How to Spend a Weekend on the French Riviera

If you’re planning a weekend escape and want to make the most of your time on the French Riviera, this guide is for you. Whether you travel with family, a partner, or solo, the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur) delivers a mix of sun, sea, art, and relaxed elegance.

The challenge isn’t finding things to see, it’s choosing what fits into a short stay without feeling rushed.

I’ll walk you through a balanced itinerary that respects your pace and keeps you grounded in local logic: what’s worth waking up early for, how to avoid mid-day crowds, and where to linger without feeling wasteful.

Why a Weekend on the Riviera Demands a Plan

On a short trip, timing matters as much as destination. The Riviera’s charm lies in subtle moments: soft morning light on pastel façades, quiet lanes before the tourist buses arrive, terrace cafés late afternoon, and dusk walks along the water. If you don’t pick wisely, you’ll spend half your time in traffic or waiting in lines. A smart weekend plan helps you experience highlights (Monaco, Nice, Antibes, Cannes) without exhaustion.

Also, for travelers thinking of a splurge, one of the most memorable ways to savor the coast is via a luxury yacht charter south of France. A multi-day boat trip lets you skip local traffic and see hidden coves, while enjoying a stylish base that moves with you. I suggest building your itinerary around one major hub and one or two side excursions rather than trying to “do it all.”

Day One: Start in Nice and Explore the Coast Westward

Arrive in Nice (airport or train) early, drop off luggage, and begin on solid footing.

Morning in Nice: Old Town and Promenade

Begin with a walk through Vieux Nice (Old Town). The narrow alleys open into squares lined with cafés. It’s quieter before 10 a.m., so you’ll enjoy looking at Belle Époque buildings, pastel shutters, and the famous Cours Saleya market. That market offers flowers, local produce, and small stalls of olive oil, soaps, and keepsakes. Grab a coffee and a croissant at a local café, and don’t linger too long; you’ll want time for the Promenade des Anglais.

Walk west along the Promenade, blue sea, shady palms, and occasional palm-fringed beaches. If the weather allows, stop at one of the private beach clubs for a swim or lounge break (there’s a small fee, but you’re in Riviera mode now). The contrast between the lively promenade and the quieter backstreets is part of the appeal.

Lunch and Transportation

For lunch, head to the Port neighborhood, where seafood bistros serve lightly dressed salads or grilled fish. Afterward, you can take a coastal train (TER) to nearby towns, or rent a car for more flexibility. If you drive, aim for Antibes and Cannes (west) but leave buffer time for traffic. If you stay by rail, the stops are frequent, and the coastal views are a slow reveal.

Afternoon in Antibes and Juan-les-Pins

Arrive in Antibes by early afternoon. The old town, with its ramparts and Picasso Museum, is compact and friendly to explore on foot. The ramparts offer sea views; the Picasso Museum sits in the Château Grimaldi, where you can see paintings, ceramics, and rotating exhibitions. From there, duck toward the port and enjoy fresh mollusks or a glass of rosé overlooking the harbor.

Just west is Juan-les-Pins — more resorty, flat beaches, and a relaxed mood. It’s less photogenic than the old town but more immediately “beach weekend.” Stretch out on the sand or walk along the shores.

Evening in Cannes or Stay in Antibes

By late afternoon, head to Cannes (or return to Nice, depending on your lodging base). Cannes’s allure is its beach promenade, film festival aura, and walkable center. Sunset here is a good time to stroll La Croisette and peer at luxury shops and yachts. For dinner, choose a calm street just off the main drag — you’ll find Provençal cuisine without the film-festival price.

Stay overnight in Cannes or back in Nice, depending on where your lodging suits you best. (Tip: if you stay in Nice, leave early the next morning to get ahead of crowds.)

Day Two: Monaco, Eze, and Cap Ferrat or Day-Boat Options

You now have a second full day: here’s how to spend it confidently.

