It’s not controversial to say that the French Riviera is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Over 100km of stunning Mediterranean coastline is home to elegant beaches, colourful old towns, panoramic sea views and lavish ports. Each of the cities and towns on the French Riviera has its own charm, from the medieval streets of Antibes to the yellow houses of Menton, and the stunning views from the cliffside town of Èze.
Whether you explore one, a few, or all of these French Riviera towns, you’ll find plenty to do and simply beautiful surroundings. Read on to find inspiration for the towns and cities that you should visit on the Riviera, as well as the best things to do in each place!
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How to Explore the Best Towns on the French Riviera
The most popular way to explore the French Riviera is to base yourself somewhere and take multiple day trips. Most cities and towns are close together and well connected by train or bus. My top recommendations for where to base yourself on the French Riviera are Nice and Antibes (and you can read about them in this guide!).
Nice is the main city of the French Riviera and one of the largest spots, meaning there is a good mix of accommodation. There is plenty to do here, and it’s very central for getting to the other towns. For a more laid-back vibe and better beaches, you might prefer staying in Antibes. It lies to the west of Nice and is still very well connected to the other French Riviera towns.
The Best Cities and Towns on the French Riviera
Antibes
Antibes is found on the western side of the French Riveria, between Nice and Cannes. Its stunning old-town charm easily earns it a spot as one of the most beautiful towns on the French Riviera and is perfect if you’re looking for a more laid-back place to visit.
The town is home to the Picasso Museum, an idyllic beach (Plage de la Gravette) which is perfect for some summer sunbathing, a lively covered market and plenty of boutiques to browse whilst you wander the streets of the old town. If you have a car you can venture south of Antibes to explore the Cap d’Antibes, home to rocky coastal walks and secluded beaches and bays, like the stunning Billionaire’s Bay. The foodie scene in Antibes is decent too! Although a little touristy, the centre of the old town has some lovely restaurants and bars.
Personally, I think Antibes is one of the best bases to explore the French Riviera. You can spend relaxed days on the beach or in the old town, and take your pick of day trips along the Côte d’Azur which are all easily reached by train from Antibes. Accommodation prices are also cheaper here than in more popular French Riviera hubs like Nice.
Top Things to Do in Antibes:
- Visit the Picasso Museum
- Sunbathe at Plage de la Gravette
- Wander the old town and city walls
- Browse the Marché Provençal
- Explore the Cap d’Antibes
Where to Eat and Drink in Antibes:
- 32 Pizza and Bar
- L’Oro Bianco
- Marché Provençal & Absinthe Bar
- Gelateria Amarena
- Bistro Chez Jules
Menton
Less than two miles from the border with Italy, Menton stands out as its Italian influence seeps into the typical French Riviera beauty. The town is most known for its love of lemons and all things yellow, as you’ll see across buildings, façades and churches.
The best things to do in Menton are found outdoors, admiring the architecture and views. Start by making your way to Quai Impératrice Eugénie to see the most iconic view of Menton, and explore the nearby port. Then climb the bold yellow stairs (be sure to take in the views behind you!) to reach the Basilique Saint-Michel Archange de Menton. Get lost in the streets for a while before browsing for some lemon-themed souvenirs.
Menton is a pretty small town, so you can easily see all the highlights in a few hours. With that in mind, it’s the perfect spot for a French Riviera day trip, especially when combined with another nearby spot such as Èze or Monaco.
Top Things to Do in Menton:
- Visit the Basilique Saint-Michel Archange de Menton
- See Menton from the Quai Impératrice Eugénie
- Get lost in the streets and find some beautiful photo spots
- Browse for some souvenirs or snacks on Rue Saint Michel (try some lemon beer from the Le Comptoir de Mathilde)
- Enjoy the views of the sea from the promenade
Nice
Nice is the main city on the French Riviera and is considered the region’s capital. With an international airport and the biggest transport hub, Nice is the most likely of all the places on the French Riviera that you’ll visit. The city has the best of both worlds, with a spacious, modern feel as well as a cute old town that any French Riviera municipality would be lost without.
In Nice, you’ll find a hilltop park offering views over the city, several museums and churches, a winding old town, and a beautiful beachfront promenade, to name just a few attractions. Make sure you pay a visit to the luxurious Port Lympia to admire the boats and superyachts!
You can see the highlights of Nice in a day but ideally, you’ll want to spend a couple of days here to really discover the city. For this reason, it makes a popular hub to explore the south of France. The only drawback of Nice is its stony beaches – if you plan to be mostly on the go and exploring, Nice is great, but if you’d like to spend some time relaxing and sunbathing, I recommend staying in the nearby Antibes.
Best Things to Do in Nice:
- Visit the Villa Masséna Museum
- Climb up to the Colline du Château (or ride up in the handy lift!)
