Four to five days lets you cover two or three towns properly without rushing between them. The coast between Toulon and Menton stretches over 100km, so trying to see it all in a weekend usually means seeing it from a car window.
Discover Authentic French Riviera & Var: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for French Riviera & Var, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Château de Crémat in Nice, the Cocteau Chapel in Fréjus and Sanary-sur-Mer.
Top 5 Things to Do in French Riviera & Var
Saint-Tropez
Skip the yacht-watching and head to Place des Lices in the morning, when the pétanque players and the market stalls take over at the same time. The tarte tropézienne — cream-filled brioche invented here in 1955 by a Polish baker named Alexandre Micka — is worth the calories.
Hyères
The oldest resort town on the Riviera, and the least crowded. Its old town climbs a hill above the coast, and from the port you can catch a ferry out to the Îles d'Or — Porquerolles and Port-Cros — for pine forests and water so clear it looks retouched.
Grasse
This hill town has been France's perfume capital since the 18th century. Houses like Fragonard still run tours through the distillation rooms, and the old town smells faintly of jasmine even when the flowers aren't in season.
Antibes
The ramparts of the old town face the sea, and the Marché Provençal under its iron canopy sells the socca, olives and courgette flowers that end up in every nearby restaurant kitchen by lunchtime.
Menton
Right on the Italian border, with pastel Baroque façades and gardens that stay green through winter thanks to the mildest microclimate on the coast. The town's lemons are famous enough to have their own February festival.
Explore French Riviera & Var's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in French Riviera & Var
We've mapped local spots along the Riviera and through the Var.
Art & heritage
Château de Crémat
Perched among vineyards in the hills of Nice, a Belle Époque castle said to have inspired the Chanel logo. Join a guided tour, taste the wines or catch an event.
Nice · Château and winery · Perfect for wine lovers
Cocteau Chapel, Fréjus
Officially Notre-Dame-de-Jérusalem, a chapel designed by Jean Cocteau where colourful murals and luminous stained glass meet.
Fréjus · Chapel · Made for art lovers
Lucéram nativity trail
Each winter, from December to early January, more than 450 nativity scenes fill the medieval village of Lucéram – a record in France. One hour from Nice.
Lucéram · Seasonal trail · Ideal for the festive season
La Tarte Tropézienne
The famous cream-filled brioche created by Alexandre Micka and made famous by Brigitte Bardot. Have a slice.
Saint-Tropez · Pastry shop · Perfect for a treat
Restaurant La Grotte
Bistronomic cooking by chef Philippe Funel inside a thousand-year-old cave in Trans-en-Provence. Dinner, underground.
Trans-en-Provence · Restaurant · Great for a memorable meal
Fête du Livre du Var
A three-day book fair in Toulon each November, with some 350 authors.
Toulon · Book fair · Made for book lovers
Coast
Saint-Tropez coastal path
A family-friendly walk with the sea in view all the way, past Villa La Madrague to Les Salins beach and its restaurant. Park at the Saint-Tropez sailing school.
Saint-Tropez · Coastal walk · Perfect for a seaside walk
Sanary-sur-Mer and Portisol beach
Sanary's fishing port is lined with colourful pointus boats and a Provençal market. Walk on to little Portisol beach, framed by hills. 20 minutes from La Seyne-sur-Mer.
Sanary-sur-Mer · Port and beach · Ideal for authentic Provence
Île Sainte-Marguerite
A short ferry from Cannes: pine forests, the Man in the Iron Mask's Fort Royal and an underwater sculpture museum. Pack your mask.
Cannes · Island · Made for snorkelling
Villa Eilenroc
A 19th-century villa on Cap d'Antibes, with French gardens, a rose garden and Mediterranean views.
Cap d'Antibes · Villa and gardens · Perfect for a quiet visit
Mont Faron
Ride the cable car up to panoramic views over Toulon harbour, with trails and a WWII memorial at the top.
Toulon · Mountain · Great for views
Massif de l'Estérel
Red volcanic rock formed 250 million years ago – some of the Var's finest hiking.
Estérel · Hiking · Made for walkers
Parc Phoenix
A botanical and zoological park in Nice with one of Europe's largest greenhouses.
Nice · Park · Perfect for families
BlueWay sea scooters
Silent electric sea scooters capped at 7 km/h – a gentle way to explore the coast.
Water activity · Ideal for something different
Bières des Îles d'Or
A craft brewery on Porquerolles, in Port-Cros National Park. Island beer, island time.
Porquerolles · Brewery · Great for local beer
Domaine de la Courtade
An iconic Porquerolles vineyard growing Provençal grapes inside the national park.
Porquerolles · Winery · Perfect for wine lovers
Inland Var
Gorges du Caramy
Two shady hiking circuits of 8 to 11 km past waterfalls in the heart of Provence.
Tourves · Hike · Made for summer
Course des Vignes, La Cadière-d'Azur
An annual footrace through the vineyards, with Mediterranean views to keep you going.
La Cadière-d'Azur · Race · Great for runners
FAQ
Yes — the calmer beaches around Hyères and the Var coast, plus the islands of Porquerolles and Port-Cros, tend to suit families better than the busier stretches near Cannes and Nice in peak summer.
Not if you're basing yourself on the coastal rail line. A car helps for reaching hill towns like Grasse's surrounding villages or the calanques, where public transport thins out.
The Château de Crémat in the hills of Nice, which offers tours and wine tastings.
Notre-Dame-de-Jérusalem in Fréjus, a chapel designed by Jean Cocteau with murals and stained glass.
Yes. A family-friendly path runs past Villa La Madrague to Les Salins beach.
Where to Sleep in French Riviera & Var
See our Mercure hotels across French Riviera & Var, ideally placed to explore these picks.