Discover one of the most beautiful
regions in the world!
Sun, sea and mountains, but also history, culture and gastronomy: welcome to the French Riviera! Here is a list of outing suggestions for you to do during your free time. Do not forget to look at our cultural calendar as some outings are organized monthly by our Alliance.
Key
Transportation
Effort
Easy
Average
Athletic
Price
<35€
<75€
>75€
The French Riviera must-see list
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1. Monaco
The principality nestled between the sea and mountains, Monaco’s architecture and luxury is sure to captivate. Discover "The Rock", visit the Oceanographic Museum and walk the stress of Monte-Carlo.
2. Old Town Nice
The historic heart of the city: its colorful facades, terraces, art galleries and the 360° panorama from the Castle Hill. Enjoy a guided historical and cultural walk.
3. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a sumptuous residence perched on the magnificent peninsula of Cap Ferrat.
4. Cannes
Glamour, the beach and luxury shopping are synonymous with Cannes. Discover the Croisette and the Palais des Festivals but also the medieval old town, Le Suquet.
5. Villefranche-sur-Mer
Walk from the superb citadel to the old town then revel in a guided tour of the Saint-Pierre Chapel decorated by Jean Cocteau.
6. Antibes
Exquisite cosmopolitan citadel, Antibes owes its success and reputation to Vauban, who built it in the 17th century. Discover the historic city, followed by a guided tour of the Picasso museum.
NICE’S HIDDEN TREASURES
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7. Nice Observatory
Located on Mont Gros, the Nice Observatory is a public research establishment in Universe and Space sciences. Built in 1881 by Charles Garnier, it notably houses the largest mobile dome in Europe, designed by Gustave Eiffel.
8. Bellet Vineyard
Visit the AOP Bellet estate and treat yourself to a wine tasting experience. From a private and preserved vineyard, all the wines of Château de Bellet are produced in Nice, not far from the Promenade des Anglais, at an altitude of 200 meters.
9. Pétanque tournament
More than a sport, pétanque is a symbol. Invented in Provence, this bowls game is now practiced throughout France. Enjoy a game of pétanque in a real "clos de boules" in the heart of the city.
10. Lazaretto Cave
Located at the foot of Mont-Boron, this prehistoric cave is 35 meters long and 4-14 meters wide. A mecca of world prehistory, tracing back more than 70,000 years of ancient human history!
THE FOOTPRINTS OF FAMOUS ARTISTS
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11. Chagall Museum
The Marc Chagall National Museum in Nice, a monographic and thematic museum, born from the artist's desire to centralise his most important works.
12. Saint-Paul de Vence (day trip)
Discover this medieval village on the edge of the Southern Alps and overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Unique in its history and architecture, it has become an open-air work of art as the spirit of creation seems to roam through its alleys, galleries and workshops. Visit the Maeght Foundation, a museum set in nature housing one of the most important art collections of the 20th century in Europe: Bonnard, Braque, Calder, Chagall, Giacometti, Léger, Miró, just to name a few!
13. Fernand Léger Museum
Discover a rich collection of more than 450 works of art, enabling an understanding of the artist's career and of his particular style which marked the 20th century.
14. MAMAC
The Museum of Modern Art and Contemporary Art offers a dive into the history of the European and American avant-garde since the early 1960s.
15. Cimiez and the Matisse Museum
Discover the hill of Cimiez, the Roman cradle of the city of Nice. Visit the Jardin des Arènes, the Archaeological Museum and of course, the Matisse Museum.
COLOURS, AROMAS AND FRAGRANCES: THIS IS THE SOUTH
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16. Grasse
Discover Grasse, a southern city with incredible fragrances where the perfume industry and the cultivation of flowers is flourishing. Visit the International Perfume Museum and the historic Fragonard factory.
17. Workshop “Nissarte Cuisine”
A great way to immerse yourself in the region and learn more about our gastronomic specialties, their origins and how to make them!
18. Eze
Discover the most spectacular medieval hilltop village on the French Riviera. Its alleys, its breathtaking views and its botanical garden, and a Fragonard perfume factory to top it off!
19. Menton
Guided tour of the old town and visit of the Cocteau Museum. A garden paradise, Menton also offers an incredible showcase of the architecture of the French Riviera.
20. Beaulieu-sur-mer
A small resort town located between Nice and Monaco, featuring beautiful buildings and lavish natural surroundings. Enjoy a guided tour of Villa Kerylos, inspired by 5th century Greek architecture.
21. Workshop “Perfume Creation”
Discover the ancestral know-how of the perfumer: the history of perfume, raw materials, extraction methods, and of course, the perfumer’s nose… Then, time to create your own fragrance!
UNDER THE SEA
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22. Lérins Islands (day trip)
Opposite the bay of Cannes and the Estérel mountain range, the Lérins Islands are two unique gems where natural and cultural heritage shine. Visit of the Fort Royan and the Museum of the Sea on Île Sainte Marguerite.
23. Saint Tropez (day trip)
The cruise to Saint Tropez offers a magnificent and unforgettable panorama. To do and see: the village, the port, shops, the Place des Lices, the Citadel, the Ponche district, the Annonciade Museum… A mythical place par excellence!
24. Snorkeling
Jump on board with the International Diving Center for a snorkeling trip to the Cap de Nice or Villefranche Bay. Under the supervision and with the advice of a State monitor, you are able to discover the seabeds, the fauna and all the underwater wonders the Mediterean Sea has to offer.
25. A day at sea
The dolphins await! Aboard the SOS Grand Bleu sailboat, a discovery vessel with a sweet oriental scent. Each trip aboard the sailboat is an opportunity to discover the marine heritage of the Pelagos sanctuary.
UP IN THE MOUNTAINS
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26. Snowshoe Hiking (day trip)
Go snowshoeing in the fresh snow of Valberg (85 km from Nice), in the heart of the Mercantour National Park. Hike with a professional mountain guide on a large variety of paths.
27. Entrevaux (day trip)
A medieval city, constructed as a fort by Vauban under the reign of Louis XIV. Entrevaux also represented the French border until the year 1860. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Nice’s countryside, a place of adundant charm and history.
28. Valley of Wonders (day trip)
A witness of 5,000 years of history, the Vallée des Merveilles is a breathtaking open-air museum, classed as a Historical Monument. From the Bronze Age onwards, men have inscribed more than 40,000 engravings in this area.
29. Saorge (day trip)
Superb village isle, on a cliff, in a wild and steep environment, Saorge used to be a strategic stronghold between Nice and Turin. Enjoy a visit to its monastery and its former Franciscan convent. Saorge is also a remarkable testimony to Baroque architecture.
TWO UNMISSABLE CULTURAL EVENTS
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30. Nice Carnival
The Nice Carnival is the best carnival in France and one of the most famous in the world. It takes place every February for two weeks. The celebrations that take place around the King of the Carnival consist of parades of floats (carnival parade, illuminated parade and Parada Nissarda) as well as the traditional flower battles. All events are accompanied by musicians and dancers from all over the world. This splendid and unique spectacle is by far the most emblematic festival in the Nice event calendar.
31. Lemon Festival
The Lemon Festival in Menton is a unique event that attracts 200,000 visitors each year. It takes place in February for two weeks. At this occasion, Menton celebrates its citrus production by organising large and artistic flower and fruit exhibitions, with original compositions of citrus fruits several meters high. Parades of floats, called the Golden Fruit corso and the Nocturnal corso, decorated with lemons and oranges, circulate in the streets of the city.
