The Mediterranean coastline of Southeastern France, known as the French Riviera, is the second most visited part of France (after Paris), receiving more than 10 million tourists annually. However, this isn’t surprising given its 300 days of sunshine a year, sparkling blue waters and beautiful scenery.
French Riviera private tours from Nice
In this guide on The Travel Bunny, I offer you 5 gorgeous destinations along the Riviera, including Nice, Monaco, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Antibes. These cities mix glamor, luxury and gourmet specialties with quiet Provençal quarters and cultural landmarks.
There really is something for everyone in the South of France, and taking a tour in these cities can help you to gain deep knowledge and appreciation of each one.
Visiting Nice
Nice is the most visited town along the Riviera, acting as a great base for travelling around the South of France. There are so many things to do in Nice. For example, you could be spending your time exploring its many districts, including Cimiez (the residential quarter of Nice) and Old Nice (Vieux Nice). Wandering the cobbled streets, make sure to find the Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate, a baroque style cathedral constructed in Nice’s Old Town between 1650 and 1699.
The main attraction in Nice is Promenade des Anglais, or Walkway of the English, which is a 7 km long path along the coastline. Its name comes from the early 19th century, when Nice became a popular winter destination for wealthy British aristocracy to escape to the mild climate of the Mediterranean. Think stunning views of clear, blue waters, an incredible choice of restaurants or bars and perfect beaches!
Whilst traveling along the Riviera, it’s essential to try all the specialties it has to offer. From Nice you have to try traditional street food socca, a crepe/pancake made from chickpea flour, water, olive oil and salt. It’s cooked in large pans or wood-fired ovens, served typically with just black pepper and salt, but also great with tapenade, fresh greens or cheese and vegetables.
Visit Monaco
Monaco, although not in France, is an incredible destination along the Riviera. Going from Nice to Monaco is just a 30 minute train ride, making it an ideal day trip. Monaco became an independent Principality in 1297 thanks to François Grimaldi, whose dynasty continues to rule there today.
There are 2 areas to visit in Monaco: Monaco-Ville and Monte Carlo.
In Monaco-Ville, also known as le Rocher, you can find two of the city’s greatest landmarks. First, there’s the Princes Palace of Monaco. This is still the official Grimaldi residence, but in some seasons there are areas open to the public! Don’t miss the Changing of the Guard, which takes place there every day at 11:55 am. Then, there’s the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée de Monaco) which is also the resting place of members of the Royal Family. Notably Princess Grace Kelly’s tomb, where visitors often lay flowers in her memory.
Monte Carlo is home to the Casino of Monte Carlo, very famously the filming location of James Bond’s Goldeneye. It was built by Charles Garnier (the same architect who designed the Paris Opera House), in an attempt to improve Monaco’s finances at the time, but has since transformed it into an internationally known destination. Adjoining the Casino is the Salle Garnier Opera House, which hosts concerts, ballet and opera performances throughout the year. Visiting Monaco with a private tour guide helps to give you a greater admiration of the decoration, architecture and years of history behind the principality.
Visiting Cannes
Cannes is internationally renowned for the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place annually in May. It’s hosted in the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, which was built in 1949 with the purpose of hosting the Film Festival. There, you can also find the Chemin des étoiles, Cannes version of the Walk of Fame. Follow the trail of metal plaques on the ground, which hold the handprints and signatures of some of the legends of Cinema, from directors to actors and actresses, including Quentin Tarantino, Meryl Streep, Clint Eastwood and Julie Andrews.
The Palais is found on La Croisette, the 2 km long road which stretches along the Cannes coastline. It’s lined on one side with beautiful beaches and on the other a range of luxury shops, hotels and restaurants. Another highlight to note is the Forville market, a food market full of Provençal classics and fresh produce.
Overlooking all of this is Le Suquet, the Old Quarter of Cannes, which involves climbing the cobbled streets to reach incredible views of the city. The Rue du Suquet is the original main street of Cannes and is now lined with restaurants and bars which make it the perfect street in Cannes to explore in the evening. At the top, find the Notre-Dame d’Espérance Church, which now houses sculptures and has a fantastic view of the Bay of Cannes.
Visit Saint-Tropez
A fishing town turned luxury destination of celebrities, Saint-Tropez has a real mix of maritime history, luxury and culture. After the end of the Second World War, Saint-Tropez boomed in popularity as the Jet Set of the 50s and 60s made it the place to be. It was a prime filming location for films such as Bonjour Tristess and And God Created Woman, welcoming famous actors and actresses, perhaps most notably Brigitte Bardot.
This leads to a Saint-Tropez speciality: the Tarte Tropézienne. This is a brioche filled with a mix of crème patissière and buttercream, topped with icing sugar and often flavored with orange blossom. Created by Alexandre Micka in 1955, it was actually Brigitte Bardot who suggested the name for the pastries which Micka then trademarked in 1973.
A highlight of Saint-Tropez is the Annonciade Museum (Musée l’Annonciade), full of late 19th and early 20th century art (as during the time St-Tropez became a center for modern art). Artists like Paul Signac, Henri Matisse, Pierre Bonnard and Raoul Dufy all have work displayed there.
Visiting Antibes
Found between Cannes and Nice, Antibes was founded by the Greeks which named the city Antipolis. It’s the perfect place to stroll around and admire Old Antibes, surrounded by its 16th century defensive wall, and the various squares and buildings. An amazing activity to do is hiking the trail of Cap d’Antibes. This coastal path offers stunning views of blue Mediterranean waters and natural landscape, as well as checking out the millionaire villas of the Cap.
Antibes will always be linked to Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, who spent a lot of time there in 1946. He used part of the Grimaldi castle as a studio, which has since become the first museum dedicated to the artist (opening in 1966). In the museum you can find displays of the work he left in donation to the town – 23 paintings and 44 drawings!
A final stop for classic specialties on the Riviera is the covered Cours Massena market, where you’ll find local produce and quick bites like socca and pan bagnat.
Book the best French Riviera Private Tours from Nice
If you want to discover the hidden histories, best viewpoints and things to do in the French Riviera, booking a private tour guide is one of the best ways to ensure a memorable experience. Gain a deep knowledge and appreciation of these coastal cities for more than just their gorgeous landscapes.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Mirela Letailleur, founder of The Travel Bunny and a published travel guide author. I live in the arrière-pays of the Côte d’Azur, within easy reach of Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Monaco and the Var coast. I write about French Riviera travel, day trips from Nice, coastal towns, local transport and private tours from a resident’s perspective.
I’ve explored the Mediterranean coast extensively by road and sailboat, including long stretches of the French Riviera. For The Travel Bunny, I combine first-hand regional experience with research from official tourism, transport and attraction sources, so my guides focus on practical planning, realistic travel times and places worth your limited holiday time.