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There’s no denying Nice is the most popular tourist hot spot on the French Riviera, but if you're a frequent visitor to Nice, find a car essential, or are traveling with children for your main holiday, then an apartment, villa, or house through our sister site, Riviera Pebbles, might be a better base for you. That way you have less of the stress that comes with a city, but can still pop into Nice for your Niçois fix. Either way, we hope you will discover The Cote D’Azur with us.

NICE

Villefranche

This medieval shipping village, nestled between Cannes, Nice, and Monte Carlo, offers quintessential charm combined with terrace cafés, lively bars, and excellent restaurants. A pied is the only way to travel in Villefranche with its nooks and crannies tucked away in each cobbled labyrinth of lanes and stairways often obscured by lush bougainvillea. Known also for its community of artists and writers, and perhaps the best sandy beach on the Riviera, we can understand why Tina Turner has made this little place her home and why it's a favourite for film crews.

A few minutes walk from the harbour will bring you to Rue Obscure, an eerie vaulted passageway, where villages found refuge from as far back as the Middle Ages. More recently it was the setting for a scene in the film “Testament d’Orphee” and on the same street you will find a cute little restaurant called L’Aparte. Another favourite restaurant is Le Cosmos which offers top-quality fish specials and one of the best salade Niçois on the Riviera.

From Nice: The number 81 bus will get you to Villefranche in 15 minutes. The train will take 15 minutes.

Cap Ferrat

If you have had enough of the sun-drenched beach, from the yacht-cladded harbour you can walk to St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat from Villefranche. Follow the sign posts around the Cap to the Plage des Fosses and admire the millionaire mansions on route.

The main attraction is the Villa Ephrussi-de-Rothschild and its famous gardens and fountains. Consisting of 7 hectares and decorated with patios, fountains ponds and flowerbeds these 9 gardens have breathtaking views over the Mediterranean. The gardens are themed from around the world and all bloom at different times of the year. Coupled with the fountain spurts to music every twenty minutes, the villa is well worth a visit.

Beaulieu-Sur-Mer

Beaulieu is a charming Belle Epoque resort that has retained a regal charm of yesteryear. Back in the 19th Century, Beaulieu was the haven for the upper classes. Due to the natural shelter provided by the steep hills, it enjoys a micro-climate allowing it to grow bananas and other exotic vegetation. Napoleon supposedly gave this little town its name describing it in Corsican as “Oh what a beautiful place”.

As well as being a pretty resort to walk around peacefully, it is now most famous for its tribute to Ancient Greece. Jutting out onto the Mediterranean is an impressive reconstruction of a fifth-century BC Athenian house - The Villa Kerylos. Over 10 rooms, spanning two floors, are dedicated to showing visitors how the Ancient Greeks lived. You are given a headpiece (in either French, English, Italian or German) so you can get the most out of what’s there including a marble bath, frescoes, bedrooms, reclining sofas, beds, and en-suite shower room. There is often an exhibition in the basement.

From Nice: The number 100 bus will get you to Beaulieu-Sur-Mer in 30 minutes. The train will take 20 minutes

Eze

Perched on a pinnacle of rock 430 metres above sea level Eze is a pretty little town, easily reached from Nice. Eze hosts the Eze d'Antan Festival, a medieval festival, in the third week of July.

Charming pebbled and winding steep streets lined with beautifully renovated boutiques and refined galleries will bring you to the summit of the town. On the way up you will enjoy views of the sea and mountains. If that is not enough, there’s an exotic garden right at the top. This has been planted on the ruins of a 14th Century castle and is now complete with statutes and a small man-made waterfall. A perfect spot for a picnic – perhaps the best on the Riviera.

As a special treat dine at the Chevre d’Or (Golden Goat), or just pop in for a drink. The nucleus of this tiny village, the Chevre d’Or is a landmark in its own right and is a unique hotel and gastronomique restaurant worthy of its two Michelin stars.

From Nice: The number 82 bus will get you to Eze village in 20 minutes.

