The largest city on the coast, with the Old Town, the Promenade des Anglais and its museums. The best base for getting around without a car, thanks to the airport and the regional train.
05
Villefranche-sur-Mer
A deep natural harbor and ochre and pastel façades at the foot of the hills. For a calm stay a few minutes from Nice by train.
06
Monaco
The Rock and the Prince's Palace on one side, Monte-Carlo and its casino on the other. A day trip from Nice, or the place to be for the Grand Prix in June.
07
Menton
A colorful old town, the Basilica of Saint Michael and gardens, a stone's throw from Italy. For the mild winters and the Lemon Festival in February.
What to do on the French Riviera
12 must-sees
on the French Riviera
Twelve places, from the Estérel to Menton. I picked them for what they bring to a trip, and because you can reach them easily from a major town on the coast. For each one, the practical detail that matters. Hilltop villages get their own selection: the most beautiful villages on the French Riviera.
- Nice · walk
The Promenade des Anglais and the Old Town
Eight kilometers (5 miles) of seafront from the airport to the port, then the lanes of the Old Town and the Cours Saleya market. Climb Castle Hill by the stairs or the elevator for the view over the bay: it is free.
- Èze · hilltop village
Èze Village
A medieval village clinging to its rock, with an exotic garden at the top, at 429 meters (about 1,400 ft). The Nietzsche path goes down to the sea: allow about 45 minutes on the way down, twice that on the way up.
- Monaco · principality
The Rock and Monte-Carlo
The Prince's Palace, the changing of the guard around noon, then Casino Square. The regional train from Nice to Monaco takes about 25 minutes and costs from €6.
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat · villa and gardens
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
A Belle Époque villa surrounded by nine themed gardens, between two bays. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, admission €18.
- Villefranche-sur-Mer · village
The Villefranche harbor
One of the most beautiful natural harbors on the Mediterranean, lined with colorful houses. Reachable on foot from Nice by the coastal path, or in a few minutes by train.
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence · artists' village
Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the Maeght Foundation
The artists' village: ramparts, galleries and, just above, the Maeght Foundation with works by Giacometti, Braque and Chagall. Admission €18, open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, 7 pm in July and August.
- Antibes · old town
The old town of Antibes and the Picasso Museum
Ramparts facing the sea, the Provençal market and the Picasso Museum, housed in the Grimaldi castle where the painter worked in 1946. My Antibes guide covers the ten sights and the closing days.
- Cannes · walk and islands
The Croisette and the Lérins Islands
After the Croisette, take the boat to Sainte-Marguerite or Saint-Honorat island, where monks still grow grapes.
- Grasse · perfume capital
Grasse and its perfumeries
The world capital of perfume, in the hills behind Cannes. Molinard, Galimard and Fragonard offer tours and workshops where you create your own scent.
- Menton · old town
Old Menton and its gardens
Stepped lanes, the Basilica of Saint Michael above the Garavan bay, and exceptional gardens: my guide to Menton covers the ten sights. In February, the Lemon Festival takes over the town.
- Saint-Tropez · port
The port of Saint-Tropez and Pampelonne
The old port, the citadel and Pampelonne beach, which is actually in the neighboring town of Ramatuelle. In summer, boats link Saint-Tropez with Nice and Cannes.
- Estérel · nature
The Corniche d'Or in the Estérel
36 kilometers (22 miles) of road between Saint-Raphaël and Mandelieu, above red rocks that drop into turquoise water. About thirty beaches and coves line the route.