- Wander the Promenade des Anglais and relax at a beach club
- Get lost in the old town and discover Nice Cathedral
- Admire the boats at Port Lympia
Best Places to Eat and Drink in Nice:
- Fenocchio (Ice cream)
- Chez Thérésa (Socca, a Niçois speciality)
- Pôp-ô-thym
- Bocca Mar
Read Next: How to Spend a Weekend in Nice, France
Èze
Èze is a hilltop town situated between Nice and Monaco on the southern coast. The beach and port lie at the bottom of the hill, and the medieval town, Èze Village, perches some 400m above on a cliffside. Although the beach is lovely, the true attraction of Èze is definitely the old town, and most visitors will head straight for this.
While visiting Èze Village, enjoy panoramic views over the Riviera, including the sea, lush greenery and surrounding town. Aside from the views, you can take in the gorgeous stonework of the medieval town as you wander through the narrow streets. Be sure to check out the Botanic Garden and the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Church as you explore.
Top tip: It’s quite difficult to reach Èze Village by foot from the train station, given the steep climb from the water (around 400m in elevation!). Look out for buses from the train station to Èze Village, or opt to take the bus from Nice itself, which will take you to Èze Village.
Best Things to Do in Èze:
- Look out over neighbouring towns and the Meditteranean Sea from various viewpoints
- Admire the streets of the small, medieval old town
- Explore the botanic gardens
- Visit the Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption
Discover the best activities on the French Riviera!
Monaco
It’s not often that you can visit another country just for the day, but just a short train ride over the border finds you in the luxurious sovereign state of Monaco. Known for its lavish ports, the royal palace, casino, and as the home of one of the most famous F1 tracks, Monaco is somewhere that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
When arriving in Monaco by train, you’ll first see Port Hercule, with a host of superyachts and boats to admire. Then head up the hill to explore the old town and visit the Prince’s Palace. After that, you can head to Monte Carlo to see the casino and browse (or window shop!) at some designer stores.
If the weather is nice, you might want to relax in the sun. Check out Larvotto Beach or the Solarium Beach.
Best Things to Do in Monaco:
- Visit the hilltop Prince’s Palace of Monaco
- See the famous Monte Carlo Casino (or head inside for some gambling!)
- Wander the old town and see stunning port views below
- Relax on Plage Larvotto
- Find some famous F1 spots, like the Fairmont Hairpin Curve
You might like: Monaco on a budget: 11 Best Things to Do for Free
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Lastly, we have Villefranche-sur-Mer, a charming town just east of Nice. It’s one of the easiest towns on the French Riviera to get to from Nice and makes for a lovely day trip. Villefranche-sur-Mer is characterised by its colourful old town, where you could get lost in the streets for hours. Paired with the stunning waters of the Mediterranean, it’s not hard to spend a day here!
Villefranche-sur-Mer is steeped in history, with many interesting buildings to discover. Visit the churches of Saint Pierre and Saint Michel, walk through a covered passageway from the 13th century, and explore the town’s medieval citadel, now home to the town hall and several museums.
As with most towns on the French Riviera, you can also relax on the beach – Plage des Marinieres is the most popular – and make sure you head over to the impressive port by Plage de la Darse.
Top Things to Do in Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Stroll through the colourful streets of the old town
- Sunbathe on Plage des Marinieres and take a dip in the blue waters of the Med
- Visit the churches of Saint Pierre and Saint Michel
- Discover other historic sites in the town such as Rue Obscure
- See the boats at Plage de la Darse
So, which cities and towns on the French Riviera do you want to visit? I hope this post has inspired you to explore such a beautiful part of the world. This list is by no means exhaustive, so make sure you look out for other gems on the Riviera – I already can’t wait to go back and discover more!
If you liked this guide, you might want to check out my 7 Day South of France Itinerary. And if you want to see more of France, read how to spend 3 days in Paris for the perfect long weekend.
What about Cannes?. Need information also about Cannes. Isn’t that part of the French Riviera?
Hi 🙂 Cannes is part of the French Riviera, yes, but I’m personally not a big fan! I didn’t enjoy it when I visited so it didn’t feel right to include it in a guide to the best towns on the French Riviera. However, you should find plenty of other guides about Cannes on the web if you’d like to visit.
What didn’t you like about
Cannes?
For Antibes you mentioned getting to the Cap by car. You really don’t need a car since bus service is very reliable. And it’s actually a pleasant walk/hike from old town Antibes. We spent a month in an VRBO in Antibes and did day trips to all the places mentioned in the article. We used trains and buses for all our trips. We only rented a car one day to go to some of the hill towns (Vence, St Paul du Vence and Grasse).
Hi Stanley, thank you so much for this info – super useful to me and hopefully for readers of this guide too! I now think I need a trip back to Antibes to go exploring!