15 Unforgettable Things to Do in Menton, France
Menton holds a special place in my heart. It’s the first village I visited on the French Riviera, way back in 2014, and Matthew and I totally fell in love with the colorful hues and charming little streets.
When I came back with my mom in 2023, after having visited many cities, towns, and beaches in southern France during the intervening years, I was delighted to discover that Menton was as magical as I remembered.
Menton is absolutely adorable, with warm-hued, pastel-colored buildings, an old town that’s built up the side of a hill with an imposing cathedral that dominates the top of the hill. There are gorgeous beaches, gardens aplenty, and pretty pedestrian streets.
You’ll also find a lot of lemon and other citrus trees and products in Menton. The village is known for its citrus production, and even celebrates with a Lemon Festival in February.
Menton is located on the Mediterranean coast of southern France, and is the easternmost city of the French Riviera before you reach Italy. In fact, you can see Italy from parts of Old Town Menton!
With its gorgeous landscapes and the variety of things to see and do in Menton, it’s truly an unforgettable city to visit on the Cote d’Azur.
15 Unforgettable Things to Do in Menton, France
In this post, I’m sharing the top things to see and do in Menton, as well as some helpful tips and practicalities for visiting!
1. “New Town” Menton
While Old Town and the sea get most of the attention in Menton (and rightfully so!), the “New Town” area that’s near Old Town is also really beautiful and has some fun things to see and do.
Plus, whether you take the train in or drive yourself, you’ll be walking through this area to get to the Old Town, so it’s definitely worth stopping by some of the most beautiful spots!
Make sure you walk down Rue Saint Michel, a pedestrian street with a lot of shops and boutiques. This is a great place to shop for lemon products – a Menton specialty!
The Place aux Herbes is a charming square with restaurants and a little carousel. The gardens by the Mairie de Menton are lovely (more on the gardens below), and I particularly enjoy walking past the clay tennis courts at Place des Victoires. Clay tennis courts just scream “Provencal living” to me!
2. Wander Through Old Town
One of the top attractions in Menton has to be Old Town (or Vieille Ville). Menton’s Old Town is absolutely picture perfect, in various shades of pinks, reds, yellows, peach, and tan, intermixed with cobblestoned streets and walls.
Potted plants dot the streets and you’ll discover little archways and adorable corners tucked away all around the Old Town.
Rue Longue is the “main street” that goes through Old Town, and is the closest street to the sea. This street is a little bit wider and is so, so charming. This street will also intersect the zig-zag stairs up to the basilica (more on that below).
From Rue Longue or the square in front of the Basilica, there are multiple streets leading up and criss-crossing through the rest of the Old Town. You’ll find narrower streets and alleys as you go deeper and higher into Old Town.
The cemetery, basilica, chapel, and zig-zag street that we’re discussing in the following sections are all in the Old Town of Menton.
3. Cimitière du Vieux Chateau
The Cimitière du Vieux Chateau, or the Old Castle Cemetery, is located at the very top of the hill of Old Town Menton, as the name suggests, was built on the ruins of an old castle.
Today is a beautiful resting place for the inhabitants of Menton, as well as some foreigners of minor renown (for example, William Webb Ellis, the inventor of rugby, is buried here).
This is a lovely place to visit, as the views are spectacular. You can easily see down the coastline to Italy, and the tombs are often large and ornate, and decorated with statues, busts, and medallions.
Hours: 7am-7pm April to October, 8am-5pm November to March
4. Basilique Saint-Michel Archange
The Basilica of Saint Michael Archangel is the imposing church that dominates the skyline of Menton and stands proudly over the city. This basilica, constructed in the late 1600’s, has a similar golden hue to the rest of the city, a tall steeple, and an ornate interior.
Stopping in the square to admire the church (and visiting the inside if it’s open) is definitely a must-do in Menton.
5. Chapel of the White Penitents
Just next to the Saint Michael Basilica is the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the seat of the Brotherhood of the White Penitents. This brotherhood was established in the Middle Ages by laymen concerned with doing good deeds and caring for the poor and needy.
