Magnificent France has always attracted travelers from all over the world. And today, millions of tourists from different countries come to see this amazing country, get acquainted with its history and culture, and admire the unique monuments of art, culture and architecture.
Most guests also dream of seeing the resorts of France. Everyone wants to go to the sea, and this is easily explained, because numerous reviews of the lucky ones who have been here testify that it is amazing. The resorts of France are ideal for family holidays. At sea, the most comfortable living and recreational conditions are created for children and adults: playgrounds and sports grounds, clubs, separate swimming pools and special menus in restaurants.
How to choose resorts in France
The sea in France can be admired on more than 3 thousand kilometers of coastline. It overlooks both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. All resorts located here have their pros and cons.
Thus, on the Atlantic coast the water is cooler even at the height of the beach season, but at the same time it is cleaner and suitable for healing procedures. On the Atlantic, the beaches are sandy, but there is a problem with ebb and flow. In some areas, the sea retreats from the coast by a kilometer (this happens especially often in Brittany and Normandy). Therefore, vacationers swim here only during high tide.
The Mediterranean Sea is much warmer, and the coast is sunnier. Advertising also plays an important role. Interestingly, the French themselves believe that Atlantic resorts are more attractive, largely due to their lower congestion.
Advantages of seaside resorts
French seaside resorts (you can see photos of them in this article) provide tourists not just with beaches and related entertainment services (casinos, golf clubs, discos and nightclubs), but also with medical procedures, which, according to reviews from vacationers, make them feel better for various, sometimes very serious, diseases.
It is no secret that France is the birthplace of thalassotherapy. The very first thalassotherapy center was opened in 1899 in the city of Roscoff. Now in the country there are several dozen centers aimed at treating such ailments as rheumatism and acute pain in the spine, as well as post-traumatic rehabilitation.
Climate
For vacationers, it is important to know the climatic conditions in the place of stay. Thus, the Atlantic coast of France is characterized by a cool maritime climate - the temperature difference between summer and winter values is small (+7°C and +20°C). The swimming season lasts three summer months.
The resorts of France on the Mediterranean Sea (you can see the photo in the article) are distinguished by a classic subtropical climate - winters are mild and sunny, and summers are dry and hot. In this article we will present to you the most popular and most visited holiday destinations, where both the French and numerous tourists spend their holidays.
French seaside resorts: Cote d'Azur
A narrow and long strip on the northern coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, which stretches from Marseille to La Spezia (Italy), is united by a common name - Riviera. sometimes called the French Riviera.
French seaside resorts, photos of which regularly appear on the pages of glossy publications, are known throughout the world not only for their amazing nature and living conditions.
The city of Cannes, located on the shores of the picturesque Napoule Bay, is a prestigious and fashionable summer destination. The same applies to Nice. The annual film festival held in May also significantly increases the rating of Cannes.
Until the beginning of the 19th century, it was a small fishing village, until the French and foreign aristocracy discovered the picturesque area and began to build boarding houses and villas here. Today, Cannes retains its status as a resort for high society and of international importance.
Cannes is a southern French city with a population of about seventy thousand people, who are almost entirely employed in the tourism sector. The beach of this resort is sandy and wide. It is closely adjacent to the world-famous Croisette. In a city with a well-developed infrastructure, many magnificent hotels have been built, guaranteeing guests a comfortable stay.
Monaco
French resorts on the Mediterranean Sea attract tourists, in addition to excellent conditions for recreation and living, due to their wonderful climate. For example, in Monaco there are on average at least three hundred sunny days a year. The principality has many superbly equipped beaches and swimming pools, and thalassotherapy centers.
Here you can stay in comfortable hotels, most of which are four- and five-star. The perfectly maintained sandy beach strip does not exceed two kilometers, since the main landscape is rocks. Beaches in Monaco are paid, and their cost is significantly higher than the average price in the country.
Cap d'Agde
There is probably no person who would not dream of visiting the seaside resorts of France. Inexpensively compared to previous places, you can relax in Cap d'Agde - the largest resort in the province of Languedoc, created in the 60s of the last century. Its beaches, stretching for fourteen kilometers, are covered with fine clean sand. The city has a well-developed infrastructure. Services vacationers - thalassotherapy, a water park, golf and tennis, an island of entertainment and other joys of resort life.
