Wonder Where I Wander- Travel Guides, Travel Tips, Remote Working & Affordable Luxury Travel

Postcards from the French Riviera

Timeless, classic and chic, the French Riviera is a movie. The rustic and romantic streets are lined with designer fashion boutiques, dainty cafes, with a distant backdrop of the French Alps. It boasts a wonderfully turquoise coastline, hence the name Cote d'Azur, with yachts that sparkle like diamonds, each coming with their own bodyguard. Glamour takes on a whole new meaning on the French Riviera.

If you're unsure where the 'French Riveria' starts and ends, it is the Mediterranean, south-eastern coast of France, stretching from the Italian border, up past Saint Tropez. Some may consider Marseille to be included, though only recently has it begun to shake its somewhat unfairly given 'sketchy' reputation. The main headlines of my 5 day trip were Cannes, where I stayed, Saint Tropez, Monaco, Antibes, Menton, and Nice. Similarly to my trip to the Italian Riviera, I am in awe of the consistent natural beauty of such a long stretch of coastline, as well as the charm of its architecture and golden sunshine.

Cannes

The only way to afford this trip on a tight budget in the height of summer is to compromise. We all want to stay in Monte Carlo, but our purses tell us otherwise. Book well in advance, and evaluate how much time you will actually be staying at your hotel. We decided that we'd rather save money by staying somewhere basic, and using our funds to experience what the South of France had to offer.

Cannes is probably most famous for the annual Film Festival, where the world's most renowned celebrities celebrate the film industry with glitz and glamour. La Croisette, the main road along the coast, will not fail to impress you, with Dior, Chanel and convertibles on every corner. Don't let the hotels and the boutiques put you off; it costs nothing to walk down La Croisette, under the shade of the palms, and take in the view of the bay. I particularly enjoyed the town at night, people watching whilst perching at the 72 Croisette bar, sipping on an aperitif.

grab yourself a french carb of some sort

Le Suquet, the old town, is a nice retreat from the dazzle of the main town, where you will see a grand view of the harbour. Le Suquet is really charming and slightly more rustic.

TIP: Bring an empty bottle in your bag to fill up at the many natural water sources around the old town.

Ile Saint Marguerite

A pretty, secluded island, Ile Saint Marguerite is the largest of the Lerins Islands, about half a mile away from Cannes. It is home to an old prison fort, and gives great views of the coast for 15 euros. Explore its fragrant forests, whilst admiring the epic 360° views of Cannes and the other Lerins Islands.

Saint Tropez

Saint Tropez is as blissful as it sounds, and yes, it smells like peaches. We got a train and a bus to get there from Cannes, and it honestly took about four hours each way. But it really was worth it. The only disappointment for me is the pebbled beaches. I love sand, even though it gets everywhere and hangs around for years. I would invest in some special beach shoes! There are some sandy beaches, but they were quite far and we didn't have a car. Saint Tropez used to be a modest fishing town, until the 20th century, where it soon became a hot spot for celebrity jet-setters. Listen. This place is so gorgeous.

Spend your time wandering the lanes of the old town, popping in and out of perfumeries and delicatessens.

Head down to the Vieux Port for an Aperol and a view of the 'once fishing village turned who has the biggest Yacht’ show! The pastel coloured houses are everything you imagined of Saint Tropez.

We later found respite from the crowds on Plage des Graniers, staring at a beautiful view of Sainte-Maxime. Like, I said my only reservation about the beaches in France is the lack of sand. I'm a Caribbean girl so my standards of beach are high.

Menton

How on earth this place exists and isn't a major tourist attraction is beyond me. I had never actually heard of Menton or seen photos of it until I researched the South of France. A small town, close to the Italian border, you can see Italy from the harbour. It is nicknamed the Pearl of France for a reason.

The fantastic thing about Menton, Monaco, Nice, Antibes and Cannes is that they are all connected by the train, so you can get from Cannes to Menton in under an hour.

It is as if Mother Nature just opened a bag of skittles and scattered them where she pleased. Menton also hosts the annual Lemon festival! This town really has the architectural charisma of Italian coastal towns like Portofino, without the hustle and bustle of being overcrowded. In a way, I hope it remains as quiet as it is!

Boulevard de Garavan

Boulevard de Garavan is an elevated winding road, decorated in flowers, hugging the bay of Menton (Plage des Sablettes), offering spectacular views of the bay, the mountains, and even out to France's neighbour, Italy. Many Italians reside in Menton, and it definitely reflects in the architecture and the pace. Whilst heading up to Garavan might be a little steep (and a tad sweaty), you'll be glad to take a seat overlooking the multi-coloured old town, with the sun kissing the roofs and its reflection sparkling on the sea. If you're looking for nightlife and glamour, go to Monaco and Nice, but if you're looking for a gentle and laid-back, go to Menton.

Antibes

We almost didn't come here, but then someone really recommended that we did, and I am so glad that we did. Cap d'Antibes is home to the Musee Picasso, which I didn't get to. It was really just a pit stop, but very worth it!

Antibes is a port town, which has captured the hearts of many. The old town, which always tends to be the most charming of every town, is surrounded by old medieval walls, and houses the Marche Provencal, an indoor/outdoor market selling local produce. The traditional Provencal market sets out stalls selling regional produce, from cheese to spices to flowers.

The views from the most southern point of the old town wall is gorgeous- you can walk right the way up to Nice Airport, and you get a panoramic view of the Alps.

Monaco

The world's second smallest country, but the largest bank accounts ever! Residents do not have to pay income tax. I repeat, NO income tax. It is gorgeous in a more modern-chic way. It is not dainty and sweet like the other towns, it ultimately looks like a real-life casino cash payout. If you're looking for a night of carefree (potentially reckless) casino fun, Monte Carlo holds the crown jewels.

If you want to actually gamble, you need to be dressed appropriately (no shorts, hats, trainers), so we went to the casino in Cannes which was a bit more relaxed. In Monte Carlo, you can really dress up and make a night of it.

Monaco-Ville (the older, medieval part), or Le Rocher, elevated above the rest of Monaco, is elegant and charismatic, as its lanes lead up to the Grimaldi's Palace of Monaco.

On the priority list is Le Jardin Exotique, but don't bother paying to go in, (you can see exotic flowers pretty much anywhere now!) instead, just sit on the balcony in the entrance with a cool drink, and take in the most breathtaking view of Monaco! I sat here for a good 20 minutes.

Nice

Nice is seen to be the capital of the French Riviera, it has a long stretch of coastline (Baie des Anges/Bay of Angels) alongside the Promenade des Anglais (though it is entirely made up of pebbles!), and is home to the main airport of the South. Nice's rooftops are red and tiled, which only adds to its appeal. Nice is elegant, and simple. and reminds me in some ways of Brighton in the height of summer, with its cobbled lanes, and pebbled seafront decked in sun umbrellas. I could imagine gracefully strolling down the Promenade with a parasol in one hand and an ice-cream in the other.

Head to Parc du Chateau for the best views of all of Nice; the Promenade, the Old Town and the Port. It's an absolute trek up to the top, but treat yourself to a slush puppy on arrival, and enjoy the surrounding views and waterfall.

So to round up; Is the French Riviera beautiful? Yes. Is it expensive? Only if you make it! Is it crowded? Only the places you'd expect it to be. Should you go? YES. Flights to Nice are decently priced all year round, and it is warm from around April-October. I am returning this year, so I'll add some updates in October!

Rose xxx