The Perfect 7 Day French Riviera Itinerary [Best Places to Visit]

ByStephanie Rytting Posted on

Planning a trip to southern France? Read on for my favorite 7-day French Riviera itinerary!

As you set out on a week-long adventure across the French Riviera, you’re in for a treat that mixes relaxation, culture, and some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes you’ll ever see.

The Côte d’Azur, with its sparkling waters, endless sunshine, and colorful, quaint towns is seriously one of my favorite places in France, and I bet it’ll become a favorite for you, too.

I’ve visited the French Riviera three separate times (spending well over two weeks exploring what this small section of France’s southern coast has to offer), and I am seriously in love with this region.

This guide combines a carefully curated route with my personal selection of must-visit spots and hidden gems across the Côte d’Azur. From the picturesque, charming streets of Eze to the stunning promenade of Nice, this itinerary is designed to showcase the very best of the Riviera. Let’s jump in!

What is the French Riviera?

This one-week in southern France itinerary is specifically designed for the French Riviera.

Confused about where and what exactly is the French Riviera, and is it the same area as Provence, and is Provence basically the same as southern France?

Let me explain!

The region in southwest France that is highlighted by the red dotted lines and borders Italy is known as Provence-Alpes-Cote-d’Azur.

Generally just referred to as “Provence,” the entire region includes the coastal cities of Marseilles, Saint Tropez, Cannes, and Nice, as well as the inland cities of Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, and many other charming villages and towns.

Now, if we zoom in further…

In this map, you can see that the Cote d’Azur (aka the French Riviera) part of Provence starts at Saint Tropez (which is approximately halfway between Nice and Marseille) and continues all the way until the border with Italy.

While the greater Provence region is also an incredible place to visit, this itinerary focuses specifically on the French Riviera. You could truly spend several weeks exploring just this small section of coastline and the views, cities, and landscapes are just breathtaking.

Where to Stay During Your 7 Days on the French Riviera

As the Cote d’Azur is very compact and easily connected by trains and buses, I’d recommend just staying in one city for your entire week and doing day trips to nearby cities and villages from there.

Without question, I’d recommend you stay in Nice during your visit to the French Riviera.

Nice is an absolutely incredible city, with a ridiculously cute and charming Old Town, gorgeous beaches, a long, wide promenade, lots of things to see and do, delicious restaurants, and a laidback vibe.

It’s centrally located to all the spots on this itinerary, and is right on the main train line, making it easy to get around.

Seriously, I adore Nice.

Here are my 3 top picks for where to stay in Nice – I’d highly recommend booking early because rooms regularly sell out weeks to months in advance in Nice.

Palais Saleya Boutique Hotel: Ideally located in charming Old Town, this lovely hotel has spacious suites that are beautiful, updated, and comfortable

Hotel Florence: This bright hotel has chic, contemporary rooms and is centrally located between the sea, promenade, and old town, and the train station.

Hotel Suisse: Located in the most beautiful location at the top of the Promenade des Anglais, this luxurious hotel offers stunning sea views, large rooms, and overall upscale accommodations.

Your 7 Day French Rivieria Itinerary

>>Helpful Tip: In this post, I’m giving an overview of what to do in each location on the itinerary instead of giving a long and detailed explanation of every single stop on every day (to prevent this post from being 10,000 words long, ha!).

However, I have written extensively on all of these cities and towns in the French Riviera, and I’ve linked to each dedicated post in the appropriate sections. For more information on each city or town, make sure you click through to the corresponding article!

Day 1: Nice

Morning:

  • Explore the Old Town – make sure to swing by the Marché aux Fleurs and Place Rossetti
  • Stroll through Place Massena, the Jardin Albert I, and the Promenade du Paillon – a gorgeous square and two gardens that are all adjacent to each other

Afternoon:

  • Admire the views on Castle Hill – the castle is long gone but the views are astounding
  • Walk through Port Lympia, the beautiful old port in Nice
  • Stroll or bike along the Promenade des Anglais
  • Enjoy beach time OR swing by Villa Massena Museum

Day 2 Nice + Villefranche

Morning: Nice

Afternoon: Villefranche-sur-Mer

Head to Villefranche-sur-Mer, a charming and colorful village about 10 minutes from Nice. While in Villefranche, stop by these sites:

  • Walk up and down the colorful streets of town (including Rue Volti – my favorite!)
  • Enjoy an evening on Quai de l’Amiral Courbet
  • See the paintings of Jean Cocteau on the walls of Chapelle St Pierre
  • Visit the Citadel
  • Walk the Chemin de la Ronde pathway to the port
  • Explore the tunnel streets of Rue Obscure

How to Get to Villefranche from Nice: You can easily get here by train (Nice-Ville train station to Villefranche train station), bus (#607 or #15), or a quick taxi/Uber.

