10 essential things to do on the French Riviera !
Orlane M | Architecture | Published on friday February 11, 2022 at 4:05 pm
Cannes’s port view from Le Suquet (old town).
10 essential things to do on the French Riviera ! It is in winter that our beautiful region best bears its name! While a large part of France is in the rain, the French Riviera benefits from sunny weather. Tested and approved!
The “mimosa” road.
1- The “mimosa” road
The ideal time to walk on the Route du Mimosa is from January to early March: the smell of mimosa is omnipresent and the forests are golden! On the road, take a break in the charming hamlet of Tanneron, the town with the most trees of these golden pompoms. Symbol of the sun and gold, it is found over more than 130 kilometers, from Bormes-les-Mimosas (Var) to Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes) via Saint-Raphaël (kilometer 59).
2- Visit the Ephrussi De Rotschild villa and gardens
First of all, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, also called villa Île-de-France is a French seaside villa located in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera (between Nice and Monaco).
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a sumptuous residence surrounded by nine idyllic gardens in Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat on the French Riviera, was built during the Belle Epoque by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, an extraordinary woman, day in and day out. taste for art are always embodied in the villa.
In addition, the sublime villa and its gardens are classified as historical monuments by decree of September 3, 1996. Clearly one of the essential thing to visit on the French Riviera !
The villa is open everyday of the yeat :
• February 1 – October 31 : 10 am – 6 pm / 7 pm in july and august.
• November 1 – January 30 : weekdays 2 pm – 6 pm / weekends and during school holidays 10 am – 6 pm
Last admission 1/2 before closing.
The bookshop boutique is open during villa hours.
The tea room is open during villa hours.
1 avenue Ephrussi de Rothschild, 06230 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
The Villa de Rotschild and its majestic gardens.
3- Attend the Dezeo dinner show at Casino Barrière Le Ruhl in Nice
The Dezeo Show’s dancers.
Dezeo is a show that will make you want to twirl and shine with the wonderful artists who are on stage: singer, acrobat, sensual dancers will transport you to wild rhythms.
Paintings imbued with exoticism and colors await you, a real cocktail of beauty! (from 59€)
1 promenade des Anglais, 06000 Nice
4- Stroll along Cap d’Antibes and Billionaires Bay
White limestone cliffs and enchanting coves, this is one of the most coveted and prettiest trails on the French Rivier. In addition, this magnificent walk runs along the coast on one side and the immense properties of billionaires on the other.
Also, this path, also called “customs officer path”, is very well laid out, paved most of the time and with protective barriers where the cliffs are the steepest.
How to access it ? Either from the beach of “La Garoupe” or from the villa “Éden Roc” avenue Beaumont.
Access is free.
Cap d’Antibes
5- Visit the Picasso Museum in Antibes
As well as the view from the terrace which is almost as impressive as the collection..
When it comes to opening hours, the Picasso Museum welcomes you every day except Mondays and on January 1, May 1, November 1, December 25..
• September 16 – June 14 : 10 am – 1 pm / 2 pm – 6 pm
• June 15 – September 15 : 10 am – 6 pm
Museum Pass €10 on sale at the reception desks of the Antibes and Juan-les-Pins Tourist Offices.
Pablo Picasso Museum, Antibes
6- Dinner at Luigi, the restaurant and piano bar designed by Fabrizio Casiraghi in Cannes
The heart of Italy beats there and resounds every evening against the Lalique glass, its skilfully restored bar and its luminous ceiling, to the jazzy rhythm of the musicians and the piano embedded in the central room. The romanticism and elegance of this cozy address even allow a menu with delicate flavors.
Luigi restaurant, Cannes
7- Hike “Le Tour de La Tête de Chien”
First, this easy hike is located near La Turbie and therefore on the heights of Cap d’Ail and offers a truly extraordinary panorama. Also, this pretty ride over the coastline enjoys views from east to west over Monaco and the entire bay that are absolutely stunning.
Hike “Le Tour de la Tête de Chien”, Cap d’Ail
Rooftop Radisson Blu Hôtel, Cannes
8- Go for a drink and enjoy the sunset on the rooftop of the Radisson Blu 1835 hotel in Cannes
Good music, good vibes, good food. Escape to the roof terrace of this magnificent hotel, offering a 360° panoramic view. It dominates the Croisette, the Suquet and the Boulevard du Midi. The terrace is completely closed and heated during the winter and completely open in the summer.
Also, if you want to continue the evening, located on the rooftop, the 360 restaurant is a refined gourmet restaurant with a design and refined decoration.
9- Admire the beauty of the Massif de L’Estérel and more specifically of Trayas – Pic de l’Ours
Embark on this 6.6 km hike on a loop path that allows you to discover some of the most beautiful landscapes in the region. Although the summit is “only” 499 meters high, it is worth the detour. It is particularly famous for the Tooth of the Bear, a rhyolite rock pierced by a small cave.
In addition, once at the top, the panorama over the Esterel, the Mercantour and the Haut Var is breathtaking
Trayas, Massif de l’Esterel
10- Go for brunch at the unmissable “la Môme” beach in Cannes
La Môme plage, Cannes
Finally, we also loved having brunch on this beach and it’s timely because their “Sunday Brunch” returns this Sunday February 6 with a special DJ Set. This restaurant is a real institution, atmosphere guaranteed, one of the other must-sees on the French Riviera!
A stone’s throw from the Palais des Festivals, on the Boulevard de la Croisette, the Môme Plage immerses you in the world of water sports and the golden years of the French Riviera. Also, we really liked the refined decoration inspired by Riva’s mythical Aquarama boat. Indeed, everything has been thought out so that customers are literally transported to this retro and glamorous era.