Morning: Eze Village and Exotic Garden

Start inland from Nice: take the bus or drive to Eze Village (tiny medieval perched village). You’ll climb a bit, but at the top is the Jardin Exotique d’Eze, with succulents and sculptural views over the sea. The walk down is charming, through stone steps and passageways. It’s best to arrive before late morning; after that, it’s hot and crowded.

If your interest tilts to perfume and heritage, stop at the Fragonard perfume factory in Eze for a free (short) guided tour. It’s small but interesting for the sense of operations on the Riviera.

Midday: Monaco and Monte Carlo

Then drive or take a bus toward Monaco. If you time it well, you’ll arrive around lunchtime. Monaco is compact but dense with glamor: the Palace square, old town (Monaco-Ville), the gardens, the Oceanographic Museum, and the casino floor (entry to the building is modest, though the casino games are for insiders). Walk the harbor area among superyachts, and admire the views from the cliffs.

Tip: The jump from Monaco back toward Nice or your base late in the day can get slow. If you can, stay in Monaco or in nearby Beaulieu-sur-Mer or Villefranche-sur-Mer for part of the afternoon.

Late Afternoon or Optional Boat Escape

If the sea beckons, depart from Monaco or Nice and take a short coastal boat (or private skipper) out to hidden coves or nearby Cap Ferrat. The luxury yacht charter south of France makes sense here: even a half-day charter lets you see the Riviera’s secluded corners without surface traffic. The sea approach also gives a new perspective, seeing the coast from the water gives context to what you’ve walked.

Return by dusk to your base, then enjoy a dinner by the sea, perhaps seafood with local vegetables and a glass of Provence rosé. Walk afterward along a quiet promenade; nighttime is calmer, and lights dancing on water make for easy pacing.

Tips for Timing, Crowds, and Comfort

Here are practical pointers to maximize comfort:

• Start early where possible. Key attractions (Eze, Monaco’s palace, Cannes promenade) get crowded midday.
• Use trains or buses for coastal hops. The TER or local buses serve towns between Nice, Antibes, and Cannes. You avoid parking stress.
• Limit how many towns you visit. Two is usually enough per day if you walk well and stop to enjoy. Trying to cover five in two days becomes fatigue.
• Stay central to minimize transit. A base in Nice or Cannes lets you radiate outward without overcommitting to hotel moves.
• Reserve ahead for beach clubs and yacht options. These popular services book quickly in summer.
• Allow buffer time for traffic. Even “short” distances along the Riviera can take longer than you expect, especially in the afternoon or evening.

Did you know: Monaco’s gardens (Jardin Exotique) were planted in the early 20th century and feature over 1,000 species of succulents and cacti, worth a detour even if you skip the museums.

Where to Stay and How to Choose

You’ll want a place that balances convenience, calm, and charm. Here are tips:

1. Nice (Old Town or Promenade area). Good access to trains, restaurants, and services. Strong choice if you prefer a single home base.
2. Cannes. Ideal if you want to lean into the beach, festival-era glamour, and shorter west-coast hops.
3. Smaller towns (Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer). Quieter, more local, but still close enough to big hubs.
4. Monaco (rare). Splurge territory; worthwhile if you want to wake inside the principality.

Try to pick accommodations that are walkable to transport or main streets, not deep in outlying suburbs. For families, check for rooms with air conditioning and minimal stairs; for photographers, a balcony facing water or a terrace with sea views is a bonus.

What You’ll Remember

Over a weekend, you won’t see everything, and that’s fine. What stays with travelers is the variety:

• You’ll remember the morning market in Nice: rose bouquets, apricots, locals chatting.
• You’ll remember the difference between walking the old walls in Antibes and sinking into a Juan-les-Pins beach.
• You’ll recall rising above Eze for sea panoramas, and winding down in Monaco watching yachts and lights.
• And if you choose the yacht option, you’ll carry the memory of slipping between coves by sea, quiet moments far from roads.

Let pace guide you, not a checklist. Identify two or three places you truly want to linger, and fill in the rest with gentle exploration. That way, you come home satisfied, not spent.