French Riviera, Italian Lakes, and Swiss Alps Route from Saint-Tropez to Villars

Morning

Start early for Plage de Pampelonne in Ramatuelle, ideally leaving Saint-Tropez around 8:00 AM before the narrow coastal roads and beach parking fill up. Allow roughly 20–30 minutes by car, depending on traffic; parking near the beach is generally paid in summer, often around €5–10 for the day. Settle into a relaxed three-hour swim and walk along the broad shoreline, choosing one of the public beach sections rather than committing to an expensive private club. Bring water, sun protection, and cash or a card for beach facilities—August sun is intense, and shade is limited outside the club areas.

Return toward town and wander through La Ponche, the old fishing quarter, where steep lanes, pastel façades, and small waterfront corners feel much quieter than the main harbor. Continue to the Place des Lices Market for about 45 minutes; on Thursday mornings, local stalls usually run roughly 8:00 AM–1:00 PM, with fruit, cheeses, olives, fougasse, flowers, and picnic provisions. The market is best before noon, and it is an easy walk from La Ponche, though expect crowds and limited shade.

Afternoon and Evening

After browsing, head to the Old Port for the Musée de l’Annonciade, housed in a former chapel and known for its compact but excellent collection of modern art connected to the Riviera. Allow an hour; typical summer hours are approximately 10:00 AM–1:00 PM and 2:00–6:00 PM, with admission generally around €6–8, so check the exact 2026 schedule before going. Have lunch or a long aperitif at Sénéquier, right on the harbor, where the red chairs and view are part of the experience; budget about €25–45 per person, more if ordering a full seafood meal. Finish at the Citadelle de Saint-Tropez, about a 15-minute uphill walk from the port, arriving in the late afternoon when the light softens over the gulf. The museum and ramparts typically close around early evening, with entry usually around €4–5; wear proper shoes for the uneven paths and return downhill through the quieter residential lanes rather than retracing the busiest harbor promenade.

Morning

Begin at the Jean Cocteau Museum – Collection Séverin Wunderman, right on Menton’s seafront. Allow about 1½ hours for Cocteau’s drawings, ceramics, film work, and the building’s striking modern architecture; it is usually open from late morning into the afternoon, but check the official schedule before setting out, as weekly closures and temporary exhibitions can affect hours. From the museum, it is an easy 10-minute walk toward the old town and Marché des Halles de Menton. Browse the covered market for ripe local fruit, cheeses, olives, and a piece of socca or pissaladière—go before midday, when the stalls are liveliest and some vendors begin packing up.

Lunch and Old Town

Walk a few minutes downhill toward the harbor for lunch at Le Petit Port, where the setting is casual and seafood is the sensible choice. Expect roughly €25–45 per person, and allow an hour rather than rushing through it; in August, a reservation is useful, especially for a waterside table. Afterwards, climb through Menton’s atmospheric old lanes to the Basilique Saint-Michel-Archange and its handsome square. Spend around 45 minutes admiring the ornate Baroque interior, then continue uphill to the Cimetière du Vieux Château. The ascent is steep and can be slippery in worn sandals, but the panorama over the terracotta roofs, harbor, and Italian border is one of the best in town.

Late Afternoon

Take a taxi from the old town to Jardin Serre de la Madone—the walk uphill is possible but unnecessarily tiring in August—and finish among its shaded subtropical plantings, ponds, and quiet paths. Allow about 1½ hours; opening hours are limited and commonly run only through the afternoon, so verify the day’s schedule before visiting and bring water. A taxi back toward central Menton is the easiest option afterward. Keep the evening unhurried: return to the seafront for a swim or a drink, with the old town particularly atmospheric once the daytime heat eases.

Morning

Take the early SNCF TER from Menton to Èze-sur-Mer—about 15–20 minutes, usually €5–7—then use a local taxi up the steep road to Èze Village. Aim to arrive around 9:00 AM, before the medieval lanes become crowded and the cliff-top heat builds. Start at the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, where paths wind through agaves, aloes, and prickly pears above an extraordinary sweep of the Mediterranean; allow about 1½ hours. The garden generally opens in the morning, with entry around €7–8, but confirm the August hours before leaving. Wear proper shoes: the stone paths are uneven, and there is little shade.

From the garden, wander downhill through the narrow lanes to Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, Èze’s ochre-and-cream baroque church. It is a peaceful half-hour stop amid the boutiques and vaulted passageways of the old village; keep voices low and check the posted visiting hours, as services may limit access. For lunch, settle on the terrace at Château Eza, where the views toward Cap-Ferrat are the main attraction. A drink or relaxed lunch is roughly €35–70 per person, and reservations are wise in August—otherwise, use it for a coffee or aperitif rather than waiting for a table.

Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, make the short walk to Fragonard Perfumery – Èze, housed near the village entrance. The guided production visit usually takes about an hour and is often free, with explanations of distillation and traditional perfume-making followed by a tempting shop; check the final tour time, as the afternoon schedule can vary. Then begin the Nietzsche Path, descending from Èze Village toward Èze-sur-Mer. The trail takes roughly 1½–2 hours and is steep, rocky, and exposed, so carry water and wear sturdy footwear—the descent is much easier than climbing it, but it still demands care. At the bottom, cool off by the sea or take the next TER back to Menton; trains are infrequent enough that checking the return departure before starting the trail is worthwhile.

Morning

After the long drive from Èze—roughly 6½–8 hours with traffic and breaks—keep the car parked outside the historic center and begin on foot. The large municipal parking areas around Piazzale Monte Baldo and Via Bagnera are more practical than attempting to enter the peninsula; Sirmione has restricted-traffic zones, and fines are easy to incur. Walk through the old town toward Grotte di Catullo, about 20–25 minutes from the castle, and allow around two hours for the Roman ruins, cypress-and-olive groves, and broad views over Lake Garda. In August, arrive as early as possible—ideally by 8:30 or 9:00 AM—because shade is limited and the archaeological site generally closes in the late afternoon; admission is usually about €8–10, with current hours worth checking through the official cultural-site listings.

