Where to go on the Côte d'Azur with your family: what to visit, what to do, with our ideas for visits and activities with children for the holidays or a weekend..
Want to visit the French Riviera with your family, but don't know where to go? Well, here are all our ideas for destinations on this famous coastline that we've tried out as a family, for a lovely holiday with your children. If you're not a fan of the world, I'd advise you to discover these little corners of France as a family, in the shoulder seasons rather than in August during the summer holidays!
The list below was created with the help of the forum's travelling parents! Many thanks to them! This list is a little off the beaten track and doesn't show you all the big seaside resorts on the Côte d'Azur or all the beaches dedicated to families on holiday on the Côte d'Azur; it's more a suggestion of ways to get away from the classic beach and sea visits!
The Côte d'Azur has more to offer than just beaches and seaside resorts, so don't hesitate to head inland with your family to visit the pretty villages, often perched on the rocks overlooking the Mediterranean. Children will love getting lost in the cobbled streets, which are often shaded to keep out the summer heat.
Eze: with its breathtaking views, its pretty, steep streets and its exotic garden.
Gourdon: nicknamed the ‘eagle's nest’ of the Côte d'Azur, it's well worth a stop to let the children run through the narrow streets to the Place Victoria for a sublime view of the entire Riviera.
Auron: a completely different atmosphere in this small Mercantour resort at the foot of the Southern Alps.
Vence: the ancient then feudal town, which has attracted many artists, 26 km from Nice.
Grasse: Famous for its perfumes for centuries, a visit to Grasse would not be complete without a visit to a fragrance manufacturer.
Bornes les mimosas: Beaches, a charming medieval town and the Fort de Brégançon (summer residence of the French President) are undoubtedly the major attractions of this coastal town.
Le Castellet: This small town on the Côte d'Azur is often known for its famous Paul Ricard racetrack, but it is also a pretty medieval town where you can enjoy wandering through the sunny streets.
Tourrettes sur Loup: a little village less well known than the others, but just as remarkably perched on a rocky outcrop, this village is the centre of Violet cultivation.
On the forum, here are a few names of museums that came up in your suggestions!
The Biot glassworks
Monaco Oceanographic Museum
The Matisse Museum at the Cimiez Arena,
The International Perfume Museum in Grasse
Fragonard Museum, also in Grasse
Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu
Cabanon Le Corbusier in Roquebrune Cap Martin
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, renaissance villa in St-Jean Cap Ferrat
The Isles of Gold opposite Hyères are a haven of nature, where the scents of pine forests and scrubland fill the warm air. A family day out will allow you to make the most of the area.
Porquerolles: the largest of the Hyères islands, this is also a unique place to enjoy the flora and fauna, as it is also a National Park. For children, we recommend the Notre Dame beach for a good swim.
Port Cros: its neighbour, part of the same Hyères archipelago, is also a National Park; you can enjoy some great walks here, as unlike Porquerolles, cycling is prohibited.
Les îles du Lerins: small islands accessible from Cannes in 1/4 hour, perfect for families with young children.
It's impossible to visit the Côte d'Azur without stopping off at one of the region's seaside resorts and beaches.
Ville Saint Agay
Port Grimaud
Théoule,
Villefranche sur mer,
saint jean cap ferrat ,
Sainte maxime
Port grimaud
Lake Verdon and its gorges
Lake Cassien
Le pont de la cerise (the cherry bridge), not very well known but so magnificent, with its natural slides, transparent water basins and limestone beaches.
The gorges du loup (with the saut du loup)
The Esterel
The Blavet gorges.
go and see the Orthodox church of Saint Nicolas and the hill of the castle, on foot; it's really magnificent (splendid 360° views, landscaped park with games for children, places to picnic),
the old town of Nice,
eat Socca in Old Nice
Walk from Eze to La Turbie.
Roquebrunes sur Argens, and its Roman bridge path.
The creeks of Cassis
The wild side of La Londe Les Maures with views of the islands
The Corniche d'Or road (the beautiful Esterel massif)
Tour of the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Here's a list of suggestions from travelling mums on the Voyages et Enfants forum. I haven't tried them out but they are recommended by our readers.
Village Vacances Esterel Pierre et Vacances: one of the few sites I know, as I went there with Miss Voyageuse for her 1 month with her tribe. It's a great place to relax or do lots of family activities.
Unusual overnight stays at Abracadaroom: Who hasn't dreamt of a night in a tipi, a trapper's tent or a geodesic dome? All this is possible on the Côte d'Azur for an unforgettable family holiday!
Camping ideas with Tohapi: book here for a great holiday in the middle of the pine forests, with swimming pools guaranteed!
Of course, when you think of the sea and the beaches of the Mediterranean, it's easy to imagine going there in the middle of summer to cool off. But then we also get the image of crowded beaches (which sometimes makes us prefer the Atlantic or Brittany).
So yes, the Côte d'Azur (French Riviera) is crowded in summer! But why is that? Because it's really pretty and the climate is great! All northern Europeans know this.
