How to cover French Riviera in a week
First of all, I highly recommend picking one central spot as a base, especially if you’re planning daily visits within close distances to make the most of your time. Nice, being the base, was quite a good decision in this case. Every other city & town is reachable and can be visited for a day long. This I find convenient if you don’t want to pack and unpack again and again, let alone, arrange more than one accommodation.
How to reach: I traveled by Turkish Airlines’ direct flight from Istanbul to Nice. The airport is small but there are many connecting flights. The train is convenient from within Europe.
Minimum stay: Give it 7 days
Sample Itinerary:
- Day0: (Half day) Nice
- Day1: Nice
- Day2: Vence & St. Paul
- Day3: Cannes & Mougins
- Day4: Eze & Nice
- Day5: Menton
- Day6: Monaco
- Day7: Villefranche sur Mer & St. Jean Cap Ferrat
- Day8: (Half day) Nice
Nice, view from Le Chateau Hill
When to visit: Summer time is good if you also wanna enjoy the sun & the sea but spring and autumn are good to go, considering visiting surrounding villages (if sightseeing is your priority). You can check the events organized throughout the year. Second half of February covers Nice Carnival which welcomes spring, Citrus Festival in Menton and Comedy Film Festival in Monaco. Not to mention Cannes Film Festival in May and Nice Jazz Festival in July. The area has ongoing events to attract tourists throughout the year which causes the locals to escape (especially in summer, with the added traffic).
Where to stay: Since Nice is not that big and it’s easy to travel by public transportation, you can decide it according to your budget. I found it quite convenient to be close to the train station which is just 2 stops to the city center, connected by tram.
Transportation: Bus and tram are 1.5€. You can pay on the bus but you need a credit card or coins if you want to buy the ticket from the machine (it doesn’t accept notes). You can travel with the same card for the next 75 minutes hopping on and off each vehicle, having it stamped on the readers. I came across the check twice in a week. Multicard for 10 voyages is more cheaper of course but bear in mind that it’s not valid outside Nice. My advice, always ask first, otherwise you might pay extra. If, say, you take a bus departing from Nice to Cannes, you need to pay it to the driver even if the card-reader validates your card. This is also important; not having a valid-read card, you might face up to 90€ of fee, beware.
From the airport, there are two express buses; bus 98 (to the city), bus 99 (to the gare) departing every 20 minutes. To the airport, since you can use the regular ticket, bus 23 is the cheapest option (compared to the express). Just make sure if any of the stops is close to your accomodation and keep in mind that this bus does not have a private space for luggages and you get off on the highway (not right in front of the airport) and walk a few minutes.
Within Nice, it’s very convenient to find your way with the bus lines’ timetables. Just go to http://www.lignesdazur.com/index.asp and download the pdf version from timetables. Even the duration from the departing stop to the rest are indicated so you have an idea of the drive. Not sure about summer time, but buses are pretty punctual.
Train to Monaco is 3,90€ (15 minutes), to Menton 5,50€ (30 minutes) and to Cannes is 7€ (40 minutes). You can download the train timetables on http://www.ter.sncf.com/paca/depliant/recherche as well (‘line 6 Marseille-Ventimiglia’ for Monaco & Menton and ‘line 3 Les Arcs-Nice’ for Cannes).
Train to save time, bus to save money; you choose.
Nice
I have to admit, French Riviera, exceeded my expectations. Nice is the place to live, seriously. You have it all; beach, a mini but decent city center, very convenient transportation system, ultra polite people aaaand no chaos. What else would one want 🙂
Minimum stay: Give it 2-3 days
Did you know?: The Greeks founded Nice in around 350BC and named it Nikaia after the Greek goddess of victory, whose name is now synonymous with an American sports apparel company.
What to see:
Cours Saleya is the open air bazaar dominated by flowers. Way smaller compared to Bloemenmarkt in Amsterdam. You can find vegetables, fruits, chocolate and even lavender which is famous all over the area. The bazaar is open in the mornings and antiques can be found on Mondays. The surrounding restaurants & cafes and the distance of 2 blocks to the Old City makes the ambiance of the area pretty touristy. You will come across the baroque chapel La Chapelle de la Misericorde right in the middle of the bazaar.
The Old City (Vieux Nice) lies right behind the flower market. Don’t miss Cathédrale de Ste-Réparate at Place Rossetti. Palais de Justice and dozens of shops, patisseries & restaurants are located in between narrow streets of Old City. Don’t forget to try crepes and/or socca, and to choose the wines to bring home from Cave Caprioglio on Rue de la Prefecture.
