The Côte d’Azur region in the south of France is the perfect place to spend 7 days. The mix of medieval hilltop villages, pristine beaches, pastel-coloured old towns, and unique nature gives you more than enough to fill a one-week itinerary (and an instant yearning to return and see everything you have missed). We spent 7 days in Nice in October taking day trips to different villages along the coastline most days. Being one of the most visited regions in France, I had quite high expectations for this trip – but can certainly say that they were exceeded within the first day. In this guide I will take you through our 7 day French Riviera itinerary (Nice and the Côte d’Azur). I have included everything we did, all our day trips from Nice, and everything I wish we had known before our trip.
If you want to make this itinerary shorter – 4, 5 or 6 days, you can just cut out a few of the day trips mentioned below to tailor it to your own style of travel! On the days where we ate out, I have included our restaurant recommendations. However, we were travelling on a budget which meant that we chose to buy baguettes and luxury cheese from the grocery store for lunch, and often ate takeaway pizza on the beach for dinner.
For more detailed guides to each area of the French Riviera, make sure to check out all my other France travel guides.
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7 Day French Riviera Itinerary
Day 1: Exploring Nice
Day 2: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferratt and Villefranche-sur-Mer
Day 3: Monaco
Day 4: Eze and Menton
Day 5: Exploring Nice
Day 6: Saint Paul de Vence
Day 7: Antibes
Where to stay in the Côte d’Azur
We stayed in Nice, the biggest city on the Côte d’Azur and the perfect place to stay for anyone wanting an ease in day trips mixed with the big city. It also offers the possibility for different restaurants, museums, and nights out. This was perfect for us as we were travelling the French Riviera on a budget so opted for the cheaper accommodation prices and availability of nice but more budget restaurants.
Unfortunately, I don’t want to recommend our Airbnb on here as it wasn’t perfect. However, I can say the area we stayed in was. It was just a 10-minute walk from Nice Ville central station, 12 minutes from the old town, 15 minutes to the beach, and with a good grocery store and pizzeria close by for our nights in. These hotels are in a similar area:
- On a budget: Villa Saint Exupery Beach Hostel
- Mid-budget: Hôtel Vendôme
- Higher budget: Hôtel Apollinaire Nice
7 Days on the French Riviera Itinerary – The Cote d’Azur and Nice
Day 1: Nice – Castle Hill, Nice Vieux and Port Lympia
Day 1 of this 7-day French Riviera itinerary begins exploring the city of Nice. Since we stayed here during our week on the Côte d’Azur, we thought it was best to get to know the city before doing any day trips. This was great as it meant we knew our way around the city on other days. It was easier to find bus stops and the train station, and we had already eyed some good restaurants for dinners later in the week.
Morning Coffee at Malongo Atelier Barista
Start the morning with a coffee at Malongo Atelier Barista. This was our go-to coffee shop in Nice as they served filter and espresso coffee – contrary to the machine-made coffee of most other cafes. Their pastries were also delicious – though simple. Malongo Atelier Barista is just opposite the Notre Dame so after your coffee you can go and take a wander around the beautiful church.
Exploring Nice Vieux: The Old Town of Nice
After breakfast, head down to Nice Vieux, the old town. To get here, you can either catch the L2 tram or walk 10 minutes down Av. Jean Médicin – the “shopping street” of Nice. At the end of Avenue Jean Médicin you will find Place Masséna, the beautiful 19th century plaza filled with colourful neoclassical buildings and cafes. Crossing the road you will see Fontaine du Soleil, the infamous fountain which is now one of the most iconic landmarks in Nice.
Now you are in the old town so prepare to spend the next hour or so wandering around the pastel-coloured streets, navigating narrow alleyways, and admiring the grand architecture of the nine different churches in Vieux Nice. Things don’t tend to open here until around 10am so there’s no rush to start this day early. However, make sure to head straight to the Marché Aux Fleurs Cours Saleya flower market where you will find a bustling crowd buying fresh fruits and local delicacies in a very picturesque area.
If you want to get a bit more out of your time in Vieux Nice, you can take a guided walking tour with a local expert. If you want to discover the local cuisines, this food and wine tour is a must, or if you are more interested in history then this guided walking tour will give you all the insights you need.
