The Top Stops Along The Cte D'Azur France

The southeastern coast of France is famed for its glamorous resorts, ancient ruins and superyacht-strewn ports. Go beyond Nice, Cannes and Marseille and explore new quaint streets and sparkling Mediterranean views that have inspired countless artists with these five lesser-known locations along the French Riviera.

Set sail for these postcard-perfect towns by hiring a boat for the day though SamBoat. Alternatively, Dream Yacht Charter offers week-long sailing holidays along the Côte d’Azur.

1. Cagnes-sur-Mer

Architectural Landmark

View from water of the beach in Cagnes-sur-Mer with a church tower and Mediterranean buildings along the shoreline

Although just a short train ride away from Nice, Cagnes-Sur-Mer is much more than a convenient location. Venture up the steep hill to the medieval village surrounding the Château Musée Grimaldi in Haut-de-Cagnes and you’ll pass through clusters of charming houses and cobbled streets. The castle was built around 1300, and in 1946 it was restored into a museum. Now, the gallery showcases an olive tree museum, a collection of Suzy Solidor portraits and temporary contemporary art exhibitions. Afterwards, stop in one of the many restaurants that overlook the city below. A museum dedicated to the life and artwork of Auguste Renoir, one of the many artists inspired by the Côte d’Azur, is located in the house built for his family in 1908. Here, he painted renowned landscapes, portraits, nudes and still lifes that give a hint of life in Cagnes-Sur-Mer over a century ago.

2. Antibes

Natural Feature

Fort Carré on top of a promontory in Antibes, with many yachts and sailboats in the marina in front of it

In the centre of Antibes, narrow, cobbled streets follow lines of colourful houses with picturesque shuttered windows. Pablo Picasso spent July to December of 1946 working in a 14th-century seaside château in Antibes, which now houses a collection of his works. The town comes to life with daily markets selling food, produce, handcrafted goods and clothing. On the outskirts of town sits Fort Carré, a 16th-century, star-shaped fort. Take a guided tour and explore the protected park surrounding the fort where Napoleon Bonaparte was briefly imprisoned. The fort is also famous for starring as an evil villain’s lair on the big screen – can you guess which film? Hint: it stars a man who takes his martinis shaken, not stirred.

4. Fréjus

Architectural Landmark

Aerial view of Fréjus Harbour with moored boats and apartment buildings on either side of a canal

Indulge your historical side with the excellent collection of ancient ruins in Fréjus. A Fréjus Pass will give you admission to four historic sites, and the pass is valid for a week. These include the impressive Roman amphitheatre and a 700-year-old cathedral with its uniquely decorated cloister. Take a break from all of the history with a walk around the charming centre of town where restaurants range from the Moroccan La Rose de Sables to the traditional Autres Ray’Son.

5. The Three Corniches

Architectural Landmark

A corniche is a road on the side of a mountain. There are three between Nice and Monaco: the Grande Corniche, the Moyenne Corniche and the Basse or Inférieure Corniche. On three separate levels, each corniche offers its own majestic view of the Mediterranean and the surrounding villas. The Grande Corniche rises up to 550m (1,800ft) above sea level and is the most treacherous of the three to drive, but the views are exceptional on a clear day. The Moyenne Corniche, possibly the most famous of the three, offers several stopping points to enjoy the views, but be sure to visit the medieval hill town Èze, too. The Basse Corniche runs along the waterfront past many famed seaside resorts all the way to Menton near the border of Italy.

Book a Dream Yacht Charter sailing trip along the French Riviera, or reserve a day boat rental through SamBoat from any major French Riviera town – no experience necessary.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.