How to do the Cote d'Azur in 3 Days??
Oct 23rd, 2010, 08:02 AM
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How to do the Cote d'Azur in 3 Days??
My family & I are travelling to the south of France this coming August where we will stay in Nice for 3 days. Can anyone recommend the best way to get the most out of our time here? I believe we will have a car so ideally in those 3 days we'd like to see places like Nice, Monaco, St. Tropez, Cannes, etc. Are other places worth seeing too like Antibes, St. Jean Cap Ferrat, Menton? Are any of these places not worth spending time in? Or, is the Cote d'Azur more like Italy's Amalfi Coast where driving through each town you sort of get the idea, you know? I'd appreciate any itinerary suggestions. So much to see, so little time!!!
Oct 23rd, 2010, 09:06 AM
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I "did" the Cote d'Azure in 4 days last year and had a great time and saw a lot - BUT - it was in November so no crowds. August it will be mobbed. This will definitely cut down on what you can do. I used public trans (bus and trains) and it was very easy to get around. In November I was thinking if I went again in the off season I would drive but if I were to in summer I would NOT. Bus and trains are cheap (like 1€ for most trips) and much quicker than driving if there is traffic.
I went to Monaco, Eze, Villefranche, Antibes - and of course Nice itself. On a previous trip I went to Vence and St Paul de Vence and highly recommend them also.
If you will have a car for either before or after this portion of your trip I would park it for most of the time. I did drive to Vence, etc on that trip and it was summer, but that's going inland, not along the coast.
Here is the link to my trip report - just scroll past the Paris part to get to the Cote d'Azure part. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ote-dazure.cfm
Photos are here:http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/france_cote_dazure
I went to Monaco, Eze, Villefranche, Antibes - and of course Nice itself. On a previous trip I went to Vence and St Paul de Vence and highly recommend them also.
If you will have a car for either before or after this portion of your trip I would park it for most of the time. I did drive to Vence, etc on that trip and it was summer, but that's going inland, not along the coast.
Here is the link to my trip report - just scroll past the Paris part to get to the Cote d'Azure part. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ote-dazure.cfm
Photos are here:http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/france_cote_dazure
Oct 23rd, 2010, 10:05 AM
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I think you need to define what you want to "see". Do you just want to drive around and look at towns/beaches?
do you want to visit any of the many museums? Historical sights (Nice was founded by the ancient Greeks)? Old hill towns and gorgeous gorges? Beaches? Clubbing? Gambling?
You're talking a large area with a huge number of attractions at a time when the roads will be mobbed with tourists.
If you can provide more info people can be more helpful. (And the Riviera is NOTHING like the Amalfi Coast with it's tiny quaint towns. Nice is the second largest city in France, several others in the area are also sizable - and Monaco is primarily if you have big $$$ to spend.)
do you want to visit any of the many museums? Historical sights (Nice was founded by the ancient Greeks)? Old hill towns and gorgeous gorges? Beaches? Clubbing? Gambling?
You're talking a large area with a huge number of attractions at a time when the roads will be mobbed with tourists.
If you can provide more info people can be more helpful. (And the Riviera is NOTHING like the Amalfi Coast with it's tiny quaint towns. Nice is the second largest city in France, several others in the area are also sizable - and Monaco is primarily if you have big $$$ to spend.)
Oct 24th, 2010, 03:14 AM
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Here some recommendations for your trip:
Day 1: From Nice, drive eastwards onto the Moyenne Corniche. Enjoy the scenery and stop in the tiny village of Eze. Enjoy the vista, but do not spend much time in Eze (it is terribly touristy). Proceed to Monaco. Depending on your tastes, you might visit the Cactus Garden (Jardin Exotique). In any case, visit the Rocher. See the Cathedral with Grace Kelly's grave, visit the Palace and Cousteau's Oceanographic Museum.
Then go to Monte-Carlo and grab an impression of the Casino and Hotel de Paris (you might stroll through the lobby).
Take the Grande Corniche back to Nice and stop a La Turbie - it is very impressive. If you are an adventurous driver, take on of those tiny roads which connect the Grande and the Moyenne Corniche - they are full of hairpin curves (beware: Gracy Kelly lost her life in one of those curves).