There are also small resort villages on the Languedoc coast, although the conditions here are somewhat inferior to the vacation spots on the Cote d'Azur. As a result, they are unpopular among wealthy tourists. The main advantage of a holiday in Languedoc is its affordable cost for guests with an average income level.
The resort village of Port-Camargue is known as a calm and quiet place for a family holiday. In addition, it is a large entertainment center with a yacht school and a modern thalassotherapy center.
Quiberon
Unfortunately, some resorts in France (by the sea) have a very short beach season. For example, Quibron, in the south of Brittany, is located on a narrow spit jutting out into the sea. The beach season here lasts only two months - from July to August.
The named resort is famous for its thalassotherapy institute, which is recognized as the best in the world. There are excellent beaches, pine forests, dunes, and a golf club. In addition, those interested can go to neighboring Karnaca to see a collection of megaliths (the largest in the world) - ancient stone sculptures.
Holidays in Quibron are recommended for people with metabolic disorders and nervous system disorders.
La Baule
The resort is located in the center of the Cote d'Amur coast. Prestigious and fashionable, it is comparable in image to the Breton Dinard and Norman Deauville. Magnificent hotels here are lined up along the beach. The best of them is Le Royale.
The French Riviera is a prestigious and famous coastline that starts from Nice and stretches to Menton.
Translated, the name Côte d'Azur means “coast of the sky” and is named after the azure color of the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This prestigious holiday destination receives hundreds of thousands of tourists during the season and has received the status of a place for wealthy and important people who own luxury mansions on the seashore and expensive yachts moored in the harbor.
The tranquil coastlines, famous restaurants and 5 star hotels keep its reputation for glamor and elegance. You can laze on the beach in Cannes, sail from the port of Monaco or wander the famous boulevards of Nice. Overall, the French Riviera promises to please you.
Nice
Located in a charming location on the sea coast, with hot weather and an exquisite local climate, it is the calling card of the Cote d'Azur. The most famous street of the city is the Promenade des Anglais. This is a spacious boulevard that stretches along the coastline of the beach.
The boulevard was lined with elite buildings such as the Théâtre Méditierence and the glamorous Villa Massena (65 Rue de France), where a princess once lived. Today Villa Massena is an art museum that attracts crowds of visitors every day. It features charming landscaping and traditional French gardens. Plus, by walking along the Promenade Boulevard, you'll be close to Nice's main attractions.
On Rue Saleya there is a traditional Provençal market. It is open daily (closed on Mondays) and offers a wide range of offerings from local food and flower producers. Another main attraction in Nice is the Albert I Garden, which is a couple of minutes from the Promenade des Anglais. This huge garden was one of the first public luxury parks in the city. Having a typical Mediterranean style, this park is lined with palm trees and fountains.
Saint Tropez
Cannes Film Festival
As the main event of the French Riviera, this vibrant event attracts stars and other representatives of the film industry. Residents and guests of the city annually watch the procession of actors on the red carpet and stage next to the Palace of Festivals and Congresses. This building is equipped with high-quality sound and light systems, which were made only for this event.
The famous film festival is not only about the participation and awards of stars of the film industry, it is also a launching pad for the discovery of new talents in cinema. During the event, posts with giant posters were hung on all billboards in the city, welcoming world stars and their famous films.
Beaches and Jazz Festival Antibes
The beaches in Antibes are legendary, and visitors to the city have a wide choice: from classic free beaches to small private beaches with small restaurants at the water's edge. The city is divided into two main areas, which contain the lion's share of beaches: the Juan-les-Pins area and the Cap d'Antibes peninsula. They are ideal for sunbathing. The beaches of Antibes are famous for their pristine nature and sandy shores.
The city's coastline is a charming path along untouched nature, ideal for a leisurely stroll. The Juan-les-Pins area gets its name from the large number of pine trees that bloom actively in the area.
For fans of fine French cuisine, Antibes offers many signature cafes and a huge selection of bistros. Another highlight of a visit to Antibes is the local jazz festival, which takes place annually in late July outdoors. This festival is quite famous and brings together professionals and talented young artists.
