Your drive on the French Riviera will take you through artsy villages and tropical beaches- and you can do it all in one day!
Nice
Electric blue waters, Niçoise cuisine and an abundance of sunshine, what’s not to love about Nice? In Nice, old world charm meets luxury and world-class beaches. Visit the Old Port before heading to the Cours Saleya flower market. Enjoy the vibe of the vivid square of Place Massena. Walk the famous stretch of seafront- Promenade des Anglais and end your night by living the roaring 20’s at one of the jazz clubs.
You can also take a day trip to the beautiful hilltop village of Eze, known for the Jardin Exotique and dramatic views. Or visit another perched fairy tale village Saint Paul de Vence; it has the biggest 20th-century art collections in Europe at the The Maeght Foundation (External link) . If you want to embark on an olfactory odyssey, there’s France’s perfume capital, Grasse, from where you can pick up an assortment of perfumes and orient yourself with the art of perfume-making.
Cannes
Come to Cannes for its golden beaches, luxurious boutiques, glitzy yachts and the Film Festival! Start with the shopping strip Rue d'Antibes, right behind La Croisette on the seafront. Le Suquet, once a humble fishing village, is now a neighbourhood with lively streets. La Croisette, too, is bustling in the evenings, so take a romantic stroll here and pop into one of the many chic bars for the night.
If you’d like to take a break from driving, retreat to the Lerins Islands of Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat- two tranquil emerald islands- by boat. Or admire Picasso’s paintings in Antibes at the Château Grimaldi, and stroll through the fortified walls that enclose Antibes.
On your way to these stunning locations, you’ll probably pass through the three Corniche Roads- cliff roads that form a mountainous stretch with each route having its own magic. The Basse Corniche takes you past Monaco, popular with automobile enthusiasts (the Monaco Top Cars Collection (External link) is located here!) and home to the royal family’s official residence (don’t miss the changing of the guard at 11:55 am!).