Continue to Jamaica Beach at the peninsula’s tip, a roughly 10-minute walk downhill from the ruins. It is not a sandy beach: expect flat pale rocks, clear water, and a wonderfully informal atmosphere, so bring sturdy sandals and a towel. Swim only where the rocks are dry and access is comfortable, since the water’s edge can be slippery. After about 1½ hours, walk back toward the center for lunch at Osteria al Torcol, tucked into the old town near Via San Salvatore. Reserve if possible in August; expect around €30–50 per person for local pasta, lake fish, or grilled meat with wine, and allow a relaxed hour rather than rushing through the meal.

Afternoon and evening

After lunch, visit Castello Scaligero di Sirmione, the compact medieval fortress at the entrance to the old town. Its battlements and towers provide the best elevated views of the peninsula and are particularly good for seeing how narrow the settlement is between the two sides of the lake. Allow about an hour, and wear shoes with grip—the stone stairways are steep and can be hot. Tickets are generally around €6–8, with opening times varying seasonally; late afternoon is more comfortable than midday, but check the final admission time before lunch.

Finish with the planned boat cruise from Sirmione, departing from the waterfront near the castle. A 1½-hour circuit typically passes the peninsula, the thermal-water area, and the villas and shoreline beyond town; choose a shaded seat and carry water, as the lake glare is strong. Boats run more frequently in summer, but schedules and prices vary by operator—roughly €15–30 per person for a shared cruise is typical. Return to the old town afterward for gelato and a quiet walk along the lakeside promenade before collecting the car. If you are staying overnight, avoid driving into the center after dark as well: leave the vehicle in the outer car park and walk back through Sirmione.

Morning

After arriving from Sirmione, drop bags at your hotel and head west along the lakefront to Villa Olmo. From Como San Giovanni station, it is about a 20-minute walk, or a short taxi ride if you have luggage. The neoclassical villa and its grounds are best in the morning, when the promenade is quieter; allow 1½ hours. Entry to the park is usually free, while exhibitions inside the villa may charge a small fee—check the day’s opening hours, as access can vary. Walk back toward the center along the waterfront, then continue through the old streets to Como Cathedral, whose Gothic façade and richly decorated Renaissance interior merit about 45 minutes. Dress modestly, since it remains an active church.

Lunch and Afternoon

A five-minute walk through the historic center brings you to Osteria del Gallo, a small, traditional choice for regional cooking. Reserve ahead for an August lunch and expect roughly €25–45 per person; look for dishes such as lake fish, fresh pasta, or risotto alla milanese. After lunch, stroll to the Funicolare Como–Brunate station on Piazza De Gasperi. The ride up takes only a few minutes, but allow around two hours for queues, the panoramic terraces, and a gentle wander in Brunate. Return to Como and follow the Passeggiata di Villa Olmo along the western lakeshore, an easy, mostly level walk with views across the water; you can turn back whenever the heat or crowds begin to build.

Evening

Finish in central Como at Enoteca 84, a relaxed spot for Lombard and Italian wines with small plates. Budget approximately €20–35 per person, and arrive early or reserve if you want an outdoor table. Como’s center is compact, so walking is preferable after dark; keep a little time for an unhurried loop around the quieter lanes near Via Vittorio Emanuele II before dinner or drinks.

Morning

Leave Como around 8:00 AM for Villars-sur-Ollon, allowing at least 5–6 hours of driving before stops. The practical route runs north via Milan, the Simplon corridor, Brig, Montreux, and Aigle; check that your rental agreement permits the Swiss border crossing, and budget for the Swiss motorway vignette if you use motorways. Keep the morning flexible rather than trying to reach Villars quickly: summer traffic around Milan and the mountain approaches can add time, and the final climb from Aigle is winding. Have passports and rental documents handy at the border, and avoid driving into hotel areas until you have confirmed parking.

Midday: Château de Chillon

Break the journey at Château de Chillon in Veytaux, just east of Montreux. Set aside about 1½ hours to explore the lakeside fortress, including the underground passages, towers, and rooms overlooking Lake Geneva. It is typically open daily from roughly 9:00 AM to early evening in summer, with admission generally around CHF 13–15; verify the exact schedule before setting out. The main car park is close to the entrance, though it can fill during August. Afterward, take a short lakeside walk toward Montreux for a coffee or a quick takeaway rather than lingering too long—the remaining drive to Villars still involves the ascent through Aigle.

Afternoon and Evening

Continue west briefly to the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, where a one-hour stop at Chexbres or Rivaz gives you the best return for limited time. Follow a signed local viewpoint or vineyard path for an easy walk among the stone walls and vines, with broad views across Lake Geneva toward the Savoy Alps. Wear proper walking shoes and carry water; many paths are exposed, and August afternoons are hot. From Lavaux, allow roughly 45–60 minutes to reach Villars-sur-Ollon, depending on traffic and the mountain road. Check in, leave the car parked, and have an uncomplicated dinner at Restaurant du Golf de Villars, where alpine dishes and a relaxed setting suit the end of a long transfer; expect approximately CHF 35–60 per person, and confirm opening hours or reserve ahead.

Departure planning

The listed return to Saint-Tropez should not be attempted as part of this same day. Treat it as a separate transfer of roughly 6½–8 hours by car, leaving very early and allowing for traffic around Montreux, Geneva, and the French Riviera. Before departure, confirm whether the route uses Swiss motorways, return the vignette requirements correctly with the rental company, and allow extra time for the busy A8 near Nice and Cannes.