This lovely city is an excellent day trip from Nice as well as a great place to spend a few days exploring and taking in the atmosphere. At this point, I have done both, and each time I went, I had a great time, so I will always recommend Menton!
As with most destinations in this region of France, I recommend taking the train. It's convenient, inexpensive, and eliminates the need to worry about parking. There are frequent trains from Nice. Train tickets from Nice to Menton cost between 6 and 8 euros, depending on the season and time of day. But if you’re traveling with a group of 4 or more people, you can get a 50% discount! Just make sure to select the “minigroupe” option on the ticket-selling machines, and you’re all set. And please, remember to validate your ticket on the orange machine before entering the train!
When you arrive, the train station may appear disorganized due to ongoing maintenance, but do not let that stop you from visiting this beautiful city! The old town is still easily accessible, and when the station is completed, I am sure it will look amazing!
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Moving around:
Menton is easy to explore on foot. That is part of its appeal: there isn’t a long list of "things to see" in this guide, as you might expect, because the old town itself is THE thing to see, with its colorful houses and charming narrow streets. Take your time to wander around, and you’ll find beautiful squares, pretty buildings with hanging flowers, and the cutest details everywhere! Nothing I write here can truly do it justice.
For slightly longer distances, like coming from the train station, for example (although it’s also quite doable on foot), there’s a free bus line in the summer months, which is quite convenient since it’s stops at many of the main spots like the train station, the market, the Plage des Sablettes and a few hotels, including the one I’m recommending.
I had an amazing time while I was here! Right in front of the beach and easily accessible by foot from both the train station and the city's main attractions, this hotel is stunning and perfectly situated. In addition, the breakfast is excellent! If possible, book a room with a view; it's well worth it!
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When to visit
Menton is obviously a great beach destination, but its temperate Mediterranean climate makes it a wonderful destination almost all year, so it really depends on what you want to do.
Some businesses will obviously be closed in the low season, but other than that, if you’re interested mostly in sightseeing and aren’t interested in spending time on the beach, swimming, etc, you may have a great time almost any time of the year.
Since the weather is especially favorable to the citrus industry, with which the city is strongly identified, every February, there is a festival called Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival. Over the course of a few days, various bands travel through the streets of Menton, either on foot or in truck trailers, as part of the carnival.
During the Fête du Citron, large temporary statues are constructed and covered in citrus fruit, and this garden is decorated in keeping with the festival's theme. Exhibits are covered in lemons and oranges.
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The Menton Music Festival, held every year from the end of July to the middle of August, is another excellent time to visit. There are free concerts in front of the Basilique de Saint-Michel and other locations throughout town. One of my visits coincided with this festival and made my stay even more special!
This building, designed by Hans-Georg Tersling in 1909, was once a casino. This is likely one of the first buildings you will see as you exit the train station, thanks to its stunning facade. Nowadays it works as a tourism office.
These beautiful stairs lead up to the Basilique de Saint-Michel and offer some views along the way. You can also get there by walking up from the old city center through narrow, picturesque streets. I recommend both because they offer unique perspectives while remaining equally charming. Keep in mind, however, that both options involve a steep ascent. I wouldn’t do this in the hottest hours of the day, for sure! If you don’t have much time to visit the town, you can choose one way to go up and go down using a different path.
There has been a church here since 1653, but this one was built in the XIX century in an “older” style (XVII century baroque). The square in front of the church offers one of Menton's best views.
Menton has at least half a dozen beaches; these are the largest but don’t let that stop you from exploring! Most beaches have pebbles instead of sand, so appropriate footwear is highly recommended (unless you want to stumble around until reaching the ocean like me)
The largest beach in Menton, and the one with better acessibility for baby strollers and wheelchairs (it has an elevator), although the others aren't particularly inacessible either since there isn't a big amount of stairs (often none at all). There's lots of different activities here on the summer months, especially in the evening.
This restaurant serves a mix of French and Italian dishes (we're very close to Italy, after all). The pizzas are delicious—as good as many I had in Italy! I also loved the location and the whole ambiance of the place.
This is the only restaurant I tried during my stay, but the prices did not differ much from the other restaurants in the area facing the beach, so they might be worth a try.
Gelato shop with a wide variety of flavors to try. The prices are also quite good! Since I have tried it, I suggest this one here, but there are lots of other shops in Menton that sell similarly delicious-looking ice cream.
This shop is so cute! It's a great place to purchase souvenirs as well as a variety of traditional sweets and drinks, all presented in the cutest boxes and packaging.