Weather, crowds, prices
Best time to visit
the French Riviera, month by month
For swimming without the crowds, aim for June or September: the sea is above 21 °C (70 °F) and prices have not yet reached August levels. May suits sightseeing better than the beach. Winter stays mild, ideal for Nice, Menton and the Nice Carnival.
| Month | AirSea | Crowds | Prices | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Air 13° (55°F)Sea 14° (57°F) | Very low | 1 out of 5 | Quiet season, good for museums |
| February | Air 14° (57°F)Sea 14° (57°F) | Medium | 2 out of 5 | Nice Carnival, Lemon Festival in Menton |
| March | Air 15° (59°F)Sea 14° (57°F) | Low | 2 out of 5 | Mild spring, still few visitors |
| April | Air 17° (63°F)Sea 15° (59°F) | Medium | 3 out of 5 | Easter holidays |
| MayIdeal time | Air 21° (70°F)Sea 18° (64°F) | Medium | 3 out of 5 | Cannes Film Festival |
| JuneIdeal time | Air 25° (77°F)Sea 22° (72°F) | High | 4 out of 5 | Monaco Grand Prix |
| July | Air 28° (82°F)Sea 25° (77°F) | Very high | 5 out of 5 | Nice Jazz Festival, Jazz à Juan, Cannes fireworks |
| August | Air 28° (82°F)Sea 25° (77°F) | Very high | 5 out of 5 | Cannes fireworks |
| SeptemberIdeal time | Air 25° (77°F)Sea 23° (73°F) | High | 4 out of 5 | Voiles de Saint-Tropez (late September) |
| October | Air 21° (70°F)Sea 21° (70°F) | Low | 3 out of 5 | End of the Voiles, wettest month with November |
| November | Air 17° (63°F)Sea 18° (64°F) | Very low | 1 out of 5 | Low season, lowest prices |
| December | Air 14° (57°F)Sea 16° (61°F) | Low | 2 out of 5 | Christmas markets |
How much to plan
How much does
the French Riviera cost?
Prices can double between November and August. These ranges are for Nice, the most representative city; expect noticeably more in Saint-Tropez or Monaco in summer. All prices are in euros.
Prices recorded in October 2026| Item | Smart | Comfort | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotelper night, double room | €60 to €140 (2 and 3 stars) | €170 to €220 (4 stars) | €600 and up (5 stars) |
| Mealsper person per meal | €12 to €25 | €30 to €60 | €100 and up |
| Transportper day | €2 to €15 (tram, bus, regional train) | €31 to €55 (car rental) | about €135 (premium car rental) |
| Activitiesper day per person | €0 to €10 (walks, public beaches, one museum) | €20 to €40 (one or two paid visits) | €150 and up (boat trip, private beach) |
To choose where to sleep for your budget, see my hotel picks in Nice and cheap hotels in Nice.
At a glance
Getting around
the French Riviera
01
Regional train (TER)
The coastal line links Saint-Raphaël, Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Villefranche, Monaco and Menton. Allow about 25 minutes and from €6 between Nice and Monaco, with nearly 60 trains a day. Saint-Tropez has no station.
02
Bus
ZOU! regional buses complement the train, such as line 600 Nice, Monaco, Menton, which runs every 10 to 15 minutes on weekdays. The fare is €2.10 with a contactless bank card, €2.50 from the driver. In Nice, a tram and bus ticket costs €1.70.
03
Car
Essential for the villages of the hinterland, the Estérel or Saint-Tropez, pointless for moving between Nice, Monaco and Cannes. In summer, parking is expensive and scarce in town centers. To rent a car in Nice, plan on an average of €31 a day in November and €55 in July.
04
Boat
From the Quai Saint-Pierre or the Quai Laubeuf in Cannes, several companies serve the Lérins Islands. In season, Trans Côte d'Azur also runs trips to Saint-Tropez and Monaco, and a shuttle links Cannes with Théoule-sur-Mer in July and August. To sail at your own pace, see our guide to boat rental.
Flying in? Here is how to get from Nice airport to the city center.
To link several towns in a few days, with or without a car, follow our French Riviera itineraries.
