St. Tropez is at the centre of the Côte d’Azur and one of the world’s most fashionable destinations.
Given all the beautiful places that can be easily reached from Nice airport, such as Monaco, Cannes, St Tropez or even Italy, it may take several weekends to explore the region properly. With winter approaching, the south of France is the perfect destination for a sunny and warm interlude.
Be it for a bachelorette party or a family weekend, you can find virtually everything on the French Riviera. If you are looking for glamour and elegance, head to Monaco or Cannes. In Monaco, you can stroll around the casino, have a glimpse at the royal palace and visit the aquarium. In Cannes, the Croisette is packed with luxury brands (you can find all the usual and more affordable items in the Rue d’Antibes). You may want to have your picture taken walking up the stairs of the famous Palais des Festival, where the annual movie gathering takes place every May.
For art and architecture lovers, Antibes and its Picasso museum can be reached easily by train from Nice or Cannes. There is also a very nice Provence market in the Old Town of Antibes, where you can taste the typical “socca” (made with chickpea flour).
Grasse on the Riviera is famous for its perfumes
If you rent a car or are willing to travel by train, a visit to Grasse and its perfume manufactures is more than worthwhile. The Fragonard brand is one of the best known, but there are several other local scent producers around the village. St Tropez is further away but can be visited over the weekend (renting a car is the easiest option but you can go by rail to St Raphael and then bus to St Tropez). The village became famous thanks to the French actress Brigitte Bardot.
Golf lovers will find many beautiful 18-hole courses. So if you wish to practice your swing, then the Old Course in Mandelieu (approx. 10 min from Cannes) next to the sea has stunning views and is one of the oldest of the French Riviera. In addition to the main course, players can enjoy an additional nine holes. Close to Cannes is the Terre Blanche resort, which features two 18-hole courses.
How to get there? The flight takes only 45 minutes, and you will barely have time to eat breakfast if you fly in the morning. Both Easyjet and Swiss offer direct flights from Geneva to Nice and at very competitive prices if booked well in advance. From the airport, there are express buses go to Monaco, Nice centre and Cannes.
For longer stays, there is a direct train every day from Geneva to Cannes and Nice (approx. six hours).
Where to stay? To live like a movie star in Cannes: Hotel Majestic Barriere or Hotel Martinez.
For golfers: Hotel Pullman Royal Casino in Mandelieu
Sandrine Warêgne
