French riviera information

Staying on the Côte d’Azur and visiting the Lérins Islands During your next holidays on the Côte d’Azur, and more particularly near Cannes or Antibes, we highly recommend that you visit the Lérins Islands for an unforgettable day or half day trip. The Lérins Islands are situated in the Cannes Bay, only a few minutes by boat from the Festival Palace. The two main Lérins Islands are Saint Honorat Island and Sainte Marguerite Island, the latter is the larger and can be seen from the coast.  Apart from these two major islands, the Lérins Islands also have two smaller islands. To visit the islands you can use the ferries that leave from Cannes port several times a day. For Saint Honorat Island during the summer season there are departures from Cannes at 8:00, 9:00,10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:30 and 17:30. The return trips are at the sam times from Saint Honorat Island. The ferry costs around €14 for an adult return ticket. There are reductions under certain ...

Mandelieu la Napoule: A sea resort combining Estérel with the activities of the Côte d’Azur Opening onto the Gulf of ‘la Napoule’, ‘Mandelieu la Napoule’ is a seaside resort at the foot of the Estérel Mountains and only a few kilometres from Cannes. Between the water sports, the golf course (one of the most beautiful of the Côte d’Azur along the seafront) and its numerous other activities, Mandelieu is a very popular destination. For your holidays you will find a number of holiday rental properties at Mandelieu la Napoule on our website; close to the sea or in a peaceful setting among the Mimosas on the hillsides.  The beaches at Mandelieu Seven sandy beaches are available for holidaymakers visiting Mandelieu (The beaches at Robinson, Sable d’Or, Dauphins, Fon Marina, Château, Raquette and Rague - full detail here in french). Various leisure areas are also well equipped (with some volleyball courts). On Robinson beach there are even private lockers where ...

Visit and stay in Old Antibes for your holidays Old Antibes is the true heart of Antibes. Situated between the Port, the SNCF train station, the Albert 1st Boulevard and the sea, Old Antibes is a real labyrinth of tiny streets and alleys with artist’s studios, small boutiques, pubs and restaurants. Follow our guide to discover the places that should not be missed in Old Antibes during your stay in the Côte d’Azur.     The Marine Port: The entry point to Old Antibes from Vieux Port The Marine Port, opposite Vieux Port, is the main entry point to Old Antibes. By taking the first turn on the right after this gate (passing in front of the Aguillon Fountain), you will come across the Aguillon Boulevard which is the lively centre of the old town, especially during summer evenings or the weekends.  Crowded with pub terraces, restaurants and craft stands, the tourists and locals meet and mingle in this alley to enjoy the warm Antibes evenings. Rue ...

Alpes Maritimes seaside resorts from Théoule sur Mer to Nice From Théoule sur Mer to Nice, eleven towns turn their faces to the Mediterranean Sea. Here we will give a quick summary of each, for more details please consult our Guides to each seaside resort of the Alpes Maritimes. To discover these seaside resorts start from the west of the department.  Théoule sur Mer: The entry point to the Alpes Maritimes through Estérel At the gateways of Var and Estérel is the small seaside resort of Théoule sur Mer that offers numerous activities (including water sports) throughout the summer season on its various beaches (varying between pebbles, creeks, red rocks and fine sandy beaches).  Summer visitors will also enjoy the various hiking routes available at nearby Estérel. During July the Music and Dance Palais Bulles Festival takes place at the house of Pierre Cardin on the hills above Théoule sur Mer.  Mandelieu la Napoule: Golf and beaches Situated ...

The Maeght Foundation: A Museum under the open sky During your holiday on the Côte d’Azur, take the time to visit the magnificent village of Saint Paul de Vence and its contemporary Art Museum at the Maeght Foundation, the second most visited modern Art Museum in France. The Maeght Foundation is situated on the hills above Saint Paul de Vence before you arrive at the village itself. It lies in a sumptuous setting amongst a park set with pine trees. Inaugurated in 1964 by the then Minister of Cultural Affairs, André Malraux, it is a private foundation entirely dedicated to modern and contemporary art.  During your visit you will particularly appreciate the magnificent beauty of the area as well as the quality of the works of art on display. You will find art works in the park, on the terraces and in the numerous Museum rooms. The building’s architecture is not at all representative of the regional style (Provencal) or even similar but it does integrate extremely ...

