Best of the French Riviera

When I first decided to visit the French Riviera this summer, I hadn't really thought a lot about it. I booked my flight and hotel online about a week before, then found a good tour package a few days before I left. I didn't really know what to expect and honestly, hadn't even heard much about that area in general. I knew about the film festival and Monaco, and that's about it. I did know it was supposed to be really pretty, though, and the few things I had Googled prior to leaving seemed to suggest the same. I decided the best option for me was to stay in Nice in a hotel on the Promenade des Anglais. While this was definitely not the cheapest option, I thought it was best for my comfort/safety (honestly, I really wanted air conditioning).

When I first got to Nice, my first thought was immediately "wow". As my plane was coming into the airport, the clouds started to clear and as far as I could see in the ocean there were yachts. Before we arrived at the gate, we passed by the section where the private planes are kept. There were many Mercedes and Range Rovers and Rolls Royces waiting at arrivals. I was in awe getting into my Uber X. My hotel room wasn't ready yet when I arrived, so I checked my luggage at the hotel and walked pretty much the entire length of the Promenade, down to the Port of Nice. It was the middle of July, so very hot, but the breeze made it bearable. I walked around town for a while, then went back to the hotel to get settled. I spent the evening at the mall, which is normally something I would not do. However, there was a Starbucks at this mall. Even though I didn't get a drink because of a debit card/money scare, I did get a new mug to add to the collection.

I spent the rest of the weekend exploring the French Riviera. While I did enjoy Nice, I quickly found that I definitely liked other destinations in the area better. The only place I wish I could have seen that I didn't was Saint-Tropez (especially now with the new Taylor album...), but it was too far away so I can't speak on it. The places I did go to are ranked below, though.

Cannes

This was probably my least favorite of the places I visited. It was cool to see the place where the film festival is held, though, which was a few weeks prior. I would say the biggest pro is the beach. While it is very crowded, it's SAND! Unlike the majority of the other beaches that I saw, which were rock. That might not be a big deal to everybody, but a beach just doesn't feel like a beach without sand to me. But also, con: sand...

Antibes

This little town was so cool. I loved walking Promenade Amiral de Grasse around town by the water. It really just felt like a little beach town. I was also shocked here. I spent two months in Italy and loved every kind of gelato I tried, but none of them were as good as what I had here. It was hard for me to admit that. If you're ever here, go to Gelateria Del Porto. I have no photo evidence of this as it was really hot and melting, but wow. Worth it.

Èze

There's a reason this village is called the Eagle's Nest of the French Riviera. It's a pretty hike up to it, though. Pretty steep, pretty pretty, pretty worth it. My favorite things were all the flowers everywhere, the old rock structures, and the "hallways"/alleys/roads through the town. The whole town feels like a maze of medieval architecture, alleys, and stairways. I really don't even know how else to describe it, other than the most picturesque place I've ever been.

Monaco

Driving the Grand Prix's Circuit de Monaco, visiting the Palace, seeing Saint Nicholas Cathedral, gambling at Casino Monte-Carlo, riding in a self-driving taxi. There's so many things to do in such a small area. For me, the overwhelming "theme" of Monaco seemed to be beauty. From the natural beauty of the mountains and the ocean, to the landscaping, to the architecture, to the cars. Down to the city itself. It was so clean. It was like Disney World. There's no wrong way to go between Monte-Carlo and Old Town Monaco, but I preferred the old town. Either way, and both ways, it's definitely a place unlike any other. 

Seriously. What public restroom looks like this?