Our summer Euro trip ended in the French Riviera for 5 beautiful, glorious days! (Check out our guide to the French Riviera and our favorite beaches!) It was the perfect book end to our travels through the Swiss Alps (see more here!) and southern France! While we made Nice our home based (see our favorite things to do in Nice), we rented a car so that we could explore all of the charming villages and towns along the Mediterranean. One of our favorite towns was Menton!
Disclaimer: This blog post features some affiliate links. This means I get a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). You can also learn more about my affiliate policy here. Thank you for the support!
1 Day Itinerary in Menton, France
9:00 a.m. We arrived in Menton and parked at Parkla near Esplanade Francis Palmero which is located across the street from the center. We started off our morning with a glass of fresh orange juice and croissants from a juice and snack stand.
10:00 a.m. Then we spent the next hour and a half wandering the vibrant coral, marigold and tangerine buildings and charming streets and alleyways of the old town Menton. We walked up to the Cemetery of the Old Château passing by the Basilique Saint-Michel Archange de Menton along the way. There were so many picture perfect corners and potted flowers that lined hidden walkways. It was nice to take our time and aimlessly stroll without a destination in mind.
12:00 p.m. We were getting hungry so we went to Little Italy Restaurant hoping for a nice Italian meal. Being on the border of Italy, the local food in Menton has some Italian influence. We didn’t have reservations but they gave us a nice spot inside for our family of four. They shared their specials on a big chalk board that they moved around the restaurant. I got the seafood pasta which was amazing. The clams, mussels and shrimp were cooked to perfection and the homemade pasta was perfectly chewy. Phil ordered the fish of the day and it was lovely. The kids got cheese pizzas and ice cream from the children’s menu. Yes, there were a lot of American tourists but the food was one of the best that we had when visiting the French Riviera.
2:00 p.m. We went for a post-lunch lounge and swim at Plage des Sablettes, which was the perfect family-friendly beach (see our favorite French Riviera beaches here!). It had a large beach area to spread out along a nice boardwalk with public restrooms nearby. The water was clear and warm, great for splashing and swimming. The beach had teeny tiny pebbles that didn’t hurt your feet (unlike many French Riviera beaches), which was also nice for sand play and using a beach umbrella. We also love that you get a beautiful view of the colorful buildings and the coastline.
4:00 p.m. Sun-kissed, we went for a gelato break at Tutti Frutti
4:30 p.m. We walked back into the old town to explore the shops. Menton is known for it’s lemons and even has a Lemon Festival (Fête du Citron) every year celebrating the citrus. There are lemon drinks, products, decor etc. that are sold as souvenirs in many of the local shops.
5:30 p.m. Sun kissed and very relaxed, we headed back to our car for Nice.
If you have another day, consider checking out:
- Jean Cocteau Museum
- Val Rahmeh-Menton Botanical Garden
- Serre de la Madone Garden
- Marché des Halles for the market
Where to Stay in Menton, France
We highly recommend spending at least a day in Menton. If you plan to stay the night, here are some our favorite hotels in Menton, France:
Villa Genesis: A beautiful luxury boutique hotel set close to the promenade and located right near the beach. It also has a pool, which is always a nice plus!
Hôtel Miléade L’Orangeraie: A 19th century hotel with a beautiful garden located in the heart of Menton and close to the beach. Rooms are spacious and include family rooms if you are traveling with little ones.
Hotel Napoleon: A more modern hotel with spacious rooms, a pool and great location near the promenade and the beaches.
