There’s something magnetic about stumbling upon a place you’ve never heard of and realizing it might just become your favorite destination. That’s exactly what happened when I first set foot in Menton, this impossibly charming town perched at the very edge of the French Riviera where France kisses Italy. The colorful buildings stacked against the hillside looked like someone had taken a paintbrush to the Mediterranean coastline, splashing citrus-hued facades across the landscape in shades that shouldn’t work together but somehow create the most photogenic streets you’ll ever wander through.
What strikes you immediately about this pearl of the Côte d’Azur is how seamlessly it blends two distinct cultures into one delicious experience. Walking through the old town, I found myself doing double-takes at every corner—was that Italian or French I just heard? The pizzerias outnumbered the pâtisseries in some neighborhoods, yet the croissants were undeniably French, buttery and flaky in that way only the French seem to master. It’s like traveling through two countries at once without ever crossing a border, except technically you’re still in France, just barely.
The Franco-Italian border sits right there, making Menton literally the last train stop before you roll into Italy. This wasn’t always French territory, though. Back in the 14th century, this picturesque town belonged to the Republic of Genoa, only officially becoming part of France through annexation in 1861. The Italian influence didn’t just fade away with a signature on some political document—it stayed, woven into the cuisine, the architecture, the very soul of the place.
I’ll be honest: before booking a last-minute girlfriend getaway to the French Riviera, Menton wasn’t even on my radar. Nice, St. Tropez, Cannes—those were the names that came to mind. But when hotels in those more familiar coastal towns turned out to be either fully booked or wildly overpriced, I started digging deeper. Discovering this hidden gem felt like finding money in an old jacket pocket—unexpected and absolutely delightful.
With a population hovering around 30,000, Menton maintains this village feel that Nice, with its million people, simply cannot offer. It’s perfect for anyone craving a quieter pace, somewhere you can actually hear yourself think while sipping coffee at a sidewalk café. The town wraps around a crescent-shaped sandy beach and protected marina, with train stations positioned at both ends making day trips along the coast ridiculously easy.
You want to stretch your budget a bit further while still experiencing that Riviera magic? Menton delivers. Need a home base for exploring neighboring towns by train, with time leftover each day to meander through picture-perfect streets, pop into a museum or two, and grab a lovely dinner along the seafront? This is your spot. I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially if you’re the type who prefers discovering a place before Instagram ruins it with overtourism.
Sunshine, Lemons, and That Famous Microclimate
Here’s something wild: Menton enjoys around 300 brilliant, cloud-free days every year. That’s more sunshine than most places dare to promise. Visitors flock to these sandy shores specifically to escape dreary northern weather, and honestly, who can blame them? The town’s famous for two things that go hand in hand—all that sunshine and the lemons that absolutely thrive here.
Thanks to a unique microclimate offering mild winters, ample sunshine, and protection from harsh winds, lemon trees flourish in ways that produce fruit that’s unusually juicy and sweet. For centuries, this town has been known for its lemons, and they’ve leaned into it hard. The lemon motif appears everywhere—tea towels, shopping totes, every imaginable citrus-themed souvenir lines the shops geared toward visitors. Full transparency? It ran a titch touristy for my taste, maybe even crossed that line where charming becomes kitsch. But the actual lemons? Those are legitimate.
Every year in February, Menton hosts this two-week spectacle called the Fête du Citron. Over 200,000 people descend on the town for parades featuring sculptures and floats made entirely of real citrus fruit. If you’re planning a winter visit, this Lemon Festival is definitely worth adding to your calendar. In late summer, there’s also the Menton Music Festival, drawing classical music lovers from around the world for open-air concerts in stunning venues like the Saint-Michel Basilica. For a full list of events throughout the year, the Menton event page has all the details.
Though I should mention—in true travel irony, we managed to catch one of those rare rainy spells in April during our visit. So much for 300 days of sunshine, right? But even the rain couldn’t dampen the town’s exceptional prettiness.
The Beach Scene and That Redesigned Promenade
The best way to spend a day here involves exploring the historic center during the morning hours, then heading to the beach for the afternoon. Menton’s seaside promenade—officially known as the Esplanade des Sablettes—underwent this beautiful redesign in recent years, and they absolutely nailed it. Laid out over two levels and fully accessible, it’s the perfect place for a stroll, a roll, a ride, or a run, depending on your preference. Palm trees line the walkway, punctuated by benches, sun loungers, restaurants, and beach clubs offering something for everyone. We found ourselves drawn to it every single day of our stay.
