You’ve likely heard of famous coastal South of France towns like Nice and Cannes thanks to the celebrities and films that make these yacht havens famous. However, did you know that some of the most charming and must-see French Riviera villages are ones you likely haven’t even heard of?
Any good well-rounded Cote d’Azur itinerary will have a mix of big and small towns. Heck – some people even prefer to skip busier destinations like Monaco all together in favor of more low-key villages that are a bit removed from the major tourist routes.
As someone who loves peace and quiet mixed with a beautiful view, today I am sharing 12 wonderful French Riviera villages you should try to see. It’ll be hard to visit them all in one go, but adding just two or three of your favorites from this list will make your trip absolutely magical.
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12 French Riviera Villages That You Shouldn’t Miss
1. Èze Village
There are two absolutely breathtaking hilltop villages that just about everyone visits during a trip to the French Riviera. The first one is darling Èze, which sits isolated along the Mediterranean coast. With the village’s close proximity to Monaco, many people book this guided tour to easily see both places in one leisurely day trip.
Èze’s charming lanes are lined with galleries, shops, and restaurants hidden behind medieval stone walls. You visit this town to stroll these narrow cobblestone paths, imagining another era when locals lived a quiet life in this hard-to-reach village.
While today’s Èze belongs to tourists, the village hasn’t lost anything when it comes to beauty. Don’t skip the Jardin Exotique (Exotic Garden) at 429 meters (1,407 feet) above sea-level, where cacti and other succulents liven up crumbled 12th-century fortress ruins that give sweeping views as far as Saint-Tropez.
It is also possible to dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Èze for lunch or dinner, at either La Chèvre d’Or or Château Eza. Just note there may be a dress code and both restaurants close for winter.
- Minutes from Nice: 26 minutes by car, about 40 minutes by bus.
- Best Way to Reach: Guided tour, driving/Uber, or hiking the Nietzche Path from Èze-sur-Mer. Limited bus options also available (this post details how to reach Èze Village from Nice).
- Recommended Hotel: Hôtel Château de La Chèvre d’Or
Related: 10 Reasons Why Eze is Worth Visiting
2. Saint-Paul-de-Vence
The other hilltop village that most visitors to the French Riviera yearn to visit is drop-dead-gorgeous Saint-Paul-de-Vence. This town sits further inland from the hustle and bustle of the coast and looks over a gorgeous valley all the way out to the blue Mediterranean. It’s popular to connect Saint-Paul-de-Vence with other inland Riviera villages like Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Grasse on guided tours like this one.
Even with tour companies continuously dropping busloads of people at the city gates, you’ll still find plenty of charm within the 16th-century ramparts. Enter under the village, passing an imposing 14th-century tower, to discover dozens of galleries continuing a long-standing creative legacy on these very lanes. A stroll through streets lain with cobblestones fanned out on their sides reveals centuries-old fountains tucked into tiny squares and surprising sculptures strung over alleyways.
There are numerous other ways to immerse yourself into village’s art scene. Visit Foundation Maeght just uphill from the medieval village to discover a vast modern art collection that includes works by Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Joan Miró, and Alberto Giacometti (Chagall is buried in the Old Cemetery below the village).
Additionally, grab lunch just outside the city walls at the famous La Colombe d’Or, where early 20th-century artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse once exchanged works for meals and board. Finally, take a brief tour inside the unassuming 17th-century Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs (aka the Folon Chapel) to be moved by a vibrant mural painted by Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon in the early 2000’s.
- Minutes from Nice: 50 minutes by car, one hour by public transportation
- Best Way to Reach: Drive or take a guided bus tour. Local buses are also available (read more about public transportation to Saint-Paul-de-Vence here).
- Recommended Hotel: La Colombe d’Or Hotel and Restaurant
Related: Is Saint-Paul-de-Vence Worth Visiting?
3. Villefranche-sur-Mer
While the inland French Riviera villages are lovely, chances are you came to this region to relax by the sea. Thankfully, you don’t need to venture far from the Nice city center in order to do this. One of the region’s dreamiest coastal hamlets, Villefranche-sur-Mer, is right next door.
Whether you hop on a bus or have a more whimsical arrival on your own “scoot coupe”, it won’t take long to fall under this village’s spell. Overlooking a stunning deep bay with super calm water, Villefranche-sur-Mer boasts sandy beaches, photogenic lanes with buildings painted shades of pink, peach, and gold, and harborfront dining. Only bright blue and green shutters interrupt the princessy pastel tones of this fairytale village.
Villefranche-sur-Mer beckons you to take it slow while while exploring key sights like the 16th century Citadelle Saint-Elme and the vibrant Chapelle de Saint Pierre des Pecheurs designed by artist Jean Cocteau. Craving some movement? Consider hiking the Sentier du Littoral (coastal path) from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer for about 4 miles (1.5 hours) for nonstop gorgeous Mediterranean views.
