The Ultimate French Riviera Travel Guide

Where to Stay, Eat, Swim, Shop and Live La Vie en Rose from Nice to Saint-Tropez

Club Riviera Destination Guide · Côte d’Azur

Welcome to the French Riviera

There are destinations you visit, and then there are destinations that seem to change the way you want to live.

The French Riviera belongs firmly in the second category.

Here, mornings begin over tiny cups of coffee beneath striped awnings. Afternoons disappear on beaches backed by pastel hotels and pine-covered hills. Wooden boats bob beside superyachts. Linen dresses replace city clothes. Lunch is rarely rushed, rosé somehow tastes better near the sea, and golden hour feels like an event in its own right.

The Côte d’Azur stretches along the Mediterranean coast of southern France, but the places that have shaped its mythology are remarkably close together: Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Monaco, Menton, Antibes, Cannes and Saint-Tropez.

And yet they feel completely different.

Nice has ochre façades, markets and proper city energy. Antibes feels artistic and quietly wealthy. Cannes is polished and cinematic. Èze seems suspended above the Mediterranean. Monaco takes glamour to almost theatrical levels. Saint-Tropez somehow manages to combine fishermen's cottages, designer boutiques, old cafés and some of Europe's most extravagant beach clubs.

The trick to planning a French Riviera holiday is not trying to experience all of them in exactly the same way.

This guide will help you decide where to stay, where to eat, which beach clubs are actually worth booking, where to shop, how to travel between towns and where to find those enormous yachts you came to the Riviera secretly hoping to see.

Consider it your Club Riviera blueprint for living beautifully on the Côte d’Azur.

French Riviera at a Glance

Destination	Atmosphere	Luxury	Food	Beaches	Walkability	Best For
Nice	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	First-time visitors, food, city life
Villefranche-sur-Mer	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	Romance, swimming, slow afternoons
Èze	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	Views, romance, luxury lunches
Monaco	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	Superyachts, glamour, fine dining
Menton	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	Colour, gardens, quieter Riviera
Antibes	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	Old-town charm, yachts, beaches
Cannes	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	Glamour, shopping, beach clubs
Saint-Tropez	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	Beach clubs, fashion, nightlife

Club Riviera ratings reflect our editorial view of the experience rather than official tourism classifications.

Where Should You Stay on the French Riviera?

If this is your first trip to the French Riviera, Nice is usually the easiest base.

It has the strongest combination of restaurants, atmosphere, sightseeing, airport access and rail connections. From Nice, you can comfortably make day trips east towards Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Monaco and Menton, or west towards Antibes and Cannes.

If your fantasy involves private beaches, designer shopping and Champagne lunches, choose Cannes.

For something more romantic and quietly glamorous, Antibes or Cap d’Antibes is difficult to beat.

And if the entire purpose of your trip is to experience the mythical world of Pampelonne Beach, Saint-Tropez harbour and long lunches that somehow become sunset, spend at least two nights around Saint-Tropez rather than attempting it as a rushed day trip.

Saint-Tropez sits away from the Riviera's main railway line, which makes it noticeably less convenient to reach than Cannes, Antibes, Nice or Monaco. That inconvenience is part of the reason it still feels like a destination rather than simply another stop along the coast. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

How Many Days Do You Need on the French Riviera?

You could see highlights in four days.

You could easily stay for three weeks.

For a first trip, seven to ten days feels ideal.

A beautifully balanced itinerary could look something like this:

Days 1–3: Nice, with Villefranche-sur-Mer and Èze
Day 4: Monaco
Day 5: Antibes and Cap d’Antibes
Day 6: Cannes
Days 7–9: Saint-Tropez and Ramatuelle
Day 10: Slow breakfast, one last swim, reluctantly go home

If you have less time, resist the urge to tick off every town. The Riviera is much better when experienced slowly.

NICE

Best for: First-time visitors, markets, food and a proper Riviera city

Nice is where we would tell most people to begin.

It has enough grandeur to feel glamorous but enough real life to stop it becoming a resort bubble. Belle Époque hotels face the Mediterranean, locals shop for tomatoes and flowers at morning markets, scooters disappear into narrow lanes and tiny restaurants serve recipes that belong specifically to Nice rather than generic French holiday food.

Spend your first morning walking the Promenade des Anglais, then disappear into Vieux Nice.

Cours Saleya is the heart of the old town: flower stalls, produce, local specialities, cafés and shops fill the square, with an antiques market taking over on Mondays and an arts-and-crafts market appearing on summer evenings. (Office de Tourisme Nice Côte d'Azur)

Later, climb Castle Hill – Colline du Château. There is no longer a château at the top, but the view over the Baie des Anges, Old Nice and the port is one of the defining panoramas of the city. (Office de Tourisme Nice Côte d'Azur)

Club Riviera Nice Rating

Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Luxury: ★★★★☆
Food: ★★★★★
Beaches: ★★★☆☆
Walkability: ★★★★★
Stay here if: You want the best all-round base.

Where to Stay in Nice

Le Negresco

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: Iconic French Riviera glamour

Some hotels belong to a city. Others practically become part of its skyline.

Le Negresco is Nice's grand pink-domed landmark on the Promenade des Anglais and one of the few Riviera hotels where staying the night feels almost like checking into a museum.

Inside, period furniture, paintings and contemporary pieces turn the property into an unapologetically eccentric celebration of French art. Its individually decorated rooms span dramatically different historical styles, so this is not the place for someone seeking anonymous beige minimalism. That is exactly why we love it.

It is luxurious, theatrical and wonderfully old-world – the kind of hotel that makes getting dressed for dinner feel entirely reasonable. The hotel's art collection runs into the thousands of works, while Michelin-starred Le Chantecler adds serious culinary credentials. (Le Negresco)

Riviera feeling: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
Location: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★☆☆

Hôtel Amour Nice

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: Cool couples, design lovers and a younger Riviera mood

Hôtel Amour feels less like old aristocratic Nice and more like the friend with excellent taste who somehow found the perfect vintage furniture before everyone else.

The rooms are colourful and deliberately individual, whilst the leafy restaurant courtyard creates one of those places where breakfast can very easily turn into another coffee and another hour.

