6-Day French Riviera Itinerary Based in Nice

Late Afternoon — Seafront Arrival

Begin with an easy orientation walk along Promenade des Anglais, allowing about 45 minutes to take in the Baie des Anges and the distinctive blue chairs. If you arrive by train, Nice-Ville is roughly a 20-minute walk from the seafront, or you can take tram line 2 toward Port Lympia and get off near Jean Médecin or Alsace-Lorraine. September is ideal for this stroll: warm but generally less intense than midsummer. Keep valuables secure around the beachfront, especially when stopping for photos.

Continue into Cours Saleya Market in Vieux Nice, about 10–15 minutes on foot from the promenade. The market is usually open until early evening, though individual stalls begin packing up later in the day; flower and food-market hours vary by weekday, so treat this as a relaxed browse rather than a guaranteed full market visit. Wander the surrounding lanes of Rue Rossetti and Place du Palais de Justice, but save room for dinner.

Evening — Dinner, Sunset, and Cocktails

For dinner, make your way to Le Plongeoir, the striking seafood restaurant perched above the water near La Réserve and the eastern end of the seafront. From Cours Saleya, it is around a 20-minute walk along Quai des États-Unis and the coastal road, or a short taxi ride. Allow approximately €60–100 per person, and reserve ahead for a table with the best maritime setting; confirm the September dinner service when booking. Afterward, walk back toward Castle Hill (Colline du Château). The free elevator from the base near Quai des États-Unis is useful if your legs are tired, but it can close before the park itself, so check the evening hours locally; otherwise, take the stairway. Allow about an hour for the viewpoint over Vieux Nice, the port, and the curved coastline, with sunset generally around 7:45–8:00 PM in mid-September.

Finish at Waka Bar by Port Lympia, a polished late-evening option with cocktails, music, and a dance-lounge feel rather than a teenager-focused club. It is roughly 15 minutes downhill from Castle Hill. Expect about €12–18 for cocktails and a livelier atmosphere later in the evening; smart-casual clothing works well. For the return, Vieux Nice and central hotels are walkable, while tram service and taxis are the easiest options if you are staying farther west—check the final tram departures before settling in for the night.

Morning — Èze Village

Take Bus 82 from Nice Vauban at about 8:30 AM toward Èze Village; the ride usually takes 30–40 minutes and costs roughly €2. Check the Lignes d’Azur app that morning, as Riviera bus schedules can shift, and sit on the right side if possible for glimpses of the coast. Get off at the village entrance—this is the hilltop village, not Èze-sur-Mer by the railway.

Start at Le Jardin Exotique d’Èze, allowing about an hour for the steep paths, cacti and exceptionally wide views over the Mediterranean. It generally opens from around 9:00 AM, with admission usually about €8–€10. Then wander through the stone lanes of Èze medieval village for another 90 minutes, browsing small galleries and artisan shops. Wear proper shoes: the cobbles are polished and the village is almost entirely uphill or downhill.

Lunch — La Chèvre d’Or

Around 12:30 PM, settle in for lunch at La Chèvre d’Or, one of the Côte d’Azur’s great splurge addresses. The setting is as memorable as the food, with terraces suspended above the coast; expect approximately €100–€180 per person before drinks, depending on the menu. Reserve well ahead and confirm the restaurant’s lunch service when booking, since opening days and menus can vary in September. After lunch, keep a little time for coffee and one last look from the terraces rather than rushing straight to the bus.

Afternoon and Evening — Toward Monaco, then back to Nice

In the mid-afternoon, take Bus 82 or 112 from Èze Village toward Monaco–Monte-Carlo, allowing roughly 25–35 minutes. Stay alert at the stop and verify the destination on the bus display, as services and stopping patterns can change. This gives you a scenic continuation along the coast, but traffic can be slow; leave Èze by about 3:00 PM if you want a comfortable evening in Monaco. Once there, you can have a relaxed drink near Place du Casino or Port Hercule before taking the short walk or local bus to Monaco–Monte-Carlo station.

Plan to board a TER back to Nice-Ville around 9:00 PM; the journey is approximately 25 minutes, with tickets generally around €5–€6 and frequent evening services. Check the final departures in SNCF Connect before dinner, and allow extra time to reach the station—Monaco’s lifts, escalators and steep streets can make a short map distance surprisingly slow.

