Highlights
- Go wine tasting in the tiny and exclusive Bellet region near Nice
- See the sparkling sights and city lights of Monaco after dark
- Take the ferry to Saint-Tropez and spend the afternoon in the glamorous village
- Craft your own perfume at an atelier in Grasse and return home with a bottle
- Explore the sights of Cannes and Antibes with a local guide
Brief Itinerary
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Nice, Free Afternoon on the Côte d'Azur | Nice |
Day 2 | Wine Tour in Bellet & Saint Paul de Vence, Private Monaco Evening Tour | Nice |
Day 3 | Day Trip to Saint-Tropez | Nice |
Day 4 | Train to Grasse, Perfume Workshop at Galimard | Grasse |
Day 5 | Train to Antibes, Half-Day Spa Session | Antibes |
Day 6 | Cannes & Old Antibes Walking Tour | Antibes |
Day 7 | Transfer to Nice, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Nice, Free Afternoon on the Côte d'Azur
Bonjour! You've landed in Nice, a chic, coastal city located on the French Riviera that's well-known for its sunshine and scenery. On arrival, a private driver will transfer you to your hotel. Drop your bags, then venture out to explore. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, soaking in the sun and sea. Depending on the season, you might join the sunbathers or watersports enthusiasts at the beach, or use your free afternoon to explore some of Nice's many museums and galleries, such as the Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain de Nice and the Palais de la Mediterranée.
Get lost in the charms of Vieux Nice (the historic Old Town), where you'll find many local restaurants that combine traditional Provençal dishes with influences from Italy and the Mediterranean region. For a special sunset spot and an opportunity to get active, climb Colline du Château (Castle Hill) for panoramic views over the area. For a more relaxed choice, find a terrace overlooking the sparkling blue sea and toast the start of your trip with an aperitif.
Day 2: Wine Tour in Bellet & Saint Paul de Vence, Private Monaco Evening Tour
Leave the coast behind for the morning when you head inland to Provence for a small-group wine excursion. Pass through charming small towns and catch views of the rugged Provence Alps as you hop between award-winning wineries in the tiny winemaking region of Bellet. It has just 10 wineries, so you'll sample rare and unique wines reserved for some of the Riviera's finest restaurants. You'll meet local winemaking families and discover local stories and history.
For lunch, stop at a casual neighborhood brasserie or Michelin-starred spot in the medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence. Then, take a stroll through the village streets before returning to Nice to refresh. This evening you'll explore a jewel of the Côte d'Azur with a private local guide. From Nice, it's just a half-hour drive to the Principality of Monaco, one of the richest city-states on Earth. Discover how the second-smallest country in the world manages to maintain a strong Monegasque identity and explore the many postcard-worthy sites around town.
Day 3: Day Trip to Saint-Tropez
Today you'll set off for a special adventure, catching the ferry from Nice to Saint-Tropez for a day trip. The boat leaves at 9 am and takes 2.5 hours to reach your destination, passing the many beachfront towns of the French Riviera en route. Once a sleeping fishing village, Saint-Tropez became a hotspot for the rich and famous in the 1960s. Today, this exclusive holiday destination is a blend of old-world charm and opulent luxury—evident in the many superyachts you'll see moored in the harbor as you pull in and disembark.
After admiring the harbor, venture into the delightful Old Town to find the well-known market at the Place des Lices, where you can pick up an array of delicious and colorful Provençal souvenirs before finding lunch. Use your afternoon to explore the Citadelle, Quartier de la Ponche, and Annonciade Museum, and enjoy some beach time before taking the 4:30 pm ferry back to Nice.
Day 4: Train to Grasse, Perfume Workshop at Galimard
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
After breakfast, make your way to the train station for a one-hour ride southwest to Grasse, the world's perfume capital. Set just inland among the hills of Provence and surrounded by fields of roses and lavender, this town has a rich and aromatic history linked to its many perfume factories and museums. You'll have the whole day to explore the quaint streets of Grasse, pausing to join a hands-on workshop at Galimard, one of the first French perfume houses, in the afternoon.
Since 1747 Galimard has been linked to perfume making, and while it used to be a private affair, now they've opened their atelier to curious fragrance lovers. Enter Galimard's Studio des Fragrances for a one-hour workshop where you'll create your new signature scent. With 127 notes in front of you, a perfume expert will explain the architecture of a good perfume, and lead you through finding your top note, heart note, and base note. You have the freedom to create your scent and you'll leave the studio with a 3.3 ounce (100 ml) bottle of your unique creation.
Day 5: Train to Antibes, Half-Day Spa Session
After a few busy days, it's time to truly relax. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and catch a train to Antibes, a relaxed resort town located 30 minutes south along the Côte d'Azur. This coastal destination is known for its mazelike Old Town, which is enclosed by 16th-century walls and the star-shaped Fort Carré. Here, rich history collides with luxurious yachts at the marina and grand villas that dot the peninsula. On arrival, drop your bags at the hotel and get ready for an afternoon of pampering.
You're booked in for three hours of pure bliss at a local spa, enjoying a 50-minute massage and access to a steam room, sensory shower, heated outdoor swimming pool, and a relaxing room with herbal tea. After your afternoon of wellness, you might just be ready to call it a day and retreat to your hotel room. If not, venture out and find a chic restaurant for dinner with local seafood and Mediterranean views.
Day 6: Cannes & Old Antibes Walking Tour
For your final full day on the French Riviera, you'll explore two famous Côte d'Azur locales with a local guide. After breakfast, meet your guide and travel half an hour west to Cannes, the coastal town synonymous with cinema and the world's biggest movie stars. Here, you'll walk along the famous Promenade de la Croisette, which stretches for 1.2 miles (2 km) along the seafront, and stand on the real tapis rouge (red carpet). Then, venture to the bustling Marché Forville for coffee at a local bakery before exploring Le Suquet, the medieval quarter of Cannes.
Sitting atop a hill overlooking the waterfront, Le Suquet is the Cannes of yesteryear, before it became a glamorous city for the rich and famous. You'll find plenty of narrow streets and small museums, and make a stop at the stone fortress at Place de la Castre for panoramic vistas. After Cannes, return to Antibes with your guide and set off for a walk around the seafront fortifications, learning about the history of the city while enjoying the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea. After, since it's your final night on vacation—treat yourself to a special dinner out.
Day 7: Transfer to Nice, Depart
Your weeklong exploration of the French Riviera draws to a close today. When the time is right, a private driver will collect you for the half-hour transfer to Nice Airport for your flight home or onward. Safe travels!More Great France Itineraries
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