Though a slightly smaller structure than the basilica, this chapel is no less grand and ornate, with an intricate and beautiful façade. And the interior is even more beautiful – the walls are painted red, the floor a black and white tile, and the ceilings are covered in gold leafing.
6. Zig Zags down to Street
One of the most unique aspects of Menton and its old town are the zigzagging stairs leading from the street level up all the way up to the square in front of the basilica.
These stairs fit in seamlessly with the Mediterranean vibes of the city and call even more attention to the grand basilica at the top of the hill.
7. Marché des Halles
The Les Halles market is a daily produce and Provencal goods market that’s located in a historic building near the coast. The fruits and vegetables are so fresh and juicy at this market, and you can find all sorts of fun and yummy treats to bring home with you.
Keep your eyes out for lavender products, dried herbs, anything made of citrus, olives and olive oil, and locally made jams and honey. This is a great place to pick up an authentic souvenir from southern France!
- Hours: 7am-1pm, closed Monday
8. Plage des Sablettes
The Plage des Sablettes beach is one of the absolute best beaches on the entire French Riviera (and I’ve seen my fair share!). Old Town is the backdrop for this idyllic beach, where you can enjoy crystal clear, clean water.
A human-made jetty protects a large section of the beach and swimming area, creating calm, protected water that stays fairly shallow all the way out to the rocks.
The beach itself isn’t exactly sandy, rather, it’s made up of really fine pebbles. Honestly, it’s not bad – there are a lot of truly rocky beaches on the Cote d’Azur, and I felt like I could walk across this beach in bare feet just fine.
Finally, there are restaurants and shops along the promenade just behind the beach for when you need a snack or full meal.
The whole set is just lovely. I truly cannot gush more about how perfect Plage des Sablettes is!
Note: There are other beaches in Menton. Notably, Plage du Fossan is just around the corner from the Old Town and is within easy walking distance of all the sights in this post, but it’s just not nearly as pretty as Plage des Sablettes. I really would prioritize coming to this beach.
9. Old Port + Harbor Rocks
For what is probably the most picturesque spot in Menton, you can actually walk out on the Quai Impératrice Eugenie and then onto the rocky jetty, discussed in the previous section, that shields this cove by Plage des Sablettes. Truly the views here, looking back at the town, are unmatched.
There are a lot of spots along the rocks where you can sit and dip your feet in the water. We sat here for a long time, just enjoying the sun, the breeze, and taking in the view.
10. Walk the Promenade
Between the Old Town and the Plage des Sablettes beach is the Quai Bonaparte road, which continues east to become the Porte de France. A lovely, wide, pedestrian promenade lines this street, which offers access to the beach and incredible vistas along the way.
You’ll walk this way to get to the Botanical Garden (next on the list), but it’s worth walking down just for the vibe.
Visit the Gardens of Menton
Besides the lemons, the colorful houses, and the fantastic interaction between the town and the sea, Menton is also known for her beautiful gardens.
The mild climate and sunny weather of Menton (which is hotter and more humid than other parts of the coast) is very conducive for planting and growing, which attracted many botanists to the city starting in the 1700’s.
Today, gardens dot the city and area around Menton, some of them open to the public. You can’t visit Menton without stopping in at one of her famed gardens!
11. Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh
The Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh is an easy 15-minute walk from Old Town and is a favorite in the city. This lovely garden was developed and cultivated starting in 1905 and holds over 1700 varieties of Mediterranean and tropical plants.
You’ll walk around the exterior of the villa and then on a designated route through the gardens and grounds, where you’ll see all sorts of unique flowers, yucca plants, fig, olive, palm, and even avocado trees. Stroll past the ponds and coastal overlooks as you discover the garden.
- Hours: April to October: 9:30am-6pm, November to March: 9:30am-5pm, closed Tuesdays
- Entrance Fee: €7 for adults, reduced fees for children and seniors
12. Jardin d’Agrumes du Palais Carnolès
The Jardin d’Agrumes is a small, free, public garden that surrounds the former palace of the Prince of Monaco. The entire garden is filled with 137 varieties of citrus trees – including orange, bitter orange, kumquat, grapefruit, and lemon.
