The French Riviera's must-see spots
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When talking about the most quintessential luxury travel destinations, the French Riviera quickly comes to mind. Also known as the Côte d'Azur (literally azure coast), the area is a resorty strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea to which the aristocracy and well-heeled celebrities have flocked since the 18th century. It's where you'll find some of the best beaches in France, as well as some truly gorgeous villas in the South of France. But beyond that, there are fascinating cultural destinations among the pretty auberges and glimmering ports that are waiting to be explored: the lavender fields of Grasse, the literary history of Antibes, and the up-and-coming scene in Marseille. Read on for 10 of the must-see destinations in this ideal summer spot, along with where to stay in each.
(Pro-packing tip: Among France's best hotels, French Riviera properties are some of the most glamorous – this may be your chance to bring along those beach-appropriate gowns.)
Additional reporting by Oneika Raymond.
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Saint-Tropez
It would be sacrilege to talk about the French Riviera without bringing up Saint-Tropez, the crown jewel of the Côte d'Azur (though some spots on this list do a good job of vying for that title). Perhaps best known for its association with the international jet-set and French film stars like Brigitte Bardot, this coastal town is the South of France personified in its picturesque ports filled with luxury yachts, stunning little hotels, and sun-sweetened cuisine; be sure to have plenty of bouillabaisse and try a tarte tropézienne when you visit.
Where to stay: Among the best hotels in Saint-Tropez, find the endlessly glamorous and laid-back spirit of the town at Hôtel Lou Pinet, part of the Maisons Pariente family of hotels and a Readers' Choice Awards favourite. Here, rooms are dressed in shades and prints from the ’60s and ’70s, and mint shutters lining a typically Provençal exterior blink out over one of the Riviera’s most ravishing pools, lined with turquoise tiles.
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The town of Menton has all the beauty of the better-known coastal villages, but a fraction of the crowds. Its half-dozen beaches are all but empty in the off-season, and boutique-filled alleyways are relatively free of bargain-hunting tourists. It gets over 316 days of sunshine a year, is decorated with exceptional gardens, and boasts Franco-Italian cuisine due to its position near the border between France and Italy. And from here, you can take easy day trips to Monaco and even the Italian resort town of Ventimiglia – just 15 minutes away on the train. Planning tip: in February, Menton goes all out with its Lemon Festival (La Fête du Citron), a celebration of spring and a throwback to the town's past, when it survived principally on citrus production.
Where to stay: For easy access to Menton's beaches, book a room at the Hotel de Londres. Though this auberge has been around for 150 years, the buildings have been updated to modern design standards (its colour palette reflects the colours of Menton itself) while retaining a throwback old-Riviera feel. Plus, the sandy stretches of Plage du Borrigo and Plage du Casino are just a three-minute walk away.
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Beyond the megayachts and picture-perfect beaches, Antibes is a draw for its literary and artistic history. It was at the Villa Saint Louis (now the popular hotel Belles-Rives) on the Cap d’Antibes that F. Scott Fitzgerald took up summer residence with Zelda and his daughter Scottie in 1926 and began his work on Tender is the Night. The enclosed mansions and dramatic villas lining the shore that once fascinated Fitzgerald are still very much a part of the landscape, but there’s local charm to be found, too. Stroll around old Antibes, through the Cours Masséna, a Provençal food market, and up to the Musée Picasso, the first museum dedicated to the artist. Formerly the Château Grimaldi, the stronghold was Picasso’s home and workshop in 1946 and remains one of the commanding cultural draws in the resort town.
Where to stay: Of course, Belles-Rives is a fine option, but for unfettered French Riviera glamour, check into the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a Gold List 2024 pick and perennial favourite of Condé Nast Traveller editors. It has a hauteur that can be intimidating, but if you don’t mind a certain old-fashioned formality, then a weekend here feels unforgettably romantic.
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Marseille
Though not the first name that springs to travellers' minds when dreaming of the glistening French Riviera, the seaside city of Marseille is on the up and up. Compared to the usual suspects along the Côte d'Azur, France's second-largest city is a far more affordable destination, yet its vibrant art scene and chic beach clubs are just as exciting to explore. Not only that, you'll have plenty of forward-thinking culinary options here like Livingston with its cool chef residency program and Planète Livre Marseille la Passerelle, a hip natural wine bar right off the Place Jean Jaurès. With all this, plus all the infrastructure improvements the city received during the 2024 Olympics and its earlier designation as a European Capital of Culture, we've named it one of our Best Places to Go in 2025.
Where to stay: For an elegant option right on the Vieux Port, right in downtown Marseille, pick the New Hotel Le Quai. A bit further down the coast is Le Petit Nice Passedat, a five-star stunner that offers an old-world allure. Off the beaten path, in the fishing village Les Goudes at the edge of the Marseilles metro area, is Tuba Club, a très chic five-room auberge and Condé Nast Traveller Hot List honouree.
GettyOld Town, Nice
Nice’s colourful Vieille Ville, or Old Town, is a delightful maze of narrow streets full of lively restaurants, galleries, and shops. There are cafés dotted all around the Old Town's many squares, so take the opportunity to sit down, coffee in hand, and people-watch the day away. For a more active visit, spend some time strolling along the near-mile Promenade du Paillon, the city's public park and botanical garden that links the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (currently closed for renovation, to open soon) and the Promenade des Anglais.