Which is comfortably located between the Italian Riviera and the Principality of Monaco. Menton is a unique old center, it has endless green gardens, it has incredible beaches, it is a colorful, fascinating, cosmopolitan city.
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The beaches of Menton are deservedly considered one of the best on the coast; they delight their guests with cleanliness, a safe coastline, developed infrastructure and soft sand (although you can also find pebble beaches).
However, coming to Menton and spending all your days on the beach would be an unforgivable mistake. You should definitely look into the Old Town, stroll through its narrow cobbled streets and squares, see the Saint-Michel Cathedral, look into the Carnolet Palace, which is also the Museum of Fine Arts, and visit the Jean Cocteau Museum. You can have a great time and relax from the bustle of the city in the parks and gardens of Menton, and they also deserve the title of a work of art and are a must-see for travelers. The Parc du Pian, the Jardin de Colombiere, the garden of Villa Maria Serena and the botanical garden of Val Ramay are amazing places where you can spend a pleasant evening admiring the scenery. By the way, beautiful panoramas also open in the Old Port of the city - take a look there!
On the road from Menton to Nice, you cannot miss the amazing village of Eze. It is not large at all, but so picturesque that it captivates you from the first meeting - with its green mountains, red roofs, ancient stone houses and cobbled streets, as well as the luxurious Exotic Garden located at the top.
Cost of living: 3* - from €82, 4* - from €145.
Nice
Nice is one of the most famous resorts on the Cote d'Azur, which is preferred by a very wealthy public, because holidays here are not available to everyone. Nice is a mix of good beaches and luxury hotels, expensive villas and fashionable boutiques, an amazing Old Center and vibrant nightlife. It’s not for nothing that it acquired the unofficial status of the capital of the French Riviera.
Most of the beaches are paid, entrance to them costs from €12-15 or more, but we still recommend visiting them, since the municipal ones are quite dirty and unkempt. Paid beach areas are equipped with all the necessary infrastructure, the coastline is safe, the water and sand are clean. If you are only focused on relaxing by the sea, then it makes sense to go outside the city, to the beaches of the nearest provinces, which are not inferior to the beaches of Nice, and some are superior.
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Yes, as we already said, Nice is not a cheap place. Therefore, budget tourists and young people prefer to stay in the central part of the city. And they are doing the right thing, because here it is not only more accessible, but also much more interesting. The old town with its small streets, ancient cathedrals, churches, the Town Hall and squares, as well as museums is an ideal place for walks and a pleasant, romantic pastime. We should also talk about museums, because for art lovers Nice is simply a paradise. Visit the Chagall Museum and the Matisse Museum, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts, where you can see works by Degas, Renoir and Monet. In the Massena Palace or the Lascari Palace, the Valrose Castle you can also find many interesting paintings and sculptures, and it’s just worth stopping by to admire their beauty.
Not far from Nice is Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat - one of the most tranquil corners of the coast among pine groves. Its fame was brought not only by the unique nature and picturesque bays, but also by two famous villas: Villa Leopold, which is recognized as the most expensive in the world and is considered a real work of art, as well as the Villa of Baroness Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, which today is a large unique museum with a rich a collection of works of French art from different eras.
Cost of living: 3* - from €90, 5* - from €347.
Antibes
Between the two main coastal resorts - Nice and Cannes, on Cape Antibes there is a picturesque town of the same name. It is of interest primarily to lovers of yachting, because here is the largest yacht port of the entire Cote d'Azur. And you can not only admire the large and original yachts, but also take a ride on them.
It also attracts young people, because, firstly, it is a more affordable resort than the “star” Nice and Cannes, and secondly, it is famous for its rich and vibrant nightlife, and its dance clubs, bars, discos are ready to entertain young hearts until the morning .
Landmark hunters head straight to the Old Town with its museums, chapels, squares, cathedrals, fountains and monuments. Fans of active recreation head to the beaches, where they can enjoy diving, water skiing, seaplanes, paragliding and other water activities.
