Travel to the French Riviera - Episode 949

Hear about travel to the French Riviera as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer and children’s book author Kimberley Lovato about this region where she has had a pied-à-terre for years.

Why should you go to the French Riviera?

Kimberley says, “Certainly for people who love great hotels and Michelin star food and gorgeous scenery, you know what’s not to love? We have the Cannes Film Festival. But, if you love beaches, hiking, and museums, I hate the cliche ‘there’s something for everyone’, but in this case, it is true. Beaches, food, hotels, small, quaint, charming, and picture-perfect villages. It’s all really here, easy to get around.”

Kimberley Lovato’s Recommended French Riviera Itinerary

Arrival & Base

Fly into Nice, the region’s main airport. Base yourself in Nice, Cannes, or Sainte-Maxime, depending on your interests—city, beach, or quieter village.

Day 1–2: Nice and Surroundings

Explore Nice’s museums: Marc Chagall Museum, Matisse Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art.
Walk the Promenade des Anglais and visit Cours Saleya Market.
Try local specialties like socca, salade niçoise, pissaladière and gelato from Fenocchio.
Spend a relaxing day at a beach club if you don’t mind pebbles. Some I like: Castel Plage, Le Galet
Easy day trips from Nice include the colorful village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, just seven minutes on the train, or 20 on the local bus.

Day 3: Cannes and the Lérins Islands

Take the train to Cannes.
Visit the old town and its cobbled lanes, called Le Suquet
Avoid the film festival scene and head to the Lérins Islands by kayak or boat.
- Visit Lérins Abbey, hike among pine trees, swim in coves, see the underwater sculpture museum, and taste wine made by monks.

Day 4: Art-Focused Inland Villages

Visit Mougins, where Picasso spent his last years.
- Explore its many galleries, public art, and the FAMM museum (dedicated to women artists).
Continue to Biot to see traditional glassblowing and the Fernand Léger Museum.
End the day in Saint-Paul de Vence and the Maeght Foundation.

Day 5: Saint-Tropez and Beach Time

From Sainte-Maxime, take a boat with Les Bateaux Verts to the port of Saint-Tropez
Enjoy the sandy beaches of Pampelonne (about a 15-minute drive from the port via taxi)—either at a beach club or the public sections.
Consider a boat outing with Click&Boat (with a captain who can take you to hidden swimming holes and beaches all along the Riviera)

Day 6: Hilltop and Inland Villages

Visit Èze, a medieval village with stunning views from the Exotic Gardens.
Explore Lorgues, especially on market day (Tuesday), for Provençal souvenirs.
Stop at local markets in Saint-Tropez, Nice, or Monaco, as well as the Fourvière Market in Cannes.

Day 7: Cap Ferrat and Historic Villas

Walk part of the Sentier du Littoral, a historic coastal path (tourist offices will have maps or so will Google)
Tour Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its nine themed gardens.
Visit Villa Kérylos, a recreated Greek villa with original-style frescoes.
Enjoy the quiet beaches of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Optional Add-ons

Menton: Italian-feeling seaside town known for lemons.
Monaco: Visit the market, old town, royal palace, casino, and gardens.
Tende: Inland, 80 kilometres from the French Riviera, the gateway to Mercantour National Park. The best way to get there is via the Train des Merveilles from Nice, which stops at many mountain towns along the way.
For serious hiking and gorgeous views of red cliffs and blue sea, consider the trails around Theole-sur-Mer (just west of Cannes). The tourist office will have maps.
Wine tasting: If you’re spending time in Saint-Tropez, it’s fun to explore some of the surrounding vineyards and taste the rosé that flows like water on the French Riviera. Rosé All Day is a lifestyle!

Travel Notes

Best time to visit: May and especially September (warm weather, fewer crowds).
Get around using the regional train TER, which connects nearly all coastal towns between Saint Raphael and Menton. The bus company Zou! is also a good option. And I literally just learned today about the Var Express, a bus that connects the airport to Sainte-Maxime
Avoid driving in summer unless necessary—traffic and parking can be a challenge. Trains, buses, and trams run regularly and are inexpensive.

Quince