With a seemingly year-round holiday vibe, the French Riviera epitomizes the joie de vivre. You’ll no doubt feel for yourself the good-life spirit in the Riviera’s coastal resort towns and up high in the perched villages clinging to the foothills of the Alps. While the over-the-top luxury is hard to escape, authenticity is never too far away. Get lost in the maze of old-city alleys, see what’s fresh at the Provencal markets, and embark on road trips filled with panoramic views and that adoring summer sound of cigales. In this 5 days in the French Riviera sample itinerary, I’ll take you to the very best sites and sounds of the Cote d’Azur.
This French Riviera itinerary is a combination of three separate visits to the French Riviera, traveling as a couple during July, April, and October. On every trip, we re-visited the places we absolutely loved and explored new areas – to make this itinerary the very best possible, while keeping things doable.
If it’s 24/7 action you’re looking for and the ‘city life’ – base yourself in Nice. As you’ll see later on in this guide, the city has a lovely boardwalk, plenty of dining and drinking options, and of course – casinos! Being the fifth largest city in France – Nice has plenty of accommodations to choose from that suit all budgets and tastes.
For a stay in a charming old town that still offers some action, nothing beats Antibes. With awesome views of the Mediterranean and the Alpes, Antibes has a charming walled old city and a more modern beachside section. Much smaller than Nice, accommodations in Antibes are limited, so booking ahead is essential. The town is well situated for exploring everything mentioned in this sample itinerary.
Click on the image below to open an interactive Google Map containing all the highlights mentioned in this 5 days in the French Riviera sample itinerary.