MONACO

This tiny independent state is divided into four parts: Monte Carlo – the neighbourhood around the Casino, La Condamine - the Port and just behind it, Rocher – the Old Town and the Palace set behind the cliff face and finally, Fontvielle, the residential tower block with its yacht harbour. It can be worth catching either bus number 1 or 2 to move between the areas.

Most wide-eyed tourists head for the little Las Vegas on the Mediterranean. The Monte-Carlo Casino was dedicated from the outset to the art of gaming but the fantastic architecture provides a most elegant setting in the bustling atmosphere of the Café de Paris. You need your passport to get in, you will have to pay an entrance fee and then it is a 25 Euro stake to play at the tables.

The Palace and Old Town are worth a look. Both can feel like a film set. The Old Town may be 18th and 19th Century but the buildings are so well looked after that you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. The soldiers and canons at the Palace square could be a picture straight out of a story book.

A five minute walk from the Palace and Old Town is perhaps the most underplayed attraction in Monaco – the Oceanographic Museum. Built in the early 1900s by the marine biologist Prince Albert I, the interior, exterior and the contents will all take your breath away. The aquarium downstairs features over 2,000 specimens, the middle floor whale skeletons, and the top a fabulous roof terrace.

Other attractions in Monaco include the Napoleon collection of medals and war essentials near to the Palace, the Stamp museum and Classic Car Museum near to the shopping centre and the the Jardin Botanique near to the Cathedral.

Monaco also has a decent stadium and it can be worth checking out who’s on stage at either Virgin or FNAC on Jean Medicin high street in Nice.

From Nice: The number 100 bus will get you to Monaco in 45 minutes. The train will get you to Monaco in 25 minutes

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

Between Monaco and Menton lies the handsome village of Roquebrune which rises above the Cap Martin peninsula. The area is famous for its chateau which was built in the 10th Century and has weathered many sieges since. Visitors can explore the history of these victories and defeats by paying an entrance fee and musing over the well explained historic displays. The museum spans four floors and includes historic weapons, knight’s armour and a dungeon.

Roquebrune is divided into an Old Town and a new town. The medieval Old Town has little squares and fountains, narrow stone streets and vaulted passageways. It is found within the peninsula of Cap Martin which is still lined with expensive villas set back from the road. Cap Martin was the exclusive area of the French Riviera at the beginning of the 19th Century with a breathtaking view of Menton to the East and Monaco to the West.

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is an ideal place to walk and hike and the tourist office has some good walking maps available. There are also beaches and a railway station here as well as some well respected restaurants including Les Deux Freres and Le Vistaero. The botanical gardens of Le Clos du Peyronnet are also here, but visits are only by appointment.

If you happen to be visiting in August check to see on what date the Procession de la Passion is taking place. Each year the inhabitants keep the tradition of thanking God for sparing them from the Plague in the 14th Century.

From Nice: The number 100 or 113 bus will get you to Roquebrune in an hour. The train will get you to Cap Martin in 35 minutes.

Menton

Think Menton, think Lemons. Hundreds of them. Lemon trees thrive here and they are rumoured to be sweeter and more superior than lemons found anywhere else. This is celebrated in style each year in February with the annual Fete du Citron. But there is more to Menton than the Lemon Festival. There is a young musicians fair in May, a small Jazz festival in July, the Festival de Musique every August and a Mediterranean garden event in mid-September.

The Promenade and beach at Menton are decent with pavement cafes and ice-cream parlours. There is also a small Old Town. Menton is the last stop on the Cote d’Azur before the Italian border and has the mildest climate on the Riviera. A lot of tourists decide to nip across the border and combine a trip to Menton with bargain hunting at Ventimiglia market on Friday or to load up on olive oil, Italian wine and Parmesan cheese.

From Nice: The number 100 bus will get you to Beaulieu-Sur-Mer in 1 hour. The train will take 40 minutes.

