UltimateCity Guide French Riviera
Our favourites
The Baie des Anges and the old town of Nice from above The Baie des Anges and the old town of Nice from above Èze on its rock and Cap Ferrat beyond, from the Grande Corniche Yachts and the pastel quayside of the port of Saint-Tropez The turquoise inlet and white cliffs of the Calanque d’En-Vau

The coast guide to the French Riviera, France

Best of the French Riviera

The Baie des Anges at morning, palms on La Croisette, villas on the capes, the yachts of Saint-Tropez and the white cliffs of the Calanques: the Côte d’Azur from Cassis to Menton.

Where to eatWhat to see
A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to the French Riviera

The Côte d’Azur runs from the calanques of Cassis to Menton at the Italian border, with the Alps rising behind it. Here are its palace hotels and starred tables, the beach clubs of Pampelonne and the old towns of Nice and Antibes, the painters’ museums, the islands and the hill villages, with day trips to Grasse, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Arles and the mountains. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Palais des Festivals and the 24 steps

Coming in 2027

The 80th Festival de Cannes

Cannes·Festival hall

The Festival de Cannes turns 80 next spring, from 11 to 22 May 2027. Our in-depth guide tells its story, from the cancelled festival of 1939 to the red carpet of today, with Bardot, Grace Kelly and the films shot on this coast.

Read the festival guide

The Riviera, town by town

From Cassis to Menton: each town has its own guide.

The curve of the Baie des Anges and the Promenade des Anglais, NiceArea guideNiceThe Promenade and Vieux NicePalms and the promenade on La Croisette, CannesArea guideCannesLa Croisette and the PalaisYachts in Port Vauban below the old town of AntibesArea guideAntibes, Juan-les-Pins & Cap d’AntibesPicasso, the port and the capeA sailing boat in the deep blue bay of Villefranche-sur-MerArea guideCap Ferrat, Villefranche & BeaulieuVillas, gardens and a deep bayÈze on its rock and Cap Ferrat beyond, from the Grande CornicheArea guideÈzeA village on a rockThe old town of Menton and its basilica above the harbourArea guideMentonGardens at the borderYachts and the pastel quayside of the port of Saint-TropezArea guideSaint-Tropez & PampelonneYachts, beach clubs and BardotThe turquoise inlet and white cliffs of the Calanque d’En-VauArea guideCassis & the CalanquesWhite cliffs, turquoise coves

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go.

A Nice tram on Place GaribaldiBefore you goRiviera essentialsEntry, seasons, money and getting aroundA TER train on the coast line above the harbour at Théoule-sur-MerGetting aroundGetting aroundAirport, tram, train and boatsA regional TER train at Beaulieu-sur-Mer stationItineraryThe Riviera by trainNice to MentonThe Eden-Roc pavilion and pool on the rocks, with the Hôtel du Cap behindLuxury guideThe luxury RivieraThe finest addresses

Beyond the Riviera

Hill villages, perfume, Van Gogh, the Alps, the islands, and Monaco next door.

The ramparts and bell tower of Saint-Paul-de-VenceBeyond the RivieraSaint-Paul-de-VenceRamparts and the Fondation MaeghtThe cathedral, the keep and the rooftops of old GrasseBeyond the RivieraGrassePerfume and an old townThe Roman amphitheatre of ArlesBeyond the RivieraArles & Van GoghVan Gogh’s townIsola 2000 under snow in FebruaryBeyond the RivieraThe AlpsSki and high lakesThe pale sand and clear water of Notre-Dame beach, PorquerollesBeyond the RivieraThe islandsCar-free islandsMonaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideMonacoThe ULTIMATE Monaco City Guide

In depth: the Riviera’s back stories

The festival, the painters, the palaces, the trains and the films.

Palms and the promenade on La Croisette, CannesIn depthThe Festival de CannesFrom 1939 to the 80thThe red Genoese villa of the Musée Matisse in CimiezArt trailThe painters’ coastVan Gogh to CocteauThe pink dome of Le Negresco lit up at night on the Promenade des AnglaisThe back storyThe grand hotelsPalaces and seasonsThe statue of Brigitte Bardot on Place Blanqui, Saint-TropezThe back storyThe Riviera on filmHitchcock, Bardot, BondÈze on its rock and Cap Ferrat beyond, from the Grande CornicheThe back storyThe Three CornichesRoads in the cliffsA TER train on the coast line above the harbour at Théoule-sur-MerThe back storyThe coast by trainMarseille to MentonNice and the port seen from the Colline du ChâteauFun factsRiviera fun factsThings you might not know

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide The Golden Horn and the mosques of the old city, IstanbulTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The gilded domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, SofiaBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Mark’s Church in Zagreb’s Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of MexicoUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyondCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about the French Riviera, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Musée Matisse