Day 3: Menton

Menton is one of my favorite small cities in southern France – it is just such a pretty town with some incredible sights and one of my favorite beaches on the entire French Riviera.

I’d recommend you spend the entire day exploring the town and enjoying the beaches – here are some of the top things to do in Menton:

  • Walk up the zig zag staircase to St Michel Archange Basilica and the Chapel of the White Penitents.
  • Visit the hilltop Cemetery of the Vieux Chateau
  • Discover the beautiful Val Rahmeh Botanical Garden
  • Relax on Plage des Sablettes beach, right under the colorful old town and protected by a human-made jetty
  • Admire the views of the beach and the Old Town from the harbor rocks

How to Get to Menton from Nice: Take the train from Nice-Ville to Menton (not Menton Garavan)

Day 4 Eze + Grasse

Morning: Eze

Head out first thing to Eze (not Eze-sur-Mer, which is a different town) to enjoy this adorable cobblestoned village. Eze is one of Provence’s perched villages, meaning it sits right on the top of a hill, and is a walled city. Seriously, it doesn’t get more charming than Eze.

Pro tip: If you can get there before 9:30am, you’ll beat the worst of the crowds.

Here are the top things to do in Eze:

  • Wander the adorable streets (you’ll seriously want to take a picture every 5 steps!)
  • Walk through the Jardin Exotique, at the very top of the city
  • Stop by the Notre Dame de l’Assomption church
  • Hike down the Chemin Frederic Nietzsche path that takes you from Eze to the sea

The Chemin Frederic Nietzsche ends just a few minutes from the Eze-sur-Mer train station – you can easily take the train from here all the way to Grasse, your destination for the afternoon.

How to Get to Eze from Nice: There’s no direct train from Nice to Eze, so you’ll either need to take the bus, drive yourself (not recommended for this itinerary since you really don’t need a car for most places), or take a taxi/Uber (which costs about €25). Get more details here about how to get from Nice to Eze

Afternoon: Grasse

Grasse is a small town in the hills of southern France, made famous for being the perfume capital of France. The town is filled with perfume boutiques selling all kinds of exquisite scents and soaps, and you can visit the historic perfume factories and museums for free.

Here are some of the can’t miss things to do in Grasse:

  • Take a (free) guided tour of the historic Fragonard perfume factory
  • Visit the Fragonard Art Museum, which showcases artwork from painters who lived in Grasse
  • Participate in a perfume-making workshop, where you get to sample and select different fragrances to combine into your own, customized perfume (a highlight of my time in Grasse – read more about my experience in this perfume workshop here!)
  • Walk the adorable, pink-umbrella-covered streets of Old Town Grasse
  • Stop by the Notre Dame de Puy church, which has large paintings by Rubens, a famous Flemish painter, hanging in the church.

How to Get to Grasse from Eze: If you walk down the Chemin Frederic Nietzsche, you can hop on the train at Eze-sur-Mer and ride it all the way to Grasse.

Day 5: Antibes

Antibes is somewhat of a hidden gem on the French Riviera. I mean, it’s a decently large city, so it’s not exactly “hidden,” but I feel like it’s often overlooked in favor of places like Cannes or Nice.

I love Antibes, though, and think there’s a large variety of things to see and do in the city. Here’s a breakdown of some of the top sites to see in Antibes:

  • Walk the city ramparts – they protect the city from the sea and offer some great views and a nice walking path
  • Check out the insanely massive yachts in Port Vauban
  • Stop by the Marché Provencal – a produce, flower, and Provencal goods market full of interesting, delicious, and locally made things to see and buy
  • Admire artwork in the Picasso Museum, located in an old castle where Picasso lived and worked for several months
  • Enjoy the sandy Plage de la Gravette
  • Explore Fort Carré, which overlooks Antibes from a hill

How to Get to Antibes: You can take the train directly from Nice-Ville to Antibes.

Day 6: Cap Ferrat and the Sentier du Littoral

Today, you’re going to experience one of my favorite lesser-known spots near Nice: the Cap Ferrat peninsula, the two villas that are on or near it, and the amazing coastal pathway (or sentier du littoral) that encircles the entire peninsula.

Cap Ferrat has long been the playground of the ultra-wealthy, and you can see that wealth and extravagance up close and personal when you visit Villa Ephrussi and Villa Kerylos, two unique but truly gorgeous villas on the cape.

The Sentier du Littoral of Cap Ferrat is absolutely delightful – the path is sometimes paved, sometimes made of stone, goes right by the sea, and passes multiple gorgeous beaches.

You’ll get to admire more of the beautiful, private villas on the Cap Ferrat, observe the Cap’s lighthouse, pass through the tiny fishing village, and walk near the scraggly coastline.

How to Get to Cap Ferrat: Take the train from Nice-Ville to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and then walk a few minutes to Villa Kerylos and the coast.

Day 7: Monaco + La Turbie

Morning: Monaco

Technically, the Principality of Monaco is not actually a part of the French Riviera, as it is an entirely separate country.