In summer, the rooftop becomes particularly appealing, with dinner, a swimming pool and wide views over Nice. The hotel also has its own beach concept on the Promenade des Anglais, making it an excellent option for travellers who want their Riviera glamorous but slightly more playful. (Amour Hôtels)

Riviera feeling: ★★★★☆
Design: ★★★★★
Location: ★★★★☆
Value: ★★★★☆

Hôtel du Pin Nice Port

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: A stylish stay without Riviera-palace prices

Budget-friendly on the Côte d’Azur is relative, particularly in July and August, but Hôtel du Pin is exactly the kind of address worth knowing.

This three-star hotel sits close to Nice's port in a lively neighbourhood that feels younger and more local than the grand-hotel stretch of the Promenade. The interiors are contemporary rather than palatial, but you're paying for a convenient, characterful base rather than marble bathrooms and white-glove service.

The airport tram connection and proximity to the port make it particularly practical, and published 2026 room rates span from around €70 at the lowest end to €300 at peak demand. (Office de Tourisme Nice Côte d'Azur)

Riviera feeling: ★★★☆☆
Location: ★★★★☆
Value: ★★★★★
Good for a short stay: ★★★★★

Where to Eat in Nice

Le Plongeoir

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: The view

If you have seen photographs of a tiny restaurant seemingly floating above the Mediterranean, you've probably already seen Le Plongeoir.

The dining platform rises above the sea on a rock that has been used for hospitality since the Belle Époque. Today, the kitchen focuses on fresh, seasonal Mediterranean cooking, but the real luxury is sitting almost directly above the water as the light changes around you.

Book around sunset if possible. It is one of those rare Instagram-famous restaurants where the setting really does justify the attention. (Le Plongeoir)

View: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★☆
Romance: ★★★★★
Instagram factor: ★★★★★

Bocca Nissa

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: A beautiful rooftop and lively dinner

Right by Cours Saleya, Bocca Nissa hides one of central Nice's most photogenic rooftops.

The large planted terrace feels almost tropical compared with the ochre lanes outside, whilst Mediterranean sharing plates and later-evening DJ sets give it a social energy that works particularly well for groups.

Come here when you want dinner to feel like the beginning of the night rather than the end of the day. (BOCCA)

Food: ★★★★☆
Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Instagram factor: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★☆

Chez Acchiardo

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: A true Niçoise meal

This is the antidote to eating only at places that look good on Instagram.

Chez Acchiardo has been run by the same family since 1927 and carries the Cuisine Nissarde label, with traditional recipes passed through generations. (Office de Tourisme Nice Côte d'Azur)

Come for the flavours that actually belong to Nice: daube, ravioli, stuffed vegetables and the sort of unpretentious regional cooking that explains why Niçoise cuisine deserves to be treated as its own culinary tradition.

The room is cosy and traditional rather than polished Riviera fantasy – which is precisely the point.

Authenticity: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Local feeling: ★★★★★
Instagram factor: ★★★☆☆

What to Eat in Nice

Do not leave Nice having eaten only croissants and burrata.

Niçoise cuisine is distinct, sunny and deeply Mediterranean. Look for socca, the thin chickpea pancake best eaten hot; pissaladière, topped with slow-cooked onions, anchovies and olives; pan bagnat; salade niçoise; petits farcis; courgette-flower fritters and, in cooler months, daube or soupe au pistou. (Office de Tourisme Nice Côte d'Azur)

A warm slice of socca eaten from paper whilst wandering around the old town is every bit as essential to the Riviera experience as a Champagne lunch at a five-star hotel.

That contrast is what makes Nice so good.

Nice Beach Club Pick: Plage Amour

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆

Plage Amour takes the recognisable aesthetic of Hôtel Amour and puts it directly on the Promenade des Anglais.

Expect a younger, colourful approach to the private-beach experience rather than hushed old-school luxury. It's a good choice when you want a full afternoon by the sea without committing to the more formal atmosphere of a palace beach club. (Amour Hôtels)

Style: ★★★★★
Party: ★★★★☆
Relaxation: ★★★★☆

VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER

Best for: Swimming, romance and pretending you've moved to France

A few minutes east of Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer feels instantly smaller and softer.

Pastel houses climb around one of the Mediterranean's most beautiful natural bays. Washing hangs over narrow streets. Small restaurants spill towards the waterfront. Boats move lazily across water that seems impossibly blue.

This is not where we'd come for major shopping or nightlife.

It's where we'd come to slow down.

Walk through the old town, follow Rue Obscure beneath its ancient vaulted passageways, have lunch beside the harbour and spend the afternoon swimming.

Villefranche also works beautifully as a half-day stop between Nice and Monaco, although staying overnight allows you to experience the village once the day-trippers disappear.

Club Riviera Villefranche Rating

Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★☆
Beaches: ★★★★☆
Shopping: ★★☆☆☆
Best moment: Late afternoon after a swim.

Club Riviera Tip

Come early enough to enjoy the beach, stay late enough for an aperitif, and don't schedule anything immediately afterwards.

This is exactly the sort of place where doing very little is the point.

ÈZE

Best for: Impossible views and one very glamorous lunch

Èze rises dramatically above the Mediterranean between Nice and Monaco.

The medieval hilltop village is undeniably popular, and the narrow stone streets can become crowded during the day, but few places on the Côte d’Azur deliver quite the same sensation of being suspended between mountains and sea.

Climb through the village, browse small galleries and boutiques, then visit the exotic garden at the top for panoramic views.

This is somewhere worth arriving early.

Club Riviera Èze Rating

Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Luxury: ★★★★★
Views: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★☆
Crowds: ★★★★☆
Walkability: ★★★☆☆

Where to Stay in Èze

Château de la Chèvre d’Or

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: The ultimate romantic splurge

Château de la Chèvre d’Or doesn't simply sit inside Èze – it seems woven into the medieval village itself.

Rooms and terraces appear amongst old stone buildings and gardens high above the Mediterranean, creating the feeling of staying inside a secret hilltop world.

