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Playground for the Rich & Famous

It’s a name that is synonymous with glamour, movie stars and fabulous wealth, but this glittering Mediterranean coastline has a rather more poetic name in French – one that conjures up sultry days beside the sea – the Côte d’Azur or Azure Coast.

Maybe it is apt that there are two names, because the Riviera has at least two faces – there are the landscapes of rugged capes overlooking the dazzling sea, a place of perfumed breezes where artists including Renoir, Matisse and Picasso lived.

But Nice, Cannes and the tiny principality of Monaco are the playgrounds for the rich and famous. Film stars make an annual pilgrimage to the Cannes Film Festival, luxury yachts float at their exclusive moorings and the roulette wheels clatter in the sumptuous surroundings of the Monte Carlo Casino.

Even if you’ve left your tiara and yacht at home you can still taste the good life of the Riviera on its beachfront promenades and in the cool elegance of exclusive boutiques and Belle Epoque hotels.

 

French Riviera Fast Facts
• Also known as the Côte d’Azur, a stretch of coastline that runs along the south eastern corner of France.
• Nice has the largest Orthodox church to have been built outside Russia.
• It first evolved as a winter health resort for tourists from cold countries searching for warmth at the end of the 18th century.
• In the hills of the region is Grasse, the perfume capital of the world.
• Sand or shingle beaches, tiny coves or broad bays: the French Riviera offers a wide range along nearly 40km.
• The area stretches from Toulon to the Italian border and encircles the principality of Monaco.

 

French Riviera Highlights

Promenade des Anglais - soak up the French Riviera at its best while wandering along the promenade. Great for people watching, just watch out for learners on rollerblades and small dogs!

Vieux Nice - the old town is a maze of pedestrian lanes and alleys surrounded by pastel coloured buildings. These streets are superb for wandering – ditch the map and soak it all up! Saturdays are especially vibrant, the lanes are bursting with locals doing their grocery shopping.

Parc du Château - there are only a few sections of wall of the ancient castle remaining but there is a nice park and the view over Nice, the Bay of Angels and the port from the top is well worth the walk up the zig zag steps. Although don’t worry as there is a small elevator that goes to the top too.

Cours Saleya - this is a gorgeous baroque square in the old town that is the setting for a great flower and vege market. Surrounded with cafes and restaurants it is a really vibrant spot for lunch. Markets are held every day except Monday.

Monaco - it’s only 30 minutes by train from Nice and the journey offers spectacular scenery of the Mediterranean. Once you arrive you can easily get around on foot, (it is only 1.95 square kilometres!) a day is plenty of time to see the Palace, Cathedral, centre of town and of course the Monte Carlo Casino.

Cruising the Coastal Road - if you’ve got your own wheels then the drive along the coast between Cannes and Menton is fabulous. Don’t miss the Cap d’Antibes, dotted with fabulous villas.

St Paul de Vence - a super cute Provençal town just 30 minutes drive from Nice. The narrow pedestrian cobbled lanes are bursting with galleries, boutiques and souvenir shops.

 

Flights to French Riviera
Looking for cheap flights to French Riviera? Take a look at our Cheap International Flights pages for cheap Europe flights that you can book online.

French Riviera Accommodation
With a range of accommodation in French Riviera, there is something to suit every requirement and budget. Contact your local House of Travel for full French Riviera accommodation options. 

French Riviera Sightseeing 
There is so much to see and do in French Riviera! Wonder the pedestrian streets of Nice, visit the markets in Cours Saleya or take a train to nearby Monaco.  Contact your local House of Travel for full French Riviera accommodation options. 

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