Curator’s statement
From roaming the city streets at night next to blooming Jasmine to the beautiful cliffs and trails along the Mediterranean, these experiences will play to all your senses and keep you coming back for more! The nicest part of this region is that you can take a train along the coast to visit many different cities. I am not proficient in French, but a smile followed by your “merci and de rien" sure helped me have a local experience. Did I mention the gelato here is absolutely delicious? It is the cactus flavor for me. With all the walking you will be doing, there is always room for gelato!
The Fora Difference
Book with Marc to access exclusive perks and experiences on your trip.
Killer perks
Free upgrades, spa credits and more—we got you
Personalized recs
Customized travel planning for your style
Insider knowledge
Expert advice from people who’ve actually been there
Where to stay in French Riviera
Unlock perks by contacting Marc to book your trip.
Things to do in French Riviera
La Promenade des Anglais
You can gather on the beach or just enjoy the breeze. Complete with bars and restaurants and plenty to do during the day and evening. You can even play volleyball or just enjoy time with friends and family.
Monaco
Walk a country in a day ! Monaco hosts shopping, seafood and beaches. See the Palace and walk along the Marina! There are only a couple of places in the world where you can visit a country within a country!
Vineyards
Expand your palate and learn about the grapes in this region! Feel free to explore the regional wineries. Here are a few to get you started:
Nature and Hiking
Eze
Explore this medieval fortress with shopping and restaurants
TIP! From Nice, take the Bus 82, and it will take you all the way to the entrance of the village.
Eze Botanical Gardens (at the top of the fortress) - Relax in the garden with an amazing panoramic view of the French Riviera.
Cap d’Ail
Get up and close to the Mediterranean Ocean with a hike starting at Plage Marquet. Let your mind drift away with the waves as you walk along the path. Stop by this secluded restaurant, Le Cabanon, for a bite to eat. If you have time, continue to Marquet Beach.
TIP! The only train station in this area is Cap d’Ail.
Antibes
A coastal city with rustic charm. The peninsula is full of little treasure coves and diverse terrain. You can easily spend the day there, so I recommend packing a lunch, water, sunblock and a swimsuit, as you go along Le Sentier du Littoral (hiking path). The trails range from easy to medium level of difficulty.
Route suggestion:
Start: Plage de la Gravette
Pointe des Pendus
Plage de la Garoupe
Sentier Tire-Poil
Point de vue Sentier du littoral
Baie des Milliardaires d’Antibes ( My favorite!)
Last Spot: Plage des Ondes
TIP: Use the train system to get around. The application is called, “Trainline”. You can plan and purchase your tickets in advance or in real time for all travels along the coast of France, all over France and even to Italy!
Verdon Natural Regional Park (Plage du Goletas)
For the kayaker in you ! Spend the day exploring the beautiful scenery on the lake, discover the gorge where you may cliff jump, have a picnic and enjoy nature! There are a variety of boats (i.e., kayak, paddle boats and canoe) you may choose from whether you are with a family or solo traveler! An absolute must see!
TIP! Rent a car; there are two ways to arrive: avoid D71 highway! It is narrow, steep and has no guard rails along the side of the mountain. Take D957 instead.
Places to eat & drink in French Riviera
Le Daily - Ric: Great start to the morning with coffee, croissants, Wifi and sandwiches! Especially if you are needing space to squeeze in some work
La Table Alziari (for a local experience): Wonderful local Niçoise food located in the Old Town. Great ambiance, friendly staff, quality local cuisine.
Restaurant Toné Géorgien: An authentic Georgian restaurant, expand your palate and try the Pkhali (various vegetable spread for bread), Khachapouri (boat-shaped yeast bread filled with cheese) and Khinkali (dumpling filled with meat).
Coquillages André: Seafood specialty raw bar for fresh oysters, muscles and clams!
Here are a couple of my favorites:
Fenocchio (close to Cathedrale Sainte Réparate): A counter with a wide range of amazing flavors and not too sweet! Feeling adventurous? Try the cactus flavor!
Arlequin Gelati: A boutique shop with rich silky gelato with some traditional flavors and unique combinations to try such as the Mona Lisa (It has a burst of fruit that will give you a smile) and the Mozart ( wonderful blend of chocolate gelato with almonds covered in pistachio ganache.)
If you have time...
Les Delices de la Mer: An absolute must visit if you are into seafood “miso” ! Additionally, I had this unique experience of trying a violet clam (violet coquillage). It is common in this area!
Let's talk about customizing this itinerary for you. Or, about other destinations.
Travel Advisor
Marc Albury
Get in touch with Marc
Did you like this guide? Reach out to customize and book your own experience. Or, just to chat about travel in general.
You can normally expect a response from Marc within a business day or so. You’ll also be subscribed to our travel newsletter (you can unsubscribe at any time).
Looking for more travel inspo? Check out my guide, A 15 Day Guide to Japan: Something Old & Three Things New.
This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to the South of France.