    This week's pick

    Musée Matisse

    Nice·Museum

    “Henri Matisse – Alex Katz” opens at the Musée Matisse in Nice on 28 October and runs to 18 January 2027. At Le Cannet, the Musée Bonnard’s “Les Toilettes de Marthe” closes on 31 October.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The Baie des Anges and the old town of Nice from aboveItineraryNice in a dayOne day, on foot and by tramÈze on its rock and Cap Ferrat beyond, from the Grande CornicheItineraryVillefranche, Cap Ferrat and ÈzeOne day, by train and on footPalms and the promenade on La Croisette, CannesItineraryCannes and AntibesTwo daysYachts and the pastel quayside of the port of Saint-TropezItinerarySaint-Tropez: a day of glamourOne day, in seasonA TER train on the coast line above the harbour at Théoule-sur-MerItineraryThe Riviera by train: Nice to MentonOne day, by trainThe red Genoese villa of the Musée Matisse in CimiezItineraryA day on the art trailOne day, by carThe turquoise inlet and white cliffs of the Calanque d’En-VauItineraryCassis and the CalanquesOne day (stay the night)The curve of the Baie des Anges and the Promenade des Anglais, NiceItinerary48 hours in NiceTwo days, on foot and by tramA TER train on the coast line above the harbour at Théoule-sur-MerItinerarySeven days on the Côte d’Azur by trainSeven days, no carThe cathedral, the keep and the rooftops of old GrasseItineraryThe art and perfume trailTwo daysThe marina of Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratItineraryA property viewing day: Cap d’Antibes, Cannes and the hillsOne day, by car

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Eating on the Riviera: the back storyNice · In depth
    2. 2MirazurMenton · Creative cuisine
    3. 3La Vague d’Or – Cheval Blanc St-TropezSaint-Tropez · Creative cuisine
    See all 25

    Cafés

    1. 1Chez PipoNice · Socca
    2. 2SénéquierSaint-Tropez · Café on the port
    3. 3La Tarte Tropézienne, Place des LicesSaint-Tropez · Pâtisserie
    See all 5

    Bars

    1. 1Le 1913 – Le NegrescoNice · Hotel bar
    2. 2The Fitzgerald Piano Bar – Belles RivesJuan-les-Pins · Piano bar
    3. 3The Gordon Bennett Bar – La Réserve de BeaulieuBeaulieu-sur-Mer · Hotel bar
    See all 8

    Hotels

    1. 1The grand hotels of the Riviera: the back storyCap d’Antibes · In depth
    2. 2Le NegrescoNice · Palace hotel
    3. 3Anantara Plaza NiceNice · City hotel
    See all 25

    Sights

    1. 1The Riviera: the back storyNice · In depth
    2. 2Promenade des AnglaisNice · Seafront promenade
    3. 3Vieux Nice and the Cours SaleyaNice · Old town
    See all 14

    Art & Culture

    1. 1The artists’ Riviera: the back storyNice · In depth
    2. 2Musée MatisseNice · Museum
    3. 3Musée national Marc ChagallNice · National museum
    See all 14

    Beaches & Gardens

    1. 1Parc PhœnixNice · Botanical park
    2. 2Promenade du PaillonNice · City park
    3. 3Jardin du Monastère de CimiezNice · Monastery garden
    See all 12

    Walks

    1. 1The Three Corniches: the back storyÈze · In depth
    2. 2Sentier du littoral, Cap d’AntibesCap d’Antibes · Coastal path
    3. 3Cap Ferrat coastal pathSaint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat · Coastal path
    See all 7

    Shopping

    1. 1Cap 3000Saint-Laurent-du-Var · Shopping centre
    2. 2NicetoileNice · Shopping centre
    3. 3Place des Lices marketSaint-Tropez · Market
    See all 9

    Health & Spas

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112 or 15French Riviera · Emergency numbers
    2. 2CHU de NiceNice · University hospital
    3. 3Hôpital de Cannes Simone-VeilCannes · Public hospital
    See all 14

    Property

    1. 1Buying on the Riviera: the back storyCap d’Antibes · In depth
    2. 2Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International RealtyNice · Estate agency
    3. 3John TaylorCannes · Estate agency
    See all 6

    Developments

    1. 1Promenade du Paillon, phase 2Nice · Park extension
    2. 2MAMAC, NiceNice · Museum renovation
    3. 3Marché Forville worksCannes · Market renovation
    See all 6

    Driving

    1. 1Car hire at Nice Côte d’Azur AirportNice · Car hire
    2. 2The Grande CornicheÈze · Scenic drive
    3. 3The Moyenne CornicheÈze · Scenic drive
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1The coast by train: the back storyNice · In depth
    2. 2Nice Côte d’Azur AirportNice · Airport
    3. 3Nice tramNice · Tram
    See all 13

    Beach Clubs & Marinas

    1. 1Le Club 55, PampelonneRamatuelle · Beach club and restaurant
    2. 2Nikki Beach Saint-TropezRamatuelle · Beach club
    3. 3Byblos Beach RamatuelleRamatuelle · Beach club
    See all 15

    Casinos

    1. 1Casino Barrière Le CroisetteCannes · Casino
    2. 2Casino Partouche Cannes, “50 Croisette”Cannes · Casino
    3. 3Casino Barrière Le RuhlNice · Casino
    See all 6

    Vineyards

    1. 1Riviera wine: the back storyCassis · In depth
    2. 2Château de BelletNice · Wine estate
    3. 3Clos Sainte MagdeleineCassis · Wine estate
    See all 7

    Film & Cinema

    1. 1The Riviera on film: the back storyCannes · In depth
    2. 2Palais des Festivals and the 24 stepsCannes · Festival hall
    3. 3Musée de la Gendarmerie et du CinémaSaint-Tropez · Museum
    See all 7

    Mountains & Ski

    1. 1Skiing above the Riviera: the back storyIsola 2000 · In depth
    2. 2Isola 2000Isola · Ski resort
    3. 3AuronSaint-Étienne-de-Tinée · Ski resort
    See all 6

    Diving & Water Sports

    1. 1Port-Cros underwater trail (La Palud)Port-Cros · Snorkelling trail
    2. 2Easy DiveJuan-les-Pins · Dive centre
    3. 3SubvisionVallauris · Dive centre
    See all 6

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