1. Nice
At the heart of the French Riviera lies Nice, the region’s biggest city best known for its history as a resort town.
Upperclass English and Russian families began spending their winters in Nice in the 18th Century, enjoying the sun and escaping the cold back home. Artists, like Matisse and Chagall, also took up residency, inspired by Nice’s scenery.
These days, Nice is still known as a beautiful area to bask in the sun. A few days in Nice will see you walking through the old town, discovering Nice’s unique gastronomy, strolling along the water and up to Castle Hill, and visiting some art galleries.
2. Monaco
Monaco is not only a city on the French Riviera, it’s also its own country! The tiny country of Monaco sure packs a lot in – stunning views, a world famous casino, luxury shopping, Formula 1, Grace Kelly, mega yachts, a monarchy and more.
Monaco is known as a wealthy country, with many high-rollers calling it home or mooring their yachts there, but you can visit Monaco on a budget. Surprisingly, there’s a lot to do in Monaco for free (just steer clear of the casino and designer shops).
And for country-counters, it’s fun to be able to tick another country off your list just 30 minutes from Nice. (And no, you don’t even have to go through passport control.)
3. Eze
Eze is a small medieval village perched almost 1500 feet above sea level on the French Riviera. It’s famous for its stunning hilltop views, historic significance and charming streets (as seen in my photo above!).
Eze is quite a popular town for Riviera tourists, with many making the trek from Nice to Eze on a day trip. But just make sure you’re heading to Eze Village and not Eze-sur-Mer, or else you’ll have to bus or walk up the big hill!
Because of its famed beauty and small size, Eze can get overrun with tourists, especially in the summer. That’s another reason why I recommend visiting the Cote d’Azur in the off-season.
4. Antibes
Antibes is a seaside town on the French Riviera just southwest of Nice. It’s known for its charming old town, city ramparts that fall into the sea, beaches and ports, luxury hotels and art history.
Famous artists Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet once called Antibes home, with the former having a museum dedicated to him, located inside the very chateau where he used to live.
In Antibes cobblestone streets and medieval alleyways give way to coastal walking paths, sandy beaches and the largest marina on the Riviera.
There’s also a daily provencal market, a 16th Century fortress, summer jazz festival and Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a luxury villa where the likes of Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor once stayed.
5. Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small resort town on the shores of the Med, just outside of Nice (it’s technically a suburb of Nice).
This is the smallest of my must-visit cities on the French Riviera and the closest to Nice, meaning you can easily get there and explore everything you want to see on a day trip.
The town is known for its natural deep harbour (and all of the cruise ships, navy ships and yachts that dock there), the colourful buildings of its old town that rise up on a hill, and its history as a maritime port and haven for artists.
6. Menton
If you head east from Nice, you’ll hit Menton just before you get to the France/Italy border. Menton is known for its Italian flare, villas and gardens, colourful old town, beaches, and warm weather.
While the entire French Riviera is sun-soaked, Menton experiences its own micro-climate resulting in even sunnier summers and milder winters.
Another reason to visit Menton in the winter? Their annual lemon festival, Fete du Citron. Colin and I attended when we visited Menton and it was so cool to see all of the giant citrus statues.
Read the full article by Riana Ang-Canning / Teaspoon of Adventure
