An easy to follow 5 days itinerary to the French Riviera

Last Updated on February 17, 2024 by

Blessed by 300 days of sun yearly, the French Riviera is as glamorous as it looks. Endless stretches of beach, pastel-coloured little towns and that mundane je ne sais quoi that one can feel only while travelling in France. The Côte d’Azur is surely one of the best destinations to visit all year around and this 5 days French riviera itinerary will help you planning your sunny escape!

Things to know before visiting the French Riviera

The French Riviera has its own micro-climate, which typically brings no less than 300 days of yearly sunshine. Temperatures, even during spring, are generally mild (18°-25°) and this makes South of France the ideal location for spring break holidays in Europe. We visited the Côte d’Azur in April and we’ve been blessed by the most glorious sunshine we could get!

Most cities in the South of France, particularly the ones close to the Italian border, have a strong Italian architectural and culinary influence. This because cities like Nice or Menton were once part of the Italian territorial administration until they became French in 1861.

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Getting around the South of France

Getting around the South of France is very easy. Indeed, most cities in the French Riviera are connected by local transport. Trains are particularly efficient and we’ve used them extensively during our trip. The most inland towns like Saint Paul de Vence and Eze, are still well-connected to major hubs like Nice through direct buses.

Distances by public transport

• Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer – 14 mins by train
• Nice to Antibes – 18 mins by train
• Nice to Monaco – 20 mins – by train
• Nice to Cannes – 30 mins by train
• Nice to Menton – 34 mins – by train
• Nice to Eze – 37 mins by bus
• Nice to Saint Paul de Vence – 45 mins
• Nice to Saint Tropez – 3h by train

5 days French riviera itinerary

Days 1-2 Exploring Nice

I am not sure why I never thought of visiting Nice before but this city is really lovely! I was pleasantly surprised about the lively streets, the wide variety of restaurants and the easiness of getting around (even with two strollers!). Nice is the perfect base if you want to explore the French Riviera as it is well connected to other cities like Menton and Monaco.

Nice was our base for the entire holiday but we explored the city for a total of 3 days (2 days in the beginning and 1 at the end). The first two days, gave us a good overview of the city and its main areas. In the last day we focused on the old part of the city called Vieux Nice (see below for this).

What to see in Nice in 2 days

2 or 3 days are the perfect amount of time for visiting Nice. Indeed, the city is small enough to allow visitors a complete visit of the best areas. On our first day, we couldn’t miss a stroll in the famous Promenade des Anglais. Here, we checked off some notable landmarks like the Hotel Negresco, the instagrammable “I love Nice” spot and the Palais de la Méditerranée. You can also lunch in one of the cute cafes with sea view and spend the afternoon exploring the ruins of the Castle of Nice and the beautiful panoramic views of the city from Castle Hill (as we did).

We started our day from the colourful Place Massena and admire the iconic Fontaine du Soleil. Nearby, you can also pop a visit to the lovely Jardin Alber 1er of shopping at Galerie Lafayette Nice. To be honest, we also decided to stop for lunch and watch people passing by at Smash Burger & Shake that has some lovely tables on the square. Place Massena is of Avenue Jean Médicin. A place where you can find the best high street shops in Nice.

Day 3 – Take a glamours day trip in Monaco

On our 3rd day, we decided to make our twins checking their 5 country before turning 2. So, we planned a visit to the glamorous Monaco. Whether you are planning to splurge your money at the Casino, Monaco is worth a visit and it’s small enough to be a perfect day trip from Nice.

What to see on a day trip to Monaco

We arrived in Monaco by train. So, we started our visit with a little walk in the hills of the city. Our first stop was, of course, the Casino de Monte-Carlo. This is not the only casino you can find in Monaco but is certainly the most famous. Moreover, if you are a James Bond fan, this place is a must stop! Because we were travelling with the children we decided to look at the casino only from the outside. However, you can enter both for playing or just visiting. You just need to see what’s is required in the website and remember to dress appropriately.

We continued our tour by exploring different gardens of Monaco. Our children loved in particularly the one called Jardin d’acclimatation that is not too far away from the casino. This garden is full of sculptures, plants and animals. Moreover, it’s known for being one of the last royal menageries in the world. It’s very safe for children to go around and has some nice views on the harbour. Other gardens to check are the Exotic Garden and the Japanese Garden.

Our tour continued toward the Port de la Condamine, the historical harbour of Monaco where all the super yachts are located. This place is nice for a relaxing walk and the many eateries on the harbour offer the opportunity to stop for lunch or just an afternoon snack. We ended our day with a walk around exploring some known Formula 1 stretches of the Monaco track, and explored a bit of the city.

Some other places to explore

I have to say that we didn’t plan much our visit to Monaco because we weren’t sure we follow a strict itinerary with the kids. However, I am sure you can add some more interesting stops like Old Monaco, the Oceanographic Museum and the Prince’s Palace.

Getting to Monaco from Nice

Getting to Monaco from Nice is very easy. We personally used the train because it’s the quickest way to get there (and avoid parking in Monaco???). Trains are operated by the SNCF&TER lines and tickets can be as cheap as 6€ A/R. The train takes around 30 mins to reach Monaco. If you are travelling by car it takes around 40 mins to reach Monte Carlo from Nice (21 km). You can go through two different routes. The A87A500 (toll route) or the M6007 that has not tolls and it takes around 52 mins. However, it’s a nice scenic route!

