Top 10 Things To Do in the French Riviera
10 Best Things to Do on the French Riviera
The French Riviera is about much more than beaches and glamorous hotels. One of the things I love most about this part of France is how easily you can combine the sea with medieval villages, art, history, food and the traditions that have shaped the region.
Whether you are travelling with children, as a couple or with friends, there is always something different to discover. Here are ten of my favourite things to do on the French Riviera — and several of them make particularly lovely half-day or day trips from Théoule-sur-Mer.
1. Make Your Own Perfume in Grasse
Grasse is the historic perfume capital of the world, and making your own fragrance is one of the most memorable experiences you can have here.
Start with a visit to one of the town's famous perfume houses, where you can learn about the cultivation of flowers, the history of perfume and how different ingredients are combined.
Then comes the fun part: creating your own fragrance.
During a perfume workshop, you select different notes and learn how to balance them until you have created something that is uniquely yours. You can give your perfume its own name and, depending on the perfume house, keep the formula so that you can order it again later.
It is a wonderful activity for adults and children alike — and much more personal than simply buying a bottle of perfume to take home.
Best for: families, couples, rainy days and anyone who loves beautiful scents.
2. Explore Nice Old Town & the Promenade des Anglais
Nice deserves at least a full day.
Start by the sea and walk along the famous Promenade des Anglais, with the Baie des Anges stretching out in front of you. The beaches here are mostly made up of smooth pebbles rather than sand, but the colour of the Mediterranean is beautiful.
Then head into Vieux Nice, where narrow streets open onto colourful squares filled with cafés, restaurants, little shops and markets.
One of my favourite simple pleasures is stopping for a gelato at Crema di Gelati on Place du Palais and sitting outside for a while.
If you happen to be in Nice on a Saturday, look out for the booksellers who set up their stalls around the old town. You can find some fascinating antique books, prints and other treasures.
Best for: combining the sea, food, shopping, history and the atmosphere of a real Riviera city.
3. Walk Around Cap d’Antibes
The Cap d’Antibes is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline on the Riviera.
The peninsula is famous for its magnificent villas and gardens, but the best way to experience it is on foot. The Sentier du Littoral follows the rocky coastline around the Cap, offering spectacular views across the Mediterranean.
The walk is not particularly difficult, but allow around 1 to 1½ hours for the main coastal section — longer if you stop frequently for photographs, swimming or a picnic.
There are plenty of places along the way where you can sit by the sea and enjoy the view.
A good starting point is around Plage de la Garoupe, where you can also combine the walk with a swim.
And don't forget to look out towards the sea: on a clear day, the views across the Côte d’Azur are wonderful.
Best for: walking, swimming, spectacular villas and beautiful coastal scenery.
4. Walk the Croisette in Cannes
The Croisette is where you can experience the glamorous side of the French Riviera at its most concentrated.
Start at the Palais des Festivals and walk along the seafront towards Palm Beach. On one side you have the Mediterranean and the city's beaches; on the other, some of the most famous hotels, boutiques and restaurants on the Côte d’Azur.
You can stop for a coffee, browse the designer shops or simply sit by the sea and watch the world go by.
With younger children, the area around the Palais des Festivals can also be fun, with the carousel and seasonal activities providing a welcome break from sightseeing.
For me, the nicest way to experience the Croisette is simply to walk it without a particular agenda. Cannes is one of those places where people-watching is part of the entertainment.
Best for: glamour, shopping, people-watching and the quintessential Riviera atmosphere.
5. Spend a Day on the Lérins Islands
Just offshore from Cannes are the beautiful Lérins Islands, and they feel surprisingly far removed from the busy Riviera.
Ferries take you from Cannes to the islands, with Sainte-Marguerite being the larger and more frequently visited island. It is car-free and covered with pine and eucalyptus woodland, with paths leading through the island and along its rocky coastline.
You can visit Fort Royal, explore the museum and find a quiet place for a swim or picnic.
The smaller Saint-Honorat is home to the historic Lérins Abbey and is particularly peaceful. Its vineyards and monastery give the island a completely different character.
Both islands are excellent for a relaxed family day: pack a picnic, take plenty of water and simply enjoy walking, swimming and being away from traffic.
Best for: families, picnics, swimming, nature and escaping the bustle of the mainland.
6. Visit the Medieval Village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is one of the most famous hilltop villages in Provence and the Côte d’Azur — and for good reason.
Walk through the narrow medieval streets and you will find art galleries, small boutiques, cafés and restaurants around almost every corner.