The promenade runs for roughly 700 meters, but if you carry on around the corner to the south-west along Promenade de la Sol, you can keep walking for several kilometers. For truly lovely photos of the town, follow the breakwater out to the end of the marina toward the Saint Michael statue. From there, you can capture incredible panoramic shots of the city while admiring the classic boats lining the docks.
As for the beaches themselves, you’ve got options. Plage des Sablettes Ouest ranks as the most scenic beach in Menton, with the colorful old town stacked up behind you and beautiful coastal views stretching into the distance. The beach is pebbly rather than sandy, but the water stays calm and shallow with plenty of space to lay out a towel and relax. Free, clean toilets sit nearby, and the old town is literally steps away, making it ridiculously easy to grab food or drinks throughout the afternoon.
Just a short walk beyond Sablettes Ouest, you’ll find Plage des Sablettes Est, which is pretty much the same beach, just further down the coast. Then there’s Plage de Fossan, this long, narrow pebbled stretch just west of the old town offering uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean’s turquoise waters. It’s a nice, clean beach where you can really decompress.
Menton also has several private beach clubs, including La Pergola Beach and Les Sablettes Beach Club. The weather wasn’t quite on our side during our visit, but I had my eye on Les Sablettes for its stylish setup and solid reviews for both food and service. They’ve got this really easy online booking system where you can choose your exact lounger location on the beach in advance. Worth checking out if you’re planning to make a full day of it.
Climbing Those Instagram-Famous Stairs
Directly behind Les Sablettes Beach, you’ll spot Les Rampes Saint-Michel—this grand staircase that zigzags its way up the hillside connecting the waterfront to the Basilique Saint-Michel-Archange perched at the top of the Old Town. Built in 1753 by Prince Honoré III of Monaco, this yellow and orange staircase connects the upper and lower parts of Menton and has become one of the most photogenic spots in the entire city.
The stairs might seem a little daunting to climb at first glance, but they’re not actually that steep, and you’ll quickly become distracted by the incredible views unfolding with each step. I swear, I must have taken 50 photos on the way up, each angle somehow more beautiful than the last. It’s one of those rare spots where stopping to catch your breath doubles as a legitimate photography opportunity.
From nearly anywhere in Menton, you can spot the yellow bell tower of the Basilique Saint-Michel Archange rising above the rooftops. This 17th-century church is typically open only in the later afternoons—think 3 to 5 PM, though you should double-check hours before making the trek. Mass happens on Sunday at 11am. The basilica itself is lovely but quite small, and honestly, the climb up those rampes offers views that rival anything you’ll see inside.
Getting Lost in the Maze of the Old Town
Once you reach the top of Les Rampes Saint-Michel, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of Vieux Menton. Like most small towns scattered across Europe, one of the absolute best things to do in Menton is simply wander without a map or agenda. Spend a couple of hours getting deliberately lost in this historic center, weaving through cobblestone alleys and climbing the narrow staircases that twist up the hillside at seemingly random intervals.
The old town is compact but full of beauty at every turn. Take some time to explore these narrow lanes and admire the colourful buildings, courtyards, and gardens that seem almost impossibly stacked into the hillside. As you wander, you’ll catch glimpses of the sea framed between buildings, and you’ll come across small galleries, tucked-away wine bars, and cafés that look like they’ve been there forever. It’s a great place to get a little lost in the best possible way.
A few streets deserve special mention. Rue du Vieux Château is this quiet alley that winds its way up toward the cemetery, with lovely views of the bell tower appearing along the route. Rue Longue might be the most photogenic street in the entire town, lined with tall, colorful buildings, overgrown greenery spilling from balconies, and laundry strung between windows in that authentically European way that somehow looks charming rather than cluttered.
Then there’s Rue Saint-Michel, Menton’s main pedestrian street and the town’s charming thoroughfare. While it can get crowded, especially during peak season, it’s absolutely worth a stroll. Beautiful buildings line both sides, punctuated by lemon trees, inviting cafés, chocolatiers, wine bars, and boutique homeware shops. Yes, it skews a bit touristy, but it’s also legitimately charming. Chances are you’ll find yourself walking this street more than once during your visit—it’s just one of those naturally magnetic places.
If you explore the little streets running behind Rue Saint-Michel, you’ll stumble across some interesting vintage and antique shops. L’Usine Centre d’Antiquité Brocante is this particularly fun place where you can get lost browsing for a good hour. I was also charmed by the eclectic collection at Maison Haute, a home décor store located on Rue de la République that felt like stepping into someone’s very stylish home.
