Forget Dubai, Singapore and Santorini. If there was anywhere more synonymous with traditional, even old-school luxury, it just has to be the South of France. Or, more specifically, Provence and the Côte d’Azur, the so-called French Riviera.
Famous for hosting the Monaco Grand Prix, the Cannes Film Festival and the Saint Tropez Regatta, as well as being a major inspiration to the works of Picasso and James Joyce and the preferred holiday destination of everyone from Bill Gates to Bono, if it’s an opulent yet undisturbed time that you’re after, then the French Riviera is still very much the place to be.
If you’re looking for inspiration on what to do while you’re visiting, then here are 7 luxury holiday ideas in Provence and the Côte d’Azur.
Enjoy The Glamorous Capital, Nice
The French Riviera’s capital is reassuringly laid back for a region defined by such luxury, with its inclusive atmosphere, refined pace and artistic soul a world away from the city’s more showy neighbours.
That’s not to say you can’t create your own definition of luxury and extravagance in this sophisticated city. Nice is a visual delight, with striking art-deco architecture, the region’s iconic pastel-painted houses, and 19th century regal palaces all a sight to behold.
Enjoy a stroll along the city’s famous Promenade des Anglais, which runs for around 7km from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport in the west to the Old Town in the east. It’s a strip designed for a leisurely stroll, with views of the Baie des Anges on one side and on the other, those pastel houses and palaces.
For an even more striking, panoramic view of the city in all its glamour and glory, head up to Parc de la Colline du Château, a historic park with a man-made waterfall sitting atop Castle Hill, accessible on foot.
Back at sea level, Nice is home to several world renowned art galleries. The city has been a haven for artists for centuries; Henri Matisse spent the latter half of his life in Nice, and the city’s Musée Matisse holds one of the world’s largest collections of his work, tracing his evolution from his Fauve beginnings through to the late cut-outs, alongside objects and artefacts from his life.
Indulging in fine art and architecture in one of the world’s most regal cities. What could be more luxurious than that?
Charter A Yacht Along The Côte d’Azur
If there’s one way to experience the French Riviera that feels genuinely, unapologetically luxurious, it’s from the deck of a private yacht. The coast was made for it; sheltered anchorages, short hops between marquee ports, and a sea calm enough that even reluctant sailors find their legs by day two.
A French Riviera yacht charter out of Saint Tropez, Cannes, Antibes or Monaco opens up stretches of coast that the coastal road simply can’t reach. The Îles de Lérins, a short crossing from Cannes, offer monastery gardens, a fortress that once held the Man in the Iron Mask, and swimming off rocks with no road access. Further east, the pine-fringed coves of Cap d’Antibes and the turquoise shallows below Villefranche-sur-Mer are still most easily reached by tender.
Charters run from a day’s skippered sailing on a classic motor yacht up to full crewed weeks aboard something with a helipad. A typical Riviera itinerary might start in Saint Tropez for a long lunch at Club 55 on Pampelonne Beach, swing past Cannes and the Lérins for a day at anchor, then track east to Monaco in time for an evening at the Casino. Plenty of operators also tie their schedules to the Cannes Film Festival in May, the Monaco Grand Prix in late May, and the Saint Tropez Regatta in early October, for those who want to combine the sea with the social calendar.
While you’re in Monaco, and if the time is right, consider planning your trip around the city-state’s world famous Grand Prix.
Stay In A Luxury Villa Overlooking The Lavender Fields Of Provence
A summer trip to Provence and the Côte d’Azur just isn’t complete without experiencing the region’s lavender fields, with their sweet fragrance and striking appearance at their peak during the flowering season between mid June and early August.
Perhaps the finest place to experience one of nature’s most gorgeous and aromatic spectacles is the Luberon Valley, with its stunning peaks and troughs revealing the epicentre of where the region’s lavender and sunflower fields meet.
To appreciate these views in a less fleeting, more long-lasting way, consider renting a villa in the Luberon Valley. We’re huge fans of the Provençal farmhouses in this region, primarily found in the ‘Golden Triangle’ of villages that make up the north of Luberon, namely Bonnieux, Gordes, Goult, Lacoste, Oppède, Roussillon, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, and Ménerbes.
Offering refined, understated luxury, immaculately landscaped grounds, and courtyards with expansive vistas of those famous lavender fields, you’ll never want to leave. Unless, of course, you’re sensitive to the iconic purple plant, that is.
