French Riviera
 

We are going to be in French Riviera for 7 nights in mid September. Trying to decide whether to stay in Nice for 7 nights (and make several day trips to other towns) or consider staying in other towns as well. What other towns we should consider for staying?

depends on your goals, I would never want to stay in Nice for 7 days. Others would, especially if they only want to visit some places in the immediate area (as you mention, day trips). I would not move to some nearby town/village for no reason if you do intend to just do things around Nice. It sounds like that's what you are asking, otherwise you could move anywhere in France in-between Nice and Marseille or even up to the Vaucluse, it seems to me.

Don't you have some flight tickets home and a place you must leave from? That could affect decisions.

We stayed in Villefranche-sur-Mer instead of Nice and found it a good base for day trips--just a few miles east of Nice.

I'm one that would probably choose Nice for the week and then day trip out. Nice is a big city, and much more than a Riviera resort but the old town and promenade are pleasant to be located near by. But not as much charm as a smaller town. There is a great bus system that will cheaply and efficiently take you all around the region. You could "home base" nearby, but if using public transportation, you'd probably be going back and forth to Nice alot. If you will have a car, then maybe the small town is a better option. (Nice is also very convenient airport wise).

Buy the Michelin Green Guide.
Select the towns that appeal to you.

We had an apartment and a car in St Jean Cap Ferret for a week. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been. We daytripped every day.

Old town Antibes apartment..great base...loved it

With a car, I would suggest Villefrance-sur-Mer, Bealieu-sur-Mer, or Menton.
Consider a drive up to the Roya valley, and/or St Agnes, the highest coastal village in Europe. Menton to Nice is 37 minutes on the train. Speaking of St Jean Cap Ferret, there is a lovely walk going all the way around.

Nice is nice but a big city - one of the biggest in France - not so romantic, especially if you can't afford a hotel on the coastal side on Nice.

Many people just love the smaller towns those above mention. I like Antibes - old-world flavor but a proper town with all the amenities of a town - right on the coast and about in the epicenter of many neat day trips:

Grasse and perfume factories
St Paul-de-Vence
Vence
Cannes
Nice

all a short train or bus ride away or drive.

It is absolutely daft to stay in a town like Antibes or Menton for 7 days.

You could walk through Antibes in an hour or two.

Stay in Nice and day trip from there. Very good bus and train connections here. For example, you can take bus #83 to Eze.

More restaurants, shops, bars, nightlife in Nice.

Thin