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The French Riveria seemed like an unlikely destination to travel to with kids… But Phil and I had such fond memories of our time here and we wanted to experience this beautiful place with our family. So we decided to rent a car and took our two toddlers with us to the Côte d’Azur. And, it was absolutely worth it and the best experience! Definitely a summer bucket list destination, with or without kids!

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Where to Stay

We chose to stay in Nice because there seemed to be more family-friendly accommodation options and places to eat. But, there are so many places along the coast that would be a great base during your time in the French Riviera. Try Villefranche-sur-mer for a quieter vibe or Cannes for more glitz and people watching.

Funny enough, we ended up staying at the Hotel NH Nice which was the same place Phil and I had stayed 8 years ago. As I was searching for accommodations in Nice, I realized that Hotel NH Nice was actually a pretty affordable option if you wanted to stay in a modern hotel that had a pool (a plus) and more importantly, had large comfortable A/C rooms. We opted for their “Family Room” and it was so spacious which allowed the kids to play when we were getting ready for the day or winding down for the evening. It’s not right in the center of all the activities but everything was a 5-10 min tram ride away (or you could walk 15-20 minutes which wasn’t a big deal to us). We had also rented a car and planned to drive around the coast, so it wasn’t too important for us to be right where all of the action was. I would recommend staying in Old Town Nice if you are short on time.

Things to Do

(1) Wander the Colorful Alleyways of Villefranche-Sur-Mer: This village neighbors the larger city of Nice and can be easily reached via public transportation (train and bus). The village is known for its colorful buildings and charming streets and is must visit! It also has a lovely beach right below the village for a refreshing dip on a hot summer day.

(2) Swim in the Crystal Clear Waters at Paloma Beach: The water at this beach is clean & clear and the views are incredible! You can pay for loungers and food at the private beach club or set up your things in the public area, which is what we like to do. Come early for a good spot! Check out some of our other favorite beaches in the French Riviera here!

(3) Explore Vibrant Menton: Menton is one of our favorite towns to walk through because everywhere you go is absolutely beautiful. The yellow, coral and orange hues of all of the buildings are so charming plus you get a nice workout climbing through all of the narrow streets. We also love to end the day there with a swim at the Plage Sablettes.

(3) Climb the Pathways in Eze: Eze is a small charming artist village set up on the cliffs and is a dream to walk through. It can get pretty crowded when the cruise ship docks so make sure to get there early if you want a more peaceful experience and a parking spot.

(4) Shop the Provencal Market in Antibes: Antibes has a lovely market that sells everything from fruit and flowers to olives and cheese. A fun place to wander and practice your French. Note, the market is closed Mondays.

(5) Meander the Streets of Saint-Paul-de-Vence: Another beautiful village perched at a hilltop with panoramic views of the coast that’s worth a visit and a great stop when visiting Antibes.

(6) Go Wild Swimming in a Lake or River: Go inland away from the coast and go swimming in a natural ravine or canyon. There are so many hidden and not so hidden swim spots (like Canyon du Riolan and Ravin de Redebraus) that are within an hour’s drive from Nice. It’s a nice getaway with different scenery from the Mediterranean coast.

(7) Explore Beautiful Nice: Though a big resort city, Nice has so much to offer and do! It has an incredible architecture, views and food scene and we love the energy in the city. Check out our favorite things to do in Nice here.

Places to Eat

La Cantine de Mémé in Nice: An incredible restaurant near Place Massena. They have a nice wine selection and a small menu that changes every 2 weeks based on ingredients that are in season and fresh. We highly recommend the tartar appetizer (when we were there, they had the veal and herring tartar with mustard ice cream and it was chef’s kiss!). They also have a kid’s option of one dish + one dessert that is on the main menu, which forced our kids to try something other than chicken nuggets, pizza or fries. Also, service was amazing. Reservations recommended.

La Tartane in Nice: Charming restaurant near the port with the most amazing pizzas (the tomato sauce!). They also have some french classics like beef tartar.

Little Italy Restaurant in Menton: Great service and delicious seafood. We ordered the seafood pasta and the fish of the day and both were delicious. There is also a kids menu as well. Reservations recommended if you want a seat outside.

Other Highly Recommended Restaurants in Nice:

• Bar des Oiseaux (Old Town)
• Cafe de Turin (Garibaldi)
• Comptoir du Marche (Old Town)
• Chabrol (Port)

Favorite Beaches on the French Riviera

We made a separate post on our favorite beaches with highlights on which beaches are kid-friendly. Check it out here!