Morning — Monaco-Ville’s historic heart

Take the TER from Nice-Ville around 8:30 AM to Monaco–Monte-Carlo; the ride is about 25 minutes. From the station, follow the signed public elevators and escalators toward Monaco-Ville rather than tackling the full uphill walk. Allow roughly 20–25 minutes from the platform to the old town, and wear comfortable shoes—the rock is steep and polished in places. Begin at the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, where the state apartments are generally open from around 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in season, subject to official ceremonies; admission is usually about €10–€12. The visit takes approximately 1½ hours. A short walk through the quiet lanes of Monaco-Ville brings you to Monaco Cathedral, usually open during daytime visiting hours outside services. Spend about 30 minutes inside admiring the Romanesque-Byzantine architecture and the Grimaldi tombs, including those of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier.

Late Morning and Lunch — The Rock to Monte-Carlo

Continue downhill along the cliffside toward the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, an easy 10-minute walk from the cathedral. Plan around two hours for the aquariums, marine collections, and dramatic terraces overlooking the Mediterranean; opening hours vary by season, with September hours commonly extending from late morning into the early evening, and tickets usually costing about €20–€22. For lunch, take the public elevators or walk back toward Place du Casino—allow 20–25 minutes—and settle at Café de Paris Monte-Carlo. Its terrace is ideal for people-watching beside the casino, with brasserie classics generally costing €35–€60 per person. Smart-casual clothing is sufficient for lunch, but avoid beachwear.

Evening — Monte-Carlo glamour

After lunch, leave time to wander around Place du Casino, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, and the landscaped approaches to Larvotto before returning to Sporting Monte-Carlo for Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo. It is an upscale, dressy late-night dance lounge rather than a casual club; doors typically open late, often around 11:30 PM, and the calendar, cover charge, and table minimums vary considerably. Expect cocktails to be expensive—often €25 or more—and check the official event listing before going. A jacket or polished evening outfit is the safe choice, and bring photo ID. Use Monaco’s frequent public elevators and buses between Place du Casino and Sporting Monte-Carlo; taxis are convenient late at night but costly. If returning to Nice, the final TER trains are much earlier than Jimmy’z’s closing time, so arrange a taxi or pre-book a licensed private transfer rather than relying on a late train.

Morning — Provençal Market and Picasso

Take the TER from Nice-Ville at about 8:45 AM; trains to Antibes take roughly 20 minutes. From Antibes station, walk approximately 15 minutes through the newer town toward the ramparts and Vieil Antibes. Start at Marché Provençal on Cours Masséna, where the stalls are best before late morning: look for local cheeses, socca, olives, fresh figs, and the region’s fragrant herbs. Allow about an hour, and note that the market generally operates in the morning and may have reduced hours or different arrangements on Mondays. Continue through the old lanes to the Musée Picasso, Château Grimaldi, dramatically positioned above the sea. The museum usually opens around 10 AM, though September hours can vary; budget roughly €8–€10 and allow 90 minutes. The terrace is as worthwhile as the collection, with broad views toward Cap d’Antibes and the Alpes-Maritimes coastline.

Lunch and Cap d’Antibes

Have a leisurely lunch at Le Figuier de Saint-Esprit, a refined Provençal restaurant tucked into the old town. Expect approximately €70–€120 per person depending on the menu and wine; reserve ahead, especially for a Sunday, and allow close to two hours rather than rushing the meal. Afterwards, walk or take a short local bus or taxi toward La Garoupe on Cap d’Antibes—the bus is useful if you would rather save your legs for the coast. Follow a section of the Sentier du Littoral for around two hours, choosing the stretch toward Anse de la Garoupe and the rocky coves rather than attempting the entire peninsula. Wear proper shoes: parts of the path are uneven, and sea spray can make the rocks slippery. Check the coastal-path status locally, as sections occasionally close after rough weather.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Finish in Juan-les-Pins, reached by local bus or a 35–40-minute walk from the Cap depending on where you leave the trail. Settle at La Passagère for an elegant cocktail overlooking the bay; it is a polished hotel-bar setting rather than a youthful club, and a drink typically costs around €18–€25. Give yourself time to enjoy the view before walking to Juan-les-Pins station. TER trains return to Nice-Ville in roughly 25 minutes and normally run frequently, but check the final departures in the SNCF Connect app before ordering your last drink.