ANTIBES

Built between the bays of La Salis and St Roch, lies this vibrant ancient fortified town. It is divided into three parts: the Old Town and harbour, Cap d’Antibes and Juan Les Pins. The charming Old Town makes for idyllic wandering on a lazy afternoon. The market at Cours Massena overflows with Provencal goodies – it is one of the region's liveliest and best-supplied produce markets and is open every morning (except Mon in winter). There is a bustling bistro and café scene around Rue de la Republic, Place Nationale and Boulevard d’Auguillion. You will find plenty of English speaking bars and shops to cater for the large English speaking community here, mostly due to the yachting trade.

Antibes yacht harbour (Port Vauban) is one of the biggest in Europe. In June the annual Voiles d’Antibes takes place here. The four pointed structure at the far end of the Port is Fort Carre which dates back to the 14th Century. It is now most visited for the views across the bay and the sheltered sandy beach below, Plage de la Gravette. Also in this area is the Musee d'Histoire et d'Archologie, containing Greek, Roman and Etruscan finds and Antibes’ former Cathedral, Eglise de l'Immacule-Conception.

The main tourist attraction in Antibes is Chateau Grimaldi. This restored medieval castle is now a museum and hosts the works of Picasso, Germaine Richier, and others. Picasso rented a cold damp room on the second floor in the 1940s and donated some of his work when he left. The most famous is the La Joie de Vivre painting celebrating liberated France.

From Nice: The number 200 bus will get you to Antibes in an hour. The train will get you there in half that time.

From Nice Airport: The number 200 bus can be caught at the airport on its way from Nice. It is half an hour into Antibes from the airport.

Cagnes

A little along the coastal road, half way between Nice and Antibes, is Cagnes, divided into Cros-de-Cagnes, Cagnes-sur-Mer and Haut-de-Cagnes. Only seven miles from the Nice airport, this area is most famous for the medieval town of Haut-de-Cagnes. Less well known, Cros-de-Cagnes has been described as the only authentic town left in the Riviera. It is the only port left on the Riviera to be used exclusively by fishermen who land their catch on the beach. In the middle, Cagnes-sur-Mer is more residential. Not only does Cagnes have the sea, the art, and the convenience, it also has fantastic gourmet restaurants, at least three Michelin-starred restaurants are to be found here, and many more besides. See Nice Cuisine for a review of our favourites.

Haut-de-Cagnes is a favourite haunt for art lovers and those with a penchant for ancient villages. This ancient hill top village is crowned by a chateau built by the Grimaldi family in the early 14th century. Culturally, this is one of the most important towns in the south of France. For art lovers, painters such as Felix Ziem, André Derain, Paul Cezanne, and Amedeo Modigliani all lived and/or painted here. Renoir's house, Musée Renoir, covered in our Art and Culture section, can be found here, as can the gorgeous palace of Château Grimaldi which was built in 1620 by Henri Grimaldi and is home to many pieces of modern and historic art.

Art and culture types have claimed Cagnes is too commercial and not worth a visit except to see Renoir's house. They also say Cagnes is stuck in the 1960s and perhaps it is, but this is why we love it. It's unpretentious, extremely family friendly, quieter than any other part of the Riviera, great for water sports, and just has a peculiar charm of being stuck in an era gone by. How long this will last, we don't know. In 2005, considerable funds were allocated to this area and a new marina is being built and new cafés, bars, and restaurants (at much more reasonable prices than its neighbours) are springing up all the time. It's also a great base. You can easily hire a car from the Nice airport and visit all of the Riviera and then park the car easily at many designated car parking spots. Most of our apartments in Cagnes have allocated car parking. With these factors in mind, Cagnes is a great choice for a stress-free holiday, especially with children, or if you are touring the region for several weeks.

From Nice:There are several buses to Cagnes, (try numbers 94, 2000 and 500) depending on where you want to visit. Any bus will get you there in 25 - 35 minutes, the train in 10 minutes, or you can cycle in 40 minutes. Cycling is now a great option since it is practically all down the new improved and extended Promenade cycle path.