Antibes is one of the few cities on the Cote d'Azur that is suitable for families with children. The Maryland Marine Water Park with a huge pool and daily sea shows, located near the city of Luna Park, as well as the Butterfly Valley will make your kids’ vacations unforgettable.
If you don’t want to sit still, then your second stop can be the resort of Juan-les-Pins, which can be found in Golfe-Juan Bay. Wide clean beaches, many good restaurants with exquisite French cuisine, small islands and bays, and, of course, pine groves - all this is Juan-les-Pins. Music lovers should definitely visit this place in mid-July, when one of the most popular jazz festivals in Europe is in full swing in the city.
Cost of living: 3* - from €75, 4* - from €172.
Cannes is a city that does not require much introduction, and all thanks to the legendary film festival, which made this place on the Cote d'Azur iconic. But besides the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals and the famous Croisette, it has much more to offer its guests.
The main cultural center of the city is the Suquet quarter, leading to the slope of the same name, where the Fortress Museum is located, located in an ancient castle. On the territory of the museum there is an ancient tower, the chapel of St. Anne, and all this is surrounded by an amazing garden.
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In the sea “opposite” is located the real pearl of the region - the Lérins Islands. Two of them - Sainte-Feréol and Tradelier - are uninhabited, but Sainte-Marguerite and Sainte-Honoré are worth a look. Sainte-Marguerite is famous for its Royal Fort and the prison from the times of Louis XIV, where the legendary prisoner Iron Mask once served his sentence. Saint-Honoré is an amazing green island, overlooked by Lérins Abbey, on the territory of which was previously one of the oldest monasteries in Europe, and today is a unique church complex surrounded by beautiful gardens.
Budget tourists who are counting on a beach holiday in Cannes are better off choosing another place on the coast. The municipal beaches of Cannes will not please you with either cleanliness or tranquility; in the warm season there is nowhere to fall, and entrance to paid beaches will cost from €20-25 and more. But at the same time, there is a chance that your favorite actor or actress will be sunbathing on a nearby sun lounger.
Cost of living: 3* - from €80, 5* - from €480.
Not so long ago, Saint-Tropez was a calm, quiet resort, where famous actors, directors, writers, and artists preferred to relax from the hustle and bustle, and then exalted it in their creations. Today, this is one of the most party parts of the coast, where the young, rich and famous like to make noise in luxurious villas or in famous nightclubs.
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The landscapes of Saint-Tropez will seem “native” to all film fans, because it was against their backdrop that the stories of famous characters Brigitte Bardot, Louis de Funes, Pierre Richard and many other actors unfolded. Pine groves, sandy beaches, picturesque embankments and the Old Town cannot leave you indifferent, and it is unforgivable not to capture them.
Socialite people will enjoy a holiday in Saint-Tropez: dinners in expensive restaurants and shopping in fashionable boutiques, walks along the promenade and relaxation on the famous Pampelonne beach, parties on yachts and in nightclubs - everything here is really like in the movies.
Saint-Tropez is hardly suitable for a holiday with children; there is practically no entertainment here. Curious tourists will only be interested in the Musée de l’Annonciade with an impressive collection of works by Matisse, Signac, Bonnard Picabius and other famous artists, as well as the “House of Butterflies” with a large collection of exotic moths from around the world. But gastrotourists have plenty of freedom here: the city has a lot of high-level restaurants, including those marked with Michelin stars.
Cost of living: 3* - from €115, 5* - from €273.
Toulon
On the road from Nice to Marseille, one cannot help but notice the amazing city of Toulon, notable for the second largest port on the coast, as well as interesting excursion places. And if you get tired of lying on the beach, it’s worth a look here.
Toulon became famous thanks to its old center (several streets that have been preserved since the time of King Louis XIV), as well as picturesque squares and incredible fountains. The Algiers and Lafayette districts will be an excellent place for walking, and a rich evening program can be found in the bustling Harbor or Porto, where life is in full swing day and night and where it’s nice to drop into some coastal bar and relax over a couple of glasses.
Architecture lovers should see the Clock Tower and the Opera building, and to admire the panorama of the entire city and coastline, you need to climb Mount Faron, which can be done either on foot or by cable car.
