Where to Stay on the French Riviera
Are you wondering where to stay on the French Riviera?
Read on for the best French Riviera towns to base yourself in, as well as hotel recommendations!
The French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur, is a stretch of coastline along the Mediterranean in southern France. There are no official boundaries, but many people define it as stretching from the resort town of Saint-Tropez in the west to the town of Menton in the east near the Italian border.
Also included in the geography of the French Riviera is the tiny principality of Monaco, the second-smallest country in the world with an area of just 0.81 square miles along the Riviera.
This region has been a captivating vacation destination for centuries, with resort towns that have been popular since the late 18th and 19th centuries. The French Riviera is known for its amazing beaches, stunning scenery, and variety of destinations, from glitzy resort towns to quaint medieval villages.
Getting Around the French Riviera
The best airport to fly into for visiting the French Riviera is Nice International Airport.
There are nonstop flights to Nice from all over Europe and the United States, as well as from other worldwide destinations. You could also fly into Marseilles, France or Genoa, Italy depending on where you are staying on the Riviera. Both of these airports are a little over two hours from Nice.
You can also get to Nice by train from Paris. The fastest train takes 5.5 hours.
When it comes to getting around the French Riviera, the region is well-connected by train. All but one of the towns I’m recommending below have a train station, so you can easily get around to other towns.
In addition to trains, there are buses which are useful for reaching some of the smaller hilltop towns.
I personally would not bother with a car on the French Riviera unless you’re staying somewhere with free parking. Finding parking in many towns is a hassle and driving is not worth the hassle.
Best Towns on the French Riviera
So let’s talk about the best towns to stay in on the French Riviera!
There are tons of places to stay along the French Riviera, but I’ve highlighted what I consider to be the best towns depending on what you’re looking for. I’ve also included hotel recommendations.
Here’s a quick overview:
- Nice: Hotel Le Negresco
- Antibes: Hôtel La Villa Port d’Antibes & Spa
- Villefranche-sur-Mer: Welcome Hotel
- Menton: Hôtel De Londres
- Èze: La Chèvre d’Or
- Cannes: Hôtel & Spa Belle Plage
Now let’s get into each town, and why I recommend it.
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Nice
Nice is not so much a town as it is a bustling city. Being the largest city along the French Riviera with a population of 350,000 people and a major international airport, it’s basically the capital of the region.
This is a great place to stay if you want to be surrounded by a lot of action and you want a convenient, central base with easy access to all the other destinations along the French Riviera. This is not the place to stay if you’re looking for more of a laidback, small-town vibe since Nice is a major city destination.
In Nice, some of the best things to do include exploring the Old Town, strolling along the beachfront Promenade des Anglais, going up to the Colline du Château viewpoint, and shopping at the Cours Saleya food and flower market. The city is known as a great destination for food and nightlife.
Nice is also a good option if you’re looking for somewhere more budget-friendly as it’s not as expensive as some of the smaller resort towns. Overall, Nice makes an excellent base for exploring the French Riviera.
Where to Stay: Hotel Le Negresco
Hotel Le Negresco is probably the most well-known and iconic hotel in Nice. It opened in the early 1900s and was the top place to stay for the jet-setting elite who wanted to see and be seen in Nice.
Today, the hotel retains its glamour, offering luxurious amenities and a great location right along the Promenade des Anglais. There’s a private beach for guests, as well as a spa and fitness center. The hotel is about a 15-minute walk to the heart of the Old Town, where you’ll find tons of shopping and dining.
More hotels in Nice: 7 Best Hotels in Nice, France
Antibes
Antibes is one of my top picks for where to stay on the French Riviera. I absolutely love this town, which is conveniently located between Cannes and Nice. It’s a good location for exploring more of the French Riviera, and the town itself is lovely. There are also great beaches in Antibes and the nearby Cap d’Antibes.
In the Old Town of Antibes, you’ll find tons of shopping, dining, and things to do like visiting the Musée Picasso, which is where Picasso actually stayed and painted while he was in Antibes.
Staying in the Old Town is great if you want a convenient location (it’s just a short walk to the train station) but there are also hotels out on the Cap d’Antibes that are further from town but offer the perfect isolated and relaxing escape. However, you will probably want a car if you stay on the Cap d’Antibes.
Where to Stay: Hôtel La Villa Port d’Antibes & Spa
One of the best hotels in Antibes is Hôtel La Villa Port d’Antibes & Spa. This is the perfect place to stay if you want to be convenient to the Old Town, beaches, and the train station for exploring more.