Where to stay: Right in the middle of the Old Town, Hôtel du Couvent has, refreshingly, none of the bling and excess of the French Riviera. The theme here instead is preservation and restoration. As you can imagine from the name, the property used to be a convent, and was lovingly restored by hotelier Valéry Grégo. Its flower-filled gardens – one traditional, one tropical – will be reason enough to keep you on-site. But should you want to venture beyond the convent's walls, its proximity to the wonders of la vieille ville de Nice is simply unbeatable.
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Once you've had your fill of Nice's Old Town, get ready for a hike. Climb up La Colline du Château (literally meaning “castle hill”) to get a better view of the city: At the top, panoramic views of the Baie des Anges, Old Town, Nice's boardwalk, and the city's varied and vibrant architecture abound – not to mention the striking overview of the Med's sparkling waters. While a few crumbling walls are all that remain of the namesake castle on the hill, there is a verdant park that's perfect for a picnic after a full day of sightseeing.
Where to stay: The aforementioned Hôtel du Couvent is right at the foot of the hill, yet Hôtel Suisse has a one-up with its position along the Quai Rauba Capeu, which means your sea-view room looks out onto the gorgeous Côte d'Azur. Now that's a sight to wake up to.
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Long before it was synonymous with the International Film Festival and earned its reputation as a playground for the world’s dizzyingly well-heeled (and home to excess in everything from luxury cars to haute couture), Cannes was first a shimmering, seaside destination made for resting and people-watching – something that remains true. But among the best things to do in Cannes, there's plenty on the nature and cultural fronts. Climb the winding staircases and pass the pastel-coated homes in Le Suquet, the city’s old quarter, and you’ll end up at the Musée des Explorations du Monde, a home for ethnographic art in a medieval fortress overlooking the marina and the Croisette. For restorative beaches and landscapes free of crowds, take a 15-minute ferry ride to two of the Lérins islands off the coast: Ile St. Honorat, known for its working monastery and forest groves, and Ile Ste-Marguerite, the spot for hidden coves and beaches.
Where to stay: We can't talk about the best hotels in Cannes without name-checking the grande-dame-iest grande dame of them all: the gloriously reimagined The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, which we included in our 2024 Hot List. After seven years of renovation and two years of closure, it's back on the scene in full swing, with a leafy landscaped garden, a sunbathing deck with cabanas, the largest infinity pool in the city, a new bar and restaurant, a fitness and spa complex, and sumptuously appointed rooms.
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In craggy cliffs high above the sea, the medieval village of Èze is a delightful step back in time – and blissfully calm for the Riviera. The well-preserved stone buildings, winding alleyways, 14th-century chapels, and dramatic Mediterranean backdrop make this tiny village seem like a film set. The views at the summit, which sits 1,400 feet above sea level, are best enjoyed by taking one of the many hiking trails, like the famous Chemin de Nietzsche that inspired the philosopher to complete his book Thus Spoke Zarathustra. At the top, you'll discover the town's medieval fortress, which you may recognise from Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief, surrounded by the Jardin Exotique, a desert garden brimming with succulents and exotic flora.
Where to stay: Château Eza is a 14-room property that features jaw-dropping views of the Mediterranean from each of its suites. The hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, led by chef Justin Schmitt, serves seaside French cuisine, and the hotel staff can arrange experiences like yachting excursions, helicopter flights, and in-room massages. Situated near Monaco (a 12-minute drive away) and Nice (22 minutes), it's an ideal and relaxing domain to which travellers can retreat at the end of a day spent soaking up the best of the French Riviera.
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Grasse is a quiet, pretty medieval village that also holds the distinction of being the world’s perfume capital. While famous perfumeries like Fragonard offer free tours of their factories, the real reason to come here is to take in the near-endless fields of lavender that dominate the area’s hilly landscape. Come August, the town plays host to the Jasmine Festival, a three-day celebration of fragrant bud, one of the two flowers to have dominated local perfume production (the other is Damascus rose). Expect homes to be draped in garlands, people dancing in the streets, parades, and jasmine petals everywhere. Grasse is conveniently located between Cannes and Nice, so a quick stop here is worth your while, if only to pick up a few bottles of perfume and stop to smell the lavender.
Where to stay: Located in a 25-acre olive grove, La Bastide Saint-Antoine is a 17th-century French country house with 16 keys decorated in a mix of Provençal style and a more contemporary design. But regardless of the room you book, you'll be surrounded by the sound of the cicadas, the smells of fig and lemons, and that invigorating Côte d'Azur sun. This being a Relais & Châteaux property, the menu at the restaurant helmed by Jacques Chibois and Jean-François Marre is stellar, as is the terrace's views of the Bay of Cannes and the surrounding verdure.
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Bordered by France on three sides (and the Mediterranean on the fourth), the petite principality of Monaco is a bastion of glitz and glamour. While it’s typically known as a playground for the ultra rich, those short on cash can still enjoy themselves here: excursions to stately sights like the Prince’s Palace, Fort Antoine, and Monaco Cathedral are all worthwhile and won’t break the bank. Take some time to observe the luxurious yachts at the harbour (or, even better, make friends with someone who owns one), and wrap up your trip with a spin at the Monte Carlo casino.
Where to stay: It doesn't get more glamorously Monegasque than the palatial Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, one of the best hotels in Monaco. With its ideal location right on the Place du Casino, you won't have a shortage of things to do in Monaco: Guests here get easy access to the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the Casino Café de Paris, and the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. Plus, depending on your room, you can get views of either the sea or the rocky cliff faces that overlook the principality.