Planning a trip to the South of France and want to know where exactly to go? I’ve been going to the Riviera three times per year for 8 years and I know the south of the country really well.
My insider guide has an overview on the most popular destinations to the quieter, cheaper and underrated towns on the French Riviera. I’ve visited them all multiple times and as a French resident and French speaker, I’m sharing my personal tips and recommendations!
Where to go in the South of France
If you’re looking for the perfect destination in the South of France then read on. The following towns and cities that I’ve included cover all budgets and and I’ve included recommendations and notes from my experiences.
Good to Know: Visiting the majority of the towns during a week or two is perfectly doable via train or car rental.
Antibes
Antibes is a beautiful, historical coastal town nestled between Nice and Cannes. The town surrounds a huge marina (one of the biggest on the Riviera) bristling with millionaires’ yachts. The town is very ‘quiet luxury’ and is a lot less flashy than its famous neighbour, Cannes.
For me it’s an authentic town with a good mix of tourists and locals in the summer. There’s some fantastic restaurants in Antibes as well as some superb cafés and speciality coffee shops.
The Cap d’Antibes (a headland to the south-east of the town) is stunning and despite featuring some of the country’s most priciest real estate, it also is home to some incredible beaches and coves. There’s also some great, low-key beach clubs in Antibes if you’re after a great day out on the beach.
For an in-depth guide on what to see and do in the town, check out my Guide to Antibes.
Good to Know
- It’s perfect for couples and young families
- Great to stay for 3-7 days
- The town is relatively small and great or those who want to avoid busy cities and crowds
- There’s not much night life
Cannes
Cannes is famous world wide for being home to the Cannes Film Festival which takes place every year in May. It’s also easily one of the glitziest towns on the Riviera with plenty of incredible 5* hotels close to the luxury yachts in the marina.
For me it’s a great destination if you’ve got money to spend and you want to spend days in comfort on the beach. There isn’t a vast amount to see and do although I think the old town is beautiful. Cannes is a quite a large city it’s not just a tourist town. Most of the touristy areas are near the main beach (La Croisette). Here you’ll find the majority of the hotels, restaurants, clubs and bars.
I personally tend to visit for a few days to take advantage of the city’s fantastic, albeit expensive, beach clubs and great Provençal restaurants.
For more information on visiting the town, check out my complete guide to Cannes.
Good to Know
- It gets very busy in August with tourists
- The vibe is very flashy
- I’d recommend staying for 2-3 days
- Best for friends or couples
Saint Tropez
The legendary town of Saint Tropez, the spiritual home of the jet-set, is an incredibly beautiful seaside town on the French Riviera. Known for its pretty port and old town, it’s a relatively small town that you can see in a day.
It is expensive and flashy (mainly around the port) but it’s also great fun and the town itself is genuinely stunning. For me it’s always worth a visit and it’s especially a great destination if you want to relax, wonder around the old town and spend long afternoons on the Plage de Pampelonne (a fantastic beach nearby).
One of my personal favourite destinations, I’d argue it’s a must-do. The one downside however is that its public transport links aren’t great and driving in pretty much a must-do.
Check out my guide to the Best Beach Clubs in Saint Tropez and my Complete Guide to Saint Tropez.
Good to Know
- Expensive all-round
- Great for couples, families and friend holidays
- I’d advise renting a car and driving there as public transport links are poor
Nice
Nice is one of the biggest cities in the French Riviera and with a central and very well connected international airport, it’s incredibly easy to get to. Many travel bloggers advise using Nice as a base to visit the many beautiful surrounding towns and it’s hard to disagree with that. With a central train station, you can visit Monaco, Villefranche-Sur-Mer and Menton within 40 minutes.
If you’re wanting to stay in the city there’s plenty to see and do. You can explore the city’s old town, take a walk along the Promenade des Anglais and explore the city’s old markets. For those wanting cultural activities there’s the excellent Musée Matisse and the Marc Chagall National Museum.
For foodies it’s a gem of a city with plenty of great amazing restaurants serving up Niçoise cuisine. Find out more in my guide to the best restaurants in Nice. The promenade which stretches along the bay is also a pebble beach which is where you’ll find locals cooling off during the summer months. Here you’ll also find some great beach clubs where you can eat and rent a sun lounger.