The hotel has five-star status and multiple dining options under chef Tom Meyer, including its celebrated gastronomic restaurant. In 2026, La Chèvre d’Or restaurant retains two Michelin stars. (chevredor.com)

Come here for a honeymoon, anniversary or one extremely good excuse to order Champagne before sunset.

Views: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
Luxury: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★☆☆

The Club Riviera Èze Move

You don't actually have to sleep here to experience some of the magic.

Book lunch or dinner with a view, explore the village when the light softens, and combine Èze with nearby Monaco or Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Just don't attempt to race through it in 45 minutes.

Èze rewards wandering.

MONACO

Best for: Superyachts, extraordinary cars, haute couture and unapologetic glamour

Yes, Monaco deserves to be included in a French Riviera guide.

Technically, it is an independent principality rather than part of France. Experientially, however, it forms an essential chapter of any Côte d’Azur trip.

Everything seems slightly more concentrated here.

The yachts are larger. The cars are louder. The hotel lobbies are grander. The jewellery windows are brighter.

Yet Monaco also has an old town, public gardens, a beach, local neighbourhoods and one of the Riviera's best museums.

Club Riviera Monaco Rating

Atmosphere: ★★★★☆
Luxury: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Shopping: ★★★★★
Yachts: ★★★★★
Value: ★★☆☆☆

What to See in Monaco

Begin around Place du Casino, where the Casino de Monte-Carlo, Hôtel de Paris and manicured gardens create the Monaco of postcards and Bond films.

Then walk towards Port Hercule.

This is one of the most spectacular places on the Riviera for yacht-watching, with 760 berths and infrastructure designed for large luxury craft. (Monaco Havner)

From there, climb towards Monaco-Ville, known simply as Le Rocher – The Rock. Visit the Prince's Palace, wander the old lanes and continue to the Oceanographic Museum, dramatically built into the cliff above the sea. The traditional Changing of the Guard takes place at 11:55. (portpalace.com)

If it's hot, finish at Larvotto Beach, Monaco's public seaside area, where a landscaped promenade, restaurants and Mediterranean water provide a surprisingly relaxed counterpoint to the Casino district. (Visit Monaco)

Where to Stay in Monaco

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: Experiencing Monaco with absolutely no restraint

If you want the full Monte-Carlo fantasy, this is it.

Hôtel de Paris sits directly on Casino Square and combines historic palace glamour with some of Monaco's most formidable dining.

Inside you'll find the three-Michelin-starred Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à l'Hôtel de Paris, rooftop Le Grill, the lively seasonal Em Sherif Monte-Carlo and the legendary Bar Américain. Hotel guests also gain access to an extraordinary collection of resort facilities, including Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo and seasonal access to Monte-Carlo Beach. (Monte Carlo SBM)

This is not a sensible hotel.

That is precisely why it works in Monaco.

Luxury: ★★★★★
Location: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Riviera fantasy: ★★★★★

How to Do Monaco on a Smaller Budget

Monaco is one of the few places in this guide where our favourite budget-hotel strategy is often not staying in Monaco at all.

Stay in Nice, Beaulieu-sur-Mer or another nearby French town and travel in by train.

The regional rail network makes Monaco exceptionally easy to visit without a car, with frequent services connecting it to Nice as well as trains towards Cannes and Menton. (TER SNCF)

Spend your money on lunch, cocktails or an experience you'll remember instead.

Where to Eat in Monaco

Le Grill

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: A glamorous dinner with a serious view

Perched high inside Hôtel de Paris, Le Grill is one of Monaco's classic dining rooms.

Mediterranean cuisine is paired with panoramic views over Monaco and the sea, and the famous roof can open when conditions allow.

This is the sort of restaurant where dressing well enhances the experience rather than feels unnecessary. (Monte Carlo SBM)

View: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★★

Em Sherif Monte-Carlo

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: A beautiful, lively dinner

Also at Hôtel de Paris, Em Sherif offers Lebanese and Mediterranean cooking with sweeping blue-water views.

The atmosphere is warmer and more social than a formal Michelin tasting menu, making it particularly good for groups or couples who want glamour without sitting through a four-hour dinner. (Monte Carlo SBM)

Food: ★★★★☆
Atmosphere: ★★★★★
View: ★★★★★
Instagram factor: ★★★★★

Amazónico Monte-Carlo

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: Dinner that becomes nightlife

Amazónico is not where you come searching for quiet, traditional Monegasque cuisine.

You come for jungle-inspired interiors, Latin American flavours, live music, DJs and a glamorous crowd that is not necessarily planning an early night.

The Monte-Carlo restaurant sits right on Place du Casino and operates late into the evening. (Amazónico)

Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Instagram factor: ★★★★★
Nightlife: ★★★★★
Quiet romance: ★★☆☆☆

Shopping in Monaco

For haute couture and jewellery, head straight towards One Monte-Carlo and the Carré d'Or around Casino Square.

This is where major luxury houses congregate in immaculately landscaped surroundings.

For something less predictable, explore La Condamine, whose pedestrian streets and colourful buildings contain smaller shops and local businesses. Monaco-Ville is better for crafts and souvenirs, whilst Larvotto has developed its own collection of seaside boutiques. (Visit Monaco)

Club Riviera shopping verdict: Come to Monaco for impeccable luxury. Go to Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Antibes if you're hunting for pieces that feel more individual.

MENTON

Best for: Lemons, pastel streets and a quieter edge of the Riviera

Menton is the Riviera's final French flourish before Italy.

The architecture becomes increasingly Italian in spirit, citrus trees appear everywhere and the town feels gentler than Monaco or Cannes.

Walk through the colourful old town, climb towards the Basilica of Saint-Michel, explore the gardens and stop for something lemon-flavoured simply because you're in Menton.

If Nice feels like a city and Monaco feels like a spectacle, Menton feels like somewhere you could accidentally stay for a month.

Club Riviera Menton Rating

Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★☆
Luxury: ★★★☆☆
Beaches: ★★★★☆
Walkability: ★★★★★
Crowds: ★★★☆☆

For serious gastronomy, nearby Mirazur remains one of the Riviera's internationally recognised culinary destinations and appears amongst France's three-Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2026 Guide. (Michelin Guiden)

ANTIBES & CAP D’ANTIBES

Best for: Old-money Riviera, beautiful beaches and enormous yachts

Antibes may be the destination people underestimate most.