St-Laurent-du-Var

Most tourists head to St Laurent du Var for the Cap 3000 shopping complex and surrounding outlets. Called Cap 3000 because it was built with 3000 car parking spaces, the hype is that this complex is a shopaholics paradise. We think you might end up disappointed if you go expecting to fulfill all your shopping wants, but it is still a big place with a decent branch of Gallerie Lafayette and high street chains.

St Laurent du Var is more of a pleasant surprise for its cute Promenade; starting with the Promenade de Landsberg-am-Lech running to the Promenade des Flots Bleus. The Promenade des Flots Bleus is aligned with over 30 café bars and restaurants on one side and a decent beach clubs on the other, as well as less crowded public beaches than you might expect in other well known areas of the French Riviera.

The “Plage Esplanade des Goelands” is one of the top ranking beaches for people with reduced mobility. It has a “handiplage” award to recognise its access ramp onto the beach and into the sea. There are also trained staff to assist, specially adapted showers and toilets and designated car-parking spaces.

St-Paul-du-Vence

Well known for its rocky setting in the middle of impressive hillsides, Saint-Paul is a highly popular tourist spot. Streams of visitors saunter through the pebbled streets, entering through the narrow “Porte de Vence”. Stop for a coffee and enjoy watching the almost uninterrupted play of petanque before taking in the galleries, craft shops and the breathtaking views from the ramparts.

Not to be missed in St Paul de Vence is the Hotel with famous adjoining restaurant, “La Colombe d’Or” which was built after the First World War. Struggling artists namely Miro, Leger, Lurcat settled their hotel and supper bills by leaving one of their canvasses. This means it is as much a museum of art as a hotel and restaurant.

St Paul should be on the top of the list for art and culture enthusiasts – historically it was a meeting place for the poets Jacques Prevert and Jean Cocteau, and the artists Braque, Bonnard, Derain, Dufy, Matisse, Picasso. Marc Chagall and his wife are also buried here and you can find some of Chagall’s work, along with other modern artists in the Maeght Foundation.

From Nice: The number 94 or 400 will get you to St Paul de Vence within an hour.

Biot

Sitting high on a hilltop, this pretty and popular medieval village was almost wiped out completely by the "Black Death" plague at the end of the 14th century. Biot is now famous for its pottery and glass making, which you can watch in action at La Verrerie de Biot, just outside the village. If you're a walker or a hiker, head here. You can pick up a walking tour guide from the Tourist Information Office

For art lovers, the modern Musée National Fernard-Léger holds over 400 of this architect-cum-artist’s blatant and colourful paintings and drawings. Leave your car here and stroll to the Bonsai Arboretum—a 2000 metre Japanese Garden specializing in Bonsai trees and which has now been inaugurated by the Consul of Japan.

From Nice: You can catch a bus from the Gare Routiere. Catch the number 200 that terminates at Cannes and get off at the Biot train station and then take the local bus to the centre. You can also take a bus to Biot from Cagnes. You can also catch a train which takes about 20 minutes but the trains do not run as frequently as the buses to Cannes. If you have a car, take the coastal road past Villeneuve Loubet and then head inland on the D4.

Juan Les Pins

CANNES

One of the main towns of the Riviera – the magnetic pull of Cannes is of course the glamour and the worldwide event of the Cannes Film Festival. Most day-trippers head to the palm-fringed strip of the Croisette with its showy boutiques and palace hotels and the thriving Rue d'Antibes where you can eat, drink, dance and party in numerous bars, restaurants and clubs.

To cater for the well-heeled crowd, there are private beach clubs aplenty. The Plage du Martinez, and Plage Calao, offer every imaginable service, from sun beds, umbrellas and refreshments to water skiing, paragliding, and jet skis for hire.

Though there is more to Cannes than the glamour. The medieval Old Town of Le Suquet may be more modest but shows true character. Here you can idly wander the cobbled streets and buy tourist trinkets or barter at the Forville market. Head uphill to the Musee de la Castre where you can take the steps up this medieval castle’s tower and enjoy spectacular views of the bay of Cannes at the top. Le Suquet would also be our place of choice for dining. Try Mantel on Rue Saint Antoine or Le Marias on Rue de Suquet. See Riviera Restaurants for more details.

