The French Riviera lives up to its reputation in every way, and then some. Although you may be shocked to see how pleasant the neighborhoods are, the international capital of luxury tourism is filled to the brim with jaw-dropping locations that set the bar for picture-perfect vacations.
This is in no way intended as a slight on the inhabitants who call this city home. The good news is that obscene amounts of money and power are not prerequisites for having a good time in paradise. You can effortlessly relax in the warm rays of the sun on a stunning beach without having to worry about spending a single euro.
The Best Places to Visit French Riviera
Conquer the winding and often steep alleys of Eze, and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramas from this community perched high on a mountain. Alternately, you might wander along Menton’s breathtaking coastline while matching your attire to the brilliant and vibrant structures that are located in the historic old town of Menton.
Imagine the photos you’ll be able to post on your social media accounts. Even if it’s just for a day, live like a king or queen, and make sure to depart with enough stories to tell your friends and family when you go back home. The blues after the holidays are a real thing.
1. The Grasse
It wasn’t until somewhere in the seventeenth century that someone had the brilliant idea of selling scented gloves in this area, yet the perfume capital of the French Riviera is located just a short drive from the lively coast.
Historically, this region was known as a center for leather tanneries, which had an aroma that was significantly less pleasant. There are at least 30 perfume factories located in this picturesque town, which features a mishmash of medieval and Renaissance architecture and is flanked on all sides by unending fields of purple lavender.
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The most notable ones, like Galimard, Molinard, and Fragonard, all provide free tours of their confectionery-scented workshops.
2. Eze
Eze is a gorgeous town that sits high on a rocky perch. The Nietzsche route, which is named after a German philosopher who once lived in the area, is the finest way to explore this town, which is filled with twisting lanes and sturdy stone houses.
If you want to see the medieval fortress that was featured in the classic film “To Catch a Thief,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock, it is well worth the strenuous climb down this road that connects the town to its towering summit.
Spectacular views of Saint Tropez’s dazzling gulf can also be enjoyed from the cactus-covered gardens of the Jardin Exotique, which are located right next door.
3. Antibes
The shimmering crown gem of the Riviera, the labyrinthine alleyways of Some of the most opulent mansions in the area can be seen in the old town of Antibes, which was encompassed by ramparts in the sixteenth century, as well as on the densely wooded Cap d’Antibes peninsula.
In addition, the exquisite marina, which is the largest in all of the Mediterranean, is home to some of the most luxurious ships on the Riviera.
The town has an abundance of businesses and art galleries, and most of them are not too difficult to reach. Attractions such as the Picasso Museum and Fort Carré, where Napoleon Bonaparte was imprisoned for a period of time, are not to be missed.
4. The City of Villefranche on the sea
The ochre-colored homes of Villefranche-sur-Mer, which are set against the backdrop of wood-covered cliffs and blue waters, gaze out over one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Additionally, if the Jean Cocteau-decorated Saint-Pierre chapel and Villefranche’s charming maze of cobblestone streets look familiar to you, that’s probably because this breathtaking town has served as the backdrop for dozens of movies, including Never Say Never Again with Sean Connery and The Jewel of the Nile with Michael Douglas.
5. The Commune of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
One of the most photogenic places on the Riviera is the secretive and exclusive neighborhood of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, which is known for its extravagant Belle Époque houses and magnificently lush gardens.
There are numerous stunning examples of architectural design on this lovely peninsula, which was once popular with the European nobility and is now (somewhat) more democratic.
The Villa Île-de-France is our top choice because its owner, Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, collected more than 5,000 works of art and other objects on her trips throughout the world and used them to decorate the villa.
6. Place de Juan-les-Pins
The art deco Hôtel Belles Rives is the centerpiece of this celebrity-studded resort. It was here that F. Scott Fitzgerald staged the extravagant parties that inspired him to write The Great Gatsby. Rudolph Valentino, Ernest Hemingway, and American billionaire Frank Jay Gould were among the notable guests who attended these parties.
7. Saint-Tropez, France
Brigitte Bardot is largely responsible for the image of this city as a glamorous destination for vacationers. Saint-Tropez was nothing more than a sleepy fishing hamlet when she visited the city in the 1950s and played on its beaches.
Now it attracts an affluent bohemian population, with everyone who’s anyone coming here to strip down on ‘clothing optional’ beaches, buy fashionable beachwear, and go clubbing.
8. Cannes
Even though this is the best time for star-spotting (where are our binoculars? ), there are always plenty of celebrities hanging around Cannes: you’ll spot them taking selfies along the beautiful Promenade de la Croisette, flashing platinum credit cards as they shop in designer boutiques, or slipping out of their palatial hotels to chill incognito in one of the Lérins Islands’ hidden coves.
9. Menton
Menton is a charming town known for its subtropical temperature and astonishingly gorgeous gardens.
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It is located between the principality of Monaco and the border with Italy, and it is framed by the magnificent Alpes-Maritimes mountains. Menton is also known for its proximity to the Italian border.
It is the origin of the citron de Menton, which you may observe in Menton’s expansive La Citronneraie lemon grove or at the springtime La Fête du Citron event.
10. Nice
It is commonly acknowledged that the city of Nice, which is the capital of the French Riviera and the fifth largest city in France, is the spot where tourism on the Côte d’Azur first began.
Elegant Nice has plenty of other charms, ranging from sunset views along the Promenade des Anglais and baroque and Belle Époque buildings around the Garibaldi and Massena squares to the peerless Chagall and Matisse museums, along with some of the region’s most scenic strips of boutique and café-lined sand. Nice is easily the most vibrant nightlife spot on the Riviera.
Conclusion
The French Riviera is often regarded as one of the most attractive regions in all of France. The rugged coastline is home to a variety of charming beach towns, hilltop settlements with panoramic sea views, and mouthwatering cuisine from the region.
Although the glamorous towns of Cannes and Nice, as well as the picturesque cliffside villages of Eze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence, are the most well-known destinations along the French Riviera, there are many other beautiful sites to visit along the French Riviera that see somewhat fewer tourists.
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