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Writer Stephen Liégeard coined the term “Côte d’Azur” in his 1887 book French Riviera (“Côte d’Azur”), evocatively described French Mediterranean coast from Marseille arrive Italian The border has been called “bright shores, warm breezes, and mysteriously warm forests.”
The name helped spur the development of the coastline, which we now also know as “coastline” French Rivieraembarking on the road of global travel.
Its charm remains undiminished to this day, attracting the rich and famous, and as we recently reported, white lotus The Season 4 crew will film the next episode of the murder mystery drama at the ultra-luxurious St. Tropez hotel mesadière castle.
The Riviera has so much to offer that for first timers it can be hard to know where to start.
Here, we’ve listed eight beautiful spots worth putting on the map to help you plan your itinerary, from fairytale villages and pristine pine-covered peninsulas to beaches worthy of the tropics, as well as great places to stay along the way.
1. Cape Antibes
Cape Antibes Peninsula, between Cannes and OKis a peaceful haven with pine forests and charming bays, but has been jealously occupied by the super-rich. It is also home to one of France’s most famous hotels.
Stroll along the Sentier du Littoral coastal path and admire the ultra-luxury villas hidden in the woods and the azure Billionaire’s Bay (Billionaire’s Bay), and visit Villa Eilenroc, a historic Belle Epoque manor with stunning gardens and picture-postcard views.
Equally alluring is La Garoupe, with its flour-soft sand and clear, shallow waters. When it comes to lunch or dinner, there is only one place to go: the Eden-Roc restaurant at the legendary Hôtel du Cap‑Eden‑Roc, where you can enjoy exquisite Provençal cuisine in one of the most elegant settings on the Riviera.
Great place to stay: Eden Rock Point Hotel (rooms starting at $1,300), beloved by Hollywood’s A-listers, sits on the tip of a peninsula and offers tennis courts, a magazine-cover-worthy outdoor pool and service that can never go wrong.
Read more: I stayed at the new Lotus Blanc Saint-Tropez hotel – and predict it will appear in season 4
2. Eze Village
Eze seems unlikely – an ancient village perched on a rocky outcrop more than 1,400 feet above the Mediterranean Sea.
One of the most famous restaurants on the French Riviera is housed in a fairy-tale building inside a luxury hotel.
This small medieval village is located in OK and Monacomany visitors arrive here via the steep Nietzsche Trail that climbs from the coastal town of Eze-sur-Mer.
Day trippers should arrive early to explore the village’s art galleries, boutiques and medieval fortress, and linger at the Château de la Chèvre d’Or’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, La Chèvre d’Or, for delicious cuisine and stunning terrace views.
Great place to stay: Golden Sheep Castle (rooms from $700) features 45 chic guest rooms and suites, a dreamy outdoor pool, and access to Walt Disney World. The filmmaker moved into the castle in 1956 and convinced his friend, owner Robert Wolf, to convert it into a hotel.
Read more: Les Roches Rouges, France, hotel review
3. Villefranche-sur-Mer
With fishing boats bobbing in the azure harbor waters, pastel-colored houses and seaside cafes, Villefranche-sur-Mer feels like an artist’s impression of a typical Riviera town come to life.
There are views in every direction.
Must-visit attractions here include the Saint-Pierre Chapel, decorated with scenes from local life by avant-garde artist Jean Cocteau, the Citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer (a 16th-century fortress housing three art museums) and the Plage des Marinières (a gently sloping beach with stunning, tranquil waters).
For fine dining, book a table at the unpretentious La Mère Germaine restaurant, the aforementioned Cocteau favorite, which serves delicious seafood and offers stunning harbor views.
Great place to stay: Yingbin Hotel (rooms from $250) Located on the waterfront in Old Town. Ask for a room with a bay view.
Read more: The best boutique hotels in Paris with beautiful city views and romance
4. Saint-Jean, Cap Ferrat
This is a big change.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, located between Nice and Monaco, was a simple fishing village until the end of the 19th century. But as transportation improved and luxury villas were built, the eponymous peninsula became a tranquil playground for the rich and famous—from King Leopold II of Belgium to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Grand mansions dot the pine-covered grounds, while along the coastline lie some of the most beautiful beaches on the Riviera, including Paloma, Pasabul and Fawcett.