The old town has ramparts, a Provençal market, galleries, small restaurants and the Picasso Museum. Just beyond it, Cap d’Antibes becomes greener, quieter and considerably more exclusive.

Then there is the marina.

Port Vauban is where you go if your idea of yacht-watching involves asking, “Is that technically still a boat?”

The marina can accommodate vessels up to around 165 metres, and its famous superyacht quay can handle some of the largest private yachts on the Côte d’Azur. (Site officiel de l'Office de Tourisme)

Club Riviera Antibes Rating

Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Luxury: ★★★★☆
Food: ★★★★★
Beaches: ★★★★★
Yachts: ★★★★★
Walkability: ★★★★★

What to Do in Antibes

Start with the Marché Provençal, where stalls overflow with fruit, vegetables, cheese, flowers, spices and regional produce. During the warmer months the area comes alive again in the evening with crafts, artists and jewellery. (Site officiel de l'Office de Tourisme)

Explore Old Antibes and the Picasso Museum before walking along the ramparts.

If you have more time, head onto Cap d’Antibes for the Tire-Poil coastal path, which follows rocky coves and some of the peninsula's most beautiful water. (Site officiel de l'Office de Tourisme)

And do not skip Port Vauban.

Even people who insist they are not interested in yachts tend to become surprisingly interested in yachts here.

Where to Stay in Antibes

Hôtel Belles Rives

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: Fitzgerald-era glamour by the sea

If Club Riviera were a hotel, Belles Rives would be a serious contender.

The property is an Art Deco jewel on the water in Juan-les-Pins, intimately connected to F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and the glamorous mythology of the Riviera in the 1920s.

With just 43 rooms and suites, it feels markedly more intimate than the enormous palaces of Cannes. There is a private beach, the Fitzgerald piano bar and Michelin-starred La Passagère, all wrapped in an atmosphere that manages to feel historical without becoming stuffy. (Hôtel Belles Rives)

Come here for linen dresses, afternoon swims, martinis and the dangerous realisation that perhaps you were meant to live in 1926.

Romance: ★★★★★
History: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Riviera feeling: ★★★★★

La Jabotte

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: A genuine hidden gem

This is exactly the sort of smaller hotel we want more of in this guide.

La Jabotte has only six rooms arranged around a leafy garden and sits around 60 metres from La Salis beach. There is a heated pool, but the appeal isn't a long facilities list – it's intimacy.

Rooms start at considerably less than Riviera palace prices, with 2026 rates published from under €100 for some categories depending on date. (La Jabotte)

It feels personal, colourful and quietly bohemian.

If your dream Riviera holiday involves reading under a tree rather than posing beside a lobby chandelier, bookmark this one.

Charm: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★★★
Location: ★★★★☆
Luxury: ★★★☆☆

Where to Eat in Antibes

La Passagère

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: One of the most romantic dinners on the coast

Inside Hôtel Belles Rives, Michelin-starred La Passagère celebrates fish, shellfish and Mediterranean produce.

But we'd be lying if we said the setting wasn't half the reason to book.

Its terrace looks towards the Lérins Islands and changing Mediterranean horizon, framed by the hotel's restored Art Deco details. (Hôtel Belles Rives)

Come before sunset.

Order slowly.

Do not schedule anything afterwards.

Food: ★★★★★
View: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
Special occasion: ★★★★★

CANNES

Best for: Beach clubs, shopping and full cinematic Riviera glamour

Cannes knows exactly what it is.

The Croisette runs for roughly three kilometres between the Palais des Festivals and Port Canto, with sandy beaches and beach restaurants on one side and monumental hotels and designer boutiques on the other. (Cannes Tourism)

Yes, it is polished.

Yes, it can be expensive.

Yes, seeing the Carlton glowing above the palm trees whilst people drift between beach lunches and jewellery boutiques is extremely enjoyable.

But Cannes has another side, too.

Walk uphill into Le Suquet, visit Marché Forville, browse the older shopping streets and take a boat to the Lérins Islands, and the destination becomes far more interesting than just red carpets.

Club Riviera Cannes Rating

Atmosphere: ★★★★☆
Luxury: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Beaches: ★★★★★
Shopping: ★★★★★
Walkability: ★★★★★

Where to Stay in Cannes

Carlton Cannes

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: The archetypal Cannes fantasy

With its grand white façade and domes facing the Croisette, the Carlton is essentially part of Cannes iconography.

Following its major renovation, the hotel contains 369 rooms and suites alongside residences, gardens and its famous beach club. Sea-facing rooms look over the Mediterranean and the atmosphere strikes the balance you'd hope for from an iconic Riviera grand hotel: formal enough to feel special, but built around seaside pleasure. (Carlton Cannes)

If your idea of Cannes involves dressing for breakfast and walking directly from the lobby to a lounger beneath a striped parasol, start here.

Luxury: ★★★★★
Location: ★★★★★
Beach: ★★★★★
Cannes factor: ★★★★★

Hôtel Martinez

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: Art Deco glamour and serious people-watching

Another Croisette legend, Hôtel Martinez has leaned beautifully into its Art Deco identity.

The enormous property has 410 rooms including 116 suites and now holds France's prestigious Palace distinction. (Hyatt)

Its private beach, glamorous terraces and storied connection with Cannes make it ideal for travellers who want to be right inside the action.

During major events, expect the lobby alone to provide world-class people-watching.

Luxury: ★★★★★
Design: ★★★★★
Location: ★★★★★
People-watching: ★★★★★

Hôtel de Provence

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: Charm without palace pricing

Hôtel de Provence is proof that staying in Cannes does not require signing over a minor inheritance.

This intimate three-star property has around 30 rooms, a private garden and a central location within easy reach of the Croisette.

For 2026, published double-room rates begin around €125 in lower periods and around €235 in parts of the warmer season, although Cannes pricing rises dramatically during congresses and major events. (Cannes France)

It's not trying to compete with the Carlton.

It doesn't need to.

Choose it for location, personality and the ability to spend the money you saved on lunch.