Nice
When you get down the bazaar to the beach, you’ll see Tour Bellanda on your left. The tower itself may not be worth to see but the view definitely is. Keep climbing (or use the paid lifts, as well as mini train from Place Massena) and you’ll get to Le Chateau Hill (Castle Hill). Consisting of a park, a snack bar, kids' playgrounds, Cascade Dijon (mini waterfall), cemetery and ruins of the former castle, Le Chateau Hill offers you peace and wonderful landscapes. On your right of the panoroma, lies Promenade des Anglais, Old Nice and the Baie des Anges (with Southern Alps behind) and on your left Port Lympia. Take it from me, enjoy the view in the morning in order to avoid the sun directly facing you. Down under the hill, is the Monument aux Morts. It’s a war memorial of WW1 inaugurated in 1928, in honour of 4000 people. You can conclude your walk around the port with a visit to catholic church, Eglise Notre-Dame-du-Port.
Nice, Port Lympia
Strolling up Rue Cassini, you’ll see Place Garibaldi, another point for bus departs (100-Monaco & Menton). you can enjoy open air restaurants especially if you’re lucky with the weather. Order your pizza along with a glass of wine and voila! At one point you might think somehow you’re on the other side of the border, but no, French Riviera is probably the second best place for pizza as the pizzerias on every other corner is managed by an italiano. The plaza used to house the celebrations devoted to the arrival of Sardinian rulers coming from Turin late 18th century. And the sculpture of italian Giuseppe Garibaldi, who fought for his hometown’s cede, stands in front of Chapelle du Saint-Sepulcre which currently provides shelter and support to orphans.
The complex, housing the National Theatre of Nice and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art can be seen from the Garibaldi Square. Loch Ness Monster Sculpture welcomes you at the entrance. The building of Mamac (Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain) itself is interesting; it is built as a tetrapod with eye resembling floors. The museum features collections dedicated to the European and American avant-garde movement. A 10€ ticket is worth the visit plus the panoramic views of the city from the rooftop terrace. Also, the giant square-head-shaped building Sosno’s Tete Carree, that houses the administration of the public library, is just down the street from the MAMAC.
Strolling down the museum is the Promenade du Paillon. It comprises of tidy gardens, an interactive water feature, an extensive wooden playground for kids and also an ice-skating rink in winter. The promenade which was once a river bed, also houses a rendition of Casino Lazard (a copy of London’s Crystal Palace) and an exhibit indicating the original, on the old pier a century ago. Must be visited at night time to see the lighted version.
Nice, Casino Lazard
Continuing on, the ferris wheel, almost as beautiful as the London Eye, is at the end of the promenade and offers magnificient scenery as well. Right next door is Jardin Albert Primer, one of the oldest pubilc gardens of Nice. This is where the buses to Cannes (200) & St. Paul (600) depart.
Place Massena situated in between Jardin Albert Primer and the promenade, is the “Plaza Mayor” of Nice. The largest square of the city consists of neoclassical structures and Fontaine du Soleil with 7 meter high statue of Apollo. Its adjoining street Rue Massena is famous for Galerie La Fayette as well as other luxurious brands and souvenier shops. Up noth for more shops (even a mall), cinemas Jean Medecin is the avenue to be. Keep in mind that most shops are closed on Sundays. Have a coffee stop at Grand Cafe de Lyon and pay a visit to Basilique Notre-Dame. The train station (Gare) is at the end of the avenue (tram’s Gare Thiers stop). Trains to Monaco, Cannes, etc. depart from here. Walking distance from the Gare, is Cathedrale St. Nicolas, Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Hope you can visit it as it was under construction during my visit 🙁
Nice Carnival
Following the Boulevard Gambetta, down to the seaside, you’ll find yourself at Promenade des Anglais. Bay of Angels, served as a winter holiday destination, was built by the English at the beginning of the 19th century. It is now the favorite place of runners, bicyclists, rollerbladers and anyone who wants to take a stroll. Not to mention the benches or cafes to enjoy the view and the beach to enjoy the sea & sun. Many nice apartments and luxurious hotels are located on this long boulevard continuing till the airport. The most celebrated hotel and in fact, the symbol of Nice is the palatial Hotel Negresco. The hotel contains an impressive collection of royal portraits, a magnificient glass ceiling designed by Gustave Eiffel, a chandelier commissioned by Russian Tsar Nicolas II, and even a carousel-theme restaurant. However, do not expect a permission to take a look around unless you’re a guest. Even with a cute face, I couldn’t :-/
Nice Hotel Negresco
Besides the promenades and parks, there’s another peaceful area in Nice; Cimiez. Accessible by bus 17 (stops at Massena or Jean Medecin), Cimiez is a luxurious residential area with monastry, cemetery, park, gardens and museums to visit. The amphi theatre among the Roman ruins at Jardins des Arènes de Cimiez used to host the jazz festival (which now takes place at Théatre de Verdure). The gardens also host Festin des Cougourdons at the end of March to celebrate the arrival of spring along with traditional music, dance and food. If the weather permits, picnic beneath the centenarian olive trees can be a good idea. Musée Archéologique stands at the entrance of the park whereas Musee Matisse, full of Henri Matisse’s paintings and sculptures (once his house), can be found inside the park. More art comes on your way down; if you take bus 15, you can visit Musee Chagall, a monographic museum dedicated to Chagall's works of religious and spiritual inspiration.