- Minutes from Nice: 15 minutes by public transportation, 20 minutes by car, or 90 minutes on foot.
- Best Way to Reach: Take the bus, train, drive, or even hike 4 miles along the water between Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Alternatively, make a day of it visiting multiple towns on this unique “scoot coupe” tour!
- Recommended Hotel: Welcome Hotel
Related: 12 Reasons Why Villefranche-sur-Mer is Worth Visiting
4. Menton
The other coastal village on the French Riviera that everyone staying in Nice should try to see is Menton. Like Villefranche-sur-Mer, you’ll find colorful buildings in warm hues clinging to the hillside along the coast. As the town sits right on France’s border with Italy, you’ll undoubtedly hear both French and Italian being spoken and feel architectural and culinary influences from both countries.
Don’t be surprised to see plenty of lemon and orange trees in this citrus-loving town. In fact, this is the home of the Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival, that is held every February. During a January trip, we saw numerous small trees with branches hanging heavy under the weight of ripe yellow lemons.
Arrive via train at the Menton Garavan station for amazing views approaching the town as you stroll twenty minutes along the water. Be sure to notice (or ascend) the famous bright orange stairs that weave their way up to the 17-century baroque-style Basilique Saint-Michel Archange de Menton.
Must-visit spots for photographers include the pier leading to the Menton Lighthouse, the Cimetière du Vieux Château, and this viewing point above the city that gives sweeping views over the tile rooftops. With more time to linger, wander into the Jean Cocteau Museum by the harbor before settling in for an indulgent lunch at the L’Orangerie (one of my favorite meals on the French Riviera so far).
- Minutes from Nice: 40 minutes by train, 45 minutes by car.
- Best Way to Reach: Take the train from Nice. You can read more about reaching Menton from Nice here.
- Recommended Hotel: Prince de Galles Hotel
Related: 21 Amazing Things to Do in Menton
5. Mougins
Like many small inland towns of the French Riviera, Mougins was once a fortified village perched on a hilltop with views of the sea in one direction and the snow-capped Alps in the other. However, unlike the villages of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Èze, Mougins feels low-key without the large bus tour crowds. This town is also fairly easy to reach in less than 30 minutes from either Cannes or Antibes.
Those who arrive in Mougins will discover surprising hidden gems, beginning with free parking outside the historic core! History lovers can marvel at medieval remnants of yore, including the 12th-centured arched Sarrazine Gate and the 11th century Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur church that remain today.
However, what really sets Mougins apart from the other aforementioned French Riviera villages is its modern history. There is the rich culinary legacy left by celebrity chef Roger Vergé, which continues today in the form of the Mougins’s robust dining scene and the annual L’Etoiles de Mougins festival.
Additionally, a string of artists passed through Mougins during the 20th century, the most famous being Pablo Picasso. Stop by the Château de Vie estate (adjacent to a 16th century chapel) downhill from the old town, which Picasso bought from the Guinness family in 1961. He lived and created art there until his death in 1973.
Feeling inspired to see some actual art while in Mougins? Don’t miss the Female Artists of the Mougins Museum (FAMM) – a private museum dedicated entirely to highlighting the accomplishments of female artists, from late Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism.
- Minutes from Nice: 45 minutes by car, 90 minutes by public transportation
- Best Way to Reach: Drive or hire a private tour. It is also possible to reach Mougins by way of public transportation, though not nearly as efficient.
- Recommended Hotel: Le Mas Candille – Hotel, Restaurants & Spa
Related: 10 Reasons Why Mougins, France is Worth Visiting
6. Gourdon
If you manage to get tired of being so close to the sea, don’t just change your scenery – change your altitude with a drive up to Gourdon. If cliffside roads make you nervous, let someone else do the driving with this guided tour. Like in Mougins, there is free parking in the gravel lot below the town.
The sweaty palms I got during the last few kilometers to Gourdon were worth it once I reached the village. Quaint as Gourdon is in size and sights, it is its position that brings the drama, being perched about 2,500 feet (760m) high on the edge of a rocky cliff. During my visit, I got dizzy looking up from the town’s panoramic viewpoint to see paragliders gently swooping back and forth over the valley below, briefly interrupting views that span 80 kilometers of coastline.
If you prefer to keep your athletic endeavors on land, you could opt to navigate the rocky steps and switchbacks leading 1,614 feet down the Path to Heaven (Chemin du Paradis) to the town of Pont du Loup in the valley below. Of course, you’d also have to climb back up…
If the activities you had in mind were a bit more subtle, have no fear: Gourdon is compact and easy to navigate. Take a stroll down Rue Principale past a selection of shops selling local goods, as well as tiny eateries. Finally, be sure to appreciate the medieval architecture and gardens of Gourdon Castle, which was built from the 9th century and owned by the Counts of Provence until the 13th century.
