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5 Places You Should Visit on the French Riviera

5 Places You Should Visit on the French Riviera

Posted on: Sunday 25 June 2017

I'm sitting here writing this post in a very messy office with the knowledge that I've got a half unpacked suitcase in the bedroom and a tonne of washing to do. It's safe to say I've well and truly got the holiday blues. So what better way to make them even worse than look through all the photos of what I was doing this time last week and write about what an amazing time I had?!

If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don't, here's a shameless plug) or if you've simply read the title of this blog post then you'll know that I recently spent a week and a half exploring the French Riviera. One of my close friends was getting married out there, which seemed like the perfect excuse for a holiday. It was so nice - it made me realise how long it's been since I've really relaxed and felt like I had nothing to do but explore, eat and enjoy myself (and yanno, get a load of blog content obviously). I'll be writing more in depth posts about my favourite places, but I wanted to do a little round up of the places I'd really really recommend visiting if you're in that area

yellow flowers growing out of a rock on a backdrop of the sea

pale blue window sashes on a French cottage

expensive looking yachts in a harbour, blue sea and sky

yellow house with lamp on the side, half in shadow and half in light

a rocky beach surrounded by high walls, looking out to a blue sea

a large stone jetty looking out to sea

Antibes | This was where my friend got married and it was everything you'd want all in one place; the perfect mix of relaxing seaside and lively bars. 

The old town is a maze of bars, cafes and cute little boulangeries plus a huge covered market selling fresh fruit, olives and spices among other things. It's easy to feel like you live there after a couple of days of wandering down to the boulangerie for breakfast before going out for the day then pottering around the harbour or going to the beach in the evening. 

A small pebbly beach surrounded by the town walls quickly became my favourite and there was nothing more relaxing at the end of the day than nipping down there for a swim and a book reading session. I'll write more about Antibes in a future post, but one of my absolute favourite things to do there was walk the cap of the island, which reminded me a little of Kings Landing in Game of Thrones for some reason and was just so picturesque (plus helped justify the large amount of carbs that were consumed everyday).


view from atop the high cliff in Eze, looking down to a blue sea, with red rooftops and exotic plants

an old yellow church, blue sky

woman holds a glass of white wine in front of some railings overlooking the sea

woman sits on a stone ledge overlooking the red rooftops, botanic plants and the sea

narrow cobbled street between buildings

view down a cliff into the blue sea

Eze | Eze was the place I was most excited to visit and was probably my absolute favourite. It's a little medieval village sat atop a mountain with the most stunning views across the Mediterranean. The winding streets are so pretty to walk around and there's an exotic botanical garden at the top, which if you're a plant lady like me will have you in your absolute element. I'd highly recommend paying a little more to eat at Le Chèvre D'or because it's so worth it for the view alone and it's only about €5 more expensive than eating further inside the village.


pastel high rise buildings

Ornate casino building through trees with purple flowers

view across rooftops of Monaco

Exterior of ornate casino building, people walking around outside, palm trees

a yellow coloured palace building, with mountains in the background, a blue cloudy sky

woman stood at a tall window with plush net curtains

Monaco | Monaco really surprised me. I thought it might be interesting and possibly even a little bit funny to see all the flash cars and yachts, but I absolutely loved it. The whole place looked a little like a Disney set, there were some stunning views and some interesting things to see and do as well. The palace is worth seeing and as it's on top of a hill you get some good views from up there too. The Monte Carlo casino is fascinating; the entrance hallway in itself is impressive, but it's worth paying to go into the main casino to watch rich people gamble all their money away. Monaco is definitely an experience I'd recommend.


in the foreground the sea and a beach, in the background a town on the side of a mountain with brightly coloured houses

a cobbled street with brightly coloured houses either side, flowers along the walls

Menton | Menton was a funny one because when you get off the train there it looked and felt like a run down British seaside resort in the 1980s. Give it a chance and walk five minutes round the corner though and you're faced with the most stunning beach front with lots of colourful houses going all up the side of the mountain. There's plenty to see as you're wandering around the old town and apparently there's a very picturesque cemetery at the very top of the hill, but it can also be very hot!

view up a cobbled stone street surround by stone cottages

in the foreground white flowers on a green bush, in the background a stone church tower

town on a hill among trees

old stone houses with pale blue window shutters

stone walls with wooden window shutters closed, heart shapes cut into wood

an old stone cottage behind a stone wall overlooking green trees and a blue sky

Saint-Paul-De-Vence | St Paul was a little like Eze, in that it was a walled medieval village on top of a hill, only it was a little inland. The views weren't quite as stunning, but the actual streets were so pretty - window shutters galore, which are now my new favourite thing and it was the perfect place to just wander around, take some pictures and enjoy some lunch. 

