Cities of the French Riviera
The French Riviera — the Côte d'Azur — runs along the Mediterranean from Saint-Tropez in the west to Menton on the Italian border. Its towns are close together, but each has its own character: Nice is the lively capital, Cannes and Monaco trade on glamour, Antibes and Villefranche-sur-Mer are smaller and slower, Saint-Tropez is the summer playground, and Menton is the calmest of all.
Most of them sit on a single coastal railway, so it's easy to stay in one town and explore the rest on day trips. Pick a city below to see its upcoming events, tours and things to do.
Nice
The Riviera's capital: old town, museums, the airport and trains in every direction.
Cannes
Film-festival glamour on La Croisette, with boat trips to the Lérins Islands.
Monaco
Casino, Grand Prix and harbour superyachts in a two-square-kilometre principality.
Antibes
Ramparts, the Picasso museum and Juan-les-Pins' summer jazz festival.
Saint-Tropez
Old-port chic, Pampelonne's beach clubs and rosé vineyards all around.
Menton
The quiet, sunny end of the coast: gardens, lemons and Italy next door.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
A small harbour village on one of the Riviera's deepest, most sheltered bays.
French Riviera cities: frequently asked questions
Which town is the best base on the French Riviera?
For a first trip, Nice: it has the airport, the widest choice of hotels and restaurants, and trains along the coast to Cannes, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco and Menton. Cannes or Antibes suit travellers who want a smaller town in the west, Menton or Villefranche-sur-Mer a quieter stay in the east. Saint-Tropez is best treated as a destination in its own right rather than a base — it's off the railway and far from the airport.
Can I get around the Riviera without a car?
Yes, for most of it. TER regional trains run along the coast from Cannes through Antibes, Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Monaco to Menton and on to the Italian border, several times an hour at busy times, and local buses fill the gaps. Saint-Tropez is the exception: it has no train station, so you'll need a car, a bus from Saint-Raphaël or a boat — seasonal services also run from Nice and Cannes.
How far are the towns from Nice airport?
Central Nice is about 25 minutes away by tram. By train from Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer is under 10 minutes away, Antibes and Monaco around 20–25 minutes, Cannes 30–40 minutes and Menton 35–40 minutes. Saint-Tropez is roughly two hours from the airport by road, often more in summer traffic.
Which town is the quietest, and which is the liveliest?
Menton and Villefranche-sur-Mer are the calmest — small, residential and family-friendly. Nice has the most going on year-round, with the busiest calendar of concerts, theatre and festivals. Cannes and Monaco revolve around their big events — the Film Festival in May and the Grand Prix in late spring — while Saint-Tropez and Juan-les-Pins are at their liveliest in July and August.
When is the best time to visit the French Riviera?
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) bring warm weather without peak-season crowds. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, when prices rise and festivals fill the calendar. Winter is mild and quiet, livened up in February by the Nice Carnival and Menton's Lemon Festival.