Housed in a medieval castle atop Le Suquet—the charming old town of Cannes—Castre Museum features a compact but fascinating collection of ancient artifacts and artworks from Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the Americas. Come for an eclectic array of objects and art, from antiquities to 19th-century landscape paintings, peaceful gardens, and a panoramic view of the city.
The St-Tropez Market at Place des Lices is a must for visitors wanting to see a slice of the real St-Tropez, where locals and tourists shop. Sat a couple of blocks from the Old Port, this central open-air market buzzes twice weekly, flaunting a vast range of goods. Provencal food produce, fashion ware to complete any French Riviera wardrobe, and general bric-a-brac are among the finds.
Appearing to float on the man-made lake of Parc Phoenix, this Kenzo Tange-designed museum gets attention for its modern marble architecture and Asian artifacts. As its name suggests, the Museum of Asian Arts of Nice shows off classical and contemporary works relating to China, India, Southeast Asia, and Japan, displayed in small, thought-provoking collections.
Set along one of the most exclusive stretches of coastline on the French Riviera, Plage Mala is a paradise of pebbles lapped by the turquoise waters of the Bay of Saint-Laurent and bookended by the dramatic cliffs of Cap Mala and Saint-Laurent. A short drive from Monaco and Cap Ferrat, this Côte d'Azur hot spot is a popular beach break destination.
Ultra-blue waters, vineyards and olive groves, along with 11th-century ruins, set the scene at Île Saint-Honorat, home to the winemaking monks of the Lérins Abbey. Aside from a peek at monastic life among peaceful nature, there’s a lot to explore on this quaint island: seven chapels, a seaside fortress, the grand monastery tower, and old furnaces used to heat cannon balls during Napoleon Bonaparte’s reign.
Soft sands brush the eastern coast of the Cap d’Antibes peninsula, offering a wild yet exclusive stretch of coastline. This is where you’ll find the beautiful Plage de la Garoupe, with its private beach club, public sands, and seafront restaurants offering chilled rosé wine, seafood, and Mediterranean Sea views.
Whatever Provençal food you want to try, you’ll likely find it under the covers of Antibes’ beautiful old town market, Marché Provençal. The treasure trove of edible produce boasts local fruit and vegetables, olive oil, cheese, and of course saucisson alongside souvenir items like lavender and honey. Expect tourist prices, colorful local food, and a lively, friendly vibe.
Founded over a century ago, Marché Forville is a traditional covered market in the heart of Cannes that highlights Provençal specialties. This bustling market is a must-see for foodies, with stalls selling everything from fresh local fish and extra-virgin olive oil to artisan cheese and charcuterie. The surrounding neighborhood is also known for its gourmet food shops, eclectic boutiques, cafés, and wine bars that frequently host live musicians.
Aromatic bunches of lavender, rosemary, and thyme welcome visitors to the L’Occitane factory in the heart of Provence. Tours of the factory floor and laboratory show how those Mediterranean plants are transformed into organic products that have won a global audience. An on-site boutique features the whole line, plus hits from the past.
One of the Saint-Tropez region’s most tucked-away corners, Cap Taillat is a sandy promontory that extends into the Mediterranean, a short trip south of the town center. Boasting unspoiled beaches and scenic hiking trails, it’s a protected wildlife area that’s reachable by foot or by boat, but is largely inaccessible to vehicles.
Carved into the pine-forested mountains along the Cote d'Azur, between Nice and Menton, are three seaside roads with some of the most dramatic scenery and views in Europe: Grande Corniche, Basse Corniche, and Moyenne Corniche. Each one is different, holding a unique perspective and set of charms.
Travel through the continents at the Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh–Menton, a 3.5-acre (1.5-hectare) pocket of greenery on the city outskirts. Developed by a succession of different owners, the exotic garden today offers a sense of well-planned disorder, with meandering pathways framed by leafy foliage giving way to bougainvillea, citrus trees, giant agave, bamboo, and more.
