The French Riviera is known for hilltop towns and rugged coastlines, beach resorts and art museums, shimmering blue water and way more sunshine than this Vancouver native is used to!
Visitors have been heading to the French Riviera since the 18th Century, with everyone from Picasso, Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor to more modern vacationers like Leonardo DiCaprio and Elton John flocking to the coast.
But where, exactly, should one go on a trip to the Cote d’Azur? Which cities on the French Riviera should be added to your itinerary?
My husband, Colin, and I were faced with this dilemma when we planned our trip to the South of France last year. After hours of research, consulting with other travellers and thinking back to my past visits to the Riviera, I narrowed down our itinerary.
Below I’m sharing six of our favourite French Riviera cities that I think you’ll love visiting. These cities have it all – museums, markets, perfume factories, famous casinos and, of course, epic coastal views!
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Map of where to go on the French Riviera
1. Nice
At the heart of the French Riviera lies Nice, the region’s biggest city best known for its history as a resort town.
Upperclass English and Russian families began spending their winters in Nice in the 18th Century, enjoying the sun and escaping the cold back home. Artists, like Matisse and Chagall, also took up residency, inspired by Nice’s scenery.
These days, Nice is still known as a beautiful area to bask in the sun. A few days in Nice will see you walking through the old town, discovering Nice’s unique gastronomy, strolling along the water and up to Castle Hill, and visiting some art galleries.
Must do in Nice
- Walk the Promenade des Anglais, stopping for a waterfront drink
- Explore Old Nice and take in the views from Castle Hill
- Go on a Nice food tour to discover the unique flavours of Nice
- Visit the Matisse Museum and/or Chagall Museum
- Attend Carnaval de Nice (if you happen to be visiting in Feb/Mar)
Why I love Nice
When my husband, Colin, and I visited the French Riviera last winter, we decided to base ourselves in Nice for the week. This was a good call as Nice is the perfect base for day trips!
From Nice you can easily travel by train or day tour to cities and towns all along the coast. If you don’t want to DIY your day trips, jump on a small group day tour of the French Riviera.
Besides being a good base, I also loved how lively Nice was. Even in February, the city was bustling and people were outside walking, eating and enjoying the sunshine. Compared to sleepy Provence, this was a nice change!
Of course, I was also a pretty big fan of the coastal views, especially from the top of Castle Hill. And I loved the Nice food tour we went on, which introduced us to the city’s unique dishes and culinary history.
2. Monaco
Monaco is not only a city on the French Riviera, it’s also its own country! The tiny country of Monaco sure packs a lot in – stunning views, a world famous casino, luxury shopping, Formula 1, Grace Kelly, mega yachts, a monarchy and more.
Monaco is known as a wealthy country, with many high-rollers calling it home or mooring their yachts there, but you can visit Monaco on a budget. Surprisingly, there’s a lot to do in Monaco for free (just steer clear of the casino and designer shops).
And for country-counters, it’s fun to be able to tick another country off your list just 30 minutes from Nice. (And no, you don’t even have to go through passport control.)
Must do in Monaco
- Take in the views over the hills and harbours
- Visit the Monte Carlo Casino – head inside to gamble or just snap a selfie outside
- Visit the Prince’s Palace (if it’s open) or watch the changing of the guard outside
- For Formula 1 fans, walk the Monaco Grand Prix racetrack
- See where Princess Grace Kelly is buried at the Monaco Cathedral
Why I love Monaco
Despite Monaco not being a place I could afford to stay very long, I’ve enjoyed the two day trips I’ve made to Monaco. It’s always fun to see how the other half lives!
For such a small country, it sure does pack a punch! There’s a lot to see and explore, plus a lot of iconic places – like the Monte Carlo Casino and F1 racetrack – to tick off your bucket list.
Then there’s the views! The colourful buildings cascading down the cliffs to the deep blue sea and bevy of yachts below is hard to look away from.
To me, Monaco makes for the perfect day trip when you’re on the French Riviera. There’s no need to stay overnight and pay Monaco hotel prices, but there’s plenty to do and see for cheap during a day in the tiny country.
3. Eze
Eze is a small medieval village perched almost 1500 feet above sea level on the French Riviera. It’s famous for its stunning hilltop views, historic significance and charming streets (as seen in my photo above!).