Charm: ★★★★☆
Value: ★★★★★
Location: ★★★★★
Luxury: ★★★☆☆

Where to Eat in Cannes

La Palme d’Or

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: A serious gastronomic evening

Inside Hôtel Martinez, La Palme d’Or represents Cannes at its most refined.

This is not a casual post-beach bowl of pasta. Come here when dinner itself is the evening: dress properly, arrive hungry and allow the experience to unfold.

Food: ★★★★★
Service: ★★★★★
Special occasion: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★☆☆

Zuma Cannes

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: Sunset, sushi and a glamorous crowd

At Palm Beach, Zuma brings its contemporary Japanese formula to one of Cannes' best waterfront locations.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and a large terrace look across the coast and Bay of Cannes, whilst the menu combines sushi, robata cooking and modern Japanese dishes. (Zuma Restaurant)

The setting is particularly good around sunset, when the restaurant starts to feel more like a destination than simply dinner.

Food: ★★★★★
View: ★★★★★
Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Instagram factor: ★★★★★

La Môme Plage

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: The Slim Aarons fantasy

La Môme Plage understands exactly what people want from Cannes.

The design references the French Riviera of the 1950s, the menu leans Mediterranean and the atmosphere moves effortlessly from sophisticated lunch to something more celebratory. (La Môme Plage)

This is where we'd send someone who says, “I want the place to look gorgeous, but I also want it to be fun.”

Style: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★☆
Party: ★★★★★
Riviera feeling: ★★★★★

The Best Beach Clubs in Cannes

Cannes has a major advantage over much of the Riviera: proper sandy beaches directly in the city centre.

There are also 13 public beaches, so paying for a lounger is very much optional. (Cannes Tourism)

Carlton Beach Club

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★

One of the most classic beach-club experiences on the Croisette.

The Carlton combines sand, a famous central pontoon, Mediterranean views and the polished 1950s-inspired glamour you would expect from the hotel.

In 2026, sun loungers are listed from around €70. (Cannes Tourism)

Best for: Classic Cannes.

La Plage du Martinez

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★

White, blue and beautifully polished, the Martinez beach feels like an extension of the hotel itself.

It is a place to see and be seen rather than disappear unnoticed with a paperback.

Summer 2026 lounger pricing begins around €74, with availability and conditions varying. (Cannes Tourism)

Best for: Full palace energy.

Mademoiselle Gray

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆

One of our favourite choices if you want a beautiful Cannes beach day without automatically choosing the most expensive lounger on the Croisette.

Natural-toned parasols, DJs and a polished beachfront setting give it enough glamour for photographs whilst keeping the mood relatively relaxed. Published 2026 loungers start from around €28, although prime positions and pontoons cost more. (Cannes Tourism)

Best for: Stylish value.

Shopping in Cannes

If you're looking for major luxury houses, walk the Croisette.

For more wearable French fashion, head towards Rue d’Antibes.

For smaller contemporary boutiques and interesting fashion finds, explore Rue du Commandant André and Rue Hoche.

And if you want something that feels more authentically local than a logo handbag, wander Rue Meynadier near Marché Forville, where Cannes' traditional commercial streets feel noticeably removed from the polished Croisette. (Cannes Tourism)

The French Riviera shopping rule is simple:

Don't spend your entire trip inside boutiques you could visit in London, Paris or New York.

Look for linen, swimwear, jewellery, leather sandals, vintage pieces, ceramics, Provençal fragrances and smaller French labels that will actually remind you of the trip.

The Lérins Islands

If Cannes begins to feel a little too polished, get on a boat.

Just offshore, the Lérins Islands offer pine trees, rocky coves and wonderfully clear water.

Pack swimwear, water and something simple for lunch, then spend a few hours away from the Croisette.

It's one of the easiest ways to understand the contrast that makes this coastline so appealing: extreme glamour is never very far from somewhere completely natural.

SAINT-TROPEZ & RAMATUELLE

Best for: The ultimate Riviera fantasy

Saint-Tropez is ridiculous.

And wonderful.

The village itself is smaller than many first-time visitors expect. Pastel buildings surround the harbour, pétanque is still played beneath plane trees at Place des Lices, fishermen's cottages survive alongside fashion houses and enormous yachts pull in within metres of café tables.

Then, a short journey away, Pampelonne Beach stretches for 4.5 kilometres through Ramatuelle – home to the beach clubs that transformed Saint-Tropez into a global summer mythology. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

Club Riviera Saint-Tropez Rating

Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Luxury: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Beaches: ★★★★★
Shopping: ★★★★★
Nightlife: ★★★★★

Where to Stay in Saint-Tropez

Cheval Blanc St-Tropez

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: The no-compromises option

Cheval Blanc is Saint-Tropez polished down to its most luxurious form.

Intimate, beachfront and impeccably controlled, this is the sort of hotel where the hardest decision of the day might be whether to remain by the sea or begin getting ready for dinner.

Its real culinary reason for pilgrimage is La Vague d’Or, chef Arnaud Donckele's extraordinary restaurant and one of France's three-Michelin-starred addresses in 2026. 

If budget is irrelevant and you're searching for somewhere that feels quietly exceptional rather than loudly fashionable, this is the one.

Luxury: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
Exclusivity: ★★★★★

Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: Staying right in the village

This five-star hotel has stood at the entrance to Saint-Tropez since 1931 and embraces the bright, graphic glamour of the “sweet sixties”.

Its greatest advantage is location.

You can walk out of the hotel and be almost immediately inside the life of the village rather than organising transfers from a remote resort.

Upstairs, the hotel's rooftop is particularly special, with a pool, panoramic views and Les Toits restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean and Saint-Tropez rooftops. (Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez)

Location: ★★★★★
Design: ★★★★★
Rooftop: ★★★★★
Beach access: ★★★☆☆

La Romarine

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: More space and better value

For Saint-Tropez, La Romarine offers unusually sensible value.

Set within two hectares of gardens between the village and Pampelonne, the hotel has rooms, villas, a large pool and sports facilities, making it particularly attractive if you're travelling by car or staying for several days.