For a beach holiday, Toulon is not the best option; its coastal areas are somewhat inferior to neighboring resorts in terms of cleanliness and infrastructure. For a good beach holiday, it is better to go to the outskirts of the city - to the beaches of Cap Brun and Anse Mango, famous for their calm and secluded atmosphere, or to neighboring small towns and villages.
Not far from Toulon is the small town of Hyeres - a small resort known for its old fortress, ancient churches and cathedrals, and is also considered one of the centers of water sports on the coast. There are diving schools, sailing schools, yacht centers and many other interesting places for outdoor enthusiasts.
Cost of living: 3* - from €70, 5* - from €458.
Marseilles
Our route ends with Marseille, perhaps the largest and noisiest city on the Cote d'Azur. This is a large port and industrial center of France, a multinational, colorful city, with an abundance of attractions, many museums, cafes, restaurants, shopping centers, but at the same time with good beaches and an excellent coastline. Simply an ideal place for anyone who dreams of combining a beach and active holiday.
Perhaps the three main symbols are the unique Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Marseille Cathedral and the Old Port. They are the first thing you need to see upon arrival in the city. And then you should go to Longchamp Palace, which is not only an architectural masterpiece, but also a museum of natural history and fine arts. It also houses an observatory, a zoological garden, and a park with fountains.
The beaches of Marseille are very diverse, and everyone can find a comfortable place for themselves. Some of the most popular beaches are Prado, Borely and Bonvin. They are clean, well-groomed, with a safe coastline, with a gentle entrance to the water, and therefore are suitable for vacationers with children. And Uvon Beach will delight surfers with high waves and strong winds.
If, after noisy Marseille, you want peace and quiet, the ideal place will be the picturesque town of Martigues, charming with its Old Center, port and embankment. The city cannot boast of an abundance of tourists, but this is only its advantage, since no one disturbs the peace of vacationers by the sea, in the gardens or on the shores of Lake Etang de Berre.
Cost of living: 3* - from €53, 5* - from €350.
The Côte d'Azur of France offers its visitors a holiday of the highest standard: to the initially mild climate and Cote d'Azur, hotels and inns of the highest class, well-groomed beaches, a promenade and entertainment for every taste have been added. The French Riviera (Côte d'Azur is also called that) stretches for 300 km towards the Italian border. Reliably sheltered from the winds by mountain ranges, the Cote d'Azur has its own special microclimate, the summers here are quite hot by European standards, and the winters are warm and mild. There are about 300 sunny days a year here, a record number for European resorts. All the beaches in the region are clean and well-groomed, this is strictly monitored by local authorities. The beaches have sun loungers, umbrellas, toilets, changing cabins and other conditions necessary for tourists to relax.
When choosing a resort on the French Riviera, it is worth considering that in the eastern part of the coast there are pebble beaches (Menton, Antibes, Nice), everything to the west has sandy beaches (Cannes, Saint-Tropez). In the very west of the Cote d'Azur there are also so-called calanques, because... rocky bays. In terms of infrastructure, all the resorts of the French Riviera are equally good, they are easy to get to, at the resorts themselves everything is tailored for tourists, which is why a holiday on the Riviera is considered one of the most comfortable.
I would like to dispel the myth about the high cost of the local resorts. Yes, and these days, the resorts have many luxury hotels and entertainment for the rich, but the democratization of French resorts has done its job, and now finding accommodation in the mid-price category in the resorts of the French Riviera is not so difficult. Read about how to find cheap housing on the Cote d'Azur here: Next to luxury hotels there are three-room hotels, next to casinos there are chain supermarkets, next to Michelin-starred restaurants there are inexpensive street cafes where it is so nice to sit in the evenings or hide from the heat summer day.
1.Nice, France
Nice is rightfully considered the pearl of the French Riviera. The Mediterranean climate, surrounded by hilly terrain, becomes even milder, so during the holiday season (from May to the end of September) the weather is hot with minimal rainfall. The charm of the resort town is given by buildings of the 19th and early 20th centuries, lavishly decorated with stucco, as well as cathedrals and churches in the Baroque style. The main beach of Nice is public, located in the city center, equipped with everything necessary, the bottom and shore are pebbly. There are also about 20 private beaches in Nice if you want privacy, because... The central beach is always in demand among tourists; there is often nowhere for an apple to fall.
