Curator’s statement
White-washed hotels, perfectly uniform umbrellas dotting the beaches, bougainvillea lining the cobblestoned streets and manicured vineyards in the distance, there’s something magical about a summer in the South of France, especially for a relaxing honeymoon. You can visit the French Riviera during the height of the summer, but we recommend late spring or early fall for the perfect temperatures and less crowds. From staying in the excitement of Cannes to a hidden château in Provence, there’s a perfect hotel for everyone, and every couple. The South of France is the perfect homebase for a honeymoon filled with sun, music, shopping, dining and adventure (if you want it). Here is our guide to have the perfect South of France honeymoon, including where to stay, eat and visit.
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Things to do on your South of France honeymoon
Explore Èze: Grab a taxi to take you to Èze for amazing views, shopping and gardens, stop for a drink at Château Eza, then follow the locals for a quaint dinner.
Visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild: Located between Nice and Monaco, this a magnificent pink palace overlooking the Mediterranean dates to the 1900s, and is surrounded by nine themed gardens: French garden, Spanish garden, Florentine garden, stone garden, Japanese garden, exotic garden, Provençal garden and rose garden.
Book a private boat day: I recommend a private yacht charter. Pro tip: ask the boat to take you to and from one of Côte d’Azur’s many beach clubs, or schedule your boat day after check-out at one hotel and request drop-off at your next hotel via the docks that line the coast. Transportation and activity two-for-one!
Where to eat & drink on your South of France honeymoon
Lunch
Plage Beau Rivage beach club
Tuba Club: A great lunch and beach-club spot
La Guérite: lunch beach club & restaurant on a island facing Cannes, accessible by ferry.
Dinner
La Chèvre d'Or: Michelin-Star restaurant with ocean views.
La Veranda: Outdoor dining with live music.
La Petite Plage
Day trips in the South of France
You can take the train or fly into local airports, Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) & Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE). I recommend booking roundtrip flights into a major Europe airport and connecting flights to either local airport.
It's easy to get around via train and taxis once you’re there. If you want to have a rental car to get into Provence, it’s easy to do and it’s a beautiful drive through lavender fields and farms. We don’t recommend having an actual car on the coast for too long, especially during the summer.
You can visit anytime between April and October, with the busy months being July and August. I recommend June and September for the sweet spot for weather, crowds and beach time.
The South of France, especially Cannes and St. Tropez, can be more on the expensive side of Europe, especially during the peak months of summer, but all the resorts recommended below are worth the splurge.
For dining, many hotels will have breakfast onsite. Have a late lunch at one of the many beach clubs and go out for dinner. Don’t be afraid of a 9pm or later dinner reservation!
For a 10-day itinerary, I recommend three nights in St. Tropez, three nights in Cannes or Antibes and three nights in Nice or Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, with travel days before and after.
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Katherine Flynn
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This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to the South of France.