Spring April to June
Highs climb from about 17°C (63°F) in April to 25°C (77°F) in June, with rain on six days in April and four in June.
EventsThe Festival de Cannes in May and the Monaco Grand Prix in June. We plan around them, or for them.
France
Luxury travel on the French Riviera
From Menton on the Italian border to Saint-Tropez: the palms of the Croisette, Monaco’s harbour, villages perched above the sea and the museums the painters left behind. Avelia plans private, tailor-made time on the French Riviera, as a stay of its own or as part of a wider journey through France.
The French Riviera at a glance
- Recommended stay
- Five to seven days, from one base or two along the coast
- Best seasons
- April to June, and September and October
- Getting there
- Nice Côte d'Azur airport; direct TGV from Paris to Nice
- Best for
- Days at sea, the painters' museums and villages, Monaco and Cannes
- In a wider trip
- Nice as a base; pairs well with Provence or Paris
A trip with us typically includes hotels, private transfers, guided days and restaurant reservations, and always support while you travel.
01Inspiration
Experiences on the French Riviera
Each of these is arranged privately for your dates, subject to availability.
The coast by sea
A yacht with its crew for a day along the coast, the Lérins islands off Cannes, a beach club on Pampelonne, the helicopter to Monaco or Saint-Tropez, and the path round Cap Ferrat.
Painters and perched villages
The château in Antibes where Picasso worked in 1946, the Fondation Maeght above Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the Villa Ephrussi’s gardens on Cap Ferrat, and Grasse, where perfume is made.
Monaco, Cannes and the table
The Grand Prix from a terrace or a yacht, the Rock of Monaco, the Croisette’s boutiques, rosé among the vines behind Saint-Tropez, and starred tables from Menton to Nice.
02Seasons
When to go
Summer July and August
The warmest, driest and sunniest months: highs of about 28°C (82°F), nights near 21°C (70°F), and rain on about two days a month.
Autumn September and October
Highs ease from about 25°C (77°F) in September to 21°C (70°F) in October, and the rain returns: five days in September, eight in October.
EventsLes Voiles de Saint-Tropez: classic yachts, Maxis and modern boats racing in the gulf, at the turn of September and October.
Winter November to March
Mild and quiet: highs of about 13–17°C (55–63°F), nights of 6–7°C (43–45°F) in midwinter, and November the wettest month.
EventsMenton's Fête du Citron, its parades of floats built of citrus fruit and its gardens of them: 13 to 28 February in 2027.
03Shape your trip
Routes and itineraries
Each route is a starting point, tailored to you.
4 days
Culture and coastline
- Places
- Nice, Antibes, Cannes and Èze
- Suits
- A first visit, between the old towns and the sea
7 days
A week on the Riviera
- Places
- Nice, Monaco, Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Saint-Tropez
- Suits
- A week between the sea, the museums and the table
5 days
By the sea
- Places
- Nice, Cap Ferrat and Menton
- Suits
- A slower stay, with the sea at the centre of it
Along the coast, and beyond
Nice, Provence and Paris open pages of their own. The towns along the coast we plan as a stay or a day out just the same.
Another stay
NiceThe Riviera's city and its airport, and the easiest base on the coast: the old town and its markets, Chagall and Matisse, and the Promenade des Anglais, on the World Heritage List since 2021.
Another stay
ProvenceWest and inland from the coast: hill villages and their markets, the lavender, and the rosé estates of the Côtes de Provence, an appellation since 1977.
Another stay
ParisA short flight from Nice, or under six hours by direct TGV: the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the dining rooms and the fashion houses.
Day excursion
Monaco
A principality of its own between Nice and Menton, on the coastal train: a day out from either, or a night or two for the Grand Prix.
Another stay
Cannes
The Croisette's palms and beaches, and Le Suquet, the old town on its hill above the Old Port: a stay of its own, or a day from Nice or Antibes.
Day excursion
Antibes
Halfway between Nice and Cannes on the coastal train, with the beaches of Juan-les-Pins beside it: the middle of the coast, for a day or as a base.