No seaside French town would feel complete without a classic carousel, and Menton delivers. The kids (or the kid in you) will appreciate it. Along your stroll down Rue Saint-Michel, you can also visit Les Halles Market, this Belle Époque gem built way back in 1898 where vendors sell fresh produce, regional specialties, and Menton’s famed lemons. From this cobblestone street, it’s easy to continue on to the beach or wander even deeper into the Old Town.
One practical tip for planning purposes: keep in mind that many retail stores close between 12 and 3 PM, and restaurants often shut down between 2:30 and 7 PM. This is France, after all, where the afternoon break remains sacred.
If you’re looking for something more in-depth than self-guided wandering, you might want to book a historical walking tour. There are a few options listed on Viator that dive into the town’s complex past.
That Other Market Everyone Talks About
Le Marche des Halles de Menton ranks among the best well-stocked indoor markets I’ve been to anywhere in France, and I’ve been to quite a few. It has literally everything you need, whether you’re grocery shopping for the week or just picking up picnic supplies for an afternoon at the beach. You’ll find stalls selling bulk grains, local cheeses, cured meats, pre-made dishes like tomates farcies (stuffed tomatoes), fresh bread that’s still warm, and whatever seasonal produce happens to be at its peak.
This is where locals actually shop, not just a tourist trap disguised as authenticity. The quality shows, and so do the prices—reasonable for what you’re getting. If you’re staying somewhere with kitchen facilities, or even just planning to assemble a beach picnic, this market should be your first stop.
Viewpoints That’ll Make You Stop and Stare
From the basilica, wind your way up through this maze of even narrower streets, past the Cimetière du Vieux Château, until you reach the viewpoint at the top. This spot delivers some of the absolute best views of Menton—overlooking the port, the terracotta rooftops spreading out below, and the coastline stretching all the way to Italy. It’s one of those views that makes you understand why people move across continents to settle somewhere.
If you’ve got time, the cemetery itself is worth a quick walk around. Old European cemeteries have this particular beauty that’s hard to describe—respectful but also somehow peaceful and even artistic with their elaborate monuments and mature trees.
For another angle on the town, head to Quai Impératrice Eugénie. You can also catch a great view nearby at the Port des Sablettes. Both spots are especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset when the light turns everything golden, but even during the middle of the day, the views remain stunning. These are the kind of moments that make you realize your camera really isn’t doing the scene justice, but you keep taking photos anyway.
The Jean Cocteau Connection
Jean Cocteau—the celebrated French poet, artist, filmmaker, and playwright who lived from 1889 to 1963—had a deep connection to Menton, especially later in his life. Known for his surrealist and avant-garde contributions to 20th-century art and culture, Cocteau is one of those artists who worked across so many mediums that pinning down his legacy becomes almost impossible. But his mark on Menton remains very visible.
He decorated the Salle des Mariages (the Wedding Hall) and designed the Bastion Museum, which occupies a restored 17th-century fort and houses many of his works. I first fell in love with Cocteau’s work during a Schiaparelli exhibit I caught in Paris a few years ago—he collaborated with the designer on several pieces—and ever since, I’ve been determined to see his work wherever I can track it down.
In Villefranche, I made sure to visit the chapel he painted. In Menton, you can stop by this small museum housed in that 17th-century fortification featuring a modest collection of his works. Just keep in mind the museum is quite small. The original, larger Cocteau museum—the Séverin Wunderman Collection—has been closed for several years following severe storm damage, and there’s still no update on when it will reopen, which is genuinely disappointing.
While the striking Musée Jean Cocteau building (you can’t miss its modern architecture) remains shuttered, visitors can still explore Cocteau’s art at the nearby Bastion Museum. For current exhibition information and hours, check the Le Bastion Jean Cocteau website. La Salle des Mariages can also be visited, though it keeps limited hours and only opens on weekdays. For specifics, learn more on the Ville de Menton website.
A Surprising Garden Tucked Away
Originally a private estate, the Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh was transformed into a tropical garden back in 1905 by British General Lord Radcliffe, who named it after his wife—a romantic gesture that outlived them both. The garden was later expanded by botanist Miss May Bud Campbell, who became known for introducing rare species, especially from the nightshade family. Today, it’s managed by the National Museum of Natural History, giving it official botanical street cred.