The village has attracted artists and writers for generations. During the twentieth century, it became particularly fashionable among the artistic and film world, with personalities such as Yves Montand and Simone Signoret among those associated with the area.
Today, it is undoubtedly popular with visitors, but arrive early or stay into the evening and you can still appreciate the extraordinary setting and atmosphere of the village.
Take your time rather than simply ticking it off your sightseeing list. The pleasure of Saint-Paul-de-Vence is wandering without knowing what you will find around the next corner.
Best for: art, history, photography, shopping and a classic French village experience.
7. Discover Château de La Napoule
Just along the coast from Théoule, at the western end of Cannes Bay, stands the extraordinary Château de La Napoule.
The château has medieval origins but has been rebuilt and transformed several times throughout its history. Its present character owes much to the American artists Henry and Marie Clews, who acquired the property in the early twentieth century and created the unusual combination of architecture, gardens and sculpture that you see today.
The gardens are particularly beautiful, and the château has a wonderfully theatrical atmosphere.
During the year, the estate also hosts cultural events and performances.
And if you are arriving by boat, make sure you look back towards the shore. The view of the château from the sea is one of the prettiest ways to see it.
Best for: history, gardens, architecture, art and an easy outing from Théoule.
8. Have Dinner in Le Suquet, Cannes
After spending the day exploring Cannes, head uphill into Le Suquet, the city's oldest quarter.
The atmosphere changes immediately. The glamorous Croisette gives way to narrow, winding streets, old stone buildings, little squares and restaurants tucked into unexpected corners.
This is one of my favourite parts of Cannes in the evening.
Walk around first rather than choosing the first restaurant you see. Look at the menus, explore the little streets and find somewhere that appeals to you.
The area has everything from simple Provençal cooking to more sophisticated restaurants, and many places have tables outside where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the old town.
After dinner, walk up towards the church and enjoy the view over Cannes and the bay. The city looks particularly beautiful when the lights come on.
Best for: an atmospheric evening, Provençal food and seeing a different side of Cannes.
9. Discover the Glassmakers of Biot
Biot is a beautiful medieval village between Nice and Cannes, surrounded by the green hills of the Côte d’Azur.
It is particularly famous for its glassmaking tradition.
At the Verrerie de Biot, you can see glassmakers at work and learn how molten glass is shaped and transformed into colourful bowls, glasses, vases and decorative pieces.
Watching an experienced glassblower work is fascinating — especially for children. The process is surprisingly physical, and you quickly understand how much skill and precision goes into every piece.
You can also visit workshops and studios in and around the village and, of course, take home a piece of Biot glass as a souvenir.
Allow at least half a day so that you have time to combine the glassworks with a wander through the old village.
Best for: families, crafts, shopping and a half-day cultural excursion.
10. Take to the Sea
And finally, don't forget the most obvious — and perhaps the best — way to experience the French Riviera: from the water.
The coastline looks completely different from a boat. You see the red Estérel cliffs from a new perspective, discover tiny coves that are difficult to reach by land and can stop for a swim in wonderfully clear Mediterranean water.
From Théoule and La Figueirette, you are already in an excellent position to explore this coastline.
You can rent a boat, join a boat excursion or, for something particularly special, spend a day with a private skipper and let someone else worry about navigation.
Pack a picnic, your swimming things and a snorkel, and head along the coast towards the Esterel, the Lérins Islands or beyond.
There are few better ways to understand why this stretch of Mediterranean has attracted visitors for generations.
Best for: swimming, snorkelling, families, couples and seeing the Riviera from its most beautiful angle.
The Riviera Is More Than a Beach Holiday
One of the reasons I love the French Riviera is that you can do something completely different every day.
Swim in the Mediterranean in the morning, visit a medieval village in the afternoon and have dinner overlooking the sea in the evening. Visit a perfume laboratory one day, take a boat to an island the next, and spend another simply walking along the coast.
And if you are staying at Gaia’s Villas in Théoule-sur-Mer, many of these experiences are within easy reach while you still have the pleasure of coming home to a quieter part of the Riviera at the end of the day.
That combination — the excitement of the Côte d’Azur and the calm of Théoule — is exactly what makes this part of the coast so special.
- Walk in the Esterel to Notre Dame d’Afrique
Just behind our villas La Cigale and La Cgialette start some very nice hiking trails into the Esterel mountains. Take good sport shoes and go for a walk into the Mediterranean nature. You will enjoy the most breath taking views from up there. The paths take you almost everywhere: you can either walk downtown Théoule (45min) or you can pay a visit to Notre Dame d’Afrique.