Traditional Christmas markets are held in large towns as well as smaller villages, selling local specialties and mulled wines. The region’s 15 ski resorts open for season in December, with the closest a little over two hours away by bus from the Nice train station or airport (1.50EUR for a one-way ticket). If you’re travelling in peak season , or even a shoulder month , expect to pay a lot for Cote d’Azur accommodation. Most hotels in port towns will charge peak rates and are still booked up months ahead. You can also stay in Nice and take day trips along the Riviera.
Is Marseille worth visiting?
It is also thought to have the highest amount of sunshine with more than 316 days per year. This means it’s the perfect place to visit in the French Riviera at any time of year and it’s the perfect place to grow lemons. The town is very proud of this and you can find every type of lemon product imaginable. There’s even a lemon festival held every year at the end of February. The French Riviera’s sun-splashed cosmopolitan capital, and France’s fifth largest city, is often hailed the birthplace for tourism on the Cote d’Azur.
- From Beaulieu-sur-Mer to lunch at Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in Cap d’Antibes
- I found the most beautiful part to walk around to be Old Nice on the water.
- This is one advantage to choosing the French Riviera as your next holiday destination.
- Booking in advance comes highly recommended, as many offers sell out quickly.
- The lemon is a symbol of Menton, because of The Lemon Festival, which takes place every year in winter.
Don’t think of the Cote d’Azur as just a summer locale, either. Sure, these cities heat up come July as the masses parade down boulevards and beaches, but winter is one of the Riviera’s best-kept secrets with snow falling just two hours north of the shore. Here’s how to make the most of your stay in the South of France. We flew into Nice from an overnight flight through New York and landed in the morning.
You can still get around the region with the streamlined public transportation system. Renting a car is not necessary if you are only planning to stay in one place, such as Cannes or Nice. These towns are pedestrian-friendly, so you can easily walk to any part of the town or hop on a bus or train to get to another village. Traffic in and out Cannes and Monaco is notoriously bad, and parking spaces can be difficult to find.
- You can drive to this location and park your car in the free parking.
- The only building French architect Le Corbusier (1887-1965) ever built for himself is this rather simple – but very clever – beach hut on Cap Martin.
- Beautiful views of the Baie de Cannes, Esterel mountains, and seafront hotel Palaces are stunning in all their art deco glory.
- One thing you can do is stay in Nice and just take day trips along the Riviera.
- There are nods to the Cannes film festival throughout the city and plenty of amazing restaurants.
- Most towns have markets which typically operate in the morning and early afternoon of a particular day or days to sell fresh produce.
Next was Provence, for beautiful lavender fields and wineries amongst hilltop towns like Gordes and Lacoste (separate travel guide coming for Provence! ). After a quick rest at the hotel, it’s now time to go into town and explore Old St. Tropez at Night. First stop, dinner atLe Girelier, which is a hot spot right in the main port of St. Tropez . It is perfect to enjoy some a nice view of the mega yacht scene that St. Tropez is renowned for. After dinner, take a stroll along Quai Jean Jaures. The yachts are alive after dark, and the sounds of drunken adults fill the air.
Take your pick of terraces in the Place Garibaldi square (Campo Caffe is a local favorite), settling in for apero, or pre-dinner drinks, and regional specialties like pissaldiere . A popular promenade for the society set in the 18th century, the Cours Saleya pedestrian street in the Old Town is now home to the daily markets. Striped awnings open up over rows of vegetable, fruit, and flower stands every day of the week except Mondays, when the antiques market takes over. Even if you’re not in the market for a new Chanel bag, walking along the iconic Boulevard de la Croisette is an experience in itself.
