Fodor's To Europe!
The Italian and French Rivieras
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Fly into: Milan
Fly out of: Nice
Total Duration: 14 days
If you want to live the jet set life,or just see how the jet set live, this itinerary hits all the right spots along the French and Italian Rivieras. Starting in Italy, you can hike your way through some of the most spectacular cliff-top villages while taking in catch-me-while-I-swoon sea views (and occasional dips in the sea). You'll visit historic cities along the Mediterranean coast as well as smaller villages with nary a boutique in sight.
- Natural Beauty
- Food and Wine
- Art and Culture
- Architecture
This Trip's Top Experiences:
Day 1
Roby Ferrari/flickr
1 Genoa
All About the Old Quarter
- Wander through the labyrinth streets of the Old Quarter, where you can take your pick of palaces and churches
- Walk through the Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno, famous for its marble sculptures and striking memorials
- Take the kids to the Acquario di Genova, the largest aquarium in Europe
Days 2-4
Kelli Glaser/Fodors.com
2 The Cinque Terre
Five Fabled Fishing Villages
- Whether relaxing at a café, hiking in the hills, or lounging on a beach, you'll never be far from a gorgeous Mediterranean view
- Compare and contrast the five villages, each more charming than the last, that make up the Cinque Terre
- Sample pesto Genovese in the land where it was born, along with the freshest of fish and the wines produced to accompany them
Days 5-6
Dan Breckwoldt/Shutterstock
3 Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino
Living the Good Life
- Climb up to Castello di San Giorgio, a castle with sweeping views and impeccable gardens
- Work on your tan at Paraggi, the area's only sandy beach
- Do like the rich Italians do: relax, window shop, and gawk at the super yachts
Days 7-8
Manfred Steinbach/shutterstock
4 Menton
Mellow Mediterranean
- Pay homage to Jean-Cocteau and see his whimsical creations at the Musée Jean-Cocteau
- Have a green thumb? Visit the Jardin Botanique and several other gorgeous gardens nearby
- Sample handmade food and perfect produce at the Marché Couvert (the covered market)
Days 9-10
StephanHoerold/istockphoto
5 St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu
Glamorous Ports
- Explore Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu, a magnificent villa built in classical Greek style
- Visit the floridly beautiful Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Cap Ferrat, once owned by an eccentric baroness
- Hike along Cap Ferrat's coastline promenade to take in the sea views and the huge villas
Days 11-12
Sean Nel/shutterstock
6 Antibes and Cap d'Antibes
Live the Jet Set Life
- See more than 300 of Picasso's sea-and-mythology-inspired works at the Musée Picasso, housed inside a chateau
- Hike along the cliff-top Sentier Tirepoil footpath for some of the best views of the crashing surf
- Explore the sumptuous Villa Eilenroc at the tip of Cap d'Antibes to see where Greta Garbo and Aristotle Onassis partied the night away
Days 13-14
manwolste/istockphoto
7 Nice and Haut-de-Cagnes
Unspoiled Riviera
- Walking along the seaside Promenade des Anglais in Nice is one of the iconic Riviera experiences
- See a massive collection of Henri Matisse's work at the Musée Matisse
- Visit the Musée Renoir in Haut-de-Cagnes, housed in a villa where the artist lived for the last 12 years of his life
- The Château Grimaldi dominates Haut-de-Cagnes's Vieille Ville, and is filled with a quirky collection of art and medieval treasures
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