French Riviera 7-Day Loop
A sunny 7-day road trip along the Côte d’Azur, keeping the pace easy and the driving straightforward.
Nice → Èze Village → Saint-Paul-de-Vence → Antibes → Cannes → Îles de Lérins → Menton → Monaco → Cap d’Ail → Vence → Grasse → Juan-les-Pins → Antibes
Nice old town + seafront warm-up
Start in Nice and ease into the trip with a coffee in the old town, then stroll the colorful lanes before the sea breeze pulls you toward the promenade.
Cours Saleya
This is the best place to start slow—flowers, produce, and market stalls if you’re there on the right morning. Wander the lanes, snack as you go, and keep it relaxed.
Castle Hill
Come up for the wide view over the Baie des Anges and the red roofs below. It’s a good reset after lunch and a nice way to understand the shape of the city.
Promenade des Anglais
Promenade des Anglais is a promenade along the Mediterranean coast of Nice, France. It extends from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport on the west to the Quai des États-Unis on the east, for a distance of approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi). It forms part of Route nationale 98, which runs between Toulon and Menton.
Hill towns above the coast
Head inland before it gets hot, with the roads climbing fast into the villages and the views opening up behind you.
Depart
Head inland before it gets hot, with the roads climbing fast into the villages and the views opening up behind you.
Èze Village
Spend time in the stone lanes, peek into tiny shops, and climb to the top for those big coastal views. Wear shoes with grip—the paths are steep and uneven.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.
Antibes
Antibes is a city in the French Riviera. The Cap d'Antibes is the break between the Bay of Cannes to the south-west and the Baie des Anges to the north east. Old Antibes and the port of Antibes are on the mainland on the side facing the Baie des Anges, while Juan les Pins is on the Cannes side and the magnificent Fort Carré lies between the port of Antibes and the rest of the Baie des Anges.
Cannes and the island break
Roll down the coast with an easy drive and save your energy for a day that mixes city shine with a slower island rhythm.
Cannes old port
Walk the harbor edge, look at the yachts, and catch the polished Cannes atmosphere without needing to rush.
Le Suquet
Le Suquet is the old quarter of Cannes, probably best known to tourists as the climbing, winding cobbled lane lined with local restaurants, Rue St Antoine. Le Suquet contains a clock tower and church that sit high facing east overlooking the Bay of Cannes and Cannes itself. At the bottom of Le Suquet on Rue Dr. P.
Îles de Lérins
The Lérins Islands are a group of five Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera, in Cannes. The two largest islands in this group are Île Sainte-Marguerite and Île Saint-Honorat. The smaller Îlot Saint-Ferréol, Îlot de la Tradelière and Îlot de l'Ilon are uninhabited. Administratively, the islands belong to the commune of Cannes.
Menton and the eastern edge
Follow the coast east with the sea on one side and the mountains rising on the other, stopping when the towns start to feel a little more Italian.
Depart
Follow the coast east with the sea on one side and the mountains rising on the other, stopping when the towns start to feel a little more Italian.
Menton old town
Wandering here feels calmer and more pastel than the bigger Riviera names. Climb a bit, look back at the harbor, and enjoy the slower tempo.
Jardin Serre de la Madone
Serre de la Madone is a garden in France notable for its design and rare plantings. It is located at 74, Route de Gorbio, Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It is open to the public during the warm months of the year. In 2008, it was being restored to its former condition.
Cap Martin coastal path
End the day with a seaside walk where the light and water do most of the work. Go unhurried—this is the kind of place that's better when you keep it simple.
Monaco and the cliff road
Keep the drive short today and lean into the contrast between glitzy Monaco and the more dramatic coastline around it.
Monaco old town
Wander the hilltop streets, look out over the marina, and let the setting do the heavy lifting. It's compact, so you don't need a long stay to enjoy it.
Oceanographic Museum area
Good for the cliffside views and a slower indoor break if you want some air conditioning and a different perspective on the harbor.
Cap d'Ail / coastal path
End with a walk above the water and let the sea cliffs be the day's final scene. This is an easy place to stretch your legs before dinner.
Back inland for art and views
Turn inland again for a day that trades beaches for stone villages, museum stops, and a little more breathing room.
Vence
Vence is a commune set in the hills of the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France, north of Nice and Antibes on the Mediterranean coast.
Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence
The Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence, often referred to as the Matisse Chapel or the Vence Chapel, is a small Catholic chapel located in the town of Vence on the French Riviera. It was dedicated to the Dominican Order. The church was built and decorated between 1947 and 1951 under a plan devised by the artist Henri Matisse.
Grasse old town
Finish among perfume-town lanes and overlook points, with a slower inland evening feel that balances the coast-heavy first half of the trip.
Final coast sweep and farewell
Keep the last day light and easy, with just enough coastline to leave you wanting one more sunset.
Depart
Keep the last day light and easy, with just enough coastline to leave you wanting one more sunset.
Juan-les-Pins
Juan-les-Pins is a town in the commune of Antibes in the Alpes-Maritimes department in Southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera, it is situated between Nice and Cannes, 13 kilometres (8 mi) to the southwest of Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. Juan-les-Pins is a major holiday destination popular with the international jet set, with a casino, nightclubs and beaches.
Antibes Picasso Museum area
A nice cultural stop if you want a final dose of old-town atmosphere without overloading the day.
Cap d’Antibes coastal viewpoints
End here for the sea, the rocks, and the last open view of the trip. It’s the right kind of finish: simple, scenic, and unhurried.
- Book only the parts that really matter to you, like a favorite terrace or boat timing; otherwise, this route works well with a loose plan and early starts.