Nice, Promenade des Anglais
Vence
How to reach: Bus 400 departs from Nice and takes you to Vence in an hour.
Minimum stay: Give it half a day or 1
Did you know?: The famous artist Matisse lived in Vence and conceived the modernist Rosary Chapel considering it as his masterpiece, in spite of all its imperfections. It was the first time that a painter entirely designed every detail of a monument, from the architecture to the furniture.
What to see:
The best place to enter the Old Town is through the gate, Porte du Peyra that also has an interesting watch tower. Once you’re in, start wandering round the circular streets but also make sure to check out the great panorama from the esplanade just to the left of Porte du Peyra, with great views over the hinterlands and the Baou de Saint Jeannet. France’s smallest cathedral, Notre Dame de la Nativité, located on Place Clémenceau with a beautiful golden Virgin Mary on the façade lies within the circle. As you walk around, raise your head to see the colourful dome of the church Eglise des Pénitents Blancs.
Vence
I recommend visiting Vence first and St. Paul after, as Vence has less to offer compared to St. Paul. But you know how French has a way of creating attraction even if there isn’t much around. Here, a top attraction is the Nuits du Sud latino music festival that takes place from mid July to mid August to, every Friday and Saturdays.
St. Paul
How to reach: Vence is actually the last stop of the line 400, it will take you only 10 minutes to go back to St. Paul you crossed on the way.
Minimum stay: Give it half a day or 1
Did you know?: The reason why you mention the name along with “de-Vence” is because there are nine other "St. Paul"s in France.
What to see:
This perched medieval village on the French Riviera is a must see stop and sure to satisfy you with its ambiance, world class art galleries, beautiful buildings and interesting boutiques. With its tranquility and picturesqueness , Saint-Paul-de-Vence has inspired many artists like Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, Jean-Paul-Sartre and Miles Davis.
St. Paul
The luxurious but traditional Colombe d’Or Hotel, at the entrance of the village, owes its beautiful paintings to lodging their artists free in exchange for some art., also houses a Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Saint-Paul.
St. Paul, Sculpture L'Envol de Fondacaro
Start by strolling around the ancient cobbled streets insidethe medieval ramparts and Renaissance walls, stop at Place Neuve to see Rodin's Le Penseur and head up to the main street Rue Grande for some art and shopping. If you are a modern art fan, I can recommend Fondation Marguerite et Aimé Maeght, home to one of the world's major private collections of 20th-century art. Discover the admirable design work of Jean-Michel Folon at White Penitents Chapel where his mosaics, stained glass windows, sculptures and paintings adorn the chapel's walls and vaulted ceiling. Don’t miss the 17th century fountain at Place de la Fontaine. Climb up till the church square to see the church with the tower and a painting of the Virgin Mary by Tintoretto. Walk through the large gate, Porte de Nice and enjoy the magnificent view towards the coastline. Finally the cemetery down below also has good views as well as famous residents, notably Marc Chagall. You cannot miss the sculpture L'Envol de Fondacaro gliding over the cemetery.
Winter is quiet and you come across few tourists, though not everything may be open. Avoiding summer heat and tourist hordes in narrow streets could be a good idea, to leave you with the take away of spring/autumn as the best time to visit.
Cannes
How to reach: Bus 200 from Nice Promenade to Cannes takes one hour whereas the train 40 minutes.
