Karen in The Côte d’Azur!
The Côte d’Azur is somewhere I return to year after year and still find new places to explore each time. For me it’s the perfect blend of beach, city and culture – with the bonus of delicious French food and wine! What makes it even more appealing is their seamless public transport with trains and buses that are user friendly and reliable: No car required. If you’re going for 3 or more days then a Sud Azur Explore pass is a good investment if you want to do some excursions. It’s available from the tram ticket machines at Nice Airport and 3 days currently costs only €35 per person for unlimited travel on trains, trams and buses within the region, including Monaco.
These are some of my favourite day trips to do from Nice or Monaco (which you can do with your Sud Explore Pass):
Eze Village. Perched on a hill above Monaco the hilltop village of Eze is the prettiest place I have ever been to. Take the train to Eze-sur-Mer and then hop on a bus to the topmost village 450 vertical metres above. The medieval village has steep cobbled streets winding up the hill, with plenty of independent shops, art galleries and restaurants to give some respite from the climb.
The very top of the hill is adorned with the flourish of a stunning botanic garden full of cacti and sculptures. If you are feeling energetic, there’s actually a walking trail linking Eze-Sur-Mer and Eze Village: named after the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who supposedly climbed the trail daily while living in the area while contemplating the relationship between man and nature. It’s an arduous hike – even just walking down, as I did, requires sturdy shoes and plenty of water. Your effort is rewarded with stunning views, and perhaps spiritual enlightenment!
St Paul de Vence is another hilltop village that I love – this one sits just to the west of Nice. A regular bus service goes from the train station at Cagnes-Sur-Mer and winds through villages and vineyards to the fortified village of St Paul de Vence. You really get a sense of the varied history of the settlement – over the course of 1,000 years it has been a place of worship, a border stronghold, an artists retreat and it’s currently a hub of art and culture with independent boutiques, art galleries and restaurants galore. Just outside the town walls is a stunning contemporary art gallery and gardens: the CAB foundation is worth a few hours of anyone’s time.
If you fancy getting further into the hills then an adventure in the Vallee des Merveilles (Valley of wonder) is a day well spent. The train line from Nice is currently closed until the end of 2025 but there’s a regular bus service that takes you through the beautiful hill villages in the Roya Valley to Tende which sits at the top. Alternatively you can come by train from Nice or Menton going via the Italian town of Vintimille. It’s around a 3 hour journey to get to Tende, and the scenery is stunning all along the route. Tende itself is a well preserved medieval village without the tourist numbers that you’ll find in other places. The nearby Mercantour National Park is home to over 50,000 rock engravings that date back as far as 3,000 BC ad and there’s a great museum in Tende with lots of information about the petroglyphs. Have a wander round the crooked streets, enjoy the locally produced cheese and honey and breathe the cool mountain air!
If gardens are your thing then you need to get to Menton. This pretty town has been Italian in its past, and is now just on the French side of the border. It retains a lot of Italian character and is reputed to be the sunniest spot on the Cote d’Azur, without ever getting too hot. This makes it the ideal setting for a beautiful garden and the Jardin Botanique Val Rehmeh is just that! With different sections of the garden dedicated to specific planting themes you feel like you’re on a real journey as you wander through. Top tip though – do put on some insect repellent as the mozzies love to take advantage of your distraction! While in Menton be sure to check out the daily market – foodie heaven! Where Provence meets Liguria delicious things happen. Next on my wishlist is a meal at Mirazur – the Three Michelin star restaurant that was voted best in the world in 2019 and is still innovating.
I could go on.. but my best piece of advice for anyone thinking about visiting the French Riviera is: do it. There’s really something for everyone: history lovers, sun seekers, foodies and shoppers. Take me back there now!
To find out more about Karen’s visit to The Côte D’azur or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