You should start your exploration of Nice from Place Rosetti - this is where the main architectural attractions of the city are concentrated, for example, the Saint-Reparat Cathedral. It is also definitely worth visiting the area of the so-called “Russian Nice” with a tour of the two main churches - St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Church of St. Nicholas and Alexandra. Remember that Nice in France is not only a beach resort, but also a city of museums! If you have a moment, you should definitely go to the Matisse or Chagall museum. Nice is also a city of promenades and shopping. The Promenade des Anglais is considered the most elite in this regard. The views of the sea from it offer stunning views. It’s not for nothing that the resort’s most fashionable hotels are located here!
You can find out more about the availability and cost of accommodation in Nice hotels for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com—>.
Rodrigo Soldon/flickr
2.Cannes, France
Cannes in France is associated, first of all, with the famous film festival, when all the “high society” from cinema flocks to the Festival Palace, or rather to its red carpet, where cameras are already dazzling with their lights, and interviews are generously given out. Believe it or not, at any other time of the year the Festival Palace is nothing remarkable; in Cannes it is much more interesting to walk along the Croisette or climb the Suquet hill.
A special feature of the Cote d'Azur in Cannes is the almost complete absence of free beaches. Along the Croisette there are orderly rows of paid sandy beaches, the average cost for a holiday is about 20 euros. However, budget tourists can find a way out here too - there is still a public beach in Cannes, and it is located next to the very Palace of Festivals. Here you can swim and sunbathe for free.
The main attractions of the resort are all kinds of villas and houses of famous people who decided to buy real estate here. The most impressive building is perhaps the Villa P. Cardin. If possible, take a boat excursion to the Lerens Islands near the Cote d'Azur. They have green, well-kept gardens, where it can be very pleasant to hide from the midday heat.
You can find out more about the availability and cost of accommodation in hotels in Cannes for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com—>.
3.Saint-Tropez, France
Long sandy beaches, an endless promenade of cafes, restaurants and bars, a long line of luxury boutiques, narrow streets of the old town - all this is Saint-Tropez. Once upon a time, the resort was famous for its elitism, mainly French movie stars vacationed here, but time does not stand still, and now anyone can easily add Saint-Tropez to their list of must-see towns on the Côte d'Azur. The beaches here are entirely sandy, this is what attracts tourists who do not like the rocky shores of Nice. And of course, the atmosphere of universal relaxation that reigns at the resort is also an important factor in choosing this particular resort town.
There are no historical attractions as such in Saint-Tropez, but walking through the old part of the city will bring you a lot of pleasure, especially in the midday heat. If you want to look at the resort from top to bottom, then it makes sense to climb the 16th century citadel, from there you will have views of both the city itself and the water surface. Saint-Tropez hosts many entertainment events, for example, in October there is a sailing regatta and a parade of luxury cars.
Saint-Tropez is located on the peninsula of the same name, surrounded by pine forests, so you should definitely go for a walk through the forest along numerous equipped routes. Here and there you will come across celebrity villas along the way. The swimming season on this Cote d'Azur of France lasts from June to September.
You can find out more about the availability and cost of accommodation in hotels in Saint-Tropez for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com—>.
4.Antibes, France 
Among other resort towns on the Cote d'Azur, Antibes is perhaps the richest in attractions. Many medieval buildings have been preserved here, including Fort Carré or Grimaldi Castle from the 12th century! Antibes itself is located on the cape of the same name, the views of the sea here are simply stunning, so even if there were not such a cluster of cultural attractions, it would be worth coming to Antibes just to admire the sea views. It is not for nothing that the place was once chosen by numerous writers and artists. In general, if Antibes did not exist, it would be worth inventing it. And to this day, artists from all over the world gather in port restaurants and clubs.