Good to Know
- It can get very busy in the summer
- Temperatures regularly go above 32c/90f with high levels of humidity
- The beach is pebbly
- It’s about a 20 minute walk to the train station from the Old Town
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Just next to Nice you’ll find the beautiful village of Villefranche-sur-Mer. The charming village is as Provençal as it gets and has a very quiet luxury feel to it. Up, high in the hills are mainly villas and large houses and quaint village centre is at the bottom towards the port.
A 20 minute drive from Nice or a 30 minute bike ride, it’s easy to visit and makes a great day trip from the busy city. Alternatively if you want to avoid the crowds in the summer then it’s a great place to stay. It’s central train station means its easy to travel to other towns and there’s public beaches only a 5 minute walk from the port.
Villefranche is small and there’s not a lot to see but it’s worth discovering the old town, walking around the port and stopping for lunch. One of my favourite restaurants in Villefranche-sur-Mer is La Mère Germaine. Grab a seat on their terrace and you’ll eat next to the water with a fantastic view over to Cap Ferrat. Their fish soup is incredible and their ultra fresh, local fish are cooked to perfection!
Good to Know
- It’s very small
- Great to stay at if you want to avoid crowds
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Just around the corner from Villefranche-Sur-Mer is a beautiful peninsula that juts out into the sea. Home to the incredible Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, it’s a stunning part of the Riviera and one of my personal favourite places to visit when I’m in the south.
The main town on the Cap is Saint-Jean and is very small but incredibly charming. Wrapped around the picturesque port, it’s a fantastic place to visit during the day and have a drink overlooking the beautiful hills around Villefranche and over to Monaco.
One of the most stunning spots is Paloma Plage where you’ll find a public beach and a private beach club with a restaurant. The beach club is expensive but if you want to avoid lying on the pebble beach then their sunloungers are worth the cost!
My favourite hotel in the area is the 5* Royal Riviera hotel which is relatively affordable (for a 5 star hotel!) and is incredibly beautiful inside and out.
Good to Know
- Accessible by bus from Nice
- The nearest train station is in the neighbouring town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and is a good 40 minute walk to the town of Saint-Jean
- There are very few reasonable hotels on the Cap
- Discover my guide on how to get to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat from Nice
Menton
Between Monaco and the Italian border lies the underrated gem of a town of Menton. Literally known as the ‘Pearl of France’, the town is a must visit if you’re in the area. The stunning seaside town is rather unique in terms of feel, architecture and food given its close proximity to Italy.
Home to some stunning tropical gardens, it’s a refreshing change from the glitz and glamour of Monaco and Cannes. Come to Menton and you’ll escape the crowds of the surrounding French towns.
If you’re a foodie then you need to checkout the 3 Michelin star restaurant Mirazur. It’s a temple of Riviera cuisine with some incredible local produce on display. Find out more in my round up of the best restaurants in Menton.
Wanting to know what to see and do in the town? Check out my complete guide to Menton.
Good to Know
- Easily accessibly by train from Nice or Monaco
- There’s plenty of reasonable hotels in the town
- The beach in the town’s bay is lovely
Marseille
Marseille is, for me, a hugely underrated city that is definitely worth a visit if you’re visiting the west side of the Riviera.
Lively, eclectic, diverse and a bit rough-around-the-edges, Marseille has so much character. It doesn’t have the glitz and glamour of other destinations on the Riviera but it’s an authentic South of France experience.
There’s plenty to see and do in the city and there are some fantastic day trips such as Les Goudes and ferry tours out to see the famous Calanques.
The food in Marseille is some of the best in the South and it’s one of my favourite towns to eat in. From French Pizza in Chez Etienne to fresh, locally caught seafood at L’Écaillerie, you’re in for a treat. Check on my guide to the best restaurants in Marseille here.
For more information discover my guide to Marseille as well as my guide to where to eat Bouillabaisse in Marseille.
Good to Know
- It’s great for friends, families and couples
- Marseille is generally safe but avoid staying in the Northern arrondissements
- You can see and do most things in the city and go on a day trip in 3-4 days