For fine dining, head to Le Cap, the Michelin-starred restaurant at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat. The food is the star of the show, but the ocean views are also dazzling.
Great place to stay: Grand Hotel Cape Ferrat, Four Seasons Hotel (Rooms from $900) Gorgeous from top to bottom, it features a private gondola that transports guests to a magnificent saltwater infinity pool.
Read more: 72-hour European getaway: Six itineraries to take you to the most beautiful spots
5. Leyland Islands
It only takes 15 minutes by ferry to reach the bustling Cannes In stark contrast are the Lérins archipelago, a group of car-free islands where the only sound of silence is the chirping of cicadas and waves crashing on secluded beaches.
Of the five islands in the archipelago, two are available to visit: Santa Margherita, which is three miles long, and Santa Honora, which is only one mile long.
The former is home to the cliffside Royal Fort, which became a state prison in 1685 and once housed the legendary Man in the Iron Mask. It’s filled with trails, including a five-mile coastal loop that leads to more than a dozen bays and beaches.
There are more idyllic swimming opportunities on St. Honora Island, and there’s a centuries-old fortified monastery to visit. There is also a monastery here, home to monks who plant olive trees and vineyards, offer wine tastings, and run the open-air restaurant La Tonnelle, which serves local dishes paired with wine produced on the island.
Great place to stay: Hotel Barriere Majestic Cannes (Rooms from $285) Very elegant and just a short walk from the Lérin Island Ferry Terminal.
Read more: Explore Europe the slow and beautiful way: you can swap five popular flights for ferries and trains
6. Saint-Tropez
when Brigitte Bardot shooting God…created woman (god created woman) in Saint-Tropez in 1956 – where he bought a seaside villa called La Madrague two years later – it sparked a transformation from a sleepy fishing village to one of the Mediterranean’s most fashionable resorts.
La Madrague’s lavish parties made headlines in Paris newspapers, and the rich and famous soon began flocking to what is now the most famous spot on the French Riviera – a mecca for superyacht owners and home to dozens of high-end designer boutiques.
Despite this, Saint-Tropez still retains its charm. The old town is full of charming lanes and alleys, while the port, lined with postcard-worthy pastel buildings, is one of the prettiest on the Côte d’Azur.
For fine dining, reserve a table at the famous Le Club 55 restaurant, which began life as a simple canteen hut for guests. god created woman film crew and evolved into an elegant beach restaurant popular with stars including Leonardo DiCaprio and Beyoncé.
Great place to stay: Paris Saint Tropez Hotel (Rooms from $500) Nestled on the edge of Old Town, it features an irresistible rooftop pool and restaurant with views of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.
Read more: The Seven Best Spa Resorts in Europe
7. Chin
To the east, the Côte d’Azur ends in style at the Italian border, with the pastel-colored town of Menton, known as the “City of Lemons” for its centuries-old citrus cultivation. Menton lemons are prized and even protected for their fragrance.
You can learn more at La Ferme des Citrons, a hillside lemon farm above the town that offers transfers from the city center in a vintage Land Rover, guided tours of the plantation, and gourmet displays of the fruit.
Also take time to stroll around Menton’s colorful old town and the lush Val Rahmeh botanical gardens, before heading up the hill to the Baroque Arch of Saint-Michel Cathedral. Stop here for painterly harbor views, then head to Coté Sud Marina for waterside dining.
Great place to stay: Hotel Napoleon (Rooms from $220) offers rooms with ocean views and is within easy walking distance of the Old Town.
Read more: I thought I hated Paris—this changed my mind
8. Golden Island Islands
Iles d’Or, the Golden Isles, lives up to its name. The short ferry rides from Hyeres to Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant west of Saint-Tropez are gems.
Each spot is pristine—thanks in part to the car ban—and boasts beaches that rival those in the United States. Maldives.
The largest island, Poquerolle, is 4.3 miles x 1.8 miles long, and here you’ll find the flagship beach, the crescent-shaped Notre Dame Beach.
Visitors in the know will be drawn to its poster-quality golden sands, which gently slope into shallow, clear waters. There are no cafes or bars here, but that adds to the blissful sense of seclusion.
Great place to stay: Hotel Pokerole Located near the square in Port de Porquerolles (“the capital”), the hotel features Balinese-themed rooms and a restaurant serving locally caught fish.