Eze is quite a popular town for Riviera tourists, with many making the trek from Nice to Eze on a day trip. But just make sure you’re heading to Eze Village and not Eze-sur-Mer, or else you’ll have to bus or walk up the big hill!
Because of its famed beauty and small size, Eze can get overrun with tourists, especially in the summer. That’s another reason why I recommend visiting the Cote d’Azur in the off-season.
Must do in Eze
- Take in the stunning hilltop views over the Mediterranean Sea
- Explore the Jardin Exotique d’Èze
- Get lost in the alleyways, museums, galleries and perfume factories of the old town
Why I love Eze
We didn’t spend too much time in Eze, but it was just enough to understand the magic of this fairytale village.
After getting off the bus from Monaco, we headed straight to the Exotic Garden of Eze and were blown away by the cacti, waterfalls, gardens and viewpoints. It’s definitely worth a visit.
From the garden, we worked our way back down to the village entrance, passing lots of charming streets, shops and churches on our walk. It really did feel like walking back in time.
We visited Eze in the late afternoon in February, so the crowds were thin. In the summer, I hear this village gets packed!
4. Antibes
Antibes is a seaside town on the French Riviera just southwest of Nice. It’s known for its charming old town, city ramparts that fall into the sea, beaches and ports, luxury hotels and art history.
Famous artists Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet once called Antibes home, with the former having a museum dedicated to him, located inside the very chateau where he used to live.
In Antibes cobblestone streets and medieval alleyways give way to coastal walking paths, sandy beaches and the largest marina on the Riviera.
There’s also a daily provencal market, a 16th Century fortress, summer jazz festival and Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a luxury villa where the likes of Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor once stayed.
Must do in Antibes
- Explore the charming old town of Antibes
- Check out the Nomad statue (or pose inside it, like I did below)
- Splurge on brunch at Lilian Bonnefoi
- Visit the Picasso Museum where he once lived and painted
- Hit the beach in Antibes, Cap d’Antibes or nearby Juan-les-Pins
Why I love Antibes
Antibes was actually my favourite day trip from Nice. I loved the vibe of the old town and being right on the water.
We only spent a day here but I’m already making plans for us to spend a few weeks or even months in Antibes in the future. It’s the kind of place I could really see myself enjoying on a longer trip.
To me, Antibes is the perfect blend of touristy and local, rural and residential. It has a cute little old town but also a fully functioning newer side of town, grocery stores, a train station, etc.
And all of the water views don’t hurt!
5. Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small resort town on the shores of the Med, just outside of Nice (it’s technically a suburb of Nice).
This is the smallest of my must-visit cities on the French Riviera and the closest to Nice, meaning you can easily get there and explore everything you want to see on a day trip.
The town is known for its natural deep harbour (and all of the cruise ships, navy ships and yachts that dock there), the colourful buildings of its old town that rise up on a hill, and its history as a maritime port and haven for artists.
Villefranche-sur-Mer is also a popular film location!
Must do in Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Enjoy fresh seafood and a view by the water (like I did in the photo below!)
- Admire the murals by Jean Cocteau in Chapelle Saint-Pierre
- Explore Villefranche-sur-Mer’s iconic harbour on a boat trip which includes swimming in a grotto!
- Walk along Rue Obscure, a funky passageway that dates back to 1260
Why I love Villefranche-sur-Mer
Colin and I spent a very relaxing afternoon in Villefranche-sur-Mer. We took a quick walk through the old town and then kicked back at a seaside restaurant with a bowl of mussels and a plate of beef carpaccio.
And it was perfect! Villefranche-sur-Mer seemed to be a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Nice and enjoy a bit of a small town feel.
There aren’t a ton of big sites to see in Villefranche, which is nice if you’re just after a bit of charm and water views, like we were.
Plus it’s only a few minutes on the train or a slightly longer bus ride from Nice, so you could easily come for lunch and then carry on with your exploring of the Riviera.
6. Menton
If you head east from Nice, you’ll hit Menton just before you get to the France/Italy border. Menton is known for its Italian flare, villas and gardens, colourful old town, beaches, and warm weather.
While the entire French Riviera is sun-soaked, Menton experiences its own micro-climate resulting in even sunnier summers and milder winters.