In the afternoon, you might swim in one of those beautiful coves on Cap Ferrat (but it will be hard to find a place for parking since those gems of beaches are well-kept secrets). And if you are still hungry for sightseeing, you might visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rotschild - a huge mansion and monument of wealth and bad taste.
Day 2: From Nice, take the autoroute westwards and exit at Mandelieu. Find your way to the coastal road D6098 (Corniche de l'Esterel, direction to Theoule or St. Raphael bord de mer). This road is one of the most beautiful coastal roads on earth, with lots of pullouts for spectacular vistas. The section between Le Trayas and Antheor is the best part. Park your car at one the the coves and descend down to the beach. You will find large red pebbles on the beach, but balmy crystal-clear water full of fish. If you do not snorkel, take at least goggles in order to enjoy the fabulous underwater world.
After St. Raphael, take the autoroute back eastwards. Exit again in Mandelieu and drive into Cannes. Stroll along the harbour and see the yachts, through the old town and along La Croisette. See the lobby of the Carlton hotel and go into the bar of the Majestic hotel. Have a glass of champagne there.
Day 3: Museum day. These are my favourite museums:
- Musee Message Biblique Marc Chagall in Nice. www.musee-chagall.fr
- Fondation Maeght near St. Paul. If you are there - the grounds of the Fondation are spectacular - do not miss to stroll through the village St. Paul.
There are more museums, you may visit them depending on your preferences:
- Musee Fernand Leger in Biot.
- Musee Picasso in Antibes.
- The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice.
Your itinerary did not contain much of the City of Nice so far. You may explore Nice on evening strolls. I specially recommend the old port and nearby old town and the flower market.
Day 1: From Nice, drive eastwards onto the Moyenne Corniche. Enjoy the scenery and stop in the tiny village of Eze. Enjoy the vista, but do not spend much time in Eze (it is terribly touristy). Proceed to Monaco. Depending on your tastes, you might visit the Cactus Garden (Jardin Exotique). In any case, visit the Rocher. See the Cathedral with Grace Kelly's grave, visit the Palace and Cousteau's Oceanographic Museum.
Then go to Monte-Carlo and grab an impression of the Casino and Hotel de Paris (you might stroll through the lobby).
Take the Grande Corniche back to Nice and stop a La Turbie - it is very impressive. If you are an adventurous driver, take on of those tiny roads which connect the Grande and the Moyenne Corniche - they are full of hairpin curves (beware: Gracy Kelly lost her life in one of those curves).
In the afternoon, you might swim in one of those beautiful coves on Cap Ferrat (but it will be hard to find a place for parking since those gems of beaches are well-kept secrets). And if you are still hungry for sightseeing, you might visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rotschild - a huge mansion and monument of wealth and bad taste.
Day 2: From Nice, take the autoroute westwards and exit at Mandelieu. Find your way to the coastal road D6098 (Corniche de l'Esterel, direction to Theoule or St. Raphael bord de mer). This road is one of the most beautiful coastal roads on earth, with lots of pullouts for spectacular vistas. The section between Le Trayas and Antheor is the best part. Park your car at one the the coves and descend down to the beach. You will find large red pebbles on the beach, but balmy crystal-clear water full of fish. If you do not snorkel, take at least goggles in order to enjoy the fabulous underwater world.
After St. Raphael, take the autoroute back eastwards. Exit again in Mandelieu and drive into Cannes. Stroll along the harbour and see the yachts, through the old town and along La Croisette. See the lobby of the Carlton hotel and go into the bar of the Majestic hotel. Have a glass of champagne there.
Day 3: Museum day. These are my favourite museums:
- Musee Message Biblique Marc Chagall in Nice. www.musee-chagall.fr
- Fondation Maeght near St. Paul. If you are there - the grounds of the Fondation are spectacular - do not miss to stroll through the village St. Paul.
There are more museums, you may visit them depending on your preferences:
- Musee Fernand Leger in Biot.
- Musee Picasso in Antibes.
- The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice.
Your itinerary did not contain much of the City of Nice so far. You may explore Nice on evening strolls. I specially recommend the old port and nearby old town and the flower market.