However, this tiny country is very close to all the other villages and cities on this list (indeed, you’ll pass through Monaco on your way to Menton), and it’s worth checking off this country on your visit to southern France.

Here are a few places you can’t miss in Monaco:

  • Stop in the famous Monte Carlo Casino
  • Visit the Prince’s Palace and discover the beautiful rooms
  • Walk through the Saint Nicholas Cathedral and see where the monarchs of Monaco are buried
  • Stroll through the Exotic Garden of Monaco
  • See the yachts in Port Hercules

How to Get to Monaco: Take the train directly from Nice to Monaco

Afternoon: La Turbie

La Turbie is a tiny little village that sits high in the hills of the French Riviera, directly above Monaco. This village is a true gem on the Cote d’Azur and has several really fascinating things to see and do.

Here’s what to do with your afternoon in La Turbie:

  • Visit the ruins of La Trophée d’Auguste, a massive, old Roman monument
  • Walk about 20 minutes outside of town to the Tete du Chien viewpoint, which has an insane view overlooking the entirety of Monaco
  • Stop in at the Saint Michael Church
  • Wander around the perfectly preserved Old Town and find the charming city gates
  • Admire the views of the church, trophy, and town from the outskirts of town

How to Get from Monaco to La Turbie: Uber isn’t available in Monaco and there’s no train connection to La Turbie, so you’ll need to take the #11 bus between the cities.

Practical Information

Some Timing Considerations

One thing to consider when planning your trip to the French Riviera is that in almost every city, there are a couple of attractions, including the markets, that are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays.

It’s definitely worth taking a moment to check the opening hours of the places you are visiting and make sure that the spot you really want to visit is going to be open the day you will be in that city.

I will also note that the day on Cap Ferrat is a great choice for a Monday or Tuesday, as all attractions I list for that day are open every day of the week (this is current at time of writing – I’d recommend you double check when finalizing your itinerary).

Best Time to Visit the French Riviera

Nice is truly a wonderful place to visit any time of year, although, like any destination, there are positives and negatives to each season. For a complete breakdown of prices, crowds, sea and air temperatures, festivals, and other considerations, check out my guide to the best time to visit the French Riviera.

Here’s a quick teaser:

Winter is great for low crowds, but it can be a little chilly, the sea is very cold, and some services, hotels, and restaurants are closed.

Spring is lovely, with flowers blooming, mid-range crowds, and mid-range temps.

Summer is great for beaches and sundresses, but crowds and prices swell considerably.

Autumn can range from warm and sunny to chilly, but crowds and prices drop off.

Getting Around the French Riviera

I put this itinerary together with ease of getting around in mind, and for that, taking the train is really the most convenient and easiest way to get around. I’ve done all modes of transportation across southern France (trains, buses, rental car, Uber), and there are definitely some situations where having your own car is nice.

However, you will have to deal with finding parking in tiny lots, paying for parking everywhere you go (including overnight), and driving on some narrow streets.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s totally doable! But the public transportation system is so good in France that you often don’t need a car.

So, if you can get around reasonably well without a car in France, that’s always my preferred mode of transportation. For this itinerary, you can very easily get around with trains and the occasional bus or Uber.

A Few Quick Notes About Taking the Train

Taking the train is very easy on the French Riviera. There is one main train line that runs along the coast and goes through many cities and towns. Trains start early in the morning and run through late at night, and usually depart several times an hour.

You don’t need to buy your train tickets ahead of time, you can simply go up to one of the self-serve ticket machines in the station and buy a ticket for the next train out.

You’ll usually spend between €1,80 if you’re just going somewhere close, like Nice to Villefranche, but even longer train rides (e.g. Eze-sur-Mer to Grasse) won’t be more than around €7.

After you’ve bought your ticket, you need to check what platform your train is departing from. There are usually screens above the entrance stiles that display the final destination of the train, as well as all the stops that the train is making along the way. Find your city from the list of stops, and go to the indicated platform.

Not a great picture, but it gives you an idea. The first train on the list has a final destination of Grasse, and right underneath all the towns the train is stopping in on the way are scrolling past.

However! Before heading to the platform, you must validate your ticket. Find one of these yellow machines, stick your ticket in, listen for it to be punched, and then you can be on your way. You can get fined for not having a validated ticket on the train, so don’t skip this step.

The Wrap Up – Your Perfect 7 Day French Riviera Itinerary

The Cote d’Azur is an absolutely stunning part of France and one that I adore. From beautiful hilltop villages to relaxing by the sea, your week in the French Riviera will be full of memorable experiences and delight.

Stephanie is obsessed with everything having to do with France, and she's visited the country 10 times (including a 3 month stint when she lived in Paris). She draws on her extensive knowledge of the country to bring you detailed and helpful guides, from the perspective of a fellow traveler.