Minimum stay: Give it half a day or 1
Did you know?: The first ever Cannes Film Festival never took place at all! German troops invaded Poland on the very first day of the festival and war was declared two days later. The 26 films which made up the 1939 Selection were never shown to the public.
What to see:
When you’re not there in May and celebrities aren’t around, you don’t feel the enchantment of the glamour nor red carpet unfortunately. To be honest, without the film festival, Cannes is just like any other town with sun, sea and palm trees on the riviera; in fact lacking some historical monument.
Cannes
La Croisette is the promenade that curves along the bay lined with sandy beaches, upscale boutiques, and luxury hotels. Palais des Festivals with its ugly exterior doesn’t offer much other than Allée des Stars; hand-prints of celebrities in the pavement on the side. I think the authorities who can attract people in winter with a festival here and an attraction there on the riviera, can come up with an idea to let people visit the place and let them have some kind of feeling of the festival & glam with simulation, exhibitions, even with augmented reality now.
The notable palace hotels - Majestic Hotel, La Malmaison, Carlton Hotel, Palais Stéphanie, Hotel Martinez- line up on the other side of the road. Le Sequet (“Old Town”) is colonised by bars, restaurants and shops. Rue Meynadier has shops in the lower price range, also housing some unique specialty markets.
The few history you can find in town is Cannes Castle and its tower Carrée, perched on top of a hill with a wonderful view of the bay. While there, visit Eglise Notre Dame Esperance (Notre Dame Esperance Church).
Forville Market (Marche Forville) can be reached by walking up Rue Gazagnaire, opposite the bus station. The open market is full of flowers, fish, fruit and vegetables as well as dairy products.
If you have time, visit the Îles de Lérins, two islands located in the bay. The smaller one, Ste Honorat, is home to a monastery and ruin castle. The bigger one, Ste Marguerite, apart from a castle, houses shops, bars and restaurants.
Don’t get confused by a linguistic mistake and try to book a room in Hotel de Ville 😀 Cause, it happened! In 2009, in another town in France, Dannemarie, a British tourist was trapped in town hall mistaking Hotel Ville for an actual hotel.
Mougins
How to reach: From Cannes Gare, the bus 600 to Grasse stops at the Val de Mougins taking you in 20 minutes. Then you need to walk (quite a hike) or grab a bus up to the old village.
Minimum stay: Give it half a day or 1
Did you know?: The story is told of the night Picasso painted every wall of his room at Hotel Vaste Horizon, only to face the wrath of the hotel owner who made the unknown painter cover over his work with white paint the next day.
What to see:
My friend’s impression was quite different, Mougins was highly recommended but truthfully I wasn’t as impressed. I leave it to you to experience it.
Once home of monks, Mougins has long prospered thanks to olive groves, vine and jasmine. Many artists like Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau discovered the hilltop village in 30s and it wasn’t long before it grew into a cultured bohemian oasis away from the glitz of the Riviera and more celebrities like Edith Piaf & Yves Saint Laurent followed.
Mougins
You can find Picasso's final home, where he passed his last 12 years. Next door is Notre-Dame-de-Vie, a 12th-century chapel. The Musée de la Photographie at Place de l'Eglise, a well worth visit, permanently displays André Villers's portraits of his good friends—Picasso (who got him into photography in the first place), and Dalí to name a few. Visit Musée d’Art Classique et Moderne, at first glance a medieval townhouse but an actual museum with works of 20th-century figureheads such as Matisse, Chagall and Warhol.
Mougins, Musée de la Photographie
Gastronomy plays a big role in Mougins not just with three Michelin star restaurants - Le Moulin de Mougins and L’Amandier- but also with an international festival of gastronomy in June, Les Etoles de Mougins, containing activities from competition to cookery demonstrations, culinary workshops to concerts.
Eze
How to reach: You can take bus 82 from Plateau de la Justice in Nice and reach top of Eze Village in about half an hour (Bus 112 is another option but beware it doesn’t run on Sundays and holidays). It’s a better idea to prefer train (15 minutes) or the busier Monaco bus 100 leaving from Le Port (30 minutes) dropping you off at Eze sur Mer train station down in coast, if you fancy doing the uphill walk named after the famous German philosopher, Nietzsche. The trail takes about 90 minutes up or 45 minutes if you wanna take the opposite way down, with some spectacular views, following a route of hairpin bends. You can take Bus 83 from Eze Beach / Gare de Eze if you are lazy to walk up the hill though. Just don’t confuse and get off at Eze instead of Eze Village.
