The French Riviera in 4 days
Some 200 kilometres of coast from Cassis to Menton, with turquoise coves, hilltop villages and famous resort towns along the way. Swim in a calanque in the morning, wander old Nice in the afternoon and watch the sunset from Èze. Offshore, car-free Porquerolles is a short boat ride from the mainland.
The plan, day by day
Day 1
- All day
Porquerolles Islanda full dayA car-free island 15 minutes by boat from the Giens peninsula, best explored by bike between vineyards, pine woods and white-sand beaches.
Day 2
- Morning
Old Antibes and the Provençal marketabout 2 hInside the sea walls: a covered market, shady squares and the Picasso Museum in Château Grimaldi, where he painted in 1946.
- Afternoon
Saint-Tropez and the coastal pathfree · half a dayBeyond the yachts lies an old village around Place des Lices; the coastal path starts at La Ponche and follows coves and headlands to Pampelonne.
Day 3
- Morning
Old Nicefree · half a dayOchre lanes between Cours Saleya and Castle Hill: the flower market in the morning, hot socca at lunchtime and busy bars in the evening.
- Late afternoon
Villefranche-sur-Merfree · about 1 h 30Yellow and pink Italianate houses above a deep, sheltered bay; walk the vaulted medieval Rue Obscure to the Saint-Pierre Chapel decorated by Cocteau.
Day 4
- Morning
The hilltop village of Èzehalf a dayA medieval village about 430 metres above the sea, with cobbled lanes and an exotic garden among the castle ruins, looking out to the Esterel.
- Late afternoon
Menton old townfree · about 2 hThe lemon town stacks saffron and pink façades up to the baroque Basilica of Saint-Michel; nearby, the Serre de la Madone and Val Rahmeh gardens.
Further afield (over 130 km from the base hotel), best as a separate stop: Calanque d'En-Vau.
Where to sleep in the French Riviera
- Villa Saint Exupéry Beach · €38 a night
- Le Relais du Postillon · €85 a night
- Hôtel Solara · €110 a night
- Hôtel Villa Rivoli · €140 a night
- Hôtel Le Grimaldi · €165 a night
- Hôtel Durante · €150 a night
- Hôtel Negresco · €450 a night
- Hôtel Martinez · €600 a night
- Château Eza · €550 a night
Plan this trip
Hotel prices per room per night, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.