Côte d'Azur holiday cottages
Bask in France's sun-blessed playground of the rich and famous
Millionaire's yachts in glittering marinas, palatial mansions hiding in the hills and beautiful bronzed people by the azure sea is the first 'glossy' impression that you'll get when you rent a luxury holiday gite on the Côte d'Azur.
But look again outside your self-catering holiday cottage and you'll discover breathtaking mountains, gorgeous villages perched on rugged hilltops and seductive sandy coves peaking though the pines.
Things to see and do on the Côte d'Azur
Step out of your French holiday gite to explore these coastal treasures...
- Magnificent mountains: The Massif d'Esterel, Massif des Maures and Alpes Maritimes provide spectacular scenery with ancient villages perched on craggy peaks.
- Belle Époque cities: See the extravagant mansions and 'wedding-cake' palaces along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice and La Croisette in Cannes.
- Riviera beaches: Enjoy lazy days on sandy shores or follow corniche roads to pine-fringed coves.
- Lerins Islands: Take a boat from Cannes to the tiny islands of St Marguerite and St Honorat.
Tastes of the Côte d'Azur
- Salade Niçoise: Succulent tuna steak tops a sumptuous salad of anchovies, olives, tomatoes, peppers, celery and hard-boiled eggs.
- Tarte Tropézienne: Brigitte Bardot was a fan of this sinfully sweet cake with crème patissière.
- Candied fruits: It's hard to pass the tempting shops in Nice, piled high with crystallised cherries, apricots, figs, pears, plums, pineapple and clementines.
Don't miss...
- Monaco: Soak up the glitz and glamour of the terraced, seafront principality of Monaco, and dress smartly to visit the world-famous Monte Carlo Casino.
- Grasse: No visit to the Côte d'Azur is complete without visiting the perfume capital of Grasse, where you can learn the art of perfume-making and even create your own blend at Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard. Other artisan products include hand-blown glass from Biot and pottery from Vallauris.
Our regional team recommends
- Take a boat through the pretty canals of Port Grimaud, criss-crossed by bridges leading to quaint quayside restaurants.
- Wind your way to the perfect 'eagles nest' village or Eze sur Mer, with its enchanting narrow streets and fantastic views of the coast.
- Discover pretty bays for soaking up the sun and snorkelling, including Paloma Plage at Cap Ferrat and Plage de Notre Dame on the Ile de Porquerolles.
Did you know...?
Nice Carnival in February is an exuberant and colourful extravaganza of costumed parades, flowery floats, lively music and fireworks into the night.
Cottages to rent in France
Nearest Airports
Nice, Marseille and Toulon.
Travel Tip
Instead of trying to drive into St Tropez, simply hop on a boat from Sainte Maxime.
