The name alone conjures up images of romance, love and a wonderful French Twist! This amazing seaside playground in the land of romance is a must visit utopia! That said, let’s look at some of the most wonderful things you can do when visiting the Riviera.
Discover Ancient Villages
Village of Eze
The hill villages of Alpes-Maritimes are made for lovers who will enjoy a jaunt through the quaint turning streets and alleys or trip through their wonderful art galleries. Perfectly settled into the cliff tops these villages were originally were developed to keep enemies out! These medieval villages are mazes consisting of slender little streets and paths, perfect for the explorer in you and get totally turned around. While wandering aimlessly, peek into perfect, tiny courtyards, check out low doorways, then splash into the most breathtaking view of the Mediterranean sea and southern Alps.
These marvellous villages are mostly car free so get out your walking shoes and enjoy the bliss, the silence and utter magnificence of your surroundings. Some must-see villages consist of Châteauneuf de Grasse for its cloistered ambiance and find a house cleaner, St Paul de Vence for it’s amazing art galleries, Gourdon for its unparalleled views and overall location and Saorge for its total lack of tourism trappings.
Perfume Can Be So Personal
Wouldn’t you just love to be able to create your very own perfume? Come to Grasse and do exactly that, create your own personal scent for yourself or your significant other. Grasse is the capital of perfume, so jump on it!
You will have expert guides to help you discover your very own personal fragrance that will be exclusively your own and no one else’s. This has got to be the most incredible experience you will never forget. Create your very own brand by selecting different scents that evoke emotions, warmth or even vague remembrances of a distant past. This magical region is home to three of the world’s most famous perfumers: Galimard, Molinard and Fragonard.
Come To Nice And Their Flower Market
Wander through the most famous flower market in Cours Saleya in the center of ancient Nice. Colors, aromas and every shape and size will engulf you in a profusion of magnificent magic. This incredible market offers everything from luscious fruits, scrumptious vegetables, aromatic spices, delicious olives, exotic oils and soaps to a profusion of cut flowers and plants.
The buildings are all brightly painted buildings to match the locals endless love for their precious flowers that fill the air and your senses. Mornings are the best time to travel through these stalls as most closeup at lunch time, making way to restaurants. The only day the flower market is closed is on Monday, so schedule accordingly.
Eat – Drink and Be Merry
Cuisine on the French Riviera is a sumptuous blend of French, Mediterranean, Italian and Provencal dishes to indulge in. If your tastes run toward traditional French food, visit La Rossettisserie, nestled away on a hidden side street in Nice’s Old Town. Indulge in roasted meats with side dishes of tomato salads, ratatouille, mashed potatoes or fried potatoes all for approximately $20. Visit Le Relais des Semailles in Cannes for a more up-scaled dining experience that is priced quite reasonably.This place is very clean and hygienic as they are taken care by Greenwood cleaning services. You will enjoy a three course menu that serves items from the market including the fish of the day, homemade gnocchis and a prawn salad, all for $50.
Night Life
During the day hours visitors and locals alike pour onto the beaches, but there is also an amazing night life that should not go unnoticed. Whether your style leads you to a cozy cocktail bar or a lively beach bar, a very popular pub or a busy nightclub you will find the perfect fit for you.
In Nice visit Shapko Bar for live jazz or Comptoir Central Electrique for an amazing selection of cocktails.
Visit Antibes and head to the Absinthe Bar for live piano music while enjoying the ambiance of a vaulted cellar.
How About A Roof Terrace Restaurant?
Unlike some of the more expensive luxury hotels by the sea in Nice and Cannes, why not stay at Lou Messugo with an apéritif on a roof top bar? Lou Messugo is perfectly located between the mountains and the sea in a little village known by residents as one of the Côte d’Azur’s best kept secrets. It is ideally located mid way between Nice, Cannes, Grasse and Antibes. This peaceful village is nearby the beautiful village of Valbonne and only 15 mins. from the beach. From the roof top, enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the beach and horizon.
To visit these places you don’t have to even worry about being picked up from the airport as there are many car sedan airport services which drops directly to these destinations at a cost effective fare.
The French Riviera is one of the most amazing places that must be visited at least once within a life time. It’s for lovers, it’s for adventurers, it’s for artists, lovers of fine cuisine and beachcombers. This is only a scratch at the surface of activities and places to visit, but whatever your taste might lean toward, you will find it on the Riviera.
