Stretching along France's Mediterranean coastline, the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur) is a string of glamorous beach towns, perched villages, and yacht-filled harbours. Here are the best places to visit, from the well-known highlights to quieter stops worth the detour.
1. Nice — The Riviera's Anchor City
Nice combines a long beachfront promenade with a colourful Old Town, making it the most practical base for exploring the rest of the coast. Its train and bus connections make day trips to nearby towns easy.
Must-do: Promenade des Anglais and the Old Town's Cours Saleya market. Ideal stay: 2–3 days
2. Cannes — Cinema and Coastline
Best known for its film festival, Cannes offers a more polished, upscale version of the Riviera experience, with palm-lined boulevards and beach clubs along La Croisette.
Must-do: Walk La Croisette and explore the old quarter, Le Suquet. Ideal stay: 1–2 days
3. Monaco — Glamour on a Cliffside
This tiny independent principality packs grand architecture, a famous casino, and a hillside Prince's Palace into just two square kilometres, all overlooking a harbour lined with superyachts.
Must-do: Monte Carlo Casino exterior, the Prince's Palace, and the Oceanographic Museum. Ideal stay: 1 day
4. Saint-Tropez — Beach Club Icon
Once a quiet fishing village, Saint-Tropez is now synonymous with beach clubs and celebrity sightings, particularly along the famous Pampelonne beach.
Must-do: Old port stroll and a beach club afternoon at Pampelonne. Ideal stay: 1–2 days
5. Èze — The Clifftop Village
Perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop between Nice and Monaco, Èze's medieval streets lead up to an exotic garden with some of the best panoramic views on the entire coast.
Must-do: Jardin Exotique d'Èze for the coastal viewpoint. Ideal stay: Half-day
6. Villefranche-sur-Mer — The Quiet Harbour Town
A pastel-coloured fishing port often overlooked in favour of its flashier neighbours, Villefranche offers a calmer, more local pace just minutes from Nice.
Must-do: Citadel walk and a swim at the sheltered bay. Ideal stay: Half-day
7. Antibes — Old Walls and Modern Art
Antibes' fortified old town houses the Picasso Museum, set in a seaside castle where the artist once lived and worked, alongside a lively covered market.
Must-do: Picasso Museum and the ramparts walk along the sea. Ideal stay: 1 day
8. Menton — The Lemon Town
Tucked against the Italian border, Menton is known for its Belle Époque architecture, subtropical gardens, and an annual lemon festival that transforms the town each February.
Must-do: Serre de la Madone gardens and the old town's pastel streets. Ideal stay: Half-day to 1 day
9. Saint-Paul-de-Vence — Art in the Hills
A fortified hilltop village just inland from the coast, long favoured by artists like Chagall and Matisse, with narrow galleries and cobbled lanes still drawing an art-focused crowd today.
Must-do: Wander the gallery-lined streets and visit the Fondation Maeght. Ideal stay: Half-day
10. Èze-sur-Mer and the Corniche Roads
The three coastal roads connecting Nice to Monaco (Basse, Moyenne, and Grande Corniche) are attractions in themselves, offering some of the most scenic drives in Europe with sweeping sea views.
Must-do: Drive or take a scenic bus ride along the Moyenne Corniche. Ideal stay: Part of a day trip between towns
How to Get Around the French Riviera
The coast is well served by regional trains (TER) connecting Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Monaco, and Menton in under an hour each way, making a car optional for most itineraries. A car is more useful for reaching hilltop villages like Èze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Best Time to Visit the French Riviera
- May–June and September: Warm weather, thinner crowds, and lower prices than peak summer.
- July–August: Peak season, busiest and most expensive, but liveliest atmosphere.
- October–April: Mild and quiet, ideal for sightseeing without crowds, though beach weather is limited.
Full best time to visit French Riviera guide →
Sample 5-Day French Riviera Itinerary
- Day 1–2: Nice (Old Town, Promenade des Anglais, Castle Hill)
- Day 3: Èze and Monaco day trip
- Day 4: Cannes and Antibes
- Day 5: Saint-Paul-de-Vence or Saint-Tropez
More French Riviera itineraries →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nice is the most practical base thanks to its central location and strong train connections, though Cannes and Antibes are good alternatives for a quieter stay.
5–7 days allows time to comfortably combine Nice, a couple of coastal day trips, and at least one hilltop village like Èze or Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Monaco is a separate, independent principality, but it sits directly on the French Riviera coastline and is commonly included in Riviera itineraries.
Èze is often considered the most dramatic, thanks to its clifftop position and panoramic garden viewpoint, though Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a close contender for its art history and architecture.