The hotel is just steps away from the Old Town, and a few minutes from Plage de la Gravette, a nice beach in town. This hotel also has an outdoor swimming pool and a relaxing full-service spa.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is another one of the best towns along the French Riviera to base yourself in. If you want the convenient central location of Nice but don’t want the hustle and bustle, look at Villefranche-sur-Mer instead. This lovely town is right next to Nice, but it feels much more laidback and calm.
The charming Old Town is a delight to explore, and there’s a waterfront promenade lined with tons of restaurants. Villefranche-sur-Mer also has a really nice beach that is right by the train station.
From Villefranche-sur-Mer, it’s just 15 minutes to Nice on the train. This is also a good location for exploring the nearby French Riviera villas such as Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and Villa Kerylos.
Where to Stay: Welcome Hotel
Welcome Hotel is the perfect place to stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer. You can’t beat the location, which is right on the waterfront in the Old Town and just a short walk from the beach and the train station.
You’ll have plenty of options for dining right at your fingertips since this hotel is located on the lively waterfront promenade in town. Many rooms have private balconies with views of the Mediterranean.
Menton
Menton is another town with great beaches to base yourself in along the French Riviera. I love how the beaches in town here have nice facilities like a boardwalk, places to get food or a drink, restrooms and changing facilities, and so on. That’s not something you find at a lot of French Riviera beaches!
Although it’s a little further out of the way (being the final stop on the French Riviera before you reach Italy!) you can easily explore the region by train from Menton. Also, if you want to do any shopping, hop on the train 15 minutes to Ventimiglia, Italy — trust me, everything is cheaper there than in France!
Menton is a beautiful and laidback town. The colorful Old Town is one of the most picturesque along the French Riviera. You won’t find many five-star luxury hotels in Menton — it’s not that kind of vibe.
Where to Stay: Hôtel De Londres
Hôtel De Londres is the top-rated hotel in Menton and a great place to base yourself. This charming hotel is located just steps away from the beach, so you’ll enjoy proximity to the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
The rooms at Hôtel De Londres are modern and comfortable with fun, colorful touches. Some of the rooms offer private balconies. This is an excellent place to stay in the heart of the town.
More hotels in Menton: Where to Stay in Menton, France
Èze
If you don’t want to stay right on the waterfront in the French Riviera and want a small village feel, I recommend staying in Èze. This is one of the most beautiful hilltop villages along the French Riviera.
There’s a train station in Èze, but it’s down by the waterfront. The village itself is located high up in the hills, and you will need to take a bus or drive to get there. You can also take a bus from Nice to Èze.
The village itself is tiny, with winding stone streets and picturesque views around every corner. One of the top things to do in Èze is visit Le Jardin Exotique, which is a beautiful garden with sweeping views of the Mediterranean. One thing to note is that Èze is a popular day trip destination, so it can feel quite crowded with tourists during the day — but it’s beautifully quiet in the mornings and evenings.
Where to Stay: La Chèvre d’Or
La Chèvre d’Or is one of just a few hotels in the small village of Èze and it has the most spectacular views. Built into the hillside, this hotel offers sweeping panoramas of the Mediterranean from above.
You won’t be able to get over this views at this incredible five-star hotel, making it perfect for a special stay. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, and some suites come with private pools.
Cannes
Finally, Cannes is a good place to stay along the French Riviera. I have mixed feelings about Cannes though. I have spent a lot of time here, and it’s honestly not my favorite town along the French Riviera.
Cannes is flashy and glamorous, and yet it also feels a bit gritty and grimy in places. It’s not as charming as the other Riviera towns I mentioned above, but it does have good beaches and a good location.
You can easily explore the other towns of the French Riviera by train from Cannes. The hilltop town of Grasse, famous for its perfume production, is an easy day trip from Cannes. So are the Lérins Islands, two beautiful islands (one with a 1,000-year-old monastery) just a short ferry ride away from Cannes.
Where to Stay: Hôtel & Spa Belle Plage
Hôtel & Spa Belle Plage is another excellent place to stay. This hotel is located in Le Suquet, the old town of Cannes, which is a great location. You’re steps away from the charming hilly streets of Le Suquet, and across from the old port. This hotel is also just a couple of minutes from one of the city beaches.
Many of the rooms at Hôtel & Spa Belle Plage offer sea views and private balconies where you can wake up to the Mediterranean every morning. There isn’t a swimming pool, but there is an excellent spa.
More hotels in Cannes: Where to Stay in Cannes, France
Where to Stay on the French Riviera
This guide showed you where to stay on the French Riviera.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Nice: Hotel Le Negresco
- Antibes: Hôtel La Villa Port d’Antibes & Spa
- Villefranche-sur-Mer: Welcome Hotel
- Menton: Hôtel De Londres
- Èze: La Chèvre d’Or
- Cannes: Hôtel & Spa Belle Plage
Have a great trip and enjoy your stay in the French Riviera!
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