Highlights of Vieux Nice:
- Aux Fleurs Cours Saleya
- Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice
- Pl. Rossetti
- Ice Cream from Fenocchio
- Rue Rossetti
Lunch in Vieux Nice
Time for lunch in the old town. We stopped at Marinette, a beautiful café by the side of Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice (Nice Cathedral) where they serve everything from burgers and salads to pancakes and crepes. The view here is beautiful too as you sit in an alleyway looking up at the dome of the cathedral. If you fancy something a little bit different, some recommendations that we received with traditional Niçoise cuisine are:
- La Merenda
- Chez Acchiardo
- Comptoir du Marché
- Maison Péllégrino Vieux Nice
If you are travelling Nice on a budget, you can easily buy a baguette and some nice cheese and salad from the Aux Fleurs Cours Saleya in the morning and eat it either on a bench in the old town or down by the water along Promenade des Anglais.
Promenade des Anglais
Following lunch, head out of the old town of Nice and down to the sea. By the water your will find Promenade des Anglais, the waterside path that runs along the length of the beach. In the summertime, you will find the beach covered in beach clubs, all with brightly coloured umbrellas. However, if you are visiting Nice off season, as we were, the beach is free from beach clubs that have packed up for the season. If it’s warm enough, make sure to take a swim in the beautiful crystal blue waters before continuing.
Castle Hill/ Colline du Château
Next head to the east of the beach where you will find the iconic “ILoveNICE” sign (map). From here you can take the Mnt Lesage path up to Colline du Château (Castle Hill)where you will find some of the best views in Nice in this historic hilltop park. The walk up can be quite tough if it is hot out and you are not used to climbing. If you don’t feel up to it, then you can take the free art-deco style elevator from Ascenseur du Château.
Colline du Château has been lived in since the ancient times, renowned for its position looking over the city of Nice and Port Lympia. From the 11th century, it was a walled fortress housing a castle, a cathedral and small village. This was however demolished in the 1700s, however, the ruins of the cathedral and fortress wall are still visible today.
Don’t miss the man-made waterfall/ cascade (map) and the views from Tour Bellanda (map), Point de vue Colline du chateau (map), and Colline du Château Viewpoint of Port (map).
You will want to spend the best part of an hour wandering around Colline du Château before heading down to Port Lympia.
Port Lympia
The best way to get to Port Lympia from Colline du Château is by following the path down to Mnt Eberlé. From here you can walk through the streets, perhaps grab a coffee at Full Bloom Café, towards Port Lympia. Wander around the harbour, and make sure not to miss the picturesque wooden boats along Quai des Deux Emmanuels.
You might like: Get the France Travel Map for all the best spots marked in the French Riviera and beyond.
Dinner at La Cucina
End the evening back in Nice. I recommend La Cucina Italian Restaurant (map). The atmosphere is very cosy here, with a beautiful outdoor eating area out on the street. The food is also delicious – I recommend the truffle pasta and the warm goats cheese salad. It can get very busy here and they do not take bookings, so I recommend either turning up just after they open at 6pm, or later in the evening around 8pm when more tables have started to open. However, be prepared to wait a little bit for a table.
Tours and Activities
Day 2: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferratt and Villefranche-sur-Mer
On day two of this week-long French Riviera itinerary, we are heading to the town of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferratt to spend the day by the sea, exploring the rugged coastline and the beautiful Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. To get to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferratt you will want to head to take the TER train to Beaulieu-sur-Mer (10 minutes) and then transfer to the number 15 bus (11 minutes). Alternatively, you can catch the L1 tram to Port Lympia and then take the 15 from here.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferratt and Paloma Beach
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferratt is a very small seaside village with a cute main street and lots of nice restaurants by the water. I recommend spending 10 minutes wandering around here before walking to Paloma Beach. This was my personal favourite swimming spot that we visited on the Côte d’Azur. The small rocky beach with a stone villa at one end and shallow blue waters – it’s the perfect swimming spot. In the summer, there is a restaurant and beach club here, however off season the whole beach is open to the public.
Lunch at Le Cabanon de L’Uzine
This beautiful little café with views over Fossettes Beach is the perfect lunch spot. They have very simple but delicious food for a good price, and it is one of the only cafes you will pass before heading out on the coast walk. You can find their menu here.
Promenade du Cap
From Paloma Beach you can head to Chem. de la Carrière – the beginning of the Promenade du Cap coastal walk. This is one of the most beautiful areas of the French Riviera, with rugged white cliffs and hidden swimming spots along the route. The coastal walk takes around 1.5 – 2 hours in total and ends by Passable Beach. The views are amazing here – and you will love the beautiful little swimming spots along the coast walk such as Sentier du Littoral.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
After the coastal walk, head to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, the 20th century villa with 9 intricately designed themed gardens. The beautiful pink mansion house which looks out over the coastline is open for tours, while the gardens you are free to wander around at your own pace. The themes – French, Spanish, Florentine, lapidary, Japanese, exotic, Provençal and rose – allow for a magnificent array of different flowers and designs.