Another reason to visit Menton in the winter? Their annual lemon festival, Fete du Citron. Colin and I attended when we visited Menton and it was so cool to see all of the giant citrus statues.
Must do in Menton
- Enjoy a taste of Italy in France on this delicious Menton food and wine tour
- Attend Fete du Citron, Menton’s lemon festival, if you’re visiting in February
- Visit the Jean Cocteau Museum, a famous Menton resident and artist
- Wander the old town, get lost in the famous gardens and relax on the beach
Why I love Menton
Visiting Menton during the Fete du Citron meant we got to see all of the citrus sculptures on full display, which was very cool! We also got to sample lemon beer, lemon candy and lemon pastries.
But the town itself was very busy, as was the train route from Nice. So there are pros and cons to visiting during the festival.
Outside of the crowded festival grounds and bustling old town, I quite liked wandering along some of the quieter streets of Menton.
There was a charm to the city and an unmistakable Italian feeling. I could definitely see revisiting in the off-season and exploring Menton more deeply, plus enjoying the mild winter weather.
Having lunch by the water was another highlight. It’s hard to be upset when you’re sipping a lemonade, chowing down on pizza fresh from the oven and looking out over the Mediterranean Sea!
Where else to go on the French Riviera
Want to visit a few other cities on the Cote d’Azur? Here are a few more suggestions for your South of France itinerary:
- Cannes
- Grasse
- Saint Tropez
- Saint Paul de Vence
- Saint Jean Cap Ferrat
- Saint-Raphael
- Mougins
- Cap d’Ail
- Hyères
- La Seyne-sur-Mer
- Juan-les-Pins
- Toulon
French Riviera FAQs
Alleyway in Villefranche-sur-Mer
Where do you base yourself on the French Riviera?
I think Nice is the perfect base for a trip along the French Riviera. It’s located centrally, so most of your day trips will only be a short train ride away.
Or, if you’d rather not DIY your day trips, you can hop on day tours. Most of these leave from Nice.
Nice is also a large city, meaning there will be plenty to do when you come back from your day trips. You won’t find yourself eating at the same restaurant every night because it’s the only one that’s open.
(And you wouldn’t want to, since there’s so much great food in Nice.)
Colin and I stayed in Nice for our French Riviera trip and it worked out perfectly. I’d highly recommend it as your base!
What is the most beautiful place on the French Riviera?
It’s hard to say because everywhere along the French Riviera is so beautiful. But I have to say that the views in Monaco blow me away every time.
There’s something about looking down from the top of a hill at all of the colourful buildings and bright blue water (not to mention, a bevy of yachts!) that feels like you’ve stepped into a postcard.
The stunning view in Monaco
How many days do you need to visit the French Riviera?
You could easily spend weeks or months exploring the French Riviera, checking out all of the little towns, relaxing by the water, enjoying the views, etc.
But if you don’t have weeks or months available, I think 3-5 days is a good amount of time. That allows you to base in one city (I suggest Nice) and go on a couple of day trips to get a feel for the region.
3-5 days gives you time to explore but also to relax, since that’s what these resort towns are all about.
What’s the best way to get around the cities of the French Riviera?
The best way to get around the French Riviera is by train. Most of the cities and towns you’ll want to visit are connected by train, making this a fast, convenient and affordable way to travel.
I would not recommend renting a car, especially if you visit in the peak of summer, as many of these small towns become crowded. Traffic is awful and parking is impossible.
If you don’t want to train, then I recommend going on day tours. That way, someone else can handle the driving while you enjoy the passing views!
Check out some of the best French Riviera tours from Nice here
Wrapping up: My favourite cities on the French Riviera
It’s hard to go wrong on a visit to the French Riviera. Almost everywhere you go will have sea, sun and scenery.
But that also makes it extra hard to narrow down exactly which cities on the Riviera to visit.
I hope my explanations above helped you choose which cities to include on your itinerary. If I had to narrow it down to just a few to visit, my top picks would be Nice, Monaco and Antibes.
Thankfully, the French Riviera is an easy place to get around by train or day tour, so you shouldn’t have to narrow down your list too much. You could easily visit a couple of towns in a single day.
Wondering how to visit all of these amazing cities in one French Riviera trip? Stay tuned for my complete French Riviera itinerary – coming soon!
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