- Travel Time from Nice: 54 minutes
- Best Way to Reach: By car or guided tour. It’s also possible to take bus 09 or 650 to bus 651 from the Cagnes-sur-Mer train station.
- Recommended Hotel: Le Cabanon de Gourdon
7. Vence
While Saint-Paul-de-Vence gets loads of attention, many visitors are completely sleeping on the nearby city of Vence. If you have your own wheels, there is no excuse to skip this town during a day trip to the former, with it being an easy 10-minute drive further into the hills.
When you first reach Vence, continue past the hustle and bustle of the modern section to find a parking spot in one of the small lots outside the medieval city walls. There are two essential sites waiting down the quiet cobblestone paths inside: the compact Cathédrale Notre-Dame de la Nativité that houses a beautiful mosaic by Marc Chagall and centuries-old artifacts, as well as the Museum de Vence for its permanent collection of etchings by Henri Matisse. If you need lunch, you’ll find many tables available at various eateries surrounding the quaint village squares.
Don’t leave town before paying a visit to Matisse’s Rosary Chapel, which sits outside of the medieval core. Matisse designed the interior and exterior of the building in his characteristic minimal style accented with bold hues of blue and yellow, making this hidden gem inspiring to behold no matter what your creed.
- Travel Time from Nice: 40 minutes
- Best Way to Reach: By car. Also possible to reach within one hour by the 09 or 636/655 bus from the Cagnes-sur-Mer train station.
- Recommended Hotel: Chateau Saint-Martin & Spa
8. Haut-de-Cagnes
Cagnes-sur-Mer could almost get mistaken for any other beach resort town without this hard-to-miss treasure: the authentic hilltop village of Haut-de-Cagnes. Upon first glance from afar, you will undoubtedly notice the tower of Grimaldi Castle majestically overlooking the surrounding urban sprawl.
This quaint medieval village is compact, but definitely worth a stroll along it’s winding streets and covered passages. While in town, pay a visit to the Grimaldi Castle, which was built around 1300 and now houses the Musee de l’Olivier (Olive Tree Museum) and the Donation Solidor, which houses artwork honoring cabaret legend Suzy Solidor. You may also want to swing by the Museum of Contemporary Jewelry, which earned the city the esteemed “City and Crafts” (Ville et Metiers d’art) label.
Like many other gorgeous French Riviera villages, Cagnes-sur-Mer did not escape the notice of artists passing through the region. Auguste Renoir in particular chose to make Cagnes-sur-Mer his home for the last 12 years of his life. Today, the estate (a 23-minute walk or 6-minute drive from Haut-de-Cagnes) has been converted to a museum within a citrus grove where you can see furnishings that belonged to his family, a small selection of Renoir’s artwork, and pretty views out to the Mediterranean.
- Travel Time from Nice: 40 minutes
- Best Way to Reach: Take the train or bus from Nice, but expect an additional 15-20 minutes of walking. Driving is also possible, with parking in an underground garage just outside the medieval village.
- Recommended Hotel: Chateau Le Cagnard
9. La Turbie
La Turbie sits at 500 meters (1,640 feet) along Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grand Corniche road (the highest of three coastal “Corniche” roads connecting Nice to Menton). It is certainly among the highest of the French Riviera villages, sitting in a location with premium views over the entire principality of Monaco.
As you first enter La Turbie, you’ll encounter a vibrant local energy with bustling markets, boulangeries, and cafes. If you don’t arrive via the many guided tours that also visit Èze and Monte Carlo, you’ll find both free and paid parking options close to the main sights.
First, stroll the town’s medieval village, arranged in a defensive arc, to spot various styles of architecture that include baroque and classical. In fact, stone for some of the structures was taken from La Turbie’s crowning monument that dates back to around 7/6 BC: the Trophy of Augustus. Upon visiting the monument, you will also have access to a 3-hectare park that gives lovely panoramas over Monaco.
Another site to visit as you exit the medieval village towards Rue Edward Tuck is the 18th-century Saint-Michel Church, which was built in the baroque style using stones from the Trophy of Augustus. The inside houses many treasures, including 15th century paintings and a large Christ carved from a single cedar trunk.
If you are feeling extra ambitious, consider hiking from La Turbie to the Tete de Chien rock formation for some of the best views available in the French Riviera.