The house and gardens are open until 6pm and tickets cost €16 for adults, €15 for seniors, and €11 for children. You can buy them at the house or book them online here.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Now it’s time to end the day in my favourite of the villages near Nice – Villefranche-sur-Mer. This little seaside village has a beautiful harbour, with the colourful buildings of the old town lining the cobblestone road that homes so many little waterfront cafes and restaurants. You can get to Villefranche-sur-Mer by taking the number 15 bus for €1.70. There is a bus stop right outside of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.
Highlights of Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Point de vue Viewpoint (map)
- Badestrand beach
- Rue Baron de Brès
- Wandering the old town
- Drinks and snacks by the water
- Chapel of Saint Pierre
- Citadelle Saint Elme
Tours and Activities
Day 3: Monaco
Day 3 of your time on the Côte d’Azur and we are taking a day trip to the city state of Monaco. Known for being the home of the rich, during our day in Monaco, we found there is so much more to the city than one expects! To get to Monaco from Nice you will need to catch the TER train from Nice Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo (€5.40 per person and takes 20 minutes). In total, I would say to leave around 5 hours for exploring Monaco. It is known to be expensive, so I can recommend bringing a packed lunch with you for this day trip.
Casino de Monte-Carlo and Monaco Hercules harbour
Start by heading down to Casino de Monte-Carlo, the iconic casino in the heart of Monaco. While you may not necessarily want to see the inside, it is very cool to see the world-renowned casino. From here you can head to Bd Louis II for a view over the harbour, taking the elevator down to the ground floor where you can walk around Monaco Hercules harbour. Here you will see the dozens of mega-yachts parked by the water.
On the other side of the harbour, you will find Solarium Beach, the open man-made swimming dock with views of nothing but the Medierranean sea. From here, head down Digue de l’Avant Port coastal path towards the Musée océanographique de Monaco (Museum of Oceanography).
The Old Town
Take the elevator from Digue de l’Avant Port to Av. Saint-Martin and get ready to explore the old town. Make sure to wander down to Fishermans Garden, an old artillery battalion created by Napoleon which has been transformed into a lovely green park. There is an amazing view over Monaco from Fort Antoine Theatre.
In the old town you will find many picturesque streets to explore, with colourful archways and narrow tunnels creating a labyrinth. At one end, you will find the Prince’s Palace (Le Palais Princier de Monaco), the current home to the Prince of Monaco. The palace is currently open for tours of several of the apartments. On top of this, don’t miss Jardins Saint-Martin exotic garden and the view from Vue Panoramique sur Monaco (map).
Jardin Exotique – The Exotic Garden
Lastly, make sure to head to the Jardin Exotique – The Exotic Garden which looks out over the city of Monaco. With a similar feeling to the exotic gardens in the walled city of Eze, here you will find a vast range of succulents brought to Monaco from Mexico in the 1860s. The views from this garden over Monaco and the Mediterranean are unbeatable.
The garden is open from 9am to 7pm in from May to September but closes slightly earlier in the off season. You can find more information on this page.
Tours and Activities
Day 4: Eze and Menton
Day 4 of this 7-day French Riviera itinerary is a busy one – with day trips to both the medieval walled city of Eze, and the seaside town of Menton. Neither of these stops are that big so you don’t need to worry about rushing around to give yourself time for everything, however, I would still recommend trying to catch the earlier bus to Eze as it can get very busy. Before visiting, make sure to read my detailed guide to Eze Village.
How to get to Eze from Nice
There are two ways to get to Eze Village from Nice. The first is by taking bus number 82. This bus takes you directly to the hilltop town and is by far the easiest option. However, this is the only way to get there so the bus can get very full – so much so that there is a high likely hood there will not be space for everyone. We experienced this the first time we tried to visit Eze – in which we didn’t fit on either of the two buses we waited for an instead gave up for that day. For this reason, I recommend taking the earliest bus (8am or 10am) to make sure you make it.
Alternatively, you can take the TER train to Eze Station and walk up the Nietzsche path to Eze Village. While this is certainly a viable option, I would say it is more of a last resort. We walked down this path and found it to be quite steep and rocky, and I can imagine that walking up it could be quite exhausting. However, if you do miss the bus then this is something you can consider.
