Those in search of proper, non-stop sunshine for a summer trip need look no further than the Côte d’Azur. After all, it’s where a great number of French people choose for les vacances, so join them in this chic destination to soak up the culture, sights and sounds on the French Riviera.
All that jazz
What can be better than strolling through the beautiful Juan-les-Pins on a balmy evening, with the hum of cicadas in the background, then taking your seat beneath the aromatic palm trees to hear some of the world’s best musicians fill the air with legendary tunes. This is the Jazz à Juan festival, which has been running for more than 60 years, and it takes place mid-July with the blue Mediterranean as its backdrop.
Stay at: the villa, La Bergerie, at nearby Vallauris, for a nightcap on the terrace as the lights shimmer on the hillside below.
The city of Nice also has a jazz festival, with its first ever event even longer ago, in 1948. It really took off in the 1970s, though, and has continued to attract the big names ever since. There are also a number of fringe events (known as Jazz OFF), to make sure the city swings to the beat wherever you are. If you visit earlier in the year, you’ll be in time for Villefranche’s La Crème Festival, which celebrates the best of the Côte d’Azur at the town’s Citadel. There are concerts, DJ sets, street food stands, as well as boat trips and yoga classes.
Stay at: Villa Alexandra, between Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer.
This sporting life
With the relatively calm waters of the Mediterranean lapping its shores, the Côte d’Azur is ripe for those wanting to enjoy the sea from a paddleboard or kayak. With coves and peninsulas to explore and admire, there’s a tranquillity that comes with gently paddling along the coast for a morning or afternoon. There are several rental companies along the coast, offering kayaks, paddleboards or even small boats. If you’d rather watch others working their magic on the waves, then head to Antibes at the end of May for the Voiles d’Antibes sailing regatta. The event marks the start of the Mediterranean circuit for traditional yachts, so you can admire all kinds of beautiful vintage and classic sailboats as they compete for the Panerai Challenger Trophy. There are also exhibitions, concerts and a shopping village.
Stay at: Minoustan or Villa l’Escalinado with pools and terraces which will be very welcome whether you’ve been paddling or just spectating.
Beach life
The coastline of the French Riviera is dotted with both larger beaches and hidden coves. While many visitors will check into private beach clubs in order to be waited upon for drinks and snacks, and to guarantee they get a good spot for sunbathing, others will search out the smaller, hidden beaches better known to locals than tourists. The Presqu’Ile du Cap Ferrat, with a number of smaller beaches dotted around its jagged coastline, is a great place to go beach hopping.
Stay at: Villa Le Calme and do more swimming in the pool with magnificent views.
Further down the coast, Bormes-les-Mimosas might not strictly be on the Côte d’Azur (Saint Tropez marks its end point) but it is within reach of excellent beaches at Le Lavandou, including the Plage de Saint-Clair.
Stay at: the Mounto Davalo villa.
Artists’ inspiration
Picasso made the Côte d’Azur his home for his final years and in Antibes, the Picasso Museum celebrates his life and work. It’s set in the ancient Chateau Grimaldi, which the artist used as his studio during 1946, leaving in his wake 23 paintings and 44 drawings, which he donated to the town. In the town of Vallauris, where the stunning La Bergerie is set, the historic quarter is home to the Pablo Picasso National Museum, where a medieval chapel makes an atmospheric setting for Picasso’s two monumental works titled ‘War’ and ‘Peace’. The two murals fill two opposite walls and meet in the arched ceiling. Another mural on the back wall, titled ‘The Four Corners of the World’, completes the incredible work. You can also visit the Maeght Foundation in Saint Paul-de-Vence, which showcases works by some of the 20th century’s most renowned artists including Alberto Giacometti, Wassily Kandinsky, and Joan Miró.
Stay at: Maison de Laurence in nearby Vence and you’ll also be within easy distance of The Rosary Chapel, decorated by Matisse between 1947 and 1951 with stunning murals and exquisite stained-glass windows.
Featured places to stay in France
Le Bonhomme
Peypin d'Aigues, Vaucluse
Le Sautaire
Grambois, Vaucluse
Maison Pigalet
Saignon, Vaucluse
Le Jas du Bœuf
Cruis, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Les Granges de Saint Pierre
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Le Mas de La Baou
Cereste-en-Luberon, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Browse all of our special places to stay in France >
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Carolyn Boyd
Guest Expert
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