The garden opens year-round but stays closed on Tuesdays, so plan accordingly. Audio guides are available for a small fee of just 1 euro, which seems almost criminally cheap for what you get. Guided tours in French only get offered daily at 10:15 a.m. for an additional fee of 2 euros per person. There’s also a small café and gift shop on site if you need refreshments or want to take home seeds or plant-related souvenirs.
For more details before planning a visit, check the official Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh website. It’s one of those spots that doesn’t appear on every “must-see” list but probably should, especially if you appreciate plants and garden design.
Where to Actually Eat Well
Many Menton restaurants lean heavily toward Italian fare, and honestly, who’s complaining? Italian food is delicious. But if you look a little closer, you’ll find a surprisingly diverse culinary scene, including classic French cuisine for those craving a more traditional taste of France. From Michelin-starred dining to casual bistros, this small town offers no shortage of great options. Here are several notable places to consider, from splurge-worthy to everyday affordable.
Mirazur sits perched on a hillside above Menton, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant led by Chef Mauro Colagreco. Known for its garden-to-table approach, it was actually ranked the best restaurant in the world back in 2019. Reservations are absolutely essential—we’re talking book months in advance. The sea views are incredible, and the food lives up to the hype. For bookings and to learn more, check out mirazur.fr.
Les Gascons represents a newer addition to Menton’s dining scene, offering hearty southwestern French cuisine. It’s gaining serious attention for its flavorful dishes and warm atmosphere. I’m personally predicting some kind of Michelin acknowledgement in its future—the meal we had there ranked among the most memorable of the entire trip. For reservations and a visual guide to their dishes, see Les Gascons on Instagram.
JR Bistronomie is located near the sea and Jean Cocteau Museum, offering modern French cuisine with clear Mediterranean influences. Chef Jérôme Rigaud’s menu features creative dishes like tomato tarte tatin and confit lamb shoulder that balance innovation with recognizable flavors. For more information, visit jr-bistronomie-restaurant-menton.com.
L’Orangerie does this interesting thing where they reimagine Mediterranean cuisine with a Japanese twist. It’s not fusion in that heavy-handed way that sometimes fails—it works. Le Bistro des Jardins serves French bistro fare with terrace seating, perfect for a leisurely lunch. Pizzeria 430gradi comes highly rated if you’re in the mood for a truly excellent pizza spot.
For something more casual, Avé Pâtisserie is this amazing pastry shop serving buttery, flakey viennoiseries and beautiful pastries that are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Their stuff is seriously good—we kept going back. Mitron Bakery deserves a visit specifically for the lemon tart, which makes sense given Menton’s whole lemon thing. Sini does foccacia pizza by the slice, ideal for grabbing a quick lunch when you don’t want to commit to a full sit-down meal.
Edwige Coffee came through when we were desperately searching for a smoothie on a particularly hot afternoon. It was the only place that popped up on our map, but the lovely owner made us feel welcome, and the smoothies were fresh and exactly what we needed in that moment.
For aperitivo before dinner, Persephine is this cozy wine bar with a great selection of French and Italian wines, plus excellent charcuterie boards. Nearby, L’Art du Vin doubles as both a wine shop and bar, making it perfect for a relaxed glass and a nibble in the heart of town. You can sample something, love it, then buy a bottle to take home.
On the sweet side, Maison Meloni stands out as a top pick for artisanal gelato, known for house-made flavors using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Demontis is also worth a stop, serving authentic Italian-style gelato in generous scoops that’ll make you wonder why you ever settled for the prepackaged stuff.
Where You Should Actually Stay
Menton is a genuinely compact town where most hotels sit within easy walking distance of the main beach promenade. If you’re planning to explore by train—and you should, given how easy the system makes everything—it’s worth checking the walking distance from your hotel to the nearest station. Remember, there’s one on the west side of town (Menton Station) and another on the east side (Menton-Garavan Station) near the Italian border.
The town offers a nice mix of charming boutique hotels and more modern stays. These three particularly stand out for comfort, style, and convenient location.
Villa Genesis operates as a 5-star luxury hotel with an infinity pool, located just outside the old town. This 30-room property sits about 100 meters from the beach and offers a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, garden, terrace, and bar. Guests can enjoy gourmet breakfasts and easy access to Menton’s old town and attractions. All rooms and suites come equipped with modern amenities including air conditioning, soundproofing, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The bathrooms are fitted with Italian marble showers or bathtubs and come stocked with plush bathrobes and designer toiletries. It’s the splurge option, but if that’s what you’re after, they deliver.
