5 PLACES NOT TO MISS IN THE FRENCH RIVIERA
Having recently enjoyed 2 weeks in sunny south of France including the French Riviera. Here’s our pick of the top well known and lesser well-known places to enjoy making the best of the summer sun in the mediterranean coast.
The south of France is a diverse place with both romantic towns, chic beach clubs for partygoers, but also very family-friendly. It’s very beautiful, known for the incredible turquoise clear water, delicious cuisine, and pictureresque villages.
1. CANNES
Cannes - mostly well known for the Cannes Film Festival that takes place every year, it has plenty of beautiful spots to see and things to do and has preserved their maritime charm very well. Cannes is full of hidden beaches, hiking trails, great markets and access to other parts of the south of France by yachts/ferries.
Cannes Highlights:
Forville Market for Socca bread
Taking a one day cruise to a different part of the French Riviera
Half day trip to île Sainte Marguerite
watch the impressive sailing yachts in the harbour
Explore Le Suquet part of Cannes (old town)
2. ANTIBES
Antibes is in the middle of Nice and Cannes and has it’s own charm that makes it a must-visit. Less popular than the larger cities along the coast, it’s less expensive and a great place to experience the local life.
Make sure to visit the local market - the produce is incredibly fresh and you can find all sorts of local produce from spices to beautiful souvenirs. The market in Antibes is called the Marché Provençal and open 6 days a week, closed Mondays and located in the middle of the Old Town area.
Antibes Highlights:
Marché Provençal
explore art galleries and boutique stores
Plage De Salis
Picasso Trail
Cap d’Antibes
3. Mouans-Sartoux
We stumbled along this village by accident and really loved it, probably one of our favorite spots. Located between Grasse and Cannes, it’s a modernized Medieval village with beautiful narrow streets but very quiet and full of restaurants, shops and a town center.
Mouans-Sartoux:
Espace de l’Art Concret
Market in the town centre on Tuesday and Thursday mornings selling fresh local produce, fruit and vegetables
Les Jardins du MIP
Colgan’s Brewery.
4. Villanche sur mer
Located close to Nice, this town is less touristy and full of narrow streets and beautiful pastel town buildings. It’s a place definitely worth your visit if you like the ocean views and the picturesque houses rising up on the hills.
Villefranche highlights:
wandering the narrow streets
beach day right by the town
The views from up the road of Boulevard Napoleon III
Paloma beach (10mins drive)
5. Ile Saint marguerite
Île Sainte-Marguerite is one of my absolute places to visit in the Côte d’Azur region. It can be done along with Cannes, as the ferry to the island departs from the port of Cannes. This stunningly beautiful island is a paradise of untouched nature for travelers looking for a day filled with sunshine, leisurely walks along the beach, and views of crystal clear waters. The calm Mediterranean waters around Île Sainte-Marguerite are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Île Sainte-Marguerite Highlights:
Fort Royal (where the famous Man in the Iron Mask was held prisoner)
wooded trails meandering around the island
secluded paradisiac beaches
Bird-watching Batéguier Pond -Batéguier Pond is a beautiful oasis of calm and tranquility, surrounded by lush vegetation. It’s perfect if you want to take a relaxing stroll, have a picnic with friends, or do some bird watching.
save pin for later