Published 2026 double-room rates begin from around €130 in parts of the shoulder season, climbing towards €300 in peak summer – still a very different universe from Saint-Tropez's palace hotels. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

Value: ★★★★★
Pool: ★★★★☆
Location: ★★★★☆
Quiet: ★★★★★

Where to Eat in Saint-Tropez

La Vague d’Or

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★+
Best for: A bucket-list dinner

There are restaurants you add to a holiday.

La Vague d’Or is the kind of restaurant around which people build the holiday.

Chef Arnaud Donckele's cooking is deeply rooted in the landscape surrounding Saint-Tropez, drawing on Mediterranean fish, vegetables, herbs and an extraordinary obsession with sauces and flavour. The restaurant retains three Michelin stars in 2026. 

Expensive? Extremely.

Memorable? That's the point.

Food: ★★★★★
Service: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★★★
Once-in-a-lifetime factor: ★★★★★

Gigi Ramatuelle

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: Gorgeous lunch energy

Gigi feels like someone built an Italian summer fantasy inside the pine forest above Pampelonne.

The mood is playful and polished rather than hushed, with Mediterranean-Italian food, beautiful interiors and the kind of crowd who appear to have packed exclusively white linen.

Come for lunch and don't expect to rush back to your hotel.

Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Design: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★☆
Instagram factor: ★★★★★

The Best Beach Clubs in Saint-Tropez

This is where things become serious.

Pampelonne is effectively a beach-club universe of its own, ranging from iconic institutions to full-scale luxury party destinations.

And remember: Pampelonne itself remains a public beach with free access. You never need to pay a beach club simply to swim here. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

Club 55

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: The original Saint-Tropez mythology

Club 55 is the one.

Created in 1955, it has managed to remain one of Pampelonne's defining institutions without turning itself into a giant nightclub.

The aesthetic is understated: wood, canvas, simple tables, excellent produce and the sense that everyone around you has been coming here for years.

The restaurant prioritises local sourcing and even produces some of its own organic wine, olive oil, vegetables and fruit. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

Surprisingly, the beach itself can be less extortionate than many newer clubs: 2026 published pricing lists a mattress at €39 and parasol at €19. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

Icon status: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★★
Style: ★★★★★
Value for Saint-Tropez: ★★★★☆

Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: The party

Nikki Beach isn't trying to recreate an old fishing village.

It is a polished international beach-club fantasy with a pool, restaurant, fashion, music and an increasingly energetic atmosphere as the afternoon develops.

Saint-Tropez was one of the brand's defining European locations, and the property was comprehensively refreshed in 2024. Its 2026 programme continues through the summer season with major weekend events. (Nikki Beach)

Come here when the plan is not reading quietly.

Party: ★★★★★
Pool: ★★★★★
Luxury: ★★★★★
Peace: ★★☆☆☆

Club Les Palmiers

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★
Best for: High-fashion beach glamour

White Cycladic tones meet warm terracotta at Les Palmiers, with a Mediterranean restaurant, concept store and late-afternoon energy that feels unmistakably Saint-Tropez. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

It is glamorous without relying on the same boho-neutral aesthetic as every other beach club on Instagram.

Come beautifully dressed.

Style: ★★★★★
Food: ★★★★☆
Luxury: ★★★★★
Party: ★★★★☆

Moorea

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: Chic without choosing the most expensive option

Moorea is the kind of Pampelonne address we particularly like recommending because it still feels special without automatically entering ultra-luxury territory.

It has the beach aesthetic, restaurant and Saint-Tropez atmosphere people want, but generally feels more relaxed than the most theatrical clubs.

Style: ★★★★☆
Value: ★★★★☆
Relaxation: ★★★★★
Party: ★★★☆☆

Cabane Bambou

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆
Best for: Barefoot understatement

If the phrase “luxury beach club” makes you imagine bottle service and DJs, Cabane Bambou offers something softer.

The setting feels natural, relaxed and connected to Pampelonne rather than built over it. Come for seafood, Mediterranean flavours, bare feet and a slower lunch.

Style: ★★★★☆
Food: ★★★★☆
Relaxation: ★★★★★
Pretension: ★☆☆☆☆

Shopping in Saint-Tropez

The biggest luxury houses are here, often tucked unexpectedly into beautiful village buildings.

But again, those are not necessarily what we'd buy.

Saint-Tropez is one of the best places on this trip to hunt for something with a distinct Tropezian identity.

Look for flowing linen, raffia, kaftans, jewellery, swimwear and beautifully made leather sandals.

Most importantly, visit Rondini or K. Jacques for traditional Saint-Tropez sandals, which can be made or selected in the village and feel considerably more personal than buying another international designer bag. Saint-Tropez Tourism specifically highlights both houses as local artisan sandal makers. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

Also browse the Place des Lices market, held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, for fashion, baskets, textiles, food and the wonderful organised chaos of a Provençal market. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

What to Eat in Saint-Tropez

You are legally required – or at least spiritually required – to eat Tarte Tropézienne.

The dessert combines soft brioche with a light cream filling and was created by Alexandre Micka before becoming inseparable from the mythology of Saint-Tropez and Brigitte Bardot. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

Also look for fresh Mediterranean fish, Provençal vegetables, olive oil, local rosé, bouillabaisse-style seafood preparations and simple grilled dishes.

And at some point, sit at the famous red Sénéquier terrace on the port.

Is it a secret local discovery?

Absolutely not.

Do we still think you should do it once?

Absolutely.

How to Get to Saint-Tropez Without Losing Your Mind

This deserves its own section.

There is no railway station in Saint-Tropez.

The nearest useful rail gateway for many Riviera travellers is Saint-Raphaël, from where regional buses continue through Sainte-Maxime towards Saint-Tropez. Boat services also operate from locations including Saint-Raphaël, Sainte-Maxime and, seasonally, other Riviera ports. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

In peak summer, arriving by boat can be vastly more enjoyable than sitting in traffic.

If you're staying in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, scooters, bikes and local boats can also make moving between the village and beaches considerably easier than relying exclusively on a car. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

Where Can You See the Biggest Yachts on the French Riviera?

We need to settle this properly.