Hotel Gabriel reopened its doors in 2025 after an extensive renovation, emerging as this stylish and affordable option. Located just two blocks from the main pedestrian street and roughly 250 meters from the beach, it offers a sunny terrace, cozy bar, and bright breakfast room. The hotel has 35 rooms decorated in a fresh Neo Riviera style. Ours was quiet and comfortable, with air conditioning, soundproofing, a flat-screen TV, and free WiFi working perfectly. Some rooms also feature balconies with views over the town, which would be lovely for morning coffee. As an added bonus, we found the staff to be exceptional—they were so warm and helpful, making great recommendations that ensured we had the best possible stay in Menton.
Hôtel de Londres is this great little find in the heart of Menton, housed in a restored wing of the historic Palais Astoria. The property has been stylishly renovated in an Art Deco style, featuring 28 thoughtfully designed rooms. While the rooms are compact, they’re soundproofed and air-conditioned, equipped with smart TVs, free Wi-Fi, and eco-friendly bath products. There’s also this lovely garden terrace where you can enjoy a drink from the bar or just relax after a day of exploring. It hits that sweet spot of affordable boutique hotel with genuinely stylish rooms and sits within walking distance to the old town.
Hotel Lemon (the name couldn’t be more perfect) is a quaint, family-run hotel positioned close to the center. Hotel Chambord claims an amazing location in the very heart of town with well-decorated rooms that make you feel like you’re staying somewhere more expensive than you actually are.
A vacation rental in Menton can also work brilliantly if you’re staying more than a few days or traveling with family or friends. Rentals typically offer excellent value with more space, kitchen facilities, and large outdoor areas like terraces or balconies. Check Menton’s top vacation rentals through VRBO and Booking.com. Personal tip: I always start by filtering out any properties that have received an average guest rating of less than 9 out of 10. Life’s too short for mediocre accommodations when you’re on vacation.
Timing Your Visit Right
Menton gets blessed with over 300 days of sunshine every year, coupled with mild winters and warm, dry summers. We visited at the very end of June, and it felt like the ideal time—plenty of sun, perfect beach weather, and the excitement of early summer in full swing. Everything felt alive and open.
That said, June can get busy. If you’d prefer fewer crowds but still want great weather, aim for May, September, or even early October when temperatures remain warm enough for comfortable beach days. The best time to visit really falls somewhere from late spring through early fall when the weather stays warm, sunny, and ideal for enjoying both the beach and outdoor cafes. May, June, and September strike me as especially pleasant, offering great weather without those peak summer crowds that can overwhelm smaller towns.
Fall and winter work great for a quieter trip, especially if your focus tilts more toward exploring nearby towns rather than logging serious beach time. February represents a unique time to visit if you specifically want to experience the famous Menton Lemon Festival—just know you’ll be sharing the town with thousands of other people. Swimming won’t be on the agenda, but the festival atmosphere might be worth the trade-off.
Actually Getting There Without Losing Your Mind
We rented a car for our French Riviera trip and drove to Menton from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for the day, a drive that took just under an hour along that scenic but occasionally white-knuckle coastal road. If you’re on the fence about renting a car on the Riviera, here’s my take: Rent one if you want the flexibility to explore at your own pace or plan to visit smaller towns that aren’t easily accessible by train. The freedom is genuinely nice.
However, if you’re sticking mainly to the coastal towns like Menton, Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, or Cannes and want to save on costs, the train and bus system works just fine—maybe even better when you factor in parking headaches. We rented our car through DiscoverCars.com and had zero issues.
Speaking of parking, we parked at Parking Interparking Vieille Ville, this convenient underground lot sitting just a short walk from the center. It cost €2.30 per hour, and when we rolled in around 9:30 a.m., there were plenty of spots available. By the time we left in the afternoon, though, the lot was completely full. If you’re visiting during high season, get there early or prepare for frustration. There’s also an outdoor lot nearby called Parkla, close to where we parked, which might offer overflow options.
The regional train from Nice to Menton takes about 38 minutes and costs €7.40 each way, making it both faster and cheaper than driving when you factor in gas and parking fees. The Menton train station sits roughly 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the old town, or you can take a short bus ride to the center if you’re not feeling the walk. Book your tickets online at SNCF.com or just grab them at the station—the system is refreshingly straightforward.