Antibes has both pebble and sandy beaches; this is a kind of junction where the earth rocks change. Among other things, Antibes is also a port city; cruise ships often come here, and the most popular sport, for obvious reasons, is yachting. The narrow streets of Antibes will completely enchant you with their originality; there are many cozy restaurants at an adequate price category, small museums containing paintings by world-famous artists who once loved to spend their time in Antibes. Antibes as a resort is perhaps not as popular as other resorts on the French Riviera, but its charm is more than enough for several cities!
You can find out more about the availability and cost of living in Antibes hotels for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com—>.
Dhinal Chheda/flickr
5.Menton, France
Menton (or Menton) is the most Italian of all French cities. Located 30 km from the Italian border, the city has absorbed the culture and traditions of the neighboring country. The climate of the city is very mild, so the whole of Menton is literally planted with flowers and plants, a kind of garden city. The symbol of the city is the lemon, so every year Menton hosts a festival dedicated to lemons. Craftsmen make skillful figurines from lemon fruits, a spectacle truly worthy of the attention of tourists. Several cathedrals and bastions of the town deserve special architectural value. The city center is decorated with numerous baroque buildings, and the streets themselves, as if like an amphitheater, descend to the Cote d'Azur.
The beaches of Menton are all clean, well-groomed and equipped with everything you need. On the coast you can find both pebble and sandy beaches. The climate here is mild all year round; you can come here on vacation as early as February, when the air temperature warms up to +15, +18 C. By the way, the lemon festival is held in February. Those who want to travel to Italy, finding themselves so close to its border, usually go to the northern Italian resorts of San Remo or Turin.
You can find out more about the availability and cost of accommodation in Menton hotels for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com—>.
Daniel70mi/flickr
6.Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco
Monte Carlo rather attracts those who love excitement, because the place is popular all over the world for its luxurious casinos. The city is located in the Principality of Monaco, so it has its own rules and laws that are different from the French ones. Being in a mountainous area, the city has terraced buildings; some of the uphill climbs are quite steep and require some skill. However, city guests travel mainly in luxury cars.
Apart from the numerous casinos, the most popular tourist attraction is the palace in the upper central part of the city and the sandy beaches below. More respectable tourists come to Monte Carlo for luxury shopping, fans of sports competitions come to watch the rallies held here. Well, fewer people come here for the beaches, although they are wonderful here. However, renting an apartment or hotel will not be affordable for the vast majority of tourists, which is why the beaches are not very popular.
In general, many tourists who have visited any resort on the French Riviera are of the opinion that Monte Carlo is, to a certain extent, an overrated place for leisure, although there are also connoisseurs.
You can find out more about the availability and cost of accommodation in Monte Carlo hotels for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com—>.
Practical and eventful travels to you!
The southeastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the region of France bears the poetic name of the French Riviera. The second name of the area - Côte d'Azur - was assigned to it thanks to the little-known French writer Stéphane Liéjard, who published a novel of the same name in 1870.
Geographically, the French Riviera begins east of Marseille and stretches three hundred kilometers all the way to the Italian border. Indented by numerous bays, the Côte d'Azur consists mainly of sandy beaches and coastal cliffs. From the north and east the French Riviera is covered by the Alps, from the west by Sainte-Baume. On the Côte d'Azur, the mountain ranges form the very climate that makes the Mediterranean coast one big resort. Three hundred sunny days a year, average air temperatures from +24 to +35 and water temperatures from +20 to +25 °C, low humidity, minimal stuffiness and picturesque tropical vegetation attract vacationers from all over the world to the French Riviera.
Cote d'Azur France - PHOTO
Monte Carlo is known throughout the world as the capital of gambling, unprecedented luxury and magnificent sunshine illuminating the delightful sandy beaches. As throughout Monaco, life in Monte Carlo is predominantly nocturnal. At this time, the doors of the city’s numerous casinos and its main gambling symbol, Le Grand Casino, open to vacationers. During the day, life in Monte Carlo moves slowly and is concentrated in the area of beaches and expensive brand stores. Every year the popular Monte Carlo rally starts here. The Formula 1 track passes through the city.