One of the best trips to be had near Cannes is a boat trip to the Iles de Lerins. From Cannes, take a twenty-minute boat ride from the Palais des Festivals et des Congrés to these two extremely old and intriguing islands. The smaller of the two, Îles St-Honorat's only inhabitants are Cistercian monks who sell homemade wine, honey, and lavender oil to visitors. The larger Island, Îles Ste-Marguerite, is most famous for holding in confinement the "Man in the Iron Mask". Rumoured to be the twin brother of King Louis XIV, this mystery man was imprisoned for 11 years in Fort Royal and then the Bastille where he died in 1703. Both Islands are well protected and relatively wild with dense forestry making them a sacred sanctuary from the glitz of Cannes and well worth a visit.

From Nice: The number 500 will get you to Cannes in an hour and 10 minutes. The train will take 40 minutes.

Grasse

Grasse is the perfume centre of the world, and the setting for Patrick Suskind’s novel and now blockbuster movie. Visit Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard, the perfumeries still in operation today and where free guided tours in English are offered in their museums. You can make your own unique scent to take home.

The Italian-esque old town is a warren of narrow shaded streets, the central hub being the Place aux Aires, with its flower and local food market, fountain and an arcade of shops. Here you can also visit the "Musee d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence and the Musee Provencal du Costume et du Bijou.

Not in the centre, but more in the outskirts of Grasse, you will find the Parc communal de la Corniche, with magnificent views. Also the "Jardin de la Princesse Pauline" where you can sit and breathe in the sweet mountain air and gaze over the Esterel mountains and all the way to the sea.

From Grasse you can reach the Grand Canyon du Verdon, Europe’s greatest Canyon in the heart of the Parc Naturel du Grand Canyon. Alpine scenery, lakes and sweet smelling meadows are a huge draw to those tourists travelling by car.

From Nice: The number 500 will get you to Grasse in an hour and a half. The train will take 30 minutes.

Mougins

Home of Picasso and Yves St Laurent, Mougins is a smart address. Just five miles north of Cannes, Mougins used to be run by the Monks of Saint Honorat and there are many converted abbeys which are now the impressive homes to the rich and famous. To cater for them, an enclave of great gastronomic restaurants including Roger Verge’s Le Moulin des Mougins and his smaller restaurant and cooking school at L’Amandier.

Well worth a visit is the Museum of Photography which has a permanent collection of photographic portraits of the eccentric Spaniard Picasso as well as collections from Lartique and Doisneau. If you are interested in art, there are many galleries and studios in Mougins to meander around. If you just want to relax, the gorgeous hotel Le Mas Candille has a Shiseido spa.

If you are travelling by car, the immediate surroundings of Mougins village are beautiful. Take a stroll through the grassy meadows, walk to the lake of Fontemerle and admire the (closed to the public) Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel.

From Nice:The number 650 will get you to Mougins in approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

Mandelieu

Known for its golf courses, un-spoilt natural beauty and pretty Mimosa, Mandelieu is a small town west of Cannes.

The main tourist attraction of Mandelieu is the massive Chateau de la Napoule which is a non-profit making art foundation run by the descendents of American sculptor Henry Clews. Wings of the eclectically-converted castle are open to the public. You can easily spend an afternoon ambling around the gardens and appreciating the artwork of Clews and others. Or the more culture shy amongst us can take a swim at the small beach between the castle and Le Napoule Port.

Technically obsessed golfers love the Mandelieu Old Course on the Route de Golf. The right club and the right positioning are everything. The Course was modeled on the Scottish course of St Andrews. Alternatively, there is the Golf Cannes Riviera Course to be found at Avenue des Amazones. Both courses are 18 holes and have spectacular views of the L’Esterel Massif.

From Nice: The number 611 or 620 will get you to Mandelieu in an hour and 20 minutes.

ST-TROPEZ

Sainte-Maxime

Le Lavandou

Frejus

St-Raphael