Top 10 Places On The French Riviera

What's up, guys? I'm Ryan, and I recently got back from exploring the French Riviera. And I want to share my favorite spots, so here's my French Riviera top 10. The French Riviera, better known as the Côte d'Azur, is among the world's most coveted, one of Europe's top travel destinations. On France's Mediterranean coast in the south, the French Riviera boasts some, with some of the best scenery in Europe. From Issa's hilltop old town to Cassis's dramatic coves, the French Riviera is just waiting for you to discover it. Let's start this video in Menton. Menton, just by the Italian border, was our first stop on the trip. The French Riviera, on our way in from the Italian side. It's strikingly beautiful, with colorful buildings set against in the Alps near the coast. We spent a few days here, and I loved simply wandering the streets. Menton stayed under Italian rule until 1860, when Ed and the rest of Nice became part of France. France. I loved taking a stroll on that beautiful seaside promenade. Out to the lighthouse jetty for sweeping views over Menton. Next, we'll head to the historic town of Aize. Now, perched on a hilltop overlooking the French Riviera, I have to say this. Was easily the coolest medieval town I visited in southern France. The drive from Menton took just about half an hour. Built in medieval times, around the 1300s, it's now best known worldwide for its medieval feel and views of the Côte d'Azur. When we were there, we parked in. We started at the car park below Aize, then climbed the twisting stairs and stone paths through. This village has such an old-world feel, you almost think you've stepped into another era, and yet. It's amazingly untouched, and the whole place is crammed with these covered passageways and trees built around them. It truly is such a cool place. Now, one of the main features of the village is the exotic garden. It's this beautiful place sitting above the village. Besides its lovely plants and cacti, it also gives you one of the best views around. Côte d'Azur. It's definitely worth a hike and a 6 euro entry fee. Now, after Aize. We're going to visit Monaco. It's located right between Aize and Menton. After Vatican City, Monaco is the next smallest nation, spanning just 499 acres in total. Monaco has long been known as a billionaire's playground, and over a third of it. The locals are all millionaires. One reason Monaco draws the rich is that it's a tax haven, with no income tax. And the rest of the taxes are minimal. One of Monaco's best-known sites is the Monte Carlo Casino. It opened in 1863 and has appeared in the James Bond films. We ended up driving through Monaco since we really wanted to see what it was like. We didn't do much, but it was cool to see, and it's wild to think about all the money. In this tiny country. Just above Monaco sits the fascinating village of La Turbie. It's best known for the Trophy of Augustus, a Roman-era monument built in the. It dates to the 6th century BC and was erected to mark Augustus's defeat of 45 Alpine clans. Back then, the Romans were really ambitious. After this, we'll make our way to Nice. Now, as the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France, Nice is the second largest. A French Riviera city beyond Marseille. For flights into the French Riviera, this is likely your best arrival airport. Two. I only spent a short while here. I wasn't really in the mood to wander the city, but I do regret not taking a look. It out. So if you're in the French Riviera, you definitely should visit Nice. Now another major nearby resort town is Cannes. It's about a 40-minute drive from Nice. Like a lot of places on the French Riviera, Cannes is known for wealth and celebrities. And is home to the yearly Cannes Film Festival. Right beyond Cannes lies some of the French Riviera's most beautiful shoreline. It's called the Esterel, and it's made up of red cliffs that drop straight into the sea. A local I met on the beach said this was his favorite place. In the French Riviera, so I had to see it for myself. I mean, I've never seen red cliffs like this in the Mediterranean. It really made me think of the scenery in the American Southwest. Except here you've got the Mediterranean Sea, so it's even better. The Esterel Mountains border this shoreline, with Cannes at one end and Saint Raphael at the other. Now you'll find tucked away bays, rust-red islets, and peaceful stretches of sand everywhere. I love driving along the coast, stopping at all the lookouts, and just exploring. This place is absolutely worth a visit. Next up is another spot I really loved. I visited nearby is Cap du Jimen. What drew me here most was a tiny island with a medieval. There's an old