There are no direct trains from Paris to Menton, but the journey remains quite straightforward. It takes just over 6 hours total and begins at Paris’s Gare de Lyon, with one easy connection in Nice. Honestly, it’s one of those train trips that feels more like an experience than a chore, especially once you hit the coast.
If you’re flying in, the closest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE), which connects well to major cities including Montreal, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles. From the airport, you can rent a car, take a taxi or Uber, or hop on a train with one easy connection. We took an Uber from NCE to Menton when we first arrived because we were absolutely wiped from an overnight flight. The cost ran about 55 euros, which felt worth it for the convenience of door-to-door service.
On the way back, we took the train. Not only had we become pros at Riviera train travel by then, but a return taxi or Uber from Menton to the airport would have been considerably more expensive—we’re talking 100 to 120 euros. The train proved simple, requiring just one quick transfer at Nice Saint-Augustin Station to the red tram just one level down. This tram offers free service running straight to Terminals 1 and 2. Once you know the system, it’s actually easier than coordinating a taxi pickup.
Moving Around Town
If you like getting your daily steps in and don’t mind a few stairs (and trust me, there will be stairs), Menton is a very walkable town. Taxis are quite readily available for longer trips or when your feet stage a rebellion. There is Uber service in Menton—we used it to get to the train station at the end of our trip—but I wouldn’t say the cars are plentiful. Don’t count on opening the app and having five options pop up immediately.
Menton offers this convenient and eco-friendly electric bus service called La Navette that makes getting around the city legitimately easy. The service includes several routes connecting key areas like the town center, train station, and beachfront. The best part? It’s completely free. Zero euros. Just hop on and ride.
Day trips to other towns along the French Riviera are super easy, especially with a train station positioned at each side of town. We downloaded the SNCF Connect app ahead of time to check schedules, then would simply buy a ticket once we arrived at the station. Tickets occasionally get checked by agents walking through the train—we got checked exactly once in about 8 trips, but it’s random, so don’t risk riding without one.
Pro tip: Make sure to take a seat on the ocean or south-facing side of the train. This allows you to enjoy spectacular coastline views instead of staring at tunnel walls and hillsides. It makes a bigger difference than you’d think in terms of the overall experience.
Exploring Beyond Menton
One of the absolute best things about staying in Menton is how easy it becomes to explore the surrounding area. In just four days, we managed to visit Nice, Monaco, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and even the Fondation Maeght sculpture gallery near Saint-Paul-de-Vence. If you’re traveling by car, you’ll have lots of freedom, as long as you don’t mind those winding roads that sometimes feel like they’re testing your commitment to sightseeing.
Without a car, we found the train system exceptionally fast and easy to use. From Menton, you can reach Monaco in just 15 minutes, Èze in 19 minutes, Nice in 24 minutes, and Cannes in about an hour. These aren’t long, grueling journeys—they’re quick hops that make exploring multiple towns in a single day genuinely feasible.
Nice deserves at least a full day. Spend time at the beach, stroll through the flower market in the old town, and definitely take in the views from Colline du Château. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is this ritzy peninsula known for Belle Époque villas and dreamy beaches. You can get there by bus or car from Villefranche-sur-Mer. Don’t miss the coastal walk and a visit to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, which feels like stepping into a different era entirely.
Èze is this hilltop village just a short bus ride away. Make sure to visit the Exotic Garden not just for the cacti but for the views that stretch forever. Monaco delivers exactly what you’d expect—luxury, casinos, fancy cars if you want to spot them, and opportunities to splurge on fine dining. But it’s not all about conspicuous consumption. Tour the royal palace, visit one of the many museums, and wander the cliffside paths above the sea, which offer some genuinely beautiful moments.
Villefranche-sur-Mer is this colorful seaside town with amazing views and an actual sandy beach, which is rarer along this coast than you might think. Although we didn’t make it this time, the medieval village of Sainte-Agnès sits just above Menton. You can get there by direct bus in about 40 minutes or taxi in 13 minutes. It’s officially one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and is known for cobbled streets, mountain views, and a hilltop fortress that looks like something from a fairytale.
The Fondation Maeght near Saint-Paul-de-Vence is worth the trip if you appreciate modern art and sculpture. The collection is genuinely impressive, and the setting itself becomes part of the experience. These day trips give Menton this added dimension—it’s not just a destination itself but a comfortable, affordable home base for experiencing the entire Riviera at your own pace without the crowds and costs of staying somewhere like Nice or Cannes.