La Fete de Mai (Spring Festival)
The start of spring is celebrated every Sunday in May with a grand celebration in the Jardins de Cimiez.
An old-fashioned Riviera town between Nice and Monaco
Beaulieu-sur-Mer is filled with Belle Époque buildings, cafés and restaurants.
One of the many beautiful towns dotted along the Riviera sea front between Nice and Monaco, it's easy to get to by train or bus, both of which run regularly up and down the coast. It's a quiet, sophisticated kind of a place that has attracted many celebrities over the years looking for a tranquil haven in which to soak up the sun without getting hassled. The seafront, beaches and ports are its main points of interest, but there is also a good market that takes place in the town centre every day where you can browse fresh local produce, as well as the occasional bric-a-brac market.
Sandwiched between Nice and Monaco it attracts a wealthy crowd and its two marinas make it very popular with the yachting set. There are around 800 boats permanently moored here, meaning that there is plenty going on around the two ports.
Backed by sheer cliffs, you can also drive or hike high above the town and enjoy magnificent sea views.
The seafront and ports are its main points of interest but there is also a good market that takes place in the town centre every day where you can browse fresh local produce, as well as the occasional bric-a-brac market.
The start of spring is celebrated every Sunday in May with a grand celebration in the Jardins de Cimiez.
The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
Bastille Day is celebrated across the whole of France with a bang...well, several in fact, fireworks always feature heavily.
Exceptional locations around France, including Nice, will be open to visit on the Journées du Patrimoine - a European wide event inspired by by France’s Journées Portes Ouvertes which started in 1984.
Beaulieu-Sur-Mer is home to Villa Kerylos, an impressive replica of an Athenian villa that was built in the early 20th century. An homage to ancient Grecian architecture, it's richly decorated with murals and elegant furniture; explore the house and its beautiful gardens with a guided audio tour.
There's not much remaining of the old town of Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, but the 12th century chapel of Santa Maria de Olivo is worth a look and often hosts art exhibitions.
If you take a walk around the town or along the coastal path you'll see many fine examples of Belle Époque architecture and grand villas.
This museum was created to protect one of the most important petroglyph sites in Europe, in the Merveilles Valley (valley of Wonders).
This museum was set up by outstanding chef Auguste Escoffier who worked as head chef at the Savoy in London. He founded this museum which is dedicated to culinary art.
The awe-inspiring caves of Saint Cézaire are six million years old. Discovered by a farmer digging his field in 1890, they boast a wealth of beautiful, natural rock formations in fantastical forms.
The museum of modern and contemporary art was opened in 1990 and features artworks from the 1960s to the present day.
With items from prehistoric times, and fine arts and decorative arts from as early as the 17th century, all the way up to the first half of the 20th century.
Housing the largest collection of the Russian painter, Marc Chagall, the Chagall museum is one of Nice's top attractions.
Beaulieu-Sur-Mer has two lovely beaches, Les Fourmis and La Petite Afrique, fringed with palm trees and with both private and public stretches.
The beaches are both family friendly with calm waters and sandy shores, and there is the chance to try watersports such as paddle-boarding and jet-skiing.
See our Beach Guide for more information on Beaulieu and other beaches.
Plage de la Petite Afrique is, in our humble opinion, one of the best beaches on the French Riviera, surrounded by stunning scenery with plenty of facilities.
Plage des Fourmis is the long stretch of sand that runs along the main bus route; backed by a shady promenade lined with palm trees and tropical plants, the beach is very easy to find.
The main beach at Villefranche is one of the best located for easy access and convenient facilities. Situated right next to the charming old port area and just a few minutes walk from the old town, there are both bus and train stops nearby.
Tucked away in a little niche on the north-west side of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Plage de Passable is a glorious secluded sun trap with shallow crystal clear water.
Plages Fosses and Plage Fossettes are neighbouring beaches that are amongst the easiest to access in Cap Ferrat.
Plage de la Darse is a secret beach, hidden from view and discretely signposted. It never gets very busy because so few people know that it’s there - so keep it on the down-low if you plan to head here.
There are plenty of excellent places to eat, but for something less formal there are plenty of great places down by the port serving everything from fresh seafood to pizza.
Michelin-starred La Bastide Saint-Antoine offers a refined retreat near Cannes, where chef Jacques Chibois creates inspired Provençal cuisine. Set in a stunning country house with lush gardens and panoramic sea views, it’s the perfect blend of gastronomy, elegance, and tranquillity.
Michelin-starred chef, Didier Anies, recognised as Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2000, has created a gourmet cuisine at this restaurant; one which is unfussy, full of flavour and low key yet elegant.
