You can certainly spend most of your time on the Riviera lounging on the beach, no one will judge you if you do, and in fact the locals would most certainly approve. However, depending on your travel companions and the season when you visit, you may also want to see what else this fascinating slither of southeast France has to offer.
We’ve rounded up some of our top picks, from shopping at a traditional local market to exploring secluded island creeks, shaded by pines; a magical train ride into the Alps or a mediaeval bread festival. The Côte d’Azur has more colours to choose from than you think – here’s our pick of the top attractions and things to do.
For further inspiration, see our guides to how to spend your holiday in the French Riviera, the best hotels, restaurants and nightlife on the French Riviera. Then plan your trip in detail with our insider guides to Nice, St Tropez and Cannes.
Find things to do by area:
Nice and around
Feast your senses at a typical southern market
Cheerful displays of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables, spices piled high, shiny olives competing to tempt you — there’s hardly any sight more joyful than a Mediterranean market in full swing. In Nice, try the famous Cours Saleya market, known particularly for its vibrant flower stands. At the turn of the 20th century, the area was full of flower fields (Antibes, for example, was covered in roses) and this niçois market claims to be the oldest of its kind.
Insider’s tip: Don’t be afraid to shop around. Most locals will take their time choosing and comparing prices and quality of products. Go near to the closing time (usually around 12.30pm) for bargains on fresh produce.
Website: explorenicecotedazur.com
Price: £
Climb to the top of the deceptively named Colline du Château
A fine castle once stood atop this hill, the highest in Nice’s city centre, but was destroyed by Louis XIV’s army in the early 1700s. Today this is the site of a beloved city park where you’ll find lush flora, a dramatic faux waterfall, cafés and a children’s play area. Above all people come here for the fabulous view out over the Baie des Anges.
Insider’s tip: A lift goes straight to the summit from the Old Town. If you have the energy, though, you can climb the elegant Lesage staircase, which has been immortalised by many artists including Raoul Dufy.
Address: Parc du Château, Escalier Lesage, 06300
Price: £
Take a magical train from Nice into the Alps
Very few tourists know about the aptly named Train of Marvels. It runs every day between June and September from Nice to Tende in the southern Alps, near the Italian border. The hundred-year-old route goes through the Mercantour National Park traversing valleys Paillon, Bévéra and Roya on a route that gradually winds upwards. On the way you’ll see tree-covered valleys and vertiginous perched villages, finishing in the Valley of Marvels, so called because of the bronze-age engravings found there.
Insider’s tip: In winter it becomes the Snow Train (Train des neiges) and runs from the end of January to the end of March on weekends and every day during French school holidays. Train and slow travel enthusiasts will also enjoy the Train des Pignes steam train.
Website: menton-riviera-merveilles.co.uk
Price: £
Monaco
Meet the world’s poshest fish in Monte-Carlo
The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is worth seeing for the building alone, perched on the edge of the Mediterrean. The Belle Epoque palace was purpose-built and commissioned by Prince Albert I. It’s a boon for parents looking for an entertaining and (cool) interlude for their kids thanks to the fabulous array of fish in the aquarium, as well as oceanographic and polar artefacts.
Insider’s tip: All around the principality you’ll see adverts for the Monapass app. It’s handy for booking tickets in advance for museums and also renting and docking the zippy electric Monobike rentals.
Website: musee.oceano.org
Price: ££
Cannes and Cap d’Antibes
Escape to the country
The Ile des Lérins are 10 minutes or so by ferry from the bustle of Cannes, but feels a world away. In high season, there are hourly crossings from the tip of the Vieux Port (where you can also watch helicopters take off). You can choose either the larger Ile Sainte Marguerite with its 17th-century fort, underwater museum and wetlands, or opt for the smaller Île Saint-Honorat, known for its monastery where wine and a special spirit is brewed. They also run silent retreats.
Insider’s tip: Why not make a day of it? Especially if you’re travelling as a family. On Ile Sainte-Marguerite, a walk around the perimeter will keep you busy for a good couple of hours. Pack your togs and visit the secluded beaches; bring food and use the designated shaded picnic areas.
