{"id":11406,"date":"2025-01-07T07:09:08","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T12:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finduslost.com\/?p=11406"},"modified":"2025-06-05T09:26:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T13:26:45","slug":"south-of-france-french-riviera-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finduslost.com\/south-of-france-french-riviera-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"South of France: French Riviera Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Menton<\/p>\n

Last month we spent three weeks in the south of France, starting with the French Riviera. This part of France is known for incredible ocean views, picturesque towns, and delicious restaurants. We felt right at home the moment we arrived at our first stop just outside of Nice, the seaside town of Villefrance-Sur-Mer. From there, o<\/span>ur day trips consisted of visiting nearby cities like pastel Menton and chic Cannes. Next was Provence<\/a>, for beautiful lavender fields and wineries amongst hilltop towns like Gordes and Lacoste.<\/p>\n

These types of trips are my favorite; spending days exploring quaint towns, swimming at European beaches and eating a delicious dinner each evening. This French Riviera guide covers some of my favorite stops along the way, a great starting point to plan your own road trip along the French coastline.<\/p>\n

PRESET COLLECTIONS USED IN THIS BLOG POST: INDIA COLLECTION<\/a>, EUROPE COLLECTION<\/a><\/h5>\n

\"Villefranche-Sur-Mer<\/div>
\"Villefranche-Sur-Mer<\/div>
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\"Antibes<\/div>
\"Villefranche-Sur-Mer<\/div>
\"Villefranche-Sur-Mer<\/div>
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Photos:<\/em> Menton (first horizontal photo), the rest are Villefrance-Sur-Mer (all edited with my India collection presets, here<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

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7 DESTINATIONS<\/h3>\n

\u2014<\/h3>\n

1 WEEK+<\/h3>\n

Best time to visit <\/strong>\u2013 June through August, early to mid-July if you also want to see lavender fields<\/p>\n

Getting around<\/strong> \u2013 rental car, buses and trains possible as well<\/p>\n

Currency<\/strong> \u2013 euros<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We flew into Nice from an overnight flight through New York and landed in the morning. Our first stop was lunch and hitting the beach, which is only a few minutes walk away from the town center of Villefranche-Sur-Mer. We chose to stay in Villefranche-Sur-Mer because it\u2019s easily accessible from Nice (only 20 minutes by car) and much quieter. I knew we made the right decision after stepping off the plane to hordes of tourists headed to Nice! Our few days here were wonderful and made for a great home base to explore this part of the French Riviera. Here<\/a> is our map of the towns listed below.<\/p>\n

Where we stayed:<\/strong> in Villefranche-Sur-Mer. I cannot recommend basing yourself here enough. Finding an apartment in the center means you can walk out your doorstep to pastel buildings and waterfront dining. It’s an exceptionally small town, and being even 5 minutes away makes walking into it very difficult. Note: Villefranche is that it is a great base for exploring by foot, but if you plan to rent a car you will need to park it above the town center as most streets are too small for cars.<\/p>\n

For the best hotel option, book a stay at the well-known Welcome Hotel<\/a> —\u00a0 where I\u2019d stay if we returned — just make sure to book in advance<\/a> as it was completely full for our dates!<\/strong> Their terrace is covered and overlooks the docks, so we had coffee and pastries there each morning. Alternatively, here are my picks below for nearby apartments that ensure walkability and charming locales.<\/p>\n

Apartments in Villefranche-Sur-Mer<\/h4>\n

Cosy Volti<\/strong><\/a> – $$ – a comfortable pied-\u00e0-terre combining original architectural details with contemporary furnishings and a well-equipped kitchen.
\nLa Fontaine<\/strong><\/a> – $$ – a quaint 1-bedroom apartment in the heart of the medieval town.
\nThe Bay<\/strong><\/a> – $$ – a bright 2-bedroom residence steps from the beach, combining modern amenities with classic French Riviera style and panoramic bay views.
\nBlue House<\/strong><\/a> – $$$ – a charming 3-bedroom home in the heart of old town featuring traditional architecture, a fully equipped kitchen, and balcony overlooking the colorful streets.
\nSeaside Serenity<\/strong><\/a> – $$$ – a cozy retreat tucked into Villefranche’s medieval streets, offering authentic old town living with modern comforts & peek-a-boo sea views.
\nProche Mer<\/strong><\/a> – $$$ – a luxuriously appointed apartment mere steps from the sea, featuring high-end appliances and contemporary furnishings.
\nVillefranche Bay View<\/strong><\/a> – $$$ – a newly renovated apartment with stunning sea views, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious terrace perfect for watching boats drift into the harbor.<\/p>\n

And if you’re looking for the trip of a lifetime (and can seriously splurge!), check out the famous Grand-H\u00f4tel du Cap-Ferrat<\/a>. It’s played host to luminaries including Winston Churchill, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and more recently, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and various European royalty (it’s referred to as the French Riviera’s premier palace hotel). Grand-H\u00f4tel du Cap-Ferrat has a Michelin-starred restaurant, private beach club accessed by cable car, and an Olympic-sized infinity pool. We popped in the lobby just for a peek during our visit!<\/p>\n

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More from this trip in our South of France: Provence Guide<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Villefranche-Sur-Mer<\/div>
\"Villefranche-Sur-Mer<\/div>
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Villefranche-Sur-Mer<\/h4>\n

Villefranche-Sur-Mer is not as well-known as other towns in the region, which we preferred. The town itself is so picturesque – think narrow streets and pastel buildings. You could easily walk the whole village in an hour or less. The main beach is a few minutes walk from the town center. We mostly ran into locals and European tourists here, a huge plus considering the larger towns in the riviera are packed with international crowds these days!<\/p>\n

Villefranche-Sur-Mer Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n