{"id":38165,"date":"2026-02-10T18:55:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T15:55:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/cote-d-azur-towns-and-beaches\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T19:55:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T16:55:39","slug":"cote-d-azur-towns-and-beaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/en\/cote-d-azur-towns-and-beaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Beach vacation on the Cote d’Azur – how we spent our holidays in the South of France"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Holidays on the Cote d’Azur<\/strong>. What sights and museums to see in Nice, features of the beaches, Proven\u00e7al cuisine, beaches of Menton, and how to get around the C\u00f4te d’Azur by public transport cheaply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few years ago I spent a week on the Cote d’Azur. My husband was working in Monaco, and I took a real vacation: I walked along the embankments, visited museums, and enjoyed Proven\u00e7al seafood on the streets of hot Nice. I also lounged on the beaches – the water in August was like steamed milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Itinerary in Provence \u2013 a road trip through wineries and lavender fields<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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In summer, there is nowhere for an apple to fall on the Cote d’Azur. Not only the rich and famous come here. Young and elderly tourists, families with children, and lovers of cultural recreation all enjoy the various resorts. And they are all united by their love for the pure turquoise color of the sea, French cuisine, vivid impressions and wonderful vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When is the best time to go on vacation on the Cote d’Azur<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best<\/strong> time to visit is right before the hottest time of the year (summer) or right after it<\/strong>, but never during the summer<\/strong>. I was delighted with the warm sea in August, but it was so hot and stuffy that my dress stuck to my body – I was constantly sweating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, it can be very hot in Nice and the south of France in summer. It’s not much fun to explore the city while the midday sun is beating down on you relentlessly. And while the beaches offer a break from the heat, you’ll need to take plenty of sunscreen and make sure you find somewhere in the shade. Don’t underestimate the heat that stands here in the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer is also the busiest time of the year (as it is almost everywhere else), and crowds from all over the world flock to Nice and its neighboring cities. The atmosphere is cheerful and festive, of course, but prices are high, almost all budget housing is sold out, and tourism dominates the city at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend coming here either right before or right after the summer. In other words, come in April, May, or September<\/strong> if you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recommend for reading: Summer vacation on European lakes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Getting to the Cote d’Azur<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The best way to get here is to fly to Nice by plane. If you are already in France, for example, in Paris, you can get to Nice by train. If you’re in Italy on the Italian side of the Riviera, you can take the train, which is quick and easy to get to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrival by air<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nice<\/strong> has its own airport, which offers several direct daily flights to\/from Paris, as well as other destinations in France and Europe. The low-cost carrier EasyJet<\/strong> operates many of these routes, so one-way tickets are often quite inexpensive (less than 100 euros). I flew to Nice on Ryanair from Krakow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, you can also fly into the airport of the much larger city of Marseille<\/strong>, which has many daily connections to Paris and the rest of the world. If you’re flying to Marseille, the best way to continue on to Nice is by train<\/strong>. All major cities on the French Riviera are connected by train. An alternative is to travel by a rental car<\/a> <\/strong>which can be booked at the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most tourists arrive at Nice International Airport C\u00f4te d’Azur, NCE<\/strong>.
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How do I get to Nice from the airport?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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The cheapest way to get from the airport is by buses #23, 52, 59, 70, 94 – the ticket price is \u20ac1.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can travel along the coast by bus or train. Buses are about the same price as trains. But the travel time is much longer – trains go through tunnels, buses weave through serpentines, and only express trains travel on highways.<\/p>\n\n\n

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If you are going to travel in the city or in the Monaco-Nice-Cannes area, you will find the website of the bus lines useful www.lignesdazur.com<\/a><\/strong>. Here you will learn all about the routes through different cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several night buses for those who stay late in a city. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n