Walking around Eze Village
Eze is a beautiful Medieval hilltop village, populated with narrow stone streets. Unfortunately, the history of this village has been lost, however, you can still see signs of its past in the architecture and fortifications. I recommend spending around one hour walking around the village itself, taking in the picturesque streets and popping into the different shops. Make sure not to miss Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, the old church.
Le Jardin Exotique
One thing you cannot miss in Eze is Le Jardin Exotique, the exotic garden that populates the old castle ruin in the centre of Eze. You will need to buy tickets to enter the garden which can either be bought in advance here, or in person. As we visited the French riviera in October the queue to buy tickets wasn’t too long, however, I can imagine in the summer it is packed so I would recommend buying tickets in advance in peak season.
Getting from Eze to Menton
To get from Eze Village to Menton, you will need to walk down the Nietzsche hiking path to Eze Station. The walk takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour, and as I said before it is quite steep and rocky so make sure to wear good shoes.
By Eze station you will find Plage d’Èze, a quiet rocky beach that’s perfect for a midday swim on a warm day.
Menton
Menton is one of the most famous of the towns along the Côte d’Azur – likely due to the beautiful view of the old town over the water from Vue Panoramique de Menton (map). While this is a highlight of the town, there is a lot more to explore here.
Take a Swim at Plage des Sablettes
This is the main beach in Menton, a calm, sandy beach with a beautiful view of the city. Swimming here is a definitely a memory you won’t forget, immersed in vibrant blue water with the Menton “skyline” on one side and the vast Mediterranean Sea on the other.
Exploring the Old Town
While in Menton you must spend some time exploring the old town. As soon as you take a step back from the busy beach you will find yourself alone, wandering around the colourful passageways. From the beach, head up Escaliers, the bright orange stairway that leads to asilique Saint-Michel Archange de Menton. Opposite the church you will find a labyrinth of streets to wander – all leading up to Point de vue du Port (map) and the Cemetery of the Old Château where you will find the best views over Menton.
Ice Cream from Tutti Frutti
The lavender ice cream from Tutti Frutti was almost reason enough to return to Menton a second time during our week on the French Riviera. Along with their other flavours, and vegan sorbets, the ice cream was incredibly creamy and flavourful.
Day 5: Exploring Nice: Museums and Culture
Today we are back in Nice ready for a day of exploring the art and culture of the city. This is a slower paced day and perfect if there is one day of your trip that has slightly worse weather.
Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MAMAC)
The MAMAC (Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain) is the contemporary art museum in the heart of Nice. Here, you will find a vast selection of local artists work covering three levels. One of the best parts of this museum is the rooftop terraces which offer incredible views over the city. The museum costs€10 per person and takes around 2 hours to wander around.
The Matisse Museum
In the afternoon, head to Cimiez where you will find the Matisse Museum surrounded by the archaeological ruins of the ancient romans. The Matisse Museum is a small museum that takes around 1.5 hours to explore. The museum itself was a past home of Matisse, and the artworks displayed have been gifted by his family throughout the years. Here you will see more of his early pieces and see the evolution of his art over time. In addition to Matisse, they always have a featured artist of a similar style which is great if you like this enjoy this art style.
Entry to the Matisse Museum costs €10 per person. This includes free entry to the Archaeology Museum (Musée d’Archéologie de Nice) next door.
Musée d’Archéologie de Nice
The Museum of Archaeology is a fascinating space with a garden filled with ruins from three ancient roman bath houses. There is an interactive map which teaches you about the different areas of the ruins, however, unfortunately most of the museum is in French so doesn’t leave much room to learn. I would only recommend visiting this museum if you are also planning on visiting the Matisse Museum.
Make sure to visit the Arènes de Cimiez on your way back to the centre of Nice – the ancient amphitheatre which once had space for around 4,000 spectators.
Dinner in Vieux Nice
End the day in the old town of Nice for a tapas and wine at Berco. This is a beautiful little wine bar serving small tapas dishes – and honestly it is probably the best meal we had during our 7 days in the French riviera. The range of tapas is great – with cheese, meat, fish, and vegetarian options. If it’s still on the menu, I wholeheartedly recommend the tuna tartar and the saint félicien cheese.
Tours and Activities
Day 6: Saint Paul de Vence
Dy 6 and we are heading inland to the medieval city of Saint Paul de Vence. We almost didn’t add St Paul to our 7 day French Riviera Itinerary as we had the impression that it was too far for a day trip (1 hour travel time). However, after receiving a recommendation to visit from a local, we decided to give it a chance. In the end, St Paul de Vence turned out to be our favourite of the day trips we took along the Côte d’Azur.