So that's my top five of the places we visited - well done if you've made it this far through the post. I thought I'd add a few tips on the end for if you're visiting yourself that you might find useful.

Public transport is incredibly cheap. A hop on/off weekly train ticket for pretty much everywhere along the coast for €25. How amazing is that?! The bus is a flat rate of €1.50 to get to the top of Eze (you can climb up the mountain if you want though) and also to St Paul because the train didn't go there.

The best thing you can do is wander. I think this with any holiday really. I love just wandering around and discovering pretty places and the French Riviera is perfect for just that.

If you're going in summer, stay somewhere with air conditioning. This was my only regret of the holiday. The Air BnB wasn't air conditioned. After a long day of wandering round in the sweltering heat, the last thing you want is to arrive back to an equally sweltering and stuffy bedroom.

Have you ever been to the French Riviera? Where would you recommend?

Amy x

Comments

  1. Ohh these pictures are so so pretty, it looks amazing! xx

    www.natalieleanne.com

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    1. It was great! I couldn't help but include heaps of pictures in this post haha! xx

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  2. I've only ever been to Paris briefly in France and I didn't like it that much, but the south is a place I have wanted to go, especially Cannes! Everything looks amazing here though! WOW!

    Raindrops of Sapphire

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    1. Yeah we didn't make it to Cannes - a lot of people said Monaco was better so we went there instead - you should definitely go :) xx

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  3. Stunning photography. I enjoyed reading your comments, too, but the pictures - wow!

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    1. Thanks so much! The pictures don't even do it justice! xx

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  4. I've been loving following your adventures via your Instagram, Amy! It looks like you've had an amazing trip (shame about the lack of AC though!!) Antibes is definitely high up on my list of places to visit, how beautiful is that view?! I've always wanted to visit Monaco as well, since watching the Formula One haha!

    Abbey 💜 www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk

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    1. I'd definitely recommend anywhere around this area - it's all so beautiful! Thanks lovely xx

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  5. Wow, what a wonderful looking (and sounding) trip!! Eze looks so beautiful and I really want to visit Monaco too!!
    Have a lovely day :)
    Rosanna x
    Rose's Rooftop

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    1. Eze was so beautiful! It was an amazing trip. Thanks Rosanna! xx

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  6. Wow your photos are incredible! Sounds like you had such an amazing time.

    Gemma x
    www.jacquardflower.uk

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    1. Thanks so much Gemma, we had a really amazing time :) xx

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  7. Oh Amy it all looks beautiful! Have been loving your France photos on insta and this post has made me want to book a trip immediately. Obsessed with your photos of Saint-Paul-De-Vence, those little blue shutters are just the dream arent they really!
    Sophie xxx | Sophar So Good

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    1. Thanks so much lovely - Saint-Paul-De-Vence was really the dreamiest! xx

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  8. Returning my activities after some weeks wandering, as well :) I loved your pictures and how cool is to have a friend getting married at the French Riviera. I did go to some of the places, but didn't go to Eze, and now I want to :) Hope you have a nice week!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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    1. Oooh hope you've been somewhere nice! It was the best excuse for a holiday haha! xx

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  9. The French Riviera is really amazing!:) I've been there few times and I have beautiful memories <3 Love your photos!


    MERI WILD BLOG

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    1. It's gorgeous isn't it - I'll definitely go back! xx

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  10. The French Riviera truly is spectacular - and you've shown that so well through your photos, Amy! Love that you stayed on after the wedding; I'm not surprised you found your time there relaxing. SO dreamy!

    Gabrielle | A Glass Of Ice x

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    1. It's so dreamy and relaxing - thank you lovely! xx

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  11. I've never been to Monaco apart from driving through on a coach on the way to Italy, but it was stunning from the view we had. These photos are breath taking! Looks like you had a great trip.

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    1. We had such a lovely trip thanks Corinne - so lovely around there! xx

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  12. Girllllll this post is just SO dreamy! I adore the south of France, I've visited twice but both times it's been just so stunning! So glad you had the best time for your friends wedding lovely! Now it's time to start planning yours... WHOO! ;)

    Hayley xo
    www.frockmeimfamous.com

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    1. Haha yeah I don't even know where to start! It's gorge over there isn't it xx

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  13. OMG!! It' s so wonderful!! Love these pictures!
    xx
    Mónica Sors
    MES VOYAGES À PARIS
    NEW POST: WHAT TO WEAR IN PARIS
    DON'T MISS: FLORAL ROMPER & ICE CREAM

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    1. Thank you, it's absolutely gorgeous out there isnt it! xx

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  14. Lovely photos girl!

    www.themollyellis.com

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