Website: cannes-france.com
Price: ££
Have a sweet-scented adventure in Grasse
Have you always wondered just exactly what the difference is between eau de toilette, eau de parfum and parfum? France’s Unesco-listed perfume capital, located on the edge of the Prealps, is the place to find out. You can visit makers Molinard and create your own scent in an interactive workshop, or wander the (free) museum from world-famous Fragonard.
Insider’s tips: The local tourist office often gives out reduction tokens for Grasse-made perfume. The local roses are celebrated at a dedicated festival in May and the jasmines in August.
Website: provence-alpes-cotedazur.com
Price: ££
Go an an art trail in Saint-Paul de Vence and Cagnes
The perched villages on this part of the coast present landscapes so dramatic and lush that even the least artistic among us might feel moved to buy a sketchpad. Saint Paule de Vence was a sleepy village until artists and writers began to arrive at the start of the 20th century and soon a whole economy sprung up around it. Visit the Fondation Maeght, which celebrates its 60-year anniversary in 2024; don’t miss the Chagall mosaic.
Insider’s tip: Neighbouring Cagnes-sur-mer and Haut de Cagnes up the hill from it are less swanky but also lovely and have their own art museums – the Renoir Museum and the Grimaldi Museum.
Website: saint-pauldevence.com
Price: ££
Saint Raphael-St Tropez (Var)
Explore the red rocks of Estérel
This volcanic massif came to these parts from Africa at the time the Mediterranean was formed, some 250 million years ago; part of it later broke off, forming Corsica. Today its dramatic rocky peaks are heaven for keen hikers and mountain bikers. There are some 60 miles of walking trails and mountain bike circuits for all levels.
Insider’s tip: It’s better to avoid big hikes in the summer months, not only because of the sweltering heat but also because many paths are closed due to risk of forest fires. Instead, go in spring when a floral blanket covers the peaks.
Website: esterel-cotedazur.com
Price: £
Follow in the footsteps of Julius Caesar in Fréjus
“You can’t dig a hole in Fréjus without finding a Roman,” so say the locals. In antiquity, this neighbour of the better-known Saint-Raphael was one of the most important port locations on the Mediterranean. Vestiges include a restored amphitheatre, remains of ramparts, an aqueduct and the ruins of a citadel.
Insider’s tip: Be sure to stop on the waterfront at a monument that commemorates often-overlooked participants of France’s military history. Vietnamese and Senegalese soldiers (Tirailleurs) came here in World War One before being sent to the Front, a moving statue depicts them.
Website: provence-alpes-cotedazur.com
Price: £
Visit an up-and-coming mediaeval canton
The opening of the superlatively luxurious Terre Blanche and golf course put Pays de Fayence, a cluster of villages tucked up behind Saint-Raphael, onto the radar of international travellers (and investors) in the know. You’ll have trouble deciding which of the villages, including Fayence itself, is most lovely, though Seillans has been classed as one of the most beautiful in France.
Insider’s tip: Every July the village of Fayence hosts a bread festival which celebrates traditional production methods. Locals dress up in old-fashioned garb and a loaf is ceremoniously baked in an oven from the 1500s.
Website: provence-alpes-cotedazur.com
Price: £
Celebrate women’s art in Mougins
Just a short drive outside of Cannes, the medieval heritage of the hillside village of Mougins can still be seen in its distinctive spiral shape. In the 20th century it became a stomping ground for great artists including Jean Cocteau, Man Ray and Pablo Picasso. In 2024, the village saw the opening of FAMM, dedicated entirely to artwork by women. Inside you can peruse diverse works from the likes of Berthe Morisot, Frida Kahlo, Barbara Hepworth and Jenny Saville. Round off your trip with a poolside lunch at design-forward hotel Le Mas Candille, a short walk down the hill.
Website: famm.com
Price: £
How we choose
Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Hannah, originally from London, spent years working out the intricacies of French grammar before moving to Paris, where she works as a journalist specialising in French culture and society. She visits the French Riviera and Provence several times a year and loves nothing more than a long lunch in a portside restaurant, or a visit to one of the region’s many excellent galleries.