Nestled between sea and Alps, Nice has been wooing travelers since the 18th-century “Grand Tour.” Its blend of Italianate old town, Belle Époque facades, and the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais makes it the natural home base for exploring the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur). You’ll taste Niçoise cuisine, wander colorful markets, and swim in a sea the color of sapphires.

In one week you’ll pair Nice’s museums and markets with easy day trips: cliff-perched Èze, glamorous Monaco, artful Antibes, film-famous Cannes, pastel Menton, and garden-rich Cap‑Ferrat. Trains and buses knit the coast together, so you’ll spend your time walking seaside promenades rather than wrangling logistics.

Expect Mediterranean sun, seasonal produce (try socca and salade niçoise where they were born), and a calendar dotted with festivals from spring through fall. Book trains and buses in advance during summer, pack water shoes for pebbly beaches, and remember many restaurants keep a proper pause in the afternoon.

Nice

Once part of the House of Savoy, Nice still wears its Italian roots in the ochre alleys of Vieux Nice and in the local dialect. The Promenade des Anglais skirts a glittering bay, while neighborhoods like Carré d’Or and Cimiez serve culture—think Chagall, Matisse, and Roman ruins—with Riviera ease.

• Top sights: Cours Saleya Market, Castle Hill (Colline du Château), Musée Matisse, Musée National Marc Chagall, Promenade des Anglais, Place Masséna.
• Iconic bites: Socca at Chez Pipo, pissaladière (onion tart), petits farcis, pan bagnat, and gelato at Fenocchio.
• Stay in Nice: Search stays on VRBO Nice or hotels on Hotels.com Nice—look in Vieux Nice for character, Carré d’Or for convenience, or Promenade des Anglais for sea views.
• Getting there: Fly into Nice (NCE) or take the TGV from Paris. Compare flights and trains on Omio flights (Europe) and Omio trains (Europe).

Antibes

Antibes mixes ramparts and yacht masts, with Picasso’s former studio perched above the sea. The old town’s produce market perfumes the streets each morning with herbs, olives, and goat cheeses.

• Don’t miss: Musée Picasso, Marché Provençal, Port Vauban, and the coastal path around Cap d’Antibes to Plage de la Garoupe.
• Where to eat: Le P’tit Cageot (seasonal French), La Taille de Guêpe (delicate dishes with edible flowers), evening drinks at Absinthe Bar beneath the market.
• Stays (if you split nights): VRBO Antibes | Hotels.com Antibes

Cannes

Cannes is more than red carpets. Its old quarter, Le Suquet, leads to views over La Croisette and the Lérins Islands, whose pine forests and clear coves feel worlds away—just a 15-minute ferry ride.

• Highlights: La Croisette promenade, Marché Forville (excellent for picnics), Île Sainte‑Marguerite’s Fort Royal, beach clubs like Mademoiselle Gray and Plage du Festival.
• Eat and drink: Bobo Bistro (Mediterranean), Da Laura (Northern Italian pasta), cocktails at Bar L’Amiral (classic hotel bar lore).
• Stays (optional): VRBO Cannes | Hotels.com Cannes

Monaco

One square mile of high-octane glamour, Monaco stitches together old-world Monaco‑Ville and the casino-bright district of Monte‑Carlo. The Oceanographic Museum climbs above a cliff like a ship’s prow.

• Key sights: Prince’s Palace (changing of the guard), Oceanographic Museum, Casino de Monte‑Carlo, Japanese Garden, Port Hercules.
• Dining: Café de Paris (brasserie classics), Maya Bay (Thai/Japanese), Avenue 31 (modern Italian) if you’re lingering for dinner.
• Stays (if extending): Hotels.com Monaco

Èze

Èze Village is an eagle’s nest, a medieval tumble of stone lanes perched 400 meters above the sea. The Exotic Garden crowns the summit with succulents and knockout views of the Cap‑Ferrat peninsula.

• See and do: Jardin Exotique d’Èze, Fragonard perfume tour, the Nietzsche Path footpath down to the sea (steep; wear shoes).
• Eat: Le Nid d’Aigle (terrace with views) or, for a splurge, Château Eza.
• Stays (rarely needed): Hotels.com Èze

Menton

Near the Italian border, Menton is the Riviera’s lemon capital, with Belle Époque villas and a mellow, sun-drenched pace. In February, the Lemon Festival paints the town citrus-yellow.