The most impressively preserved of Provence’s Cistercian abbeys, the Abbey of Thoronet was built between 1160 and 1230. Renowned for its sparse yet precise architecture and remarkable acoustics and now protected as a National Monument, the abbey offers fascinating insight into life under the Cistercian order of Saint Bernard.
Chapelle Bellini is on the old Villa Fiorentina estate, an Italian-style 19th-century villa with Tuscan terraced gardens. The Baroque chapel was built by Count Phillippe Vitali, and converted into a studio in the 1950s by local painter and architect Emmanuel Bellini. After his death, the artist’s daughter made it into a museum for his work.
Carved into a hillside on the French Riviera, the Château Saint-Martin & Spa’s first life was as a 12th-century Knights Templar fortress. Now a five-star hotel, this spectacular 34-acre property revels in offering its guests high-class serenity, from its chateau guestrooms and Provencal-style villas to caviar massages and honey-lavender spa treatments to the surrounding olive groves and landscaped terraces built for wandering.
In startling contrast to the frills and thrills of the French Riviera, the Massif des Maures—a small mountain range running parallel to the coast for 36 miles (60 kilometers)—feels wild and quiet. Casual and avid hikers will find plenty of adventures here on the orchid-lined slopes; those seeking natural serenity will find that in spades, too.
This French Riviera chocolate factory makes sweets from all-natural ingredients, including cocoa beans from around the world and famously fragrant flowers from the perfume-making town of Grasse. Visitors come to shop for edible souvenirs, sample freshly made candies, and peek inside the workshops to learn how Maison Duplanteur’s chocolate goes from bean to bar.
Perched above Nice like a grand temple is the Côte d’Azur Observatory. It’s somewhat awkward to reach, but those who do are rewarded with sights like the huge refractor telescope that’s sheltered by a Gustave Eiffel–designed cupola. While clearly a treat for astronomy lovers, the observatory is also enticing for its views, which sweep from Mont Gros to the Med.
A historic landmark, Hotel Negresco is a vibrant working hotel and also one of the most visited sites in the city. Travel back to the Belle Époque, as doormen in period-perfect uniforms open the doors to the grand interior, lovingly maintained to its original, flamboyant grandeur. Highlights include the cupola designed by Gustave Eiffel and a gigantic Baccarat crystal chandelier.
Found inside the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, the National Sport Museum is a space where sports fans can comb through the history of French sports. Exhibits are arranged into four sporting themes—individual, one-against-one, collective, and beyond limits—offering visitors a way to view artifacts related to favorite sports such as soccer or skiing without much bother.
In the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region of Southeastern France, Castellane is many things: It’s France's least populated subprefecture; it’s a registered historical site dating back to the High Middle Ages; and it’s the Gateway to the Verdon Gorge (Gorges du Verdon), aka “Europe’s Grand Canyon,” a scenic area rife with hiking trails, overlooks, and rafting routes. While history lovers would be comfortable here, the town’s outdoors draw the most travelers.
Go on a subterranean adventure at the Baume Obscure Cave (Grotte de Baume Obscure), part of a vast limestone ridge that runs along the French Riviera. See the cave’s many striking rock formations and experience the Souterroscope, a sound-and-light installation along its walkways.
This 200-mile (322-kilometer) scenic road follows a portion of Napoleon Bonaparte’s 1815 journey across France when he escaped exile in Italy and marched from the Côte d'Azur to Paris to overthrow the monarchy of Louis XVIII. Today, drivers follow the landscape-diverse route from the seaside to Provence to the French Alps—with plenty of medieval villages and mountain views.
For every visitor who rolls their eyes at the Promenade des Anglais establishment, there is an equal number of visitors (and locals) who are thrilled about the Hard Rock Cafe Nice. Its exterior blends in quite nicely with the facades along this famous strip, and its location ensures that it will be around for the long haul.
Nice’s enchanting old port is a lovely place to wander and find the perfect little restaurant for an authentic meal with a romantic view of the Mediterranean Sea. Soak up the atmosphere of the yacht-filled port, then stroll over to the hilly green park, Colline du Château, or the adjacent Quartier Segurane, known for its antique shops and flea market.
