Best Places to Visit in the French Riviera | France Bucket List Arriving early in the morning from ze or Nice (the trip takes around 70 minutes), start by taking a long stroll along La Croisette, the long boardwalk area flanked by sandy beaches, cafs and restaurants, and glamorous hotels. It's easy to rent a car from the main French Riviera Airports or in city centers including Nice, Cannes, Marseille, and Monte Carlo. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This is also a good time to browse boutiques for souvenirs or local products such as olive oils and lavender-scented soaps. A note about getting around: We recommend renting a car to make travel between each point on the itinerary as smooth and convenient as possible, but with careful planning it's also feasible to get around by train and taxis. Cathedrals and baroque churches are proof not only of religiosity of the area but also the artistic spirit as well. Beaches, quaint fishing ports, and opulent architecture line the coast. Stop for lunch where internationally renowned cuisine is still informed by Provenal markets. Excellent TrustScore 4.8 | 3101 reviews. The areabenefits from up to 330 days of annual sunshine, 115 kilometers of coastline, 18 golf courses, 14 ski resorts, and 3000 restaurants. The wealthy Cannes is one of the cities to visit on the French Riviera. However, they tend to be slower than trains since they often stop more frequently, and during high season, it's common to get stuck in heavy traffic. Luxurious hotels, a green landscaped beach promenade and a long, wide sandy beach. Weather permitting, take a dip in the water, or to relax and people-watch on the sand. Mild winters balance sunny, hot, dry summers. For travel between Riviera destinations including Nice, Menton, Monaco, Cannes, Cagnes-sur-Mer, and numerous other coastal and inland towns, the Lignes d'Azur bus company is reliable and efficient. If youre interested in the history of the French Riviera, you can learn more here. Welcome to the Riviera! Is The French Riviera Worth Visiting? Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Whether its an indulgent bouillabaisse or a hearty ratatouille, Mediterranean delights abound, predicated on sensuous wines, fresh-off-the-vine tomatoes and dishes drizzled in artisanal olive oil. Grand Hyatt Cannes Htel Martinez's Zplage beach club. Warmest month: July (73.4 F) Coldest month: January (46.2 F) The maximum water temperature in Nice is 73.4 F. The nickname Cte dAzur (or the Blue Coast) comes from the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Here's how to plan the perfect getaway. We finish off the week at the west end of the Riviera, with a visit to the postcard-pretty town of Cassis and the natural wonders of Calanques National Park. This large rock, made of red sandstone, sits sumptuously between two of the French Riviera's large massifs; Massif de l'Esterel and the Massif des Maures. How to reach the French Riviera By Car We drove all the way from Belgium to the South of France which takes around 11 hours, depending on traffic. Dramatic, diverse, and picturesque, this area is home to numerous villages perchs; ancient hillside towns packed with thriving communities, where secluded luxury blends with history. One of the more popular excursions, the Cap Ferrat peninsula (also known as the millionaires' peninsula) shows off views over the French coastline all the way up to Italy throughout nine miles of pedestrian paths. Hike Cap Ferrat Dust off those jet-lagged legs and take a stroll on the walking trail around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Location: La Gaude, Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur, France. katatonia82 / iStock Editorial / Getty Images.
10 Day French Riviera and Provence Itinerary - Earth Trekkers We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. figure out how you plan to get around the city, Port-Cros National Park and the "Golden Islands". The Aroport Nice Cte d'Azur is the main hub for the French Riviera and the second busiest international airport in the country after Paris. The capital of the region and one of the most popular destinations for city breaks in France is an essential stop for any trip to the Riviera. Then, there are the striking gardens and parks with tropical plants from the five continents. EVENTS Calendar | Local Tourism Offices Big OVERVIEW Guide to the French Riviera Amazing Local HISTORY | Trip Timing Tips CRIME & Safety | Real Estate Predictions. In Nice, two museums are worth the trek to the hilly neighborhood of Cimiez: Muse Marc Chagall (8, closed Tuesdays), home to the artist's 17 Biblical Message paintings, and Muse Matisse (free entry, closed Tuesdays), set in a 17th-century Genoese building near Matisse's former residence, the Hotel Regina, and the cemetery where he's buried. You can go on a hike to take in stunning panoramic views, enjoy a picnic on the beach, or road trip through the villages of . Located on the French coast of the Mediterranean, the French Riviera (Cte d'Azur) is known for its unmistaken luxury and beauty that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. And if youre into wine (and really, who isnt?!) Expect almost 300 days of sunshine, with stretches of rain around the shoulder months of March and April, as well as October and November. The French Riviera has a perfect Mediterranean climate. Stop for lunch at the Auberge de la Madone, a restaurant whose fine French cooking has landed it in the Michelin guide. You can't go wrong with the house wine, and many bars offer happy hour deals. Roundtrip prices range from $318 - $989, and one-ways to French Riviera start as low as $190.