Minimum stay: Give it half a day or 1
Did you know?: Alfred Hitchcock directed the 1955 romantic thriller ‘To Catch a Thief’ which featured Grace Kelly ve Cary Grant here in Eze.
What to see:
This medieval village, situated on the ruins of a 12th-century castle, 450 metres high above the Mediterranean with its labyrinthine, pedestrian-only streets lined with art galleries, perfumeries, restaurants and boutique hotels is definitely worth a visit.
Eze Village, Jardin Exotique
The must see spot of the village, Jardin Exotique d’Eze is not just a home to cacti sourced from all over the world but also offers extraordinary views of the Mediterranean Sea along with beautiful sculptures by Jean-Philippe Richard called Earth Goddesses. There, while enjoying the magnifient view, close your eyes and repeat the motto of this lovely village: “In death I am reborn” as Phoenicians called it. You may actually find it on the Egyptian cross in Church of Eze.
Eze Village Jardin Exotique
The 400 year-old Château Eza, today a luxury boutique hotel, known as the The Prince of Sweden's Castle back in 1920s, also serves as a gourmet restaurant. You may consider having at least a drink at its roof if you can, you won’t regret it. The town also houses a two-michelin star restaurant called La Chevre D’or, open from March to November. Finally, don’t miss the market at Place Colette if you happen to be around on a Thursday morning for local produce, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Menton
How to reach: Bus 100 from Nice takes you in one hour whereas the train in 40 minutes. Make sure you get off at “Menton” station and not “Menton Garavan”. It’s 15 minutes from Monaco.
Minimum stay: Give it a day
Did you know?: French celebrate its golden fruit -lemon- by naming it with interesting nicks such as Eureka, Santa Theresa, Villafranca.
What to see:
Menton Citrus Festival
Menton was a total surprise, with not knowing what to expect and exceeding all I had on mind. The Citrus Festival played a big part in it for sure. No wonder once the town owed its fame to citrus fruits as it’s the warmest on French Riviera. Join this second largest event on riviera that takes place every February at Jardin de Biovès and marvel at the impressive parades and sculptures decorated with thousands of fruits.
The pearl of France, founded by pirates, located at the border with Italy, is exactly halfway between Paris and Rome. A fountain marks the spot.
Menton
The pedestrian street Rue Saint Michel is good for souvenir shopping and snacks. Jean Cocteau Museum is one of the biggest highlights, consisting of the original building, fortress at the harbour and the modern impressive building by the market. In my opinion, despite its charm, the ultra modern structure lacked some “soul”. The beautiful stairs named after the baroque basilica takes you to the symbol of the town, imposing Basilique Saint Michel-Archange. So get your ass off and climb; just make sure to check the opening times (as it’s only a few hours) if you want to see more than just the incredible exterior. Right next door, check La Chapelle des Pénitents-Blancs chapel for more beautiful baroque interiors. Take a look at the splendid view over the beach of Garavan, get lost in the narrow alleyways with high buildings and constant shade, admire beautiful architecture and get a feel of the local life. Finally, head uphill to Old Castle cemetery created on the ruins of the old castle, labelled as “the world’s most aristocratic” by Maupassant, for a stunning panorama and beautifully designed tombs and mausoleums.
Menton, Basilique Saint Michel-Archange
If you happen to be in town in august, catch the Menton Music Festival held on the parvis of the Saint Michel Basilica.
Do try the famous lemon tart and citronnade (non-carbonated lemonade). Boy they’re good at croissants as well!
Monaco
How to reach: You have a couple of options. Bus 112 lasting an hour from Nice may be a good option if you want to continue to Monaco from Eze, lasting only 30 minutes. The hourly 100Express via the Autoroute will only save you 10 minutes so you may want to consider taking Bus 100 instead, from Place Garibaldi if you prefer a more scenic route along the coast in 45 minutes. The regional train (TER) train from Nice Ville to Monaco Monte Carlo is faster (22 mins) and runs much later, also offering some magnificent French Riviera sceneries.
Minimum stay: Give it a day
Did you know?: Many confuse if Monaco is a city or a country. Monaco is the second smallest independent city-state after Vatican. Monte Carlo is not the capital of Monaco but one of the four government districts. Although not a member of European Union, Monaco maintains an open border and customs and is treated as part of the Schengen Area.
