The romantic French Riviera could be a very expensive destination if you don’t plan well. I have always dreamt about visiting the insanely beautiful landscapes, but everyone told me I could not afford it. Incidentally, it was one of the last solo trips I made before relocating from Milan. However, I wanted to explore the best towns of French Riviera on a budget. So I did very thorough research before visiting and noted down the places I wanted to visit most. It was a risky decision but, in the end, it all came together.
I visited the French Riviera in the month of February for 5 days when there aren’t many tourists, but, the weather could be tricky. Luckily, I enjoyed every bit of good weather during my visit. I had booked a very nice Airbnb in the centre of Nice and close to the railway station. Making Nice the base of my travel made it easy for me to take day-trips to the nearby towns and villages.
The French Riviera or Côte d’Azur is the coastline along the southern part of France and consists of the flourishing cities of Nice, Monaco, Cannes, and many others. This is a romantic and dreamy destination that is one of the tourists’ favourites.
Best time to visit
Like any other beach destination in Europe, the French Riviera is flocked by tourists in the summer months of July and August. Personally, I do not blame then because there are some of the most scenic and widespread beaches along the southern coast of France.
However, if you can compromise on getting into the water and just enjoy some of the most amazing views, you can plan a trip any time of the year. June and September, being the shoulder months are best if you want to enjoy the scenery as well as take a dip.
I was there in February, so I could not enjoy the sea that much. But I encountered some amazing weather with breathtaking views. In addition, the hotel and transport prices were extremely cheap.
Getting there
The capital or most important city of the French Riviera is Nice. Therefore, if you are exploring French Riviera on a budget, it is also the place to be.
Firstly, you get cheaper accommodation. Secondly, Nice is centrally located and you could visit almost all the major attractions of the French Riviera from here. For instance, there are direct trains from Paris, Milan, and other major cities in Europe. In addition, if you plan in advance, the train tickets could be dirt cheap.
Tip: Once you are in Nice, you could buy a Côte d’Azur Card which is a very good deal and gives you access to many sights and museums. Unfortunately, I could not afford it and I also did not want to visit many museums, so I did not get it. Instead, I got individual tickets for each location.
You can also book your tickets to other destinations in the French Riviera from the station. The trains are quite frequent, connects the entire Riviera, and also very affordable.
My French Riviera Itinerary
DAY 1 - Panoramic Train ride
I took a train from Milan Central station to Nice which took around 5 hours. The journey was absolutely stunning. After Genoa, the whole way is across the Mediterranean coastline. There are some beautiful beaches and landscapes that you could not help but admire.
After, I grabbed some dinner and made my way back to the Airbnb.
DAY 2 - A Trip to Èze Village
One of the first places I had on my agenda was this tiny village located on a hilltop between Monaco and Nice. I took a bus early in the morning from the central bus stop at Nice.
Tip: Make sure to memorize the location of the bus stop at Èze Village and be there on time for your return bus to Nice. It is very easy to get lost in the village. Google Maps is not very helpful and there are very few locals to give you any direction.
Tip: Do get an updated Bus schedule from the Tourist office before making your plans.
Èze Village: Le Jardin Exotique d'Èze, Devil's Bridge
After reaching the village, I saw a sign named after the village and walked right in. This was followed by a magical walk along the narrow lanes. I tried to reach a viewpoint that I saw on Google but the more I tried to follow the directions, the more lost I got. This was a problem throughout my trip in the French Riviera. But that gave me a chance to discover some very charming secret places.
Èze has a very strategic location which makes the views from here absolutely spectacular. The cobblestoned narrow alleyways and the Medieval buildings just add to the charm. It is made out of a high stone and there are only one entry and exit to the village. A steep, uphill walk will take you to some amazing viewpoints.
I visited a garden at the top of the village, called Le Jardin Exotique d’Èze and witnessed some amazing views. Pictures follow.
After a long and tiring climb, I had some sandwiches I had bought from Nice and went back downhill.
Before catching the bus, I had some time. There was a beautiful bridge we had crossed, right before entering Eze. I went to take a walk on that bridge and came to know a very interesting story. It was called the Devil’s Bridge. You can read the story in the following picture.
After taking some photos, I slowly made my way back to the bus stop and went back to Nice.
