Skip to main content
Find your holiday
Search

French Riviera Holidays

Includes mandatory fees and taxes
Aerial view of Nice, French Riviera, with a yacht-filled marina, turquoise sea, city skyline and green mountains.

Live well on holidays to the French Riviera, with sunshine, stylish seafronts and plenty of beaches.

Coastlines worth showing off

Stretching along France’s Mediterranean coast, this part of the country is packed with Blue Flag beaches, hidden coves and waterfront promenades that were made for long, easy strolls. From the wide bays around Nice to the famous sands of Saint-Tropez, there’s plenty of choice whether you're after a beach day or somewhere to watch the world go by. 

Harbours full of character

Along this coastline, the ports are every bit as famous as the beaches. You’ll find fishing boats tied up alongside luxury yachts, waterside cafés filled with locals and visitors, and marinas that come alive in the evenings. Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Monaco are the headline names, but smaller spots like Antibes and Villefranche-sur-Mer offer the same Riviera atmosphere on a slightly quieter scale. 

More than just the glitz

The French Riviera is often linked with film stars, royalty and luxury travel, but there’s much more to it than designer shops and superyachts. Behind the famous waterfronts, you’ll find colourful old towns, food markets, hilltop villages and centuries of history. Places like Èze, Menton and Antibes show a different side of the region, where cafés spill onto cobbled streets and local life moves at a gentler pace. 

Culture around every corner

The Riviera has attracted artists, writers and creatives for generations. Today, you can explore everything from Picasso's former studio in Antibes to the Prince's Palace in Monaco and museums dedicated to some of France's most celebrated artists. Add in local markets, seafood restaurants and long Mediterranean lunches, and it's easy to see why so many visitors keep coming back. 

Best time to visit the French Riviera

The most popular time to visit is between May and September, when warm temperatures and long sunny days are ideal for beach holidays and exploring coastal towns. July and August are the busiest months, especially in Cannes, Monaco and Saint-Tropez. Spring and early autumn are often a good choice if you'd like slightly quieter resorts, comfortable sightseeing weather and lower accommodation prices. 

Best places to stay in French Riviera

Find out where you want to base yourself from these top resorts.

Top French Riviera holiday deals

Why we love French Riviera

Here are some top tips from our team

Our most recent articles on the Sundeals Blog

French Riviera FAQs

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is the main gateway for the region. Nice city centre is connected by tram, while Cannes, Antibes and Monaco can be reached using local rail services or airport transfers. If you're staying in smaller coastal towns or inland villages, a private transfer may be the simplest option. 

English is widely spoken in most tourist areas, hotels, restaurants and transport hubs across the French Riviera. Learning a few basic French phrases is appreciated by locals, but visitors generally find it easy to travel around the region, order food and use public transport without fluent French. 

The coastline offers a mix of both. Nice is known for its distinctive pebble beaches, while Cannes has some of the Riviera's best-known sandy stretches. Antibes and Juan-les-Pins offer a combination of sandy bays and smaller coves. 

Yes – while the region is famous for luxury travel, many Riviera resorts work well for families. Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are particularly popular thanks to their sandy beaches, family-friendly attractions and relaxed atmosphere. Nice also has wide promenades, public beaches and good transport connections that make travelling with children easier

The regional train network links many of the Riviera's most popular towns, including Nice, Monaco, Antibes and Cannes. A car becomes more useful if you plan to visit hilltop villages, vineyards or areas away from the main railway line. 

For most visitors, the coastal train service is the easiest option. It connects the main Riviera resorts quickly and avoids busy summer traffic. Local buses are useful for reaching smaller towns, while seasonal ferry services can provide a more scenic way to travel between certain destinations. 

When you click through to book your holiday, we’ll supply the exact travel requirements for your chosen destination through our partner, Passolution. In the meantime, check the FCDO for the most up-to-date information on entry requirements and health and safety information.