Toile Blanche Le Restaurant offers fresh, seasonal dishes inspired by the Mediterranean, where simplicity meets creative flair.
This gourmet restaurant offers panoramic views across the Mediterranean and gained two Michelin stars in 2011.
Laurent Paccini is the chef at this Relais & Châteaux hotel and brings the food of different cultures to his excellent Mediterranean restaurant in Saint-Paul de Vence.
Chef Bruno Cirino prepares Mediterranean dishes that carefully showcase the flavours of local produce. A light and creative cuisine that you can enjoy in their elegant dining room with vaulted ceilings and frescoes or their shaded terrace overlooking the sea.
The port area is where you'll find the majority of the bars; Beaulieu isn't a wild nightspot as such, it attracts a more refined crowd, but if you enjoy sipping a fine wine or a cocktail whilst watching the sun go down over the harbour then you're in the right place. There is also a large casino, recently extensively refurbished, that as well as having all the usual game tables, has a restaurant and brasserie.
It is this eclectic and cosmopolitan atmosphere which makes it a place very "French Riviera".
Ma Nolan’s, Vieux Nice has a large inviting terrace, high vaulted ceilings, authentic bar counters and wooden floors.
Originally set up by Russian jazz musician Dimitri Shapko, this venue plays host to local and international jazz, soul and R&B.
Recently celebrating its 16th anniversary this is certainly the place to be in Nice for a gay-friendly and party atmosphere!
In a simple and relaxed atmosphere, La Cave Nature is a place of tasting organic wines and specialities of the house such as sandwiches, Mediterranean products freshly prepared, and tastings of cheeses and Italian delicatessen.
If you are looking for something a little different then this bar could be for you - you will be transported to a different country!
If you go to the main port you can hire boats for fishing trips or sightseeing tours and there are plenty of shops where you can rent nautical equipment. You can also try your hand at waterskiing, jet skiing or paddle boarding at either of the beaches.
Local hikes are a great way to escape the summer crowds and Beaulieu-Sur-Mer has some nice ones, from the coastal Promenade Maurice Rouvier to the more hilly Petite Afrique circuit.
Take a trip onboard this luxury yacht along the Riviera to any destination of your choosing.
Enjoy a wonderful, peaceful and fume-free journey along the French Riviera on a solar powered motor boat with a professional skipper.
A fantastic way to experience the breathtaking scenery of the South of France.
Take a trip onboard this luxury yacht along the Riviera to any destination of your choosing.
This company is based in Nice and offers a wide range of road bikes.
Enjoy a wonderful, peaceful and fume-free journey along the French Riviera on a solar powered motor boat with a professional skipper.
Lizard is a stunning 21.7-metre (72-foot) Sanlorenzo 72, built in 1998 and beautifully refitted in 2022. Making her debut on the charter market, she offers the perfect blend of style and comfort. Her spacious layout includes a flybridge sun deck, an open-plan main salon, and four ensuite cabins - ideal for a family getaway. With two dedicated crew members on board, guests can enjoy impeccable service and a truly effortless yachting experience.
Baby Magic is a beautiful 23 metre Aikon yacht for charter in France. She was first constructed in 2006 by the renowned Italian shipyard Aikon Yachts. Then in 2018 she underwent an extensive refit, including a new painted hull. Thanks to said refit, she is in great condition and certainly has a quality design. Baby Magic is based in Frejus, making her the ideal choice for cruising around the sunny South of France and the West Mediterranean waters.
SMILE combines high performance, luxury, and comfort, offering an exceptional Mediterranean yacht charter experience that’s both unforgettable and effortless.
Built in 2010 and based in the south of France, Obo is the ideal vessel for cruising the French Riviera. Thanks to an extensive refit in 2018, this Tanzu expedition yacht is a trailblazer for modern luxury and styling. Obo stays true to its expedition yacht heritage with its exterior façade. This once industrial look now boasts polished lines and crisp paintwork, effortlessly capturing people’s attention and sparking curiosity as to what this luxury yacht holds inside.
Built in 2007 29.60m Ferretti motor yacht ANNE MARIE is a brilliant exhibition of the amazing design work synonymous with the world-renowned Ferretti shipyard. The pristine white outer body and contemporary sharp design lines create a head turning effect and captures people’s attention up and down the Italian Riviera with a glance.
Motor yacht Ava is a timeless 40 metre yacht based in Monaco year-round. Making her an excellent choice for discovering the French Riviera in style. She is one of the rare yachts that can cruise with more than 12 guests on the Riviera, being able to take up to 49 guests cruising. So she is a popular choice for spoiling all your friends with a yacht charter or for impressing associates for a corporate event.