Hotels: city of Monte Carlo
Located in the Bay of Angels, the unofficial capital of the French Riviera is one of the most popular European resorts. Endless beaches, a warm Mediterranean Sea with turquoise waters and picturesque palm trees coexist in Nice with numerous hotels, museums, art galleries, shops, restaurants and nightclubs. The city is replete with historical and architectural attractions, including the famous 17th-century Baroque Cathedral of Saint-Reparat, the Palace of the Commune, and Place Saint-François.
Hotels: Nice city
The small port town of Antibes, located between Nice and Cannes, has a history of more than two thousand years. It was founded in the 6th century BC as a Marseille colony and was called Antipolis. The reliable fortifications of Antibes have preserved many historical monuments to this day: Grimaldi Castle (XII century), the Bastion of Saint-André (now it houses the Museum of History and Archeology), the miniature chapel of Notre-Dame de Garoupe, the Thuret botanical garden (1857). The pebbly and sandy beaches of Antibes stretch along the coast for twenty-four kilometers.
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Saint-Tropez gained worldwide fame thanks to French cinema. The funny adventures of the “local” gendarmes, led by the charming comedian Louis de Funes, still attract many tourists to this Provençal port town. The constant sun, beaches, clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the magnificent pine groves of Saint-Tropez also appealed to the cultural elite. The villas of many famous actors, artists and couturiers are located within the recognized center of social life of the Cote d'Azur.
Hotels: city of Saint-Tropez
Modern Cannes is known throughout the world as the venue for several prestigious international festivals: the film festival, the pyrotechnics festival and the Cannes Lions advertising festival. Meanwhile, this city a couple of centuries ago was an ordinary fishing village. Cannes received city status only in the 30s of the 19th century, when French and subsequently Russian aristocrats began to settle there. Like modern holidaymakers, they were attracted to this city by its temperate Mediterranean climate with twelve hours of sunshine in the summer and many tempting restaurants, hotels and boutiques.
Hotels: Cannes city
Located north of Cannes, the Provençal town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence is considered one of the most romantic places in modern times. Its medieval streets with stone houses of the 16th-18th centuries, ancient fountains and cobblestone streets are filled with floral aromas, known far beyond the country’s borders under the brand name “Grasse rose”. Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a city of dreamers and artists. It houses numerous museums and art galleries of contemporary art.
Hotels: Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Menton is the westernmost and most picturesque resort of the Cote d'Azur. The city's numerous gardens gave it the name "Pearl of France", and its mild climate, ideal for growing citrus fruits, made it the "Capital of Lemons". Every year Menton hosts the Citrus Festival, during which the local streets are filled with huge figures of yellow lemons and orange oranges. The main attractions of the city are located in its old part. There are also several markets where you can buy Mediterranean delicacies and flowers.
Hotels: Menton city
The Provençal port town of Fréjus is located in the south, twenty kilometers from Saint-Tropez. The now popular resort was founded by Julius Caesar for his fleet. Today, Forum Julia serves as a haven for fashionable yachts and wealthy vacationers. However, anyone who gets to the Cote d'Azur can visit the sandy beaches of the city. In Frejus, lovers of architectural attractions can admire fragments of Roman port structures, a Roman theater and amphitheater, and various buildings of the 4th-14th centuries.
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Originating in ancient times as the Greek colony of Olbia, modern Hyères attracts holidaymakers with its ancient charm and thirty-nine kilometers of sandy beaches, suitable not so much for sunbathing as for water sports. The historical attractions of Hyères include the ruins of an ancient Greek city that have survived to this day, buildings from Roman and medieval times - the Porte Masillon gate, the Tour des Templars tower (XII century), the monastery of Saint-Louis (XIII century), the castle of Saint-Bernard ( XI century).
Hotels: Hyères city
Situated between Marseille and Saint-Tropez, Toulon is one of Western Europe's most popular tourist destinations. Its port hosts an important naval base. The main attractions of Toulon are in the Old Town. These include the 11th century Cathedral, the National Naval Museum (opened under Napoleon), Place Louis Blanc with the Tambourine fountain located on it (1839). An important cultural feature of Toulon is its developed wine traditions.
Hotels: Toulon city
The ten best resorts on the French Riviera are worth visiting all of them! Each city can offer a unique set of local attractions and entertainment, as well as delight vacationers with the constant sun, clean beaches and gentle waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