What to see:
The aristocratic Monaco welcomes you on the legendary square Place du Casino with Cafe de Paris - the most popular venue for a “rendez-vous”, Hotel Hermitage where visitors are greeted by the sight of the Eiffel dome, and Grand Casino, the most famous casino in the world as well as an architectural gem where you can visit even if you don’t gamble for a fee. While Pavillons Monte-Carlo, a set of boutiques opposite to the casino resemble contemporary sculptures, you can see the reflection of the casino and Hotel de Paris from Anish Kapoor's Sky Mirror.
Monaco, Place du Casino
Monaco-Ville, also known as “the rock” is a medieval village made up of pedestrian streets and passageways. You don’t want to miss this picturesque site as most of major attractions, finest restaurants and shops are around.
Take a look at the great panoramic view overlooking the Port and Monte-Carlo from Palais Princier (Prince's Palace) and pay a visit to the Monaco Cathedral and the Romanesque-Byzantine church housing the remains of former Princes of Monaco and Princess Grace.
Monaco Cathedral
I was simply amazed with Oceanographic Museum and spent a couple of hours instead of one. It’s an invaluable place both for children and adults. This legendary temple of the sea was founded by Prince Albert I of Monaco and the French adventurer Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau ran it for 30 years. This 100+ year-old venue combines education, research and yet creates a link between science and art. The aquariums give you peace whereas the architecture and temporary exhibitions take your breath away. Make sure you check out the Whale Hall containing the huge skeleton of one of the world’s largest living animals, a fin whale (no, not a dinasour J). All this is worth every penny of 16€.
Monaco, Oceanographic Museum
Enjoy the Monte Carlo Jazz Festival if you happen to visit in November, The Grand Prix on the last weekend in May, Comedy Film Festival in Feburary.
Villefranche sur Mer
How to reach: Bus 112 from Nice Vauban will take you to Villefranche in 20 minutes. You can also take the train which lasts only 10 minutes.
Minimum stay: Give it half a day or 1
Did you know?: The town has been an inspiration for many artists, film makers, and celebrities, including the Rolling Stones, Hollywood blockbusters ‘Ronin’, ‘Jewel of the Nile’, ‘Never Say Never Again’.
What to see:
Facing a deep water harbour, this picturesque seaside town is reachable by big cruise ships. No wonder Jean Cocteau called “a source of myth and inspiration” as he decorated the small chapel – Chapelle St Pierre with murals depicting the life of fishermen and young girls of the town during its renovation.
The once fishing village, hosts the festival Naval Battle of Flowers every February in which the fishermen decorate their fishing boats accompanied by a flower parade, music and costumes.
The old harbour, now a marina of La Darse is also the location of the Observatoire Oceanologique de Villefranche. The Citadel built as a fortification now serves as a center for government, art shows, open-air film festivals, and all sorts of other events.
Villefranche sur Mer
You will see a lof of Italian spirit especially in food and language as the town is only 30km from Italian border.
St. Jean Cap Ferrat
How to reach: Bus 81 will take you to this peninsula from Nice in 20 minutes. Bus stop is Pont Saint-Jean.
Minimum stay: Give it half a day or 1
Did you know?: Once a pirate haunt, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat became popular with film royalty in the 20th century, when Grand Hôtel du Cap Ferrat brought celebrities from around the world, including Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Edith Piaf.
What to see:
Although attracted by the rich and famous, St Jean Cap Ferrat has remained remarkably unspoilt, unlike much of the south coast, like that in St Tropez (which was a main reason I excluded it).
Bright coloured houses and brightly painted little church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste around the harbour owe their luminance to once being a fishermen village. Jean Cocteau also has some existence here with his decoration of Villa Santo Sospir.
St. Jean Cap Ferrat
If you’re up for walking, this little port town will welcome you with its natural scenery. You can enjoy beautiful walks, with the sea on one side and gardens and forested slopes to the other. The 7km hikers’ choice Cap Ferrat coast walk starts from the beach at Passable and takes you to the lighthouse and Pointe Malalongue. On the easier Maurice Rouvier trail ending in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, you will come across Chapel Saint-Hospice (with Madonna next to it). Keep in mind, the best beach is Plage Paloma if you feel like swimming.
The promenade of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was lined with imaginative statues and sculptures at the time. Hope you get to see them as they were really good.
St. Jean Cap Ferrat
St. Jean Cap Ferrat
If you have time, pay a visit to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild built by a very wealthy French socialite. With amazing views, beautiful themed gardens, musical fountains, porcelain collections and flamingo-coloured architecture, spend a couple of hours in Mrs Rothschild’s masterpiece.
Ready to find out more?
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