French Riviera calendar
The biggest events
of the year
My take
Enzo, on the groundHonestly, who doesn't love the French Riviera? The sea, the sun, and landscapes that change from one bend in the road to the next: the red rocks of the Estérel, the hilltop villages above Nice, the corniches that dive toward Monaco. My advice: rent a car, even for a few days, and get out of the big towns. That is where the Riviera shows its full variety.
Keep going
Read next
Your questions
Frequently asked
questions
Is the French Riviera the same as the Côte d'Azur, and where does it start and end?
Yes, they are two names for the same stretch of Mediterranean coast: Côte d'Azur is the French name, French Riviera the English one. The coast has no official border. It ends in the east at Menton, on the Italian border. In the west, definitions vary, from Cassis in the widest sense to Toulon, Hyères or Saint-Tropez. The name Côte d'Azur comes from a 1887 book by Stéphen Liégeard.
Which towns are on the French Riviera?
The main towns are Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Menton, Saint-Tropez, Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus and Hyères, plus the Principality of Monaco. In the widest definition, Toulon and Cassis are included too. Nice is the largest town on the coast, with more than 340,000 residents.
What is the most beautiful place on the French Riviera?
There is no single answer. In my view three places stand out: the hilltop village of Èze for its sea view, the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, and the Corniche d'Or in the Estérel with its red rocks. For a town, Nice offers the most to see in one place.
When is the best time to visit the French Riviera?
June and September are the best months: the sea is above 21 °C (70 °F), days are long and crowds are thinner than in July and August. May suits sightseeing, with highs around 21 °C (70 °F). Avoid October and November if you want sunshine: they are the wettest months in Nice.
How can you get around the French Riviera without a car?
The regional train runs along the coast from Saint-Raphaël to Menton and serves Cannes, Antibes, Nice and Monaco. ZOU! buses fill the gaps, such as line 600 between Nice, Monaco and Menton, at €2.10 a trip. If you stay in Nice, you can visit most towns without a car. Only the hinterland and Saint-Tropez get complicated.
Which sea is the French Riviera on?
The French Riviera is on the Mediterranean Sea. The water averages 25 °C (77 °F) in August in Nice and falls to around 14 °C (57 °F) in February. Beaches alternate between pebbles, as in Nice, and sand, as in Cannes, Juan-les-Pins or Pampelonne.
Sources
- 01Wikipedia, "Côte d'Azur" articledefinition, limits, origin of the name · accessed 10/13/2026
- 02Infoclimat, Météo-France 1991-2020 normals, Niceair temperatures, wettest months · accessed 10/13/2026
- 03SNCF ConnectNice to Monaco trains, frequency and price · accessed 10/13/2026
- 04Nice Tourist Office, bus and tramtram and bus fares · accessed 10/13/2026
- 05Nice Tourist Office, what to do in NiceCastle Hill, ideas · accessed 10/13/2026
- 06City of Cannes, boat linksboats to the Lérins Islands · accessed 10/13/2026
- 07Côte d'Azur France (regional tourism board), top 12 placesCorniche d'Or, Grasse, Menton · accessed 10/13/2026
- 08Villa Ephrussi de Rothschildprices and hours · accessed 10/13/2026
- 09Maeght Foundationprices and hours · accessed 10/13/2026
- 10Nice Carnivalprogram (2027 dates confirmed) · accessed 10/13/2026
- 11Lemon Festivaldates of the 2027 edition · accessed 10/13/2026
- 12Cannes Film Festivaldates of the 2027 edition · accessed 10/13/2026
- 13Automobile Club de MonacoMonaco Grand Prix 2027 · accessed 10/13/2026
- 14Palais des FestivalsPyrotechnic Art Festival 2026 · accessed 10/13/2026
Guide author
Who writes this guide
Enzo
passionate about the French Riviera
The French Riviera has been my passion for years. I explore its towns, beaches and hotels to bring you the addresses and advice I would like to receive before every trip, from Menton to Saint-Tropez.
- years exploring the Riviera
- 8
- hotels tested
- 14
- stays on the Coast
- 26