If you’ve never been to the French Riviera before, you’ve definitely heard of it!
With the famous Lions & Film Festivals giving it a celebrity status, it’s no wonder it’s such a desired location to visit. It’s certainly our favourite. But why?
Arrival
As you descend, you can see that stunning coastline, the Mediterranean Sea and the snow-capped mountains of the French Alps through the windows of the plane and it’s clear you’re arriving in a place of true natural beauty.
Driving to our destination of Cap d’Antibes is a pleasant journey along the A8 and took just over half an hour.
Arriving in Cap d’Antibes
Being one of the most sought after addresses along the Riviera, the charm of Cap d’Antibes is evident from the offset with quaint cobbled streets and beautiful scenery. Once we’d dropped off our luggage at the villa, we went for a stroll!
The old town is gorgeous with pretty houses, designer shops and a wonderful market filled with a vast variety of produce ranging from fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, meats, cheeses and spices. We didn’t have a lot of time as our schedule was jam-packed however our wander through the market allowed us to be very enticed by the arrays of colour!
Travelling Around Cannes
We continued to walk into Cannes, where our first stop was one of our favourite chocolatiers – Juan Luc Pele. The display is so inviting that you can’t help but be drawn in by it. The smell of the sweet chocolate has your tastebuds doing somersaults from the moment you walk in the door and there’s an entire wall made of chocolate! Our treats of choice were the macarons – so delicious! Whatever you may purchase here, you won’t be disappointed.
After a long walk, it was time for a well-deserved drink! We stopped off at 72 Croisette for a refreshing gin & tonic. It’s in a great location opposite the beach with a wonderful sea view and it turned out to be a prime spot for the sunset.
Exploring Saint Jean Cap Ferrat
It was a fly by visit to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat but this is such a quaint town, nestled in greenery on the peninsula between Nice and Monaco. It’s one of the most popular locations on the Cote d’Azur with exclusive homes and a large yacht harbour. The village itself is quite small but there are plenty of terrace cafes and restaurants along the port.
One of the regions most popular attractions is the Ephrussi de Rothschild. This incredible building is a museum with magnificent gardens and grounds – it’s definitely worth spending a couple of hours here to appreciate the craftsmanship of the landscapes.
The beaches in Cap Ferrat are an ideal place for relaxation and topping up your tan. The panoramic views spread from the bay of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Villefranche harbour and all the way over to the cliffs of Eze.
Monaco
Monaco is most famous for the Grand Prix as well as the legendary Monte-Carlo Casino. It’s a haven for the wealthy and a playground for tourists. It’s the second smallest city in the world (the smallest being Vatican City) but that doesn’t mean it’s any less exhilarating and should be on your list of places to visit.
It was quite peaceful on the day we visited even though there were numerous groups of people on their own travels. All the buildings were pristine and uniquely designed, adding to the character of Monaco. The palace is protected by guards and chains but you are still able to get a perfect, obscured view.
Monaco Cathedral is particularly striking, there is no entrance fee and photographs are prohibited inside the building. It’s truly stunning and tranquil with amazing detail and architecture.
Adventures in Eze
A beautiful medieval village situated in the hills with absolutely breath taking views of the coast. In my opinion, it’s my favourite location and a must-see! The village is pedestrianized so a car park is located below it along side the tourism office. There are a maze of paved streets to explore with picturesque buildings to be photographed and viewed with awe.
The French Riviera is an utterly remarkable place to visit and we can’t get enough!
Feeling inspired to visit the Cote d’Azur?
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