The beautiful South of France!
The South of France is on a lot of travelers’ bucket lists, and for good reason. Between the picture-perfect coastline, charming towns, and incredible food, it’s easy to see why so many people fall in love with this region.
Our home base for this trip was Nice, but we also spent time exploring several nearby towns along the French Riviera. It was a relatively short trip, but we packed a lot into just a few days and loved every minute of it.
This trip was taken March 2024.
Check out our full vlog here:
Our itinerary was:
- Day 1: Arrive, explore Nice
- Day 2: Hiking Cap Ferrat
- Day 3: Day trips to Antibes, Monaco and Menton
- Day 4: The medieval village of Eze
It was a short trip – but we made the most of it and loved every second!
Day 1: Nice (lodging: Westminster Hotel & Spa)
This was another trip inspired by a great flight deal. It was also an adults-only getaway, which made for a nice change of pace.
We arrived around lunchtime after an overnight flight. With rain in the forecast later in the day, we dropped our bags and headed straight out to explore.
Our first stop was Castle Hill, one of Nice’s most famous viewpoints. The original castle was built in the 11th century and endured centuries of conflict before eventually being dismantled. Today, the site is home to public gardens and offers sweeping views of Nice and the Mediterranean Sea.
The weather was cloudy, so the water wasn’t quite the bright blue you often see in photos, but the views were still impressive. We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through Old Town before enjoying dinner, grabbing some gelato, and turning in early after a long travel day.
Day 2: Cap Ferrat
The next morning brought even more rain. Considering the French Riviera averages around 300 days of sunshine each year, our timing wasn’t ideal.
Rather than fight the weather, we embraced it. After breakfast and coffee, we treated ourselves to an impromptu spa morning at our hotel. The Westminster Hotel & Spa sits directly on Nice’s famous Promenade des Anglais, and our balcony overlooked the Mediterranean. Even better, we booked all three nights using credit card points.
Once the rain eased, we grabbed lunch at Crêperie Suzette before heading to Cap Ferrat.
Located just east of Nice, Cap Ferrat is a beautiful peninsula known for its coastal walking trails, luxury homes, and stunning scenery. We spent about four hours hiking along the shoreline, passing small harbors, secluded coves, picturesque villages, and some truly incredible homes.
While the sunshine would have made the water even more spectacular, the rainy weather had one advantage: we often had entire sections of the trail completely to ourselves.
After a long—and occasionally wet—afternoon, we returned to Nice for dinner at La Pizza Cresci, a local institution that has been serving visitors for nearly 60 years.
Day 3: Antibes, Monaco and Menton
The rain finally moved out, and we woke up to perfect Riviera weather.
Our first stop was Antibes, where we visited Fort Carré. Built in the 16th century, the fort served a military role for centuries and even briefly housed Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolution. Today, visitors can tour the fort and enjoy panoramic views of the coastline.
From Antibes, we continued by train to Monaco—our 20th country! We didn’t spend a lot of time there, but we walked around the famous casino, harbor, and Formula One race circuit. While Monaco isn’t quite as charming as some of the surrounding towns, it was still interesting to see such a unique place in person. See more on our Monaco page!
Our final stop of the day was Menton, one of our favorite towns of the trip.
Located less than four kilometers from the Italian border, Menton has a fascinating history and has belonged to Italy, Monaco, and France at different points in time. The colorful waterfront buildings, charming streets, and relaxed atmosphere made it easy to see why so many people love it. We spent the afternoon browsing shops filled with lavender products, lemon-themed souvenirs, and local specialties.
We could have easily spent another day here.
That evening, we returned to Nice for dinner in Old Town and finished the night with macarons for dessert.
Day 4: Eze, France (lodging: Chateau Eza)
On our last full day in France, we spent the morning getting coffee and strolling along the Promenade des Anglaise. We grabbed lunch from The Original Foca and gelato from Fenocchino – which has been serving gelato for the past 100 years. The day was warm and sunny and the views of the water were incredible. We sat for a while on the benches by the ocean just taking it all in.
After lunch, we headed to what would become the highlight of our trip: the medieval hilltop village of Èze.
Perched roughly 1,400 feet above the Mediterranean, Èze feels like something out of a storybook. The narrow cobblestone streets wind through centuries-old stone buildings, with stunning views appearing around nearly every corner.
When we arrived, we checked into Château Eza, a boutique five-star hotel tucked into the heart of the village. While our room was being prepared, the staff escorted us to a terrace overlooking the coastline and served welcome drinks.
It was one of the most memorable hotel experiences we’ve ever had.
Our room was beautiful, the service was exceptional, and the views were unbelievable. Even better, we booked the stay using credit card points.
That afternoon, we explored the Exotic Garden of Èze, which was created after World War II on the site of an old fortress. The collection of succulents, cacti, and Mediterranean plants is impressive, but the real attraction is the view. From the garden, you can see miles of coastline stretching in both directions.
For dinner, we walked down the mountain to a restaurant with excellent views and a relaxed atmosphere. We quickly discovered that March is still considered the off-season in Èze, and many restaurants weren’t yet open for dinner. Our hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant was available, but we opted for something a little less extravagant and were very happy with our choice. The risotto was outstanding.
As the sun set, we made the climb back up to the village and watched the Mediterranean glow in the evening light.
One of the most memorable parts of our stay came later that night. By 6 p.m., most of the day-trippers had left, the shops had closed, and the village became incredibly quiet. Aside from local residents and the handful of guests staying in the village hotels, the streets were nearly empty.
Walking through the narrow stone lanes after dark without seeing another person felt surreal. It was peaceful, slightly eerie, and unlike anything we’ve experienced elsewhere.
Èze was truly special.
The following morning, we reluctantly checked out and headed to the airport. A canceled flight in London unexpectedly stranded us for an extra night, but even that couldn’t put a damper on an incredible trip.
The South of France exceeded our expectations, and it’s a destination we’d happily return to someday.
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