Day 4 – Get lost in the old streets of Menton

Choosing a place to visit in South of France is not easy because there are so many beautiful locations! However, Menton should be on everyone’s list because of its historical value, nice location and colourful architecture! Menton is the last city you will find in the South of France before the border with Italy. Indeed, until 1860 Menton was part of the Italian territory and for this reason it shares much of the Italian northern-style architecture. Menton was for a long time on the list of places I wanted to visit and, after our visit, it became one of my favourite locations of this trip!

A day trip in Menton. What to see

A little premise for when you arrive

If you arrive by train, you’ll probably be surprised to find your self in a totally stranger part of the city. In fact, you’ll probably expect to see colourful houses and a lovely harbour and instead you’ll find grey houses and trivial city roads. Don’t worry. You are in the right place. In fact, Menton is made of two main parts. The “modern” one (where the station is located) and an old historical part (the one you are searching for!). The historical part is located at about 15-20 mins walk from the train station and the best thing is taking the route from the seaside. so you will enjoy a lovely panorama.

What to see in Menton

The historical centre of Menton still reflect its interesting past and you’ll need just a little walk in its labyrinthine streets to see historical landmarks here and there. If you arrive from the seaside, the Bastion is worth a stop. Nearby, you will see also the Jean Cocteau Museum and the historical Marché des Halles. Following the direction of the promenade, you will soon arrive at the famous Plage des Sablettes. Here you will see the old town towering over the arches of Quai Napoleon and the colourful houses which made Menton famous worldwide.

However, if you want to have a nice picture of the town, you have to walk down the old port. In Fact, the farther you go, the better it gets for a panoramic view of the old city! When you finish with your pictures, take the lift to the Old town and explore the colourful alleys of Menton. Rue Longe is particularly interesting. Indeed, during Roman times Menton used to be an important crossing point in between the cities of Piacenza and Arles. Rue Longe was part of that route and you can still walk it today!

While walking the Old Town don’t forget to climb the colourful Escaliers to the Basilica of Saint Michael Archangel. Look out also for the old engraved portals of Menton. Some of them date back to the fifteenth century! Lastly, don’t forget to grab a lemonade! Indeed, Menton is well known as “the city of Lemon” for its historical production of lemon in the region and for the famous Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival). During this unique celebration, you can see shows and colourful parade with sculptures entirely made of lemons. Surely something not to miss!

Getting to Menton from Nice

Like Monaco, also Menton is an easy place to reach by train and car. The train from Nice takes less than 40 mins and cost around 5€ (one way). If you are travelling by car, the quickest way is taking the A8 (toll road). This is just a 35 mins driving.

Day 5 – Get the best of Vieux Nice

On our last day in Nice we had a little doubt. Would it be better to explore a new city in the French Riviera or have a third day in Nice focusing just in one area? Our two previous days in Nice were satisfying but there were things we couldn’t do for reason of time, like going at the Flower Market or getting lost in the little alleys of Old Nice. That’s why we decided to spend a third day in Nice focusing only on Vieux Nice. Of course, we were pretty slow and relaxed because of the children. So, if you already visited Vieux Nice and want to do something else, you can visit other nearby cities like Villefranche-sur-Mer or Eze.

What to do in Vieux Nice

We started the morning early with a walk at the Promenade des Anglais. From here, we reached Cours Saleya for its famous Marché Aux Fleurs. This is open every day (except Monday) from 6.30 am to 6 pm. But flowers are not the only things you can try. Indeed, there are fresh fruits stalls, local products and fresh baked pastries and souvenirs. Prices can be quite expensive depending what you buy. We paid 6€ for a small basket with strawberries and red berries. If you go on a Monday, the Marché Aux Fleurs become Marché à la Brocante Saleya. Indeed, instead of flowers and fresh products you will find antiques and and vintage objects.

Vieux Nice is famous for its narrow colourful streets. We spent part of the morning going around and getting lost between vintage shops and smell of freshly baked bread. Indeed, on the ground floor of most of the old houses of Vieux Nice you will find wineries, bakeries, small restaurants and even unexpected lovely shops. This is the perfect time to try a typical Nicoise dish, the Socca! This tasteful chickpea pancake, similar to the Italian “farinata” or “cecina”, can be found all over the alleys of Old Street. Our favourite place was Chez Thérésa.

Something you can certainly miss while touring Old Nice is eating outdoor in one of the numerous bakeries/bar and see the life passing by. We grabbed our lunch at the Boulangerie Jeannot and it was delicious. Just in front of the bakery, you can find also Maison Auer, a historical chocolaterie and confiserie producing candies and chocolate since 1820. If you have still time, don’t miss a visit to the Cathedral of St. Reparata and the Place Rossetti as well as the historical Lascaris Palace.

Where to Stay in the South of France

We found the perfect accommodation for exploring Nice at La Malmaison Nice Boutique Hotel. This lovely hotel is located in a central position, closer to both Promenade des Anglais and at 10/15 mins walk from Old Nice. The rooms are spacious and lovely decorated in Art Nouveau Style. The balconies with a view on the city makes it perfect for both families and couple. We loved the breakfast with its wide selection of fresh products (the French pastries were absolutely delicious!) and lovely intimate setting. If you want to know more about our experience at La Malmaison, you can read the full blog here.

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