Taste Socca in Old Nice close to the Place Garibaldi in France! When you visit Nice for your holidays at the Côte d’Azur take the time to taste some socca in Old Nice close to the Place Garibaldi. It is situated in a lively neighbourhood, with the National Theatre of Nice close by and the Rue Ségurane with its antique shops and the Chateau on the hill just a few steps away. Find seasonal accommodation close to Old Nice and spend your holiday in this charming and active area.  Garibaldi Place Completely restored recently this is a pure marvel that should absolutely be visited. To briefly relate its history… This was the arrival point of the carriage route from the Italian town of Turin to Nice. It was constructed between 1780 and 1783 by an Italian architect. The statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi and the ornamental basin were moved by a few metres during the construction of Tramway line 1. Since then Garibaldi Place has become a great place to visit with its numerous ...

The beaches at Juan les Pins Juan les Pins, a seaside resort at Antibes, is one of the most vivacious resorts along the Côte d’Azur from May to September. Here we offer you the opportunity to discover the beaches of Juan les Pins through our photographs.  The beaches on the coastal boulevard at Juan les Pins The coastline boulevard is the main coastal road. It links Golfe Juan with Juan les Pins. All along this boulevard are sand beaches. Those closest to the centre of Juan les Pins are mainly private beaches. For public beaches you need to go further from the centre of Juan les Pins.           The beaches around ‘la Pinède’ ‘La Pinède’ at Juan les Pins represents the centre of this seaside resort. It is here that the Summer Jazz festival of Juan les Pins takes place.  Around this is the casino, numerous bars, discotheques and restaurants. About a hundred metres beyond the casino, to the right in the direction of ...

Villeneuve Loubet, between Antibes and Nice The area of Villeneuve Loubet is situated between Antibes and Nice close to Cagnes sur Mer. Villeneuve Loubet possesses some lovely cultural, sportif and natural sites that enable visitors to have a wonderful time during their holiday on the French Riviera. Between Villeneuve village and the sea are some lovely places. Along the seaside, Villeneuve Loubet has a number of leisure sports areas where you can enjoy water skiing, wake-board, Jet Ski, scuba diving, kayak and pedalo rental, try para-sailing or a tow on a banana boat! Water leisure activities are certainly not lacking at Villeneuve Loubet. We found three water sports centres plus a diving club and a yacht club in the area. At the Baie des Anges Marina Port you can rent boats for a half day or full day, even a week. Certain professionals offer sea trips with a skipper either purely for leisure or to learn sailing.  The Baie des Anges Marina is a popular place with its ...

Cros de Cagnes: Beaches, restaurants and markets Cros de Cagnes is in the eastern part of the seafront in the direction of Nice on the French Riviera. This area has been preserved over the years and has become very active all year round making it very popular with holidaymakers. On our website you can find holiday rental apartments in Cros de Cagnes close to the sea. Follow our guide to discover this unique area.  The Street Market in Oliviers The Rue des Oliviers is the major commercial street in Cros de Cagnes, it hosts a market on Tuesday and Thursday mornings that should be visited for the fresh fish and local specialities. Rue des Oliviers is close to the yellow clock tower on the seafront.  The beaches at Cros de Cagnes In Cros de cagnes there are pebble beaches. They are quite large for the area and attractive too. As opposed to the Antibes beaches you will be able to find a place fairly easily.  For those that prefer relaxing on a ...

The Safranier Quarter in Antibes At the heart of Old Antibes, a rather unusual quarter is hidden away close to the covered market and the Promenade de l’Amiral de Grasse: The Free Community of Safranier.  Although having only a few lanes and alleys, it is independent from the rest of Antibes with its own Town Hall. Composed of village houses, carefully restored in accordance with tradition, it offers a calm atmosphere, a peaceful environment.  How to get to the Free Community of Safranier For those not in the know, the Free Community of Safranier is not easy to find. From the Antibes Town Hall, go up the Cours Masséna through the covered market then turn left onto the Rue de la Pompe. Immediately on your left is the Rue du Bas Castelet, one of the entry points to the Safranier Community. Photos of Safranier The Rue du Bas Castelet, straight for around a hundred metres, ascends by shallow steps to join the Rue du Haute Castelet. It is definitely one of ...