• Highlights: Old Town and Basilica Saint‑Michel, Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh, Promenade du Soleil, Bastion Museum (Jean Cocteau works).
• Flavors: “Au Pays du Citron” for lemon treats, seafood around Port Garavan, and—if you nab a reservation—the 3‑star Mirazur for a once‑in‑a‑lifetime lunch.
• Stays (if you linger): Hotels.com Menton

Saint‑Jean‑Cap‑Ferrat & Villefranche‑sur‑Mer

Cap‑Ferrat is garden-and-villa country, most famously the rosy Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild with themed gardens and musical fountains. Next door, Villefranche’s deep natural harbor frames a tangerine-hued old town.

• Musts: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, coastal paths to Paloma Beach, Villefranche Citadel, and the waterfront quay for long lunches.
• Where to eat: Paloma Beach restaurant (seasonal), La Mère Germaine on Villefranche’s harbor (seafood since 1938).
• Stays (quiet base option): VRBO Saint‑Jean‑Cap‑Ferrat | Hotels.com Saint‑Jean‑Cap‑Ferrat

Day 1 – Arrive in Nice, Sunset on the Promenade

Morning: Travel day. Compare flights into Nice (NCE) on Omio flights or arrive by TGV from Paris (~5h40) via Omio trains. If you’re already in Europe, regional trains along the coast are frequent and inexpensive.

Afternoon: Check in to your Nice stay via VRBO or Hotels.com, then stretch your legs on the Promenade des Anglais. Detour to Place Masséna’s checkerboard square and the water mirror fountains in Promenade du Paillon.

Evening: Dinner in Vieux Nice at Le Bistrot d’Antoine (smart bistro, book ahead) or Chez Pipo for classic socca from a roaring wood-fired oven. Gelato at Fenocchio (try olive or rose) and a nightcap at Les Distilleries Idéales, a locals’ bar with vintage tiles and a long beer list.

Day 2 – Old Town, Markets, and Museums

Morning: Coffee and viennoiseries at Déli Bo or Pâtisserie Lac, then browse the Cours Saleya Market (flowers and produce; antiques on Monday). Climb to Castle Hill for sweeping Bay of Angels views and a man‑made cascade for photos.

Afternoon: Tram or bus up to Cimiez: visit Musée Matisse (in a Genoese villa) and the Roman amphitheater and olive grove. Alternatively, explore the Musée National Marc Chagall’s luminous biblical canvases. Lunch at Lou Pilha Leva for socca, pissaladière, and pan bagnat just off Garibaldi.

Evening: Reserve JAN (Michelin-star, refined South African‑French tasting menus) for a special night, or try Le Comptoir du Marché for rustic Provençal plates. Finish with a seaside stroll; if you’d like a cocktail, Le Comptoir Central Électrique in a former tram depot shakes a fine Negroni.

Day 3 – Antibes and Cap d’Antibes

Morning: TER train Nice–Antibes ~20–25 min, ~€5–7; check schedules and tickets on Omio trains. Start with espresso and socca chips at Marché Provençal, then tour Musée Picasso inside the Château Grimaldi—Picasso painted here in 1946 and left works to the town.

Afternoon: Lunch at Le P’tit Cageot (short, market-driven menu) or La Taille de Guêpe (local favorite; reserve). Walk the ramparts, then bus/taxi to Cap d’Antibes for the Sentier du Tire‑Poil coastal path (flat sections with rocky steps; bring water shoes) or lounge at Plage de la Garoupe.

Evening: Apéritif underground at Absinthe Bar where the hats are as quirky as the music. Dine at Chez Mô (seafood by Port Vauban) and train back to Nice (~25 min). If you’re peckish late, grab a slice at L’atelier St. Antoine near the Old Town.

Day 4 – Èze Village and Monaco

Morning: Bus 82 from Nice to Èze Village ~35–45 min (or train to Èze‑sur‑Mer + bus 83 uphill). Stroll stone lanes, then climb to the Jardin Exotique d’Èze for cactus gardens and aerial views. Tour the Fragonard perfume workshop and boutique.