- Travel Time from Nice: 30 minutes
- Best Way to Reach: By car or guided tour. You could also take the train to Monaco-Monte-Carlo, followed by the 603 bus (about 1 hour)
- Recommended Hotel: Hotel Napoleon
10. Tourrettes-sur-Loup
You’ll feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of Nice tucked in the low-key hilltop town of Tourrettes-sur-Loup. From outside the village along Route de Vence, you can admire gorgeous vistas of the medieval village perched above the lush hills and valleys as you head into town. Tourrettes-sur-Loup is a great town to add to a busy day trip connecting the French Riviera villages of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Gourdon, and Grasse.
You can park in the paid lot of Place de la Libération right in the center of town. From there, it will take you all of 30 minutes to wander the medieval village and take in the sweeping views out to the Mediterranean from just outside the ramparts.
However, you shouldn’t leave this village before learning about it’s claim to fame: violets. Take a short walk down Route de Saint-Jean to the Bastide Aux Violettes to learn about the only town in France where violets are the primary crop. These purple flowers are harvested and sent to perfumeries in Grasse, as well as made into candies at Confiserie Florian.
Visiting over the first weekend in March? Drop by the Violet Festival, which has been held annually in Tourrettes-sur-Loup since 1952 to celebrate the end of the violet season.
- Travel Time from Nice: 50 minutes
- Best Way to Reach: Drive or take a guided bus tour. Also possible to reach via combination of bus 655 and 651 from the Cagnes-sur-Mer train station (1 hour and 20 minutes)
- Recommended Hotel: Auberge de Tourrettes
11. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Wedged in between Monaco and Menton, many people don’t manage to stop in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin during their French Riviera travels. However, even if you can only squeeze an extra two hours out of your day for a visit, I personally believe a stop here is worth it.
Our mission was to visit the 10th-century medieval castle resting at 300 meters (984 feet) at the top of the old village, mostly lured by the promise of good views. We took a ten-minute bus from Menton that dropped us off at the bottom of the hill, and so we climbed up up up until we reached the castle entrance. It turns out that buses do exist that will save you most of this exerting climb (mentioned below).
Thankfully, our steep climb was worth it because the castle (price and opening hours here), which is a rare example of Carolingian era architecture in France, provided astounding views over Cap Martin and Monaco. The beauty of the warm ochre roof tiles below us illuminated in the sunset contrasting against the glimmering blue sea should not be underestimated.
If you have more time to linger around Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, pay a visit to the Sainte-Marguerite church and the Olivier Millénaire – an olive tree thought to be 1,800 to 2,200 years old (what?!). Alternatively, you could set off on a scenic coastal walk around the tree-covered cape, stopping to check out the minimalistic architectural work, the UNESCO-recognized Cabanon de Le Corbusier.
- Travel Time from Nice: 1 hour
- Best Way to Reach: Combination of train and 22 or 24 bus (unless you don’t mind a 30-minute uphill walk from the train station)
- Recommended Hotel: Hotel Le Roquebrune
12. Ventimiglia
Okay, you caught me – Ventimiglia is technically not in France. However, visiting Ventimiglia, Italy is so easy to do from the French Riviera via quick train connections, that it’s worth including on this list. I recommend pairing this town with a visit to Menton, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, and even Monaco.
After getting off the train, cross the Ponte Andrea Doria over the Roya (or Ròia) River to begin your climb up the historic tangle of streets belonging to Ventimiglia Alta, which began populating around the 7th-8th century. You’ll spot citrus trees growing wherever they feel like – over walls and even around piles of junk.
From signs in Italian on storefronts to animated speakers on the streets around you, it’ll be hard to believe you’re only about twenty minutes away from France. Wandering into a tiny cafe, we managed to dust off our rusty basic Italian to order due espressi, per favore.
The old village of Ventimiglia Alta offers pretty views over the port, but the best views of the village are from the archeological museum of Forte dell’Annunziata or from across the Roya River. One essential site to visit in the Old Town is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which is a good example of Romanesque architecture with a collection of paintings worth perusing. Underneath the current 11th-12th century cathedral, you can discover a crypt that remains from an ancient medieval church that predates the more “modern” structure.
Are you in town on a Friday? Head to Ventimiglia’s waterfront to shop at the towns largest weekly market.
- Travel Time from Nice: 52 minutes
- Best Way to Reach: Train from Nice
- Recommended Hotel: Hotel Sole Mare
• • •
That covers twelve of the most adorable French Riviera villages that you shouldn’t miss. I must admit – the Côte d’Azur is stacked with so much beauty, that it’s incredibly difficult to cover it all in one visit. That said, if you manage to squeeze any of these gorgeous villages into your itinerary, you’re bound to have a more memorable stay in the South of France.
Planning a trip to the South of France? Then make sure to join my Facebook group for the best tips, places, and hotels on the French Riviera.
