The ultimate travel guide to exploring the French Riviera

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Èze -

Cottages of terra-cotta peer over a high cliff 427 m (1,401 ft) above sea level to lend Èze a decidedly lofty air.

 

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Bormes-les-Mimosas - This Provencal village is known for its many varieties of flowers, which thrive thanks to the microclimate of the area.

 

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Blooms and bouquets -

Nestling in hills, Bormes-les-Mimosa's medieval houses are overgrown with bougainvillea flowers, and the bouquet is quite intoxicating!

 

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Monaco -

A sovereign city-state, glitzy Monaco is one of the most expensive and wealthiest places in the world: 30% of the population is made up of millionaires. You have to see the place, but look and don't touch.

 

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Fontvieille, Monaco - The principality enjoys an achingly beautiful setting, and is best explored leisurely on foot. Pictured is the Fontvieille area.

 

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Grasse - Let yourself be guided by the scent of this picturesque town, considered the world capital of perfume.

 

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Fragrant destination -

Linger here and breathe in the atmosphere, made sweeter by the fact that this is the center of the French perfume industry.

 

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Hyères - Each year, the city hosts the Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography, an unmissable event in the region which takes place at the end of April.

 

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Îles d'Hyères -

An ideal excursion out of the city is to visit the three nearby islands of Îles d'Hyères—Île de Porquerolles (pictured), Port-Cros, and the Île du Levant.

 

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Saint-Paul-de-Vence -

One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is distinguished by a warren of narrow lanes that all seem to lead to the church atop a rocky outcrop.

 

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Celebrity retreat - Bathed by an exceptional light, Saint-Paul-de-Vence has hosted numerous artists and writers, among them Jean-Paul Sartre and Pablo Picasso. Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has a home here, as did British actor Donald Pleasence, who died here in 1995.

 

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Ramatuelle -

Surrounded by greenery, the pleasant rural retreat that is Ramatuelle offers an alternative to the beaches of the nearby Mediterranean coast.

 

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Ramatuelle coast - That said, the beaches are only a short distance away, like relaxing Pampelonne, a small pocket of sand hemmed in by rocks.

 

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Toulon - An important naval port, busy Toulon stands out for its warm and inviting atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, which many foreign visitors find appealing.

 

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Mont Faron -

For eye-watering views of Toulon, take the cable car to the top of Mont Faron, which summits at 584 m (1,916 ft).

 

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Nice -

Another show-stopping Riviera destination, Nice is renowned for its ornate hotels, historic squares, and grand palaces and churches.

 

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Promenade des Anglais -

For many though, Nice is all about the beach which fronts the seemingly never ending Promenade des Anglais.

 

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Monte Carlo -

An administrative district of Monaco, Monte Carlo is a byword for the extravagant display and reckless dispersal of wealth, and you either love it or hate it!

 

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Casino de Monte-Carlo -

It's the location for several world-famous buildings including the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and of course the celebrated casino (pictured).

 

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Cassis -

East of Marseille is the delightful town of Cassis. A popular tourist haunt, the destination is renowned for the cliffs that overlook the harbor, and for the sheltered inlets called calanques that texture the coast.