Another stay
Saint-Tropez
By road or by sea, or by helicopter from Nice: the port, the citadel above it with its maritime museum, and the Annonciade's painters, who came for the light.
Day excursion
Èze
The medieval village perched like an eagle's nest above the sea between Nice and Monaco, its exotic garden 429 m up; we arrange a guide.
Day excursion
Menton
The last town before Italy, on the coastal train: lemons grown under their own protected name since 2015, its gardens, and the old streets climbing from the sea.
04Planning with Avelia
How we plan your time on the French Riviera
We help you choose where on the coast to stay, balance days at sea and guided visits with time to do nothing at all, and fit the Riviera into your wider journey through France — or shape a stay here alone.
Share your plans
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the pace you like, and whether the Riviera is the whole trip or one part of it, with Provence or Paris.
Shape your trip with us
Before any payment, we send a written proposal with a quoted trip price and what it includes — such as a grand hotel on the Croisette or the Promenade, a day on a yacht, and the museums and the villa visits booked ahead — and refine it with you.
Travel with our support
Once you approve the proposal and complete the agreed booking requirements, we confirm your arrangements. We coordinate the details and support you while you travel.
Peace of mind
Financially protected. Your payments for a package trip are covered against our insolvency by a guarantee with AXA. Plan with peace of mind
What we can arrange
Your proposal sets out the arrangements included in your trip.
- Hotels matched to you — a grand hotel on the Croisette or the Promenade, a small house in Saint-Tropez, or a resort with a spa on Cap Ferrat.
- Private transport — chauffeur-driven cars from Nice airport and along the corniches, boats between the harbours and to the islands, and the helicopter to Monaco or Saint-Tropez.
- Private guides — for the old towns, Monaco’s Rock, and the museums from Antibes to Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
- Experiences — a day on a yacht, a tasting among the vines, a morning at Nice’s market and its stove, a round of golf above Monaco.
- Tables and tickets — reservations from the starred tables to the beach clubs, and the Grand Prix, the museums and the villa visits booked ahead.
- Special occasions — honeymoons, anniversaries and family trips, planned around who is travelling.
05Questions
Questions we are asked
What does it cost to have a tailor-made trip designed by Avelia Travel?
Every trip is priced individually. After discussing your plans, we prepare a tailored proposal with a quoted trip price and a clear outline of what is included.
How many days should we spend on the French Riviera?
We suggest five to seven days: time for Nice and Cannes and the towns between them at an easy pace, from one base or two, with a day at sea and a day in the hills.
When is the best time to visit the French Riviera?
April to June, and September and October, when highs run from about 17°C to 25°C (63–77°F) and the coast is quieter. July and August are the warmest months, at about 28°C (82°F), and the busiest; from November to March the coast is mild and quiet.
Can I combine the French Riviera with Paris or Provence?
Yes. Paris is a short flight from Nice, or under six hours by direct TGV, and Provence begins just inland and to the west; Nice also has a direct flight to Naples, for the Amalfi Coast. Our France page covers the rest of the country.
What's the best way to get around the French Riviera?
A private driver for the coast roads and the hill villages, a boat between the harbours and out to the islands, the coastal train between Cannes and Menton, and the helicopter where the day is short.
What should we pack for the French Riviera?
Light, elegant clothes for the day and something more formal for the evenings, swimwear and sun protection, and comfortable shoes for the old towns’ cobbles and stairs.
Do you only plan full itineraries, or can you help with just a hotel?
Both. We plan complete trips, and we also arrange a stay on its own: a hotel matched to you, with transfers, a guide or a few reservations added if you wish.
Is Avelia right for me?
Avelia suits travellers who want a private, well-paced trip planned around them: the right places in the right order, hotels chosen for them, guides who know the ground, tables and tickets taken care of, and one point of contact from the first conversation until they are home.
Start planning your time on the French Riviera
Five to seven days on the Riviera, from one base or two along the coast: tell us your dates and who is travelling.
Usually answered within one business day.