French Riviera, France: what to see, where to go and when to go

The Côte d'Azur, renowned for its many casinos, harbours teeming with yachts, film festivals, and the production of perfumes, soaps and cosmetics, is afascinating stretch of French coastline that alternates between elegant cities and contrasting landscapes of Mediterranean nature, beautiful beaches and mountainous nature parks. From simple beach holidays to complete itineraries that include nature, cities and traditions, the Côte d'Azur will amaze every type of traveller.
Here is where to find it, when to go and what to see on the Côte d'Azur!

Travel information: useful info

• Inhabitants: 4,935,576

• Main towns: Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Cagnes du Mer, Menton

• Language: French

• Local currency: Euro

• Climate: Mediterranean, average temperatures 11 / 20 °C

• Distance from Italy: Nice is 55 km from San Remo (less than an hour's drive). Rome is 473km away (a 2-hour flight)

Top cities

The Côte d'Azur stretches for several kilometres along which its towns are well spread out, all of them well organised with transport connecting the various locations. There are also two airports located at either end of the coastline. These factors make it possible to either base oneself in one city and visit its surroundings, or to explore it from east to west or vice versa. For their strategic location and ease of travel, for the widest range of accommodation, here are the best cities to use as a base:

1. Nice: it has an airport, is well located and enjoys an excellent network of connections allowing a few hours' travel to every corner of the Côte d'Azur. There are also plenty of beaches both in the city and nearby

2. Menton: arriving by car or train from Italy, Menton is the first town you come across so, in the case of itinerant trips, it is an excellent base for a couple of days to visit the surrounding area, including, for example, Monaco which is more expensive to stay in

3. Marseille: although not really a city on the Côte d'Azur, it is part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and has an airport, so it is excellent for ending a touring trip and leaving from here. Marseille is also well connected to the rest of the Côte d'Azur and allows for various excursions in the surrounding area such as Toulon, Hyeres, Cannes and various national parks.

10 things to see: places of interest on the Côte d'Azur

Menton is the first town on the coast arriving from Italy

Principality of Monaco

1. Menton is the first town on the coast arriving from Italy, renowned for its colourful old town and excursion to nearby Gorbio and Saint Agnès

2. Principality of Monaco is the prestigious independent city-state, known for having been the seat of the Grimaldi princes, for the Monte-Carlo casinos, for its Exotic Gardens and for the Formula 1 motor racing circuit

3. Nice: is the capital of the Côte d'Azur and the main city for travel throughout the area. The old town is full of elegant buildings from the Belle Epoque. Don't miss the Promenade des Anglais, the Russian Cathedral and the castle.

4. Antibes and Cannes, close enough to visit on the same day. Antibes and its old town are enclosed by medieval ramparts. Cannes is known for its Film Festival, casinos and luxury hotels on the Croisette and yacht-filled ports

5. Saint-Tropez and Saint-Maxime, two neighbouring villages, former fishing villages, favourite haunts of artists of all kinds. Both offer beautiful long beaches, colourful old towns and a lively nightlife.

6. Grasse is a hilly town, an undisputed destination for discovering the French perfumery industry between the Musée International de la Parfumerie and the historic perfumeries Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard

7. Toulon is visited both for its sandy beaches alternating with rocky inlets and for its elegant historical centre full of Renaissance buildings, especially on the Cours Lafayette

8. Massif del'Esterel is a mountain massif reaching 614 metres, characterised by red rocks overhanging the sea. It offers fantastic trekking excursions and marvellous views

9. Gorges du Loup, are natural gorges carved by the Loup River, with natural landscapes all around and glimpses of old villages. They are a popular photography, walking and climbing destination

10. Marseille: as already mentioned, it is not really a city on the Côte d'Azur, but it is close enough and perfect as a base for trips around the area. Don't miss the basilica Notre Dame de la Garde in Romanesque-Byzantine style, the If Castle and the modern Cité Radieuse complex

Main itineraries on the Côte d'Azur

Although mainly identified as a seaside destination, the Côte d'Azur mainly offers two types of itineraries.

The first is the more classic one in which you visit the main cities, alternating days on the beaches, while the second travels inland through natural parks, gorges and massifs, touching on just a couple of towns:

1. Cities and beaches of the Côte d'Azur: you visit the cities and villages of the Côte d'Azur such as Nice, Menton, Monaco, Toulon, Marseilles, Cannes, Antibes, Sainte-Maxime, Saint-Tropez, Grasse and Hyères, alternating full or half days on the beaches of the areas visited

2. The hinterland of the Côte d'Azur: this itinerary visits Nice and Menton, where you will be based before setting off for the villages of Gorbio and Saint Agnès, the Massif de l'Esterel and the Gorges du Loup

What to do on the Côte d'Azur: excursions and tours

Where it is located and how to get there

The French Riviera is located along the Mediterranean coast of France. It is not to be confused with the entire French Riviera.
Precisely, it refers to the stretch of coastline that borders Italy and stretches from Menton to Martigues, including the Principality of Monaco.

Thereare two airports, one in Nice and one in Marseille, respectively located 6 and 24 km from the corresponding cities. Both are directly connected to Italy with flights of about 2½ hours.

By bus, the Côte d'Azur is reached by the company Flixbus, costs start at a minimum of €5.00 (Sanremo-Nice route, approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes travel time).
Similar for train connections. Liguria is the closest region, Sanremo is about 1 hour away by train (daily connections from €10.00/11.00 each way). From Milan, the Thello railway company operates a direct line to the Côte d'Azur, stopping in several Italian cities and serving the main cities along the coast, then Monte-Carlo, Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Saint-Raphael, Toulon and Marseille in an average time of 5 to 8 hours depending on the destination to be reached.

When to go? Info on climate and best time

• Climate: Mediterranean with average temperatures between 11 and 20 °C, mild winters with little rain and fairly dry hot summers with sea temperatures exceeding 20 °C

• Best period: from April to September the days are warm and sunny, but for beach life prefer June, July and August

• Period to avoid: from October to March temperatures are relatively low, aggravated by the humidity due to the proximity of the sea and some rainy days

How much does a holiday on the French Riviera cost? Prices, offers and advice

A trip to the Côte d'Azur requires a substantial budget considering accommodation from €50.00 per night, meals of around €20.00 per person, day trips with an average cost of €70.00 or alternatively car hire from €80.00 per day.
Flights, on the other hand, are quite cheap from the main Italian cities thanks to several low-cost airlines.
Seasonality must be taken into account: the whole area lends itself better to spring and summer holidays, a period during which prices are inevitably higher as these are mostly seaside places. In the winter period, in fact, although prices are lower, the area does not offer the same beauty as the period just recommended.