DAY 3 - Exploring Cannes and Antibes
Cannes
On this day, I was going to discover a few of the important cities of the French Riviera. My first stop was Cannes. I took a direct train to Cannes from Nice. Here, I just walked around the streets and checked out the handprints of the many stars that have been here. Cannes is a very hip place with lots of great outlets and a shopping street.
I took some photos near the Promenade La Croisette and at the venue of the famous Cannes Film Festival. Everywhere in the French Riviera, you will find beautiful Promenades made by the sea where you can sit on the benches, take a walk, or ride a bike. I spent around 2 hours in Cannes before heading out to my next stop.
Antibes
Next in line was a small coastal town called Antibes. There is a star-shaped fort called Fort Carré and a great Promenade that you could take a long walk in. Antibes is a peninsula with a unique landscape that makes it a photographer’s heaven. The luxury yachts were parked in one corner of the harbour while the other side had a tiny beach. The promenade hosted some sculptures and great views. Photos follow…
After spending around 2 hours at this stop, I took a train and went back to Nice.
Day 4 - Walking Tour of Monaco and Monte Carlo
Walking Tour of Monaco
I was very excited to see Monaco and Monte-Carlo on this day. Monaco is a big and modern city, you could easily get lost in. It is very expensive and could be a little overwhelming to some. You could see beautiful expensive cars parked everywhere. I had a few sights I wanted to see and I walked to all of them.
Tip: In Monaco, the streets are divided into many levels so it’s easy to get lost. It is better to follow the road signs instead of following Google Maps.
My first stop was the Hotel and Café de Paris and the Monte-Carlo Casino. I just wanted to look at where the elites hang out and since I am a fan of Selena Gomez, I wanted to walk the same streets that she did in her film Monte Carlo. This was followed by a short stop at the Saint Devote Chapel. Then I started walking towards the Prince’s Palace which was another luxurious spot where the royals still lived.
Musée Océanographique de Monaco
I had a short lunch before continuing my journey. My next stop was the Musée Océanographique de Monaco. Eventually, this was the only museum I wanted to visit during my entire trip to the French Riviera. In addition, there was a student discount on the ticket. If you have the Côte d’Azur pass it is free.
This Museum hosts some of the most mysterious and rare creatures of the Ocean and the views are to die for. This is absolutely unmissable if you are in Monaco. Pictures follow…
Japanese Garden
After an encouraging trip, I made my way to the Japanese Garden. This was also an interesting and relaxing spot for me. After exploring a bit, I made my way back to the train station.
Day 5 - Discovering Nice
I had my train back to Milan late in the evening so I decided to explore Nice on this day. Surprisingly, I was so busy hopping to different places throughout my trip, I almost did not notice how beautiful Nice was.
So, I started the day by visiting the beautiful Russian Orthodox Cathedral St Nicholas in the morning. Then I took a bus to the Old Town. After that, I walked in the narrow alleyways and visited the Town Square, the Nice Cathedral, and several fountains and sculptures.
After exploring the Old Town, I pointed my Google Maps towards Castle Hill. This was a beautiful park on a steep hill which hosted panoramic views of Nice. The blue waters and the white yachts on the shore just ended up creating the perfect photography moment.
After this, I made my way to the famous Promenade of Nice, Promenade des Anglais. The Promenade was beautiful with benches to rest. This was one of the walks I will never forget. Pictures follow…
After a tiring but magical day, my adventure in the French Riviera came to an end. I bought some souvenirs from the station and then got my train back to Milan.
Fun fact: I walked 10 km on average every day during my trip without ever feeling tired. It’s the long walks along the wonderful backdrop that made exploring the best towns of French Riviera worthwhile.
What to eat
I hardly ate out on this trip. Although, Nice is a good place to try different cuisines, it could be very expensive. So, I mostly bought my supplies from the Supermarkets and survived on sandwiches and salads.
Where to stay
If you are on a budget, I would recommend you to only stay in Nice and visit the surrounding areas by train.
Activities and Budget
Must Do
- Walk the Promenades of each city.
- Admire the views from a hill in Nice, Monaco, or Antibes.
Unique Experience
Visit the fascinating Èze Village and cross the Devil’s Bridge.
Enjoy the unreal silence at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco.
Budget
I spent 500 Euros for the 4 nights including tickets from Milan, accommodation, food and sightseeing in the French Riviera. But it could be drastically different for different people.
