France
French Riviera: Nice, Antibes & Menton
Mediterranean promenades, colourful old quarters, celebrated art museums, gardens, markets, and coves beneath the Maritime Alps.
- Location
- Nice, Antibes, and Menton, Côte d’Azur, France
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best season
- April to June or September to October
Nice combines a grand seafront with a dense old quarter. Walk the Promenade des Anglais, browse the Cours Saleya market, and explore Vieux Nice’s ochre façades, baroque churches, and narrow lanes. Castle Hill provides broad views over the bay and rooftops, while museums dedicated to Matisse and Chagall reveal why the region became so important to modern artists.
Antibes has ramparts above the water, a lively Provençal market, and the Picasso Museum in the Château Grimaldi. The Cap d’Antibes coast offers gardens, villas, and a marked shoreline walk, although sections may close in rough weather. Nearby Juan-les-Pins contributes sandy beaches and jazz history without replacing the older character of Antibes itself.
Near the Italian border, Menton is known for citrus gardens, pastel buildings, and the steep streets around the Basilica of Saint Michael. The Jean Cocteau collection, old cemetery views, and gardens such as Val Rahmeh add cultural depth. Èze, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat are worthwhile nearby places for medieval lanes, harbour views, and coastal walks.
Local specialities include socca, pissaladière, salade niçoise, and Menton lemon products. Public transport is often more practical than driving between coastal centres. Check museum opening days, garden reservations, beach conditions, and coastal-path notices.
Antibes has ramparts above the water, a lively Provençal market, and the Picasso Museum in the Château Grimaldi. The Cap d’Antibes coast offers gardens, villas, and a marked shoreline walk, although sections may close in rough weather. Nearby Juan-les-Pins contributes sandy beaches and jazz history without replacing the older character of Antibes itself.
Near the Italian border, Menton is known for citrus gardens, pastel buildings, and the steep streets around the Basilica of Saint Michael. The Jean Cocteau collection, old cemetery views, and gardens such as Val Rahmeh add cultural depth. Èze, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat are worthwhile nearby places for medieval lanes, harbour views, and coastal walks.
Local specialities include socca, pissaladière, salade niçoise, and Menton lemon products. Public transport is often more practical than driving between coastal centres. Check museum opening days, garden reservations, beach conditions, and coastal-path notices.