Be Seen Along La Croisette, Cannes
The resort town of Cannes is arguably most famous for its influential film festival, but if you weren’t lucky enough to land an invite or exclusive ticket to that event, there’s still much to enjoy on the luxurious side of things here.
The 3km stretch of glitzy boulevard known as La Croisette is one of France’s most iconic walkways, boasting five star resorts, private beaches and a fair amount of celebrity spotting as you stroll the seafront.
Once you’re done admiring the Bay of Cannes and looking out for the city’s famous residents, turn your attention inland; along La Croisette there are some hugely exclusive restaurants, boutiques and casinos (there are three along the strip) for you to luxuriate in.The Michelin-starred La Palme d’Or, inside the Hôtel Martinez, is arguably the city’s most high-class eatery, sitting right on the promenade and boasting views over the bay.
Reopened in 2024 under chef Jean Imbert, whose kitchen plays on Cannes’ cinematic heritage with menus designed like film scripts, it’s worth every cent of the substantial bill that follows. Expect to spend around €240 a head on the à la carte, considerably more for the tasting menu with wine. Well, you did say you wanted luxury, right?
Go On A Shopping Spree In Saint Tropez Old Town
Speaking of spending big, Saint Tropez is home to some incredible shopping opportunities, with its tight, narrow streets packed with boutique clothes shops and outlets from some of the fashion world’s heaviest hitters.
The majority of the best shopping opportunities in Saint Tropez are found in the pedestrianised Old Town. You’ll have seen it before; the iconic images of a bikini-clad Brigitte Bardot strolling the beachfront promenade with the honey hued houses of Saint Tropez behind her. Now, many of those buildings are home to the likes of Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Rondini.
The biggest collection of designer names are located on Place des Lices, Rue Gambetta and Rue Allard, and if you’re keen to pick up some artisan foods, then be sure to head to Place des Lices Market, which takes place every Tuesday and Saturday morning.
And it would be rude not to finish up your day by heading to one of Saint Tropez’s iconic beach bars, don’t you think?
Live The High Life In Monaco
No luxury tour of the French Riviera is complete without a day or two in Monaco. The world’s second smallest country packs more wealth per square metre than anywhere on the planet, and even a brief visit leaves you with stories for years.
Start at the Place du Casino, where the Belle Époque façade of the Casino de Monte-Carlo looms over a forecourt of Bentleys, Rolls-Royces and the occasional borrowed supercar idling for effect. The casino itself has been operating since 1863 and remains, for many, the most atmospheric room in which to lose money ever built. Non-gamblers can still take a tour of the gaming rooms in the morning before play begins.
Across the square sits the Hôtel de Paris, the grande dame of Monte-Carlo hospitality since 1864 and home to Alain Ducasse’s three-Michelin-starred Le Louis XV, one of France’s most decorated dining rooms. Book weeks in advance if you’re serious.
Beyond the casino quarter, wander up the Rock to the old town, where the Prince’s Palace, the cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried and the Oceanographic Museum founded by Prince Albert I all sit within easy walking distance. Finish with an aperitif at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel’s Blue Gin bar for that last, unbeatable view back across the principality as the sun drops.
Enjoy Michelin-Starred Fine Dining In Menton
Menton, bordering Italy and within walking distance of the country, is the last stop on the French Riviera and perhaps its most delicious dining destination.
Fuelled by the area’s unique microclimate (reportedly several degrees warmer than the rest of the Riviera on average) and its varied, prolific fresh produce, the cuisine here has a personality all of its own; largely seafood and vegetable led, light-as-you-like and worth the trip alone to sample.
The jewel in Menton’s crown is Mirazur, a three Michelin-starred restaurant run by Italo-Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco. It’s previously been named the world’s best, and celebrates the region’s unique landscape in the most refined way. The tasting menu sits at around €380 per head without wine, sure, but if you’re going to splurge on one meal during your Côte d’Azur trip, then it should surely be here.
That needn’t mean every meal is going to cost you big bucks. For superb Breton crêpes, Fleur de Sel is a lovely spot for brunch. And for a superb selection of bread and pastries from the region, head to the excellent boulangerie Au Baiser du Mitron; their lemon tart is to die for.
Speaking of lemons, Menton is famed for its citrus fruit, and at Au Pays Du Citron (“you can stay with meeee”), on Rue Saint-Michel, you’ll find some of the finest limoncellos in the world. What a way to end our luxury holiday of Provence and the French Riviera.