Once an important historical landmark protecting the region of Provence from attacks from Nice. You can find out all about the history of Saint Paul de Vence on this page. Later in its history, St Paul became known as an artist’s haven, with many celebrated artists flocking here such as Picasso inspired by the beautiful landscape and medieval city.
You will probably need around 4 hours in St Paul de Vence in order to see everything, explore the artists’ studios and take a lunch stop.
Getting to Saint Paul de Vence from Nice
To get to St Paul de Vence from Nice you will first need to take the TER train from Nice Ville to Cagnes-sur-Mer. This takes around 10 minutes and costs €3.30 per person. From Cagnes-sur-Mer you can catch bus 655 to St Paul de Vence Village. You will need to buy a ticket on the bus with €5 in cash so make sure to bring spare change with you.
Walking Around the City Walls
Before entering the walled city, make sure to follow the path to the right of the entrance way. This walk takes you around the outside of the city walls, with views over the vineyards you get a completely different view of the fortress. This walk takes around 20 minutes, ending at the cemetery at the other end of the city. Here, you will find the graves of a few notable people such as Marc Chagall.
Walking the Ramparts
From the cemetery of St Paul, you can follow the entrance into the walled city towards Point de Vue (map). This is the start point of the ramparts walk around the city walls. The walk takes around 10 minutes, passing the Grignan Bastion and St. George’s Bastion along the way.
Lunch at Restaurant La Terrasse Panoramique St Paul de Vence
Following the ramparts, it’s time for a lunch stop. We decided on La Terrasse Panoramique, a beautiful spot with a terrace that looks out over the hilly countryside. The food here is quite expensive but very good quality. We had the cold and warm versions of the fish of the day with a glass of wine. This was another of the “wow moments” we had on our 7-day French riviera trip.
Exploring St Paul de Vence
Spend the next few hours exploring the walled city, wandering down the picturesque stone streets and visiting some of the art galleries. Don’t missChapelle des Pénitents Blancs and ice cream from L’épicerie des artistes.
Day 7 on the French Riviera: Antibes
It’s day 7 and the final day of your week on the French riviera. Today we are taking a day trip to the nearby city of Antibes – a seaside walled city with beautiful beaches, a striking fortress, and a lively old town. To get to Antibes, you will need to take the TER train from Nice Ville. This trip takes around 30 minutes and cost €5.20 per person.
There is so much to do in Antibes you won’t have trouble filling up a whole day in the town.
Antibes Old Town
The town itself requires an hour or so to explore. Make sure to visit the fruit and vegetable market Marché provençal. This was a highlight of our trip and the perfect place to pick up some fresh vegetables and cheeses for a picnic lunch. Make sure to wander around to Point de Vue pointe de l’Îlette (map) where you get an amazing view out over the walled city, and to stop by Bd d’Aguillon where you will find several artist’s studios open to the public. It’s a great opportunity to see glaziers and ceramists in action and buy some beautiful hand-crafted souvenirs from your trip.
Take a Swim with a View
There are a few different options for swimming in Antibes. The first is the city beach, Plage de la Gravette. This is a super picturesque beach, with the city wall on one side and a shallow rocky blue inlet for swimming. Alternatively, you can wander down to Plage du Ponteil for a swim with a view or walk even further to the Bay of Antibes Billionares (map)to experience one of the most picturesque beaches in the Côte d’Azur.
Visit Le Fort Carré
The fortress that looks over to the old town of Antibes is an impressive piece of architecture – one of the first fortified strongholds to be built in the Renaissance. To get to Le Fort Carré you can either walk around the harbour or catch the free shuttle bus that leaves the harbour around every 10 minutes. You can find more information on this page.
Overview of 7 Days on the Côte d’Azur – The Ultimate French Riviera Itinerary
7 Days on the Côte d’Azur is easy to fill with incredible day trips, exploring the different areas of the French Riviera from the medieval cities to the coastal villages. Get ready to spend your days wandering around colourful old towns, exploring ancient ruins, drinking wine by the water and swimming in crystal blue waters. With this 7-day French Riviera itinerary for one week in Nice, you will get a chance to explore this beautiful area of the South of France. However, I can guarantee you will be left with nothing but a yearning to return.
Travelling more in France? Make sure to check out all my France travel guides.