Morning — Marché Forville and Le Suquet

Take the morning TER from Nice-Ville to Cannes, aiming to arrive around 9:20 AM; the walk from Cannes station to Marché Forville takes about 10 minutes via Rue Jean Jaurès and Rue Félix Faure. Allow an hour to browse the market’s fruit, cheeses, flowers, olives, and socca stalls—this is a good place for a casual breakfast or picnic-style snack. It generally operates Tuesday through Sunday in the morning, but check the opening status before setting out. From the market, walk uphill through Le Suquet, Cannes’ oldest quarter, following the lanes around Rue Saint-Antoine toward the hilltop viewpoints. Give yourself about an hour here; the steep cobbled streets are atmospheric, and the outlook toward the harbor and Lérins Islands is best near the top.

Late Morning and Afternoon — Palais des Festivals and La Croisette

Descend toward the waterfront and walk roughly 15 minutes east to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Spend about 30 minutes seeing the famous red-carpet steps and the handprints along the nearby Chemin des Étoiles; access inside is usually limited unless an event or exhibition is taking place. Continue along La Croisette, where the palm-lined promenade is ideal for an unhurried stroll toward Plage Macé. Set aside around two hours for a swim, sun loungers, or simply a drink overlooking the bay. Plage Macé is a public beach, so bring water shoes or a small towel; Cannes’ pebbly shoreline can be uncomfortable underfoot, and beach facilities vary by season.

Lunch and Evening — La Môme Plage and Return to Nice

For a polished beachfront meal, settle into La Môme Plage along La Croisette for approximately two hours. Expect around €50–90 per person depending on drinks and seafood choices, and reserve ahead if you want a table close to the water—September is quieter than high summer but still busy at weekends. After dinner, walk back toward Cannes station in about 15–20 minutes, or take a short taxi if you prefer not to walk in evening shoes. Allow 10 minutes at the station to find the platform and take a TER back to Nice-Ville; trains are frequent, but check the final departures on SNCF Connect before lingering over dinner.

Morning — Cimiez’s art and gardens

After returning from Cannes to Nice-Ville, take tram line 1 toward Henri Sappia and get off at Monaco–Cimiez; allow about 20–30 minutes from the station, including the short uphill walk. Start at Musée Matisse, housed in the red Villa des Arènes, and give yourself roughly 90 minutes for the collection. It is usually open from late morning to early evening but commonly closes on Tuesdays, so verify the September 15 schedule before setting out; admission is generally around €10, with reduced or free entry in some cases.

Walk a few minutes to the Monastère de Cimiez and Cimiez Gardens. The monastery church is modest but atmospheric, while the gardens are one of the nicest quiet viewpoints in the city—perfect for a slower final morning. From Cimiez, take tram line 1 back toward the center, then continue toward the port by tram or taxi; allow around 25 minutes rather than trying to walk the entire distance.

Lunch and afternoon — Local food, then Cap-Ferrat

Have lunch at Bocca Nissa near the Port of Nice, where socca, petits farcis, and other Niçoise dishes make an easy, informal farewell meal. Budget approximately €20–35 per person and allow about an hour. Afterward, walk to the nearby bus stops and take the Lignes d’Azur bus toward Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat—the exact route and stop can vary, so check the app for the day’s service. A taxi is more practical if you are carrying luggage or need to keep a tight schedule; expect roughly 20–30 minutes by car.

Spend about 2½ hours at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, exploring the Belle Époque rooms and the themed gardens overlooking the peninsula. September is an excellent time to visit, but leave at least 45 minutes each way for the bus connection back to Nice. Check the villa’s closing time and last bus before entering; timed entry or online tickets can help avoid a rushed visit.

Evening — Port dinner and a classic nightcap

Return to the Port of Nice for your celebratory dinner at La Réserve de Nice, a polished seafront restaurant known for modern Mediterranean cooking. Reserve ahead, especially for a final-night table, and expect approximately €80–140 per person before wine; allow two hours. If the terrace is available, request it, but bring a light layer—the waterfront can feel cool after sunset.

Finish with a refined drink at Le Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais. A taxi from the port takes about 10 minutes, while tram or a 25-minute walk works if you still have energy. Dress smart-casual, and allow around an hour for a cocktail or glass of Champagne in the historic hotel setting. If you are departing tonight, check your train or airport transfer before ordering; Nice-Ville is about 10 minutes by taxi from Le Negresco, while Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is usually 15–25 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.