Living the Riviera Life on the Côte d’Azur – The Côte d’Azur – aka the French Riviera – is one of the world’s tourism epicenters. Luxury, culture, beaches, and mountains all join forces to create the perfect backdrop for a lavish getaway. But to really acquaint yourself with the French Riviera, you can’t just arrive and stay in one place – you must take in a few different cities to really see the touch of distinction each one has. Begin in the west at Marseilles, head to Saint-Tropez, then to Grasse, and finish up in Nice for the Riviera introduction of a lifetime.
Marseilles is the second most largely inhabited city in France next to Paris. Some of the most interesting spots to check out in Marseilles include the Notre Dame Basilica and Calanques National Park. The basilica is located atop a mountain that provides exceptional views of Marseilles, and the national park offers cliffs, coves, and crystal waters.
Saint-Tropez has a lavish name that sounds as though it’s a regal island somewhere in the Pacific – when actually, it’s a small town in France that on first glance looks pretty traditional. Don’t let that traditional view mislead you, though. This is one of the world’s epicenters of luxury travel, huge yachts, Ferraris, and McLarens. Saint-Tropez is just two hours east of Marseille. It wasn’t much more than a dot on the map until actress Brigitte Bardot filmed a movie here in 1957. That movie, And God Created Woman, made both Bardot and Saint-Tropez instant superstars.
Today’s Saint-Tropez has two distinct lifestyles coexisting. One of fame and wealth, which is mainly concentrated near the port. Large cruise ships and luxury shopping predominate. On the other hand, there are also very quiet, quaint neighborhoods where life is much more tranquil – this is where Saint-Tropez’ locals reside.
Continue east as the coast begins to disappear and, with it, all signs of tourism. You’ll reach Grasse. This city is located in the foothills of the Alpes-Maritime mountains. While known for its beauty, Grasse is also the world’s production leader when it comes to perfumery.
And finally, round out your Côte d’Azur experience in the east in Nice. Located on the Franch-Italy border, neighboring Monaco, Nice is the region’s largest, most important city. Because of its location, Nice is an eclectic mix of French and Italian renaissance. One of the greatest examples of this is at Fontain du Soleil, or Fountain of the Sun. Because of its appearance, this fountain would not be out of place if located in Rome or in Florence.
Ready to head out? You can always begin in Nice and head west – whichever way you go, you’ll enjoy the Côte d’Azur.
Tourico Vacations is the first online booking engine committed to providing customers access to exceptional insider prices on over 16,000 hotels, 2,000 cruise itineraries, flights, car rentals, vacation packages, and attractions worldwide – and now, we offer incredible private home rentals as well. In addition to travel services, Tourico Vacations also offers Condos, European and American homes, a unique service offering accommodations at over 4,500 luxury vacation condos worldwide by the week.
An Archipelago in the Andaman