1. Antibes – Port Vauban

Yacht factor: ★★★★★

For sheer scale, Antibes is arguably the winner.

Port Vauban has around 1,500 berths and can receive vessels up to roughly 165 metres. Its famous superyacht quay is specifically designed for the giants. (Site officiel de l'Office de Tourisme)

If you want to stand beside a yacht that makes nearby apartment buildings look modest, come here.

2. Monaco – Port Hercule

Yacht factor: ★★★★★

Monaco wins for theatre.

The harbour sits directly beneath the city, surrounded by steep streets, luxury hotels and the famous Formula 1 circuit.

Port Hercule has 760 berths and facilities capable of welcoming large luxury craft. (Monaco Havner)

Come around golden hour when the yachts begin lighting up.

3. Saint-Tropez – Vieux Port

Yacht factor: ★★★★★

Not necessarily the place with the single largest vessels, but certainly one of the most entertaining.

The contrast is pure Saint-Tropez: enormous modern yachts moored metres from old pastel houses, painters, café terraces and small traditional boats.

Order something cold and watch the show.

4. Cannes – Port Canto

Yacht factor: ★★★★☆

At the far end of the Croisette, Port Canto provides a more serene yacht scene.

The marina has more than 550 berths and can accommodate yachts up to 90 metres. (Cannes)

It is particularly impressive around the annual Cannes Yachting Festival.

How to Travel Around the French Riviera

This is the section that will save you both money and arguments.

Use the Train for the Riviera Spine

The regional TER railway is brilliant for:

Cannes → Antibes → Nice → Villefranche-sur-Mer → Monaco → Menton

Current SNCF services show frequent direct connections along this coastal corridor, including Nice–Cannes and Nice–Monaco routes. (TER SNCF)

For these towns, a rental car is often more inconvenience than freedom.

Stations are generally central, parking can be expensive and summer traffic is real.

Use Buses for Hill Villages

Places such as Èze Village sit above the railway line rather than beside it.

The train may take you to the coast below, but buses or taxis are often necessary for the final climb.

Use a Car Selectively

A car becomes far more valuable if you're exploring:

Pampelonne and Ramatuelle, inland Provençal villages, vineyards, remote beaches, Cap d’Antibes at your own pace, or several smaller destinations in one day.

Our preferred strategy?

Don't rent one for the entire holiday simply because you think you should.

Use trains for the easy section of the Riviera, then hire a car for the specific days when it actually improves the trip.

Use Boats Whenever They Make Sense

The coastline looks completely different from the water.

Boats are particularly useful around Cannes and the Lérins Islands, throughout the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and for selected seasonal connections along the coast.

And arriving in Saint-Tropez by boat is objectively more glamorous than arriving after two hours staring at someone's brake lights.

What to Eat on the French Riviera

The food of the Côte d’Azur sits somewhere between Provence, Italy and the Mediterranean Sea.

That makes perfect sense once you look at the map.

Socca

A thin chickpea-flour pancake from Nice, ideally eaten hot with plenty of pepper.

Salade Niçoise

Tomatoes, eggs, olives, anchovies or tuna and the flavours of a Niçoise summer.

Pissaladière

Slow-cooked onions, anchovies and olives over bread-like pastry.

Pan Bagnat

Essentially the flavours of salade niçoise packed into bread generously dressed with olive oil.

Petits Farcis

Small Provençal vegetables stuffed and baked.

Bouillabaisse and Mediterranean Fish

More strongly associated with Marseille and Provence, but seafood and simply grilled local fish are fundamental throughout the coast.

Tarte Tropézienne

The brioche-and-cream dessert of Saint-Tropez.

Lemon Everything

Particularly as you travel east towards Menton and the Italian border.

What to Drink on the French Riviera

Provence Rosé

If one drink belongs to the Côte d’Azur, this is it.

Pale, dry Provence rosé appears everywhere from palace terraces to picnic blankets.

Serve it very cold.

Rosé Piscine

Rosé poured over plenty of ice in a large wine glass.

Wine purists may object.

The Riviera does not appear concerned.

Pastis

An anise-flavoured Provençal aperitif traditionally diluted with cold water.

Less Instagram-friendly.

Far more local.

Champagne

For Monaco, Cannes and any afternoon where you have temporarily decided financial consequences are a problem for your future self.

Limoncello

Especially appropriate towards Menton, Monaco and the Italian end of the coast.

Where to Shop for Unique Clothes on the French Riviera

If Club Riviera had one shopping rule, it would be this:

Buy the version of yourself you become on holiday.

Not the obvious logo.

The beautiful linen shirt.

The handmade sandal.

The silk scarf.

The oversized sunglasses.

The woven bag.

The dress you would wear to dinner barefoot.

In Nice, look around Old Nice and smaller boutiques away from the major chains.

In Antibes, combine the Provençal market area with independent shops through the old town.

In Cannes, explore Rue d’Antibes, Rue Hoche, Rue du Commandant André and the streets surrounding Marché Forville rather than remaining exclusively on the Croisette. (Cannes Tourism)

In Saint-Tropez, prioritise smaller Tropezian labels, artisan jewellery and leather sandals from Rondini or K. Jacques. (Saint-Tropez Tourisme)

In Monaco, accept that restraint has left the building and wander One Monte-Carlo.

The Most Instagrammable Places on the French Riviera

Some places genuinely look as good in person as they do online.

For Club Riviera, these are the photographs worth making space for:

Nice: Cours Saleya in the morning, Castle Hill over the Baie des Anges, Le Plongeoir at sunset.

Villefranche-sur-Mer: the pastel waterfront from above.

Èze: stone lanes and the Mediterranean from the hilltop.

Monaco: Casino Square at dusk and Port Hercule after dark.

Antibes: Hôtel Belles Rives, the ramparts and superyachts at Port Vauban.

Cannes: Carlton Cannes, the Croisette, La Môme Plage and the view back towards the city from the sea.

Saint-Tropez: the harbour at golden hour, Place des Lices market, Club 55 and the road through umbrella pines towards Pampelonne.

