French Riviera Gems 🇫🇷
Villefranche - sur - Mer
Why visit Villefranche?
The Côte d’Azur can be BUSY. Especially in the summer months. Villefranche offers some calm on this sometimes hectic coast. Escape the bigger towns of Nice, Cannes or Monaco and enjoy the village life for a day.
Getting here
Just one stop from Nice by train (Monaco/Italy direction) , this beautiful bay offers everything you want from the Côte d’Azur. From the crystal clear water, colourful houses and a charming village; Villefranche sur Mer is a must do on your next trip.
The train station is within easy access to the beach and town and offers some of the best views (sit on the right!)
A day in Villefranche sur Mer
First, head down to the old town (Vieille Ville in French) and stop at one of the many harbor side cafes for a Cafe au Lait & croissant. Take in the views of neighboring Cap Ferrat or ‘Billionaires Peninsula’ across the bay.
Next head to the charming streets of the old town where on Saturdays & Wednesdays, you will find the market full of fresh foods, olive oils, cheese and more. This is located in the ‘Jardin Francois Binon’.
After you have stocked up on French cheeses and ceramics, wander through streets filled with colourful houses, potted plants and chic french shutters. Take a peek at what life Is like for the residents of Villfrance sur Mer.
After getting lost in the streets, start to head down to the beach where you can relax, dip your toes in the azure waters and spot the many superyachts on anchor here for the day.
And lastly, no day in the the south of France is complete without a glass of ice cold rosè. So, pick your favorite cafe you found on your travels and take in the afternoon sun before heading home.
Valbonne Village
Why visit Valbonne?
Honestly, Valbonne is one of my favourite villages in the area. I know, I’ll probably say that about all of them but Valbonne has a special place in my heart. I lived close by for nearly 2 years and enjoyed many good times here. This charming village offers a glimpse into real French life. Due to its location, it’s not overrun by tourists (yay!) so enjoy a long lunch and take in the French lifestyle.
Getting here
Valbonne is located inland but is easily accessible from the coast. Only a 25 minutes drive or you can catch a bus from Cannes (630), Antibes (10) or from Nice (230)
Just make sure you are on a bus to Valbonne Village and not Valbonne Sofia Antipolis as this one will take you to the other side of Valbonne.
A day in Valbonne
On Fridays you will find the streets of Valbonne filled with market stalls selling everything from clothes, antiques, flowers and soaps. Get here early though as the market runs from 8am to 12.30pm when the market traders will pack up just in time for lunch! The main market is located In Place des Arcades where you will also find my favorite restaurant.
On the 1st Sunday of the month, you will find a second hand market in Valbonne, just be mindful of the busses on Sundays as they run infrequently compared to the rest of the week!
After you have browsed the many boutiques, stop for lunch in the Place des Arcades. My favorite restaurant is Cafè des Arcades. This is the perfect place to take a long lunch (you won’t be rushed for the table back) enjoy a carafe of rosè and sample one of their specials. I highly recommend their Cafè Gourmand (coffee & mini desserts)
Spend the rest of the afternoon getting lost in the narrow streets with some of the most charming townhouses you’ll see. If you fancy a walk in nature, head down to the river where you will find an ancient mill and walking trails
Haute Mougins
Why visit Haute Mougins?
Not to be confused with Mougins, which is the larger area in which Haute Mougins sits. ‘Haute’ meaning ‘High’ Mougins does what it says on the tin. Towering over the surrounding area, this hill top Medieval village is famous for its art scene. Art not your thing? Don’t worry, there is plenty more to see.
Honestly, people come here for the food. The gastronomy scene has exploded over the last few decades and Haute Mougins is the place to come for some of the best French gastronomy on the coast. Just be prepared to pay £££.
So, if food is your thing, get your fancy shoes on and come with an empty stomach!
Getting here
Another village away from the hustle and bustle of the coast, Haute Mougins is located 15 minutes drive inland behind Cannes. There is a large car park at the bottom of the hill where you will have to leave your car as they are not permitted in the old town.
Getting here by bus is a bit tricky. There is no direct bus from the coast but you can get the 660 from Cannes train station then change at ‘Blanchisserie’ for the 28 bus bound for ‘Ecole Mougins le Haut’. The bus stop names are pictured onboard a digital map so look out for your stop.
A taxi will cost you approximately 20-25€ from Cannes.
A day in Haute Mougins
Once here, you can take in the breathtaking views of Cannes and the surrounding areas. You can spend hours wandering this spiraling medieval village.
Famous for its art galleries, be sure to spend time visiting the many within the cobbled streets. The most famous is Museum of Classical Art on Rue Commandeur. Here you will find artworks by artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Rodin.
There is a fee of 12€ to enter, well worth it I think!
Along with the art and the food, there are lots of beautiful churches and chapels too in Mougins. The most famous perhaps is Saint Jacques le Majeur of which parts date back to the 11th century!
Mougins has a tendency to attract the rich and famous, mainly as so many of them live nearby! With this, the gastronomy scene here is impressive so make sure to book a reservation if food is your thing. I’ll note a few of my favourites below.
Théole - sur - Mer
Why visit Théole - sur - Mer?
Back to the coast we go. Theoule is where you will start to see the landscape change from built up Côte d’Azur to rural Provence (yes they are different regions)
Sitting under the stunning l’Esterel hills, this little seaside town is where locals come to the beach to escape busy life.
With a harbour and small town centre, this is the place to relax on the beach for the day and take in the beautiful views of the hills agains the azure sea.
Getting here
Theoule sur Mer is easily accessed by train from any station along the coast (Marseille direction)
Cannes Islands ( Île des Lérins)
Why visit Cannes Islands?
You’ve heard of Cannes, but did you know there are islands opposite this famous port town?
Made up of two islands, Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, they are the perfect rest bite from the hustle and bustle of Cannes. Take the day to sink into nature and enjoy the tranquility of these neighbouring islands.
Getting here
Just a 15/20 minute ferry ride from the Old Port of Cannes (Vieux-Port de Cannes) to île Sainte-Marguerite or île saint-honorat. You can take in the views of the coast from just 12€…. A lot cheaper than the super yachts floating around!
Île St. Marguerite
Île des Lérins are a group of islands just half a mile from Cannes. Dubbed ‘the Cannes islands’ by us Expats they are île St. Marguerite, Îlot de la Tradelière and Île Saint-Férréol and île St. Honorat.
Argubly the most famous of the them all, Île St Marguerite is the biggest of the islands and most visited. The island is most famous as the setting of Leonardo Dicaprio’s film Man in the Iron Mask which was based on a true story from the island.
You can spend the whole day here if you wanted to. There are a few restaurants and food vendors but I’d honestly recommend bringing a picnic because there are plenty of beauty spots to stop for lunch.
Spend the day wandering the alley of eucalyptus (allée des Eucalyptus), Museum ( Musée de la Mer ) and the abundance of umbrella pine trees lined walkways. Wear a comfy pair of shoes and take in the views.
Île St Honorat
Île St Honorat is a private islands belonging to the monks of Lérins Abbey. There are 20 monks that live in the monastery since 427 AD and one of the most fascinating things about them is they make their own wine! From manual harvest to bottling, they have an organic approach so not to impose of the islands ecosystem. You can taste the wines produced by the monks of the Lérins Abbey on the first Friday of every month at a relaxed gathering among the vines, weather permitting. What a story to go home and tell your friends about!
This is the first in many guides I will be writing about this idyllic part of the world so feel free to subscribe and save this guide for your next trip to the South of France 🇫🇷
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