The French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), the South of France, is a stretch of Meditteranean coastline spanning from Cassis on the SW border to Menton on the NE border with hot spots Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Villlefranche-sur-Mer, Eze, and Monaco in between. It is the posh playground for royalty, celebrities, and billionaires alike, who make this region their second home for the summer. It is the perfect place for a luxurious beach vacation with numerous options for extravagant and glamorous hotels and beach clubs and Michelin-rated gastronomic feasts, or for sightseeing and people watching if time or money is limited.
While staying in Nice, France (read more here), we took the opportunity to take a road trip for the day along the coast towards Menton, stopping at Villefranche-sur-Mer, Eze, and Monaco. We rented a car, which was very convenient and parking was not difficult to find. Since we went in September, it was not as crowded as the peak summer months and had no problems with traffic. The streets are narrow, steep, and there are a few hairpin turns, so I would recommend renting a car only if you are a good driver. We started our day early and arrived at Villefranche-sur-Mer in 20-minutes from Nice. At around 8AM, the town was quiet and everything was still closed. We took a stroll around the village and admired the quaint colorful and charming buildings by the Old Harbor (La Darse). We also drove to Fort du Mont Alban to check out the monument and the aerial views. After having breakfast there, we drove to Eze, which was about another 20-minutes away. Eze was very unique in that it is a thousand-year-old medieval village perched on a hilltop with a magical fairy tale feel. It is no surprise that Walt Disney spent a lot of time here. We had lunch at Chateau Eza, which is an enchanting luxury 5-star hotel with Michelin-rated restaurant. We were seated on a private balcony, which had the most incredible view of the Mediterranean coast. The dining experience and meal were exceptional. After lunch, we drove another 20-minutes to Monaco. We explored Casino Square and Monte Carlo harbor, which were full of the most expensive cars, yachts, and designer shops. Overall, we felt we had a sufficient amount of time at each of the cities, and made it back to Nice in time for dinner.
when to go
July and especially August are the most crowded time of year due to warmer weather. This usually means crowded beaches and traffic jams, but also more luxury yachts and fancy car sightings. November to February is low season and some hotels are closed during this time. Mid-May is popular for the Cannes film festival and late May is the Grand Prix in Monaco.
transportation
Car rental is convenient and allows you to set your own itinerary and access locations that may not be as easily accessible by bus. Driving is a little tricky though due to the hairpin turns and narrow roads along the coastline. Parking was not difficult to find and not very expensive (compared to the cost of everything else). I would recommend renting a car if you are not traveling during peak season.
Otherwise, you can get around by bus, train, taxi, or private tour.
things to do
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Colorful charming beach town
- Take a stroll along the Old Harbor on the cobblestone streets.
- Spend some time at the Plage de la Mariniere, which is empty and peaceful in the early morning.
- Eze - Enchanting castle town
- Take a stroll through the ancient village.
- Dine at Chateau Eza, Michelin-rated restaurant, for lunch with an amazing view.
- Stop by La Chevre d'Or for a drink at their beautiful terrace.
- Monaco - Luxury cars and yachts and casino
- Check out Monte Carlo Casino and Casino Square.
- View luxury yachts at Monte Carlo Harbor.
- Shop at the designer shops around Casino Square.
where to stay
- Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Hotel Welcome - Charming 4-star hotel with panoramic harbor views
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
- Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat - Regal, historic, and grand 5-star Four Seasons Hotel; a celebrity playground
- Eze
- La Chevre d'Or - Ultimate elegant luxury 5-star hotel with amazing sea views
- Chateau Eza - 5-star charming medieval chateau; also has a Michelin-rated restaurant with spectacular views
- Monaco
- Hotel Hermitage - Luxurious 5-star palace overlooking the harbor; dine at (1-star) Michelin-rated Le Vistamar
- Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo - 5-star hotel close to the Monte Carlo Casino; exterior space redesigned by Karl Lagerfield; home to two Michelin-rated restaurants (Joel Robuchon (2-star) and Yoshi (1-star))
- Antibes
- Hotel du Cap Eden Roc - 5-star hotel with iconic infinity pool with an overwater trapeze; celebrity playground
luxe tips
- If you plan to visit Eze, I would recommend comfortable shoes. There are a lot of cobblestone walkways and steps, which make heels difficult to walk in.
- Book your rooms and make reservations months in advance if you plan to go during or near peak season.
![My kinda morning [Bali] tag someone you'd like to be here with ☕️](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/553ebdf8e4b0b297c696eb7a/1431058436873-BPMPS7EQGG0JJAMSQGVX/image-asset.jpeg)
![Daily dose of paradise [Maldives] tag someone who needs this 😍](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/553ebdf8e4b0b297c696eb7a/1430694745409-81KGZHVWITGPJARV7QU6/image-asset.jpeg)
![Perfect lunch spot 👌 in St. Barths [Nikki Beach] tag someone you'd want to take here 🌴🌴🌴](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/553ebdf8e4b0b297c696eb7a/1430694745677-M0PXC4ZXPQ4ANNFP1ZOG/image-asset.jpeg)
![Ik kil cenote [Cancun] tag someone you'd like to be here with 😉](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/553ebdf8e4b0b297c696eb7a/1430694745628-4GERW14XMF9N9NROD28B/image-asset.jpeg)
![Serious case of jungle fever 🌴🌴🌴 [Bali] tag someone you'd like to be here with ❤️❤️❤️](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/553ebdf8e4b0b297c696eb7a/1430694745397-8QFVGMR30HO8B5DFV44S/image-asset.jpeg)