French Riviera Beach Clubs: Our Shortlist

Beach Club	Location	Club Riviera Rating	Best For
Club 55	Pampelonne	★★★★★	Iconic Riviera lunch
Nikki Beach	Ramatuelle	★★★★★	Party
Club Les Palmiers	Pampelonne	★★★★★	High-fashion glamour
Moorea	Pampelonne	★★★★☆	Stylish, more relaxed
Cabane Bambou	Pampelonne	★★★★☆	Barefoot chic
Carlton Beach Club	Cannes	★★★★★	Classic luxury
La Plage du Martinez	Cannes	★★★★★	Palace experience
Mademoiselle Gray	Cannes	★★★★☆	Stylish value
Plage Amour	Nice	★★★★☆	Cool, younger atmosphere

The Best Time to Visit the French Riviera

May

Warm, beautiful and comparatively civilised.

Some seasonal venues are just reopening, flowers are everywhere and the coast feels alive without peak summer intensity.

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★

June

Possibly our favourite month.

Long evenings, warm sea, beach clubs in full swing and considerably less chaos than August.

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★

July

This is the Riviera turned all the way up.

Gorgeous, hot, expensive and busy.

Book the places you care about well ahead.

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆

August

The most intense month.

If you thrive on full beach clubs and peak summer energy, you'll love it. If crowds make you miserable, choose June or September.

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★☆☆

September

Excellent.

The sea is still warm, many seasonal venues remain open and the atmosphere begins to soften.

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★★

October

Wonderful for markets, restaurants, walks and a slower Côte d’Azur experience, but less reliable if your entire plan revolves around beach clubs.

Club Riviera Rating: ★★★★☆

How to Experience the French Riviera Without Spending a Fortune

The Côte d’Azur can be absurdly expensive.

It can also be surprisingly accessible.

The beaches themselves are generally free.

Old towns are free.

Markets are free to wander.

The Mediterranean doesn't become bluer because you paid €80 for a sunbed.

Use regional trains. Stay one or two streets behind the waterfront. Have lunch at restaurants rather than automatically booking dinner tasting menus. Buy bread, peaches, tomatoes, cheese and a bottle of rosé and take them somewhere beautiful.

Then choose one or two extravagant experiences deliberately.

Perhaps it's lunch at Club 55.

Perhaps it's one night at Belles Rives.

Perhaps it's Champagne at Hôtel de Paris.

Luxury feels far more luxurious when the entire holiday isn't trying to prove something.

Club Riviera's Perfect French Riviera Day

Wake early.

Walk to a bakery before the streets become hot.

Order coffee and something buttery.

Go to the market.

Swim before lunch.

Put on a linen shirt over your swimwear.

Order tomatoes because they taste better here.

Order rosé because apparently it does too.

Spend longer at lunch than intended.

Return to the hotel.

Shower.

Do absolutely nothing for an hour.

Dress for dinner.

Walk beside the sea when the light turns gold.

Have one drink somewhere beautiful.

Eat outside.

Do not ask for the bill too early.

That is the itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions About the French Riviera

What is the best place to stay on the French Riviera for first-time visitors?

Nice is our favourite first-time base because it combines beaches, restaurants, old-town atmosphere, airport access and excellent rail connections to Cannes, Antibes, Monaco and Menton.

Is Cannes or Nice better?

Choose Nice for culture, local food, markets and a proper city atmosphere.

Choose Cannes for sandy beaches, luxury shopping, palace hotels and beach clubs.

If time allows, do both.

Is Monaco worth visiting?

Yes.

Even if extreme luxury isn't normally your thing, Monaco's combination of the old town, Oceanographic Museum, Port Hercule, Casino Square and extraordinary geography makes it an excellent day trip.

Is Saint-Tropez worth the journey?

If beach clubs, fashion, nightlife and Riviera mythology appeal to you, absolutely.

But stay overnight if possible. The village is much more enjoyable in the morning and evening when many day visitors have disappeared.

Can you travel around the French Riviera without a car?

Very easily between Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Monaco and Menton.

You will need buses, taxis, boats or occasional car hire for places such as Èze Village, Pampelonne and Saint-Tropez.

Where are the biggest yachts on the French Riviera?

For sheer yacht size, head to Port Vauban in Antibes, which can accommodate some of the Riviera's largest superyachts.

For the most glamorous yacht scenery, visit Port Hercule in Monaco or the old harbour of Saint-Tropez.

Which French Riviera town has the best beaches?

For traditional sandy beaches and easy access, Cannes is excellent.

For a mixture of beautiful coves and beaches, Antibes and Cap d’Antibes are superb.

For the iconic beach-club experience, nothing beats Pampelonne near Saint-Tropez.

What food is the French Riviera famous for?

Try socca, salade niçoise, pan bagnat, pissaladière, petits farcis, Provençal vegetables, Mediterranean seafood and Tarte Tropézienne.

What should I wear on the French Riviera?

There is no official uniform, but effortless generally looks better than overdressed.

Think linen, cotton, silk, flat sandals, simple jewellery, good sunglasses and something slightly more elegant for dinner.

The secret is looking as if dressing well required no effort whatsoever.

Continue Your Club Riviera Journey

The Ultimate Amalfi Coast Travel Guide
Perfect if the French Riviera has made you want to continue your Mediterranean summer into Italy.

The Perfect Limoncello Spritz
Bring a little Amalfi sunshine home.

A Dreamy Aperol Spritz
For your own golden-hour aperitivo.

The Perfect Hugo Spritz
A lighter floral cocktail for long summer afternoons.

Burrata with Peaches, Prosciutto & Honey
The starter that tastes like summer on the Italian coast.

Creamy Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Twenty minutes between you and an imaginary terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.

The Club Riviera Ritual

Wake before everyone else.

Buy flowers you don't need.

Swim before breakfast.

Wear the good dress on an ordinary Tuesday.

Order the local wine.

Take the table outside.

Stay for coffee.

Watch the boats come home.

Let lunch take too long.

And never save beautiful things exclusively for holidays.

Because the French Riviera's greatest luxury isn't the yachts, the palace hotels or the tables overlooking the Mediterranean.

It's the quiet conviction that life is something worth enjoying beautifully.

And la dolce vita- or perhaps, here, la douceur de vivre- can follow you home.

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