Beautiful Villages, Cities & Towns on the French Riviera 48 hours on the French Riviera - Go Ahead Tours I understand I can withdraw my consent at any time.
16 Best Airbnbs in the French Riviera: Villas, Luxury Rentals, and More! Quaint villages and coves are hidden between the regions cities and towns, the most famous of which are Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Nice, and Cannes. The Bay of Cannes 3.
Best of the French Riviera: 7 must-see places - Travel Done Clever Consider staying overnight in ze at one of its romantic, quiet hotels (some with pool and/or spa), or drive back to Nice for the night. We recommend scallops, oysters, and mussels, which are sustainable choices that you can find at most beach restaurants.
French Riviera Travel Tips - A Spicy Perspective Major department stores and grocery shops may be open Sundays, but most of the smaller boutiques and markets are closed. Here's our budget travel guide to the French Riviera. Situated close St. Tropez, this amazing beach is one of the zone's most prevalent beaches in French Riviera. A number of other airlines, such as British Airways and Air France, offer daily connecting flights into Nice with stops in cities like London and Paris.
The French Riviera: 15 Must-Visit Vacation Spots - US News & World Report Our hotel packages include free air date changes up to 3 days before or after your cruise; free transfers between the airport, hotel and ship; and porterage. Make sure to reserve ahead during high season. The main language spoken in France is French. So, wherever you visit the Riviera, you can be sure that therell be plenty to do! The border town is thus rich in diverse cultural and historic influences, including Italian. Rick's Best Two-Week Provence and French Riviera Trip by Train and Bus Note that on Sundays, fewer trains run, and buses often disappear. After lunch, take an hour or so to see the town center in Cannes, coveted for its high-end boutiques, restaurants, and hotels.
How to Visit the French Riviera on a Budget - Transitions Abroad The Gorges du Verdon 10. Take a stroll on the Promenade des Anglais and spend time wandering the . Even if it does not really have a clear and indisputable delimitation, the one we call the French Riviera includes many cities on the coast, 14 natural parks, Roman ruins, medieval villages and exceptional seabed. Originally, the Riviera served as a winter resort for the British aristocracy who wished to escape Britains miserable weather. She is co-author of the 2012 Michelin Green Guide to Northern France & the Paris Region. Winter is far from beach weather, but temperatures rarely hit freezing. For this Cte d'Azur road trip from Cannes, you don't need the car until day 2, so if you are taking a self-drive French Riviera trip in a hire car, wait until then to pick up your rental car in Cannes. Best Prices. Menton 13. As you may have guessed, most of the population is French, and the official language is French, but most people speak English since there are plenty of Brits and Italians who have second homes or who have moved to the area. Monaco, St. Tropez, and Cannes are the very expensive destinations in the area, while the likes of Gourdon, Eze, Biot, Grasse, Antibes, etc . It's smaller and quieter than most towns along the coast, except for one week each February when the annual Lemon Festival takes over completely. France is the authentic epicenter of wine-making, and this is the best place in the world to tour wineries. Less than an hour's drive from Nice, Mercantour National Park is a surprising find, the last terre sauvage in the Alps; comprising eight valleys spread over 772 square miles, it's a world . Next, visit one or more of the town's traditional markets, selling everything from flowers and olive oils to produce, cheeses, and local crafts, for a taste of local culture in Antibes. Luxury, tradition, culture, leisure, beach and mountains meet on the Cte dAzur to make it a memorably special place. After lunch, it's time to head southeast to the perched village of ze, situated in the foothills close to the coast between Monaco and Nice. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Grasse, the city of perfume 12. . Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. The Esterel 9. From Saint-Tropez, head to Hyres, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful and varied areas on the Cte d'Azur. The Maritime museum in the former dungeon is also worth visiting. 1. This area of the French Mediterranean coast is one of the world epicenters of tourism. Famed for the sunshine, the Mediterranean lifestyle, the cuisine, the glitz and glamour and the renowned coastal resorts such as Cannes and Saint Tropez, the Riviera offers so much more than a few beaches and a film festival. Tour length 8 days Price per day $471. In the early evening, around sunset, head back to town to watch the sun set over the Port, and grab dinner out on a terrace. You'll also be able to find schedules and routes for a given station.