13. Farther Out Gardens
There are other gardens in Menton, but they are farther out from the city center and require either a car or a fairly long bus ride. If you have a car, I would definitely consider visiting the following beautiful gardens:
- Serre de la Madone: A charming garden filled with unique plants and beautiful blossoms. Closed Monday
- Les Colombières: This garden is filled with mythological buildings and lovely landscape architecture. This garden is only open with a guided tour.
14. Smaller but Still Pretty Gardens
There are also a few small gardens right by the city center! These are truly tiny spots but are still very pretty and are a nice spot to stop by as you explore Menton.
- The Square in Front of the Mairie de Menton: The Town Hall is where the mairie (mayor) of Menton works, and the gardens in front of the grand building are worth a stop. There’s a fountain, lots of trees and greenery, and a few pergolas with benches to relax in.
- Jardin Du Campanin: This small garden is along the coast and adjacent to Old Town and features some benches and a nice tiled fountain.
- Parc Plage de Fossan: A little park along the coast of Menton near the “New Town” and Plage de Fossan. The best feature is a really fun pirate-ship-like playground for children.
15. Musée Jean Cocteu – Le Bastion
If you’re ready for a little culture, the Jean Cocteau Bastion Museum is a really fun choice! This abandoned fort is dedicated to the works of the famed French painter, Jean Cocteau, who actively helped establish the museum in the Bastion and furnish it with his works.
Today, the Bastion holds hundreds of paintings by Cocteau and others.
- Hours: 10am-12:30pm, 2-6pm, closed Tuesdays
- Entrance Fee: €5
Practical Information
Map of Menton Attractions
When to Visit
Menton is a beautiful location all year-round, but there are pros and cons to visiting in different seasons. In winter, there are very few visitors, but the weather isn’t conducive for swimming. In February, the Lemon Festival takes over the city for 3 weeks, which is a really fun event but brings heavy crowds.
Summer is delightful, with hot weather and warmer sea temperatures, but with that of course comes high crowds. September and into the beginning of October is really nice, as the weather stays warm but crowds start to dwindle.
Many of the gardens, the museum, and the market are closed Monday or Tuesday, so if these are important to you, consider visiting on a different day of the week.
Finally, if your schedule allows some flexibility, I think it’s worth trying to visit Menton on a sunny day, when the colors of the town and the sea are bright and vibrant. (Other villages, like Eze or Saint-Paul-de-Vence, are much more conducive for cloudy or rainy days).
How to Get to Menton
The easiest way to get to Menton is by taking the SNCF train that runs along the coast. If you’re staying in Nice, Cannes, Antibes, or Monaco, you can easily pick up the train and take it over to Menton for just a few euro.
Note that you want to get off at the Menton train station, not the Menton Garavan station.
Alternatively, you can also easily drive yourself to Menton – there are a few parking lots near Old Town, such as this one.
How Long Do You Need?
I’d say you’d want the better part of a day to really enjoy Menton and take in all her sites.
Where to Stay in Menton
While many people choose to visit Menton as a day trip, staying in the city is also a great option! You can soak up the atmosphere and quieter streets in the mornings and evenings when the day trippers have left and have plenty of time to relax on the beach.
Plus, while Menton is on the very far edge of the Riviera, since its on the main train line, you can easily get around to other villages and cities you may want to visit. Such as…
Where Else to Visit on the French Riviera
After you’re done visiting Menton, there are a whole host of other great cities and villages to visit on the French Riviera. The tiny country of Monaco is very close and a favorite, and I also like the tiny French village of La Turbie, which has a massive Roman monument and incredible views down over Monaco.
Eze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are the most quaint, adorable villages filled with cobblestoned streets and art galleries.
Nice is my favorite city on the French Riviera and cannot be missed, but the nearby village of Villefranche-sur-Mer is just delightful, and the coastal walkway on Cap Ferrat is a true hidden gem.
Farther down the coast, Antibes is a vibrant, historical city, Cannes oozes glitzy luxury, and Grasse is the home of French perfume, where you can visit perfumeries and even make your own scent!
I’ve visited each of these cities and villages and loved them all.