Paddleboarding along the coast is a fun for the whole family!
Fly at 50 metres above the sea by yourself or with friends security attached, enjoy a spectacular view of the gorgeous Baie des Anges, mountains and surroundings.
Whichever excursion you choose, you will be closer to discovering the many secrets of the underwater world.
Located in the harbour of Nice this diving school enables beginners, intermediates and confirmed divers to explore 25 diving sites.
Located in the town of Vence, in a quiet residential area, charming villa set in grounds of 3600 m². Private salt water swimming pool (10m x 5m – Depth 110/170 cm – Alarm), outdoor shower (hot water), pool house (barbecue, oven, gas hob), terrace with garden furniture, deckchairs and dining table. Parking for 4 cars. 2 km shops. Beach 12km.
In the heart of the French Riviera, 10 km from the beach and 13 km from the airport, this villa is set in lush greenery and nature.
The villa in La Roquette-sur-Var has 4 bedrooms and has capacity for 8 people.
In the commune of Colomars, 10 km from the sea, in a residential area, beautiful villa on a plot of 1500m².
In Vence, 5 km from Saint-Paul,, in a residential area, beautiful contemporary villa located on a plot of 1000m2.
Just outside historic Vence and a short distance from magnificent Saint Paul de Vence, this beautiful and contemporary house on a generous private plot is very quietly located for exploring all the delights of this beautiful corner of the French Riviera. The villa is located in a beautiful natural setting with views of the mountains.
There are a number of two and three star hotels in this seaside resort that welcome budget travellers and families. The grander, more luxurious hotels tend to be clustered towards St Jean Cap Ferrat.
Château Saint-Martin & Spa is a former 12th century Knights Templar Commandery with superb views over the sweep of the Côte d’Azur. A place of consummate natural beauty set in a 32 acre park, a high point on the French Riviera where sea and the mountains unite.
This five-star Relais & Châteaux resort offers elegant rooms, exceptional facilities and a peaceful setting near Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Tucked inside the medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence, Hotel Le Saint Paul offers timeless charm, artistic flair, and refined hospitality in a Relais & Châteaux setting.
The Hotel Suisse is ideally situated between right on the beach front and offers fantastic, uninterrupted sea views right in the heart of Nice.
Located on the famous Promenade des Anglais, this contemporary hotel features a casino, an indoor & outdoor pool and spa facilities.
Exquisite and intimate, the rooms and suites of Château Eze cling to the side of the ancient rock walls of Eze, a thousand-year-old Medieval village more than 400 metres above the Mediterranean Sea.
From the airport to the city centre, they handle the rest. The Côte d’Azur's most trusted private transfers.
With an International fleet of jets and helicopters based across Europe it is quick and easy to get a private charter flight for business, pleasure or an airport transfer.
Created in 1976 this company has grown and has now transported well over 100,000 passengers. They have a fleet of 12 craft to meet client demands.
With a long history and experience in the VIP transport industry this company is proud of its personal and high-quality services.
Heli Securite offer transfers on a helicopter from the airport to your yacht or various destinations in and around the Cannes area, St Tropez and Monaco. In addition to this they also service all of the main French ski resorts from their base in Courchevel.
Chabe Transfers are a renowned luxury transfer and taxi service operating in the French Riviera.
Facing Villefranche harbour, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, this exceptional 1,200 sq m development is set in a rare and sought-after location. The result of an architectural project combining the elegance of the past with modernity, this property has planning permission to create a prestigious villa, incorporating a listed building.
Between Nice and the Col de Villefranche, in a prestigious, secure residence with a caretaker, nestled near the Mont Boron forest, discover this fully renovated top-floor apartment offering an exceptional panoramic view over the city of Nice, the sea, and the surrounding mountains.
Ideally located in a smart residence in the heart of the town with it's own swimming pool, this two bedroom apartment offers sea views over the Beaulieu bay and St Jean Cap Ferrat.
Luxury six bedroom waterfront property offering direct beach access and breathtaking views.
Located in the heart of the prestigious and secure Abbaye de Roseland residence, a true landmark in the Fabron district of Nice, this 3 bedroom apartment in the Le Baccara building enjoys an exceptional environment, combining luxury, comfort and quality of life.
Find out all about what is happening in Nice and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, fabulous beaches, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in this cosmopolitan city.
See allLatest News & ReviewsYou will not be short of entertainment in this beautiful French Riviera town throughout the year. The most popular public events take place along the Promenade des Anglais, including the Carnival in February, the Bastille celebrations in July and the Nice marathon in November. There are also plenty of live music and cultural festivals.
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