watchtower on it. It was built in the 20th century and is believed to have inspired one Tintin adventure, the Black Island. Now it just looks so scenic, especially with the red coastline. There's a beautiful beach there, and the water's perfect for diving. It's such a fun spot. Next, we'll head to Saint-Tropez. Among all the places I've been on the French Riviera, this town is one of my favorites. It takes around 90 minutes to drive from Nice to Saint-Tropez. Saint-Tropez started out as a fishing village and stayed a military fortress well into the 1900s. And it was the first town on the French Riviera to be liberated during World War. 2. In the 1960s, Saint-Tropez started becoming popular with jet-setters, and today, it's famous for its beaches, lively nights, and yachts. Now, the main town is pretty small, but I love just wandering its streets and alleys. There was this coastal path, and it was just. There's plenty to take in here. Up on the hill above Saint-Tropez stands the Citadel, a fortress built in the 1620s to defend against the Spanish. Today it's a naval museum you can visit. All in all, Saint-Tropez is a really beautiful town, and I get why it's so popular. Now afterwards, we're heading over to Porquerolles Island. It's part lying in the Hyres Island chain, and the island's settlement dates back to Today, most of the island is still untouched since it's protected, making it a perfect natural escape. For a break on a few of France's top-rated beaches, a quick 15-minute shuttle crossing now links the island with the Jeans Peninsula. Or you can also get there from Toulon. Once you're there, you can explore the island by bike or on foot, with a real Caribbean vibe. You can relax on beaches like Quartat Beach, or hike out to the wilder, rockier areas. Belong to the island. This island is absolutely worth a visit. Next, we're heading to Cassis. Honestly, this was probably my favorite stop we made in the south of France. We stayed here for several days, and I'm so glad we did. It's a tiny beach town with a playful, unmistakably French feel. Now Cassis sits below Cap Canal, home to the highest sea cliffs in all of France, rising 394 meters. Cassis has a beautiful beach with a castle overlooking it. Honestly, I love strolling the harbor and watching all the boats. You can also stroll out to the Harbor Lighthouse, and just unwind. Hearing the waves was a big part of why I wanted to come to Cassis, and... If you head to the French Riviera, the Calanques are one of the big draws. They're these breathtaking little bays tucked beneath towering cliffs and sparkling blue water. The one I really wanted to see was Calanques d'Enveuve. Hope I said that. Right. There are several ways to get here. You can take a boat. We got there either by kayak or on foot. On day one, we took out a small boat. We left Cassis Harbor and headed out toward the Calanques. And wow, the views. On the way were absolutely incredible. One downside with the boat was we couldn't land on the beach. You can only get halfway in, and then it's roped off. But... If you hire a kayak or paddleboard, you can bring it down to the beach, which I definitely recommend. I'd give it a go if the paddle doesn't put you off. We got in as deep as we could in the Calanque, then turned around. We kept exploring the coastline heading west as we relaxed in another Calanque with some really unique cliffs, and... The rock formations were incredible. It was such a phenomenal place, and the next day I really wanted to go back. Go to the beach at Calanques de Anbove, so we decided to do a hike. Now the hike was Stretching roughly 7 kilometers, with a single steep section leading down to the The shore. You've got this. And when we finally got there, honestly, it was It was truly breathtaking, the sheer white cliffs set against the lush greenery. The pines against the blue water looked stunning. By then, the beach was The beach was quite spacious, scattered with rounded pebbles. We swam for a bit, and then the The water was unbelievably clear. I was hunting for a place to leap off the rocks, so I kept swimming farther down the From a ledge about 7 meters up, I even jumped off it a few times. I mean, there's Nothing beats cliff jumping into the Mediterranean. That was definitely a highlight. One of my favorite spots we visited and the perfect way to wrap up our time on the French Riviera. And that wraps up my French Riviera top 10, let me know which spots are your favorites. You can find the locations in the comments below. I've also launched a Spanish channel if you'd rather watch my I post in Spanish. I also made a France video you might like, find me on Instagram. Catch me on TikTok at Shirley.films I'm Ryan, talk to you soon.