Afternoon: Casual terrace lunch at Le Nid d’Aigle, or splurge at Château Eza (reserve; panoramic). Continue to Monaco by TER from Èze‑sur‑Mer or Èze bus connection (~12–15 min train from Èze‑sur‑Mer; Nice–Monaco is ~25 min, ~€4–5; see Omio trains). Visit the Oceanographic Museum and wander Monaco‑Ville to the Prince’s Palace square.

Evening: Peek into the Casino de Monte‑Carlo (ID and dress code for gaming rooms). Dinner at Café de Paris on Place du Casino for brasserie classics, or Avenue 31 for modern Italian near the seafront. Train back to Nice (~25 min).

Day 5 – Cannes and the Lérins Islands

Morning: TER Nice–Cannes ~35–45 min, ~€7–10 (Omio trains). Breakfast graze at Marché Forville: socca, olives, fougasse, and goat cheese—assemble a beach picnic. Walk up to Le Suquet for Old Town views, then catch the ferry to Île Sainte‑Marguerite (~15 min; check seasonal timetables; Omio ferries).

Afternoon: Explore Fort Royal (the “Man in the Iron Mask” legend) and pine‑scented trails with swim stops in crystal coves. Back in Cannes, unwind on La Croisette at a public beach or a club like Mademoiselle Gray (boho‑chic sunbeds, solid rosé list).

Evening: Dinner at Bobo Bistro (Mediterranean, lively) or Da Laura (fresh tagliatelle and tiramisu). Classic cocktails at Bar L’Amiral in the Hôtel Martinez if you fancy old‑school glamour. Train to Nice after dinner.

Day 6 – Menton: Gardens, Pastels, and Citrus

Morning: TER Nice–Menton ~35–45 min, ~€5–7 via Omio trains. Cappuccino and a citron tart at “Au Pays du Citron,” then wander the pastel lanes up to Basilica Saint‑Michel. Visit Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh for subtropical specimens cushioned by sea breezes.

Afternoon: Lunch by the water at Port Garavan (seafood platters and grilled fish). Art stop at the Bastion Museum for Jean Cocteau works, then beach time on the gently shelving sands of Les Sablettes—rare sandy stretch on this coast.

Evening: Back to Nice for pizza at Les Amoureux (beloved Neapolitan pies; reserve) or Peixes (ceviche and Mediterranean small plates). Digest with a promenade stroll and, if it’s a weekend, a late drink at Le Wayne’s or La Part des Anges (wine shop-bar) depending on your vibe.

Day 7 – Cap‑Ferrat Gardens and Villefranche Harbor (Departure)

Morning: Quick train or bus to Beaulieu/Cap‑Ferrat (Nice–Beaulieu TER ~7–10 min; Omio trains). Tour Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild: themed gardens (Spanish, Florentine, Japanese) and fountain “concerts” set to music. Walk the coastal path to Paloma Beach for a last dip if time allows.

Afternoon: Early lunch on Villefranche’s quay at La Mère Germaine (lobster spaghetti or bouillabaisse when available). Pick up bags in Nice and head to the airport or station. Compare departures on Omio flights or Omio trains. Au revoir!

Practical Tips and Local Gems

• Transport: The TER coastal train is your best friend; most hops are 7–45 minutes and €4–€10. For intercity buses (including Èze Village), check Omio buses.
• Beach kit: Many beaches are pebbly. Bring water shoes; paid beach clubs provide loungers, umbrellas, and showers.
• Dining hours: Lunch commonly 12:00–14:00/14:30; dinner from 19:00. Reserve popular spots, especially in summer.
• Seasonality: Some island restaurants and beach clubs are seasonal (roughly April–October); markets run year‑round but are liveliest in warm months.

Seven days on the Côte d’Azur lets you savor Nice’s markets, art, and sea air while tasting the distinct personalities of neighboring towns—from Monaco’s polish to Menton’s citrus gardens. With short train rides, great food every day, and sunsets that stop you in your tracks, this itinerary balances culture, coastline, and the sweet Riviera life.