Planning your holiday to the French Riviera? Here are some tips from our very own Tim Swannie on how to live like a local on your Côte d’Azur vacation
With eleven million visitors each year, the French Riviera is one of the hottest destinations in the world. With so many chic towns and villages to explore in and around this stunning stretch of Mediterranean coastline, deciding how exactly to spend your precious holiday time is not easy.
With countless beaches, events, activities, excursions and restaurants on offer, making a decision about what to do is easier when locals give you the lowdown on what they would do on a Riviera holiday. Aware of what’s on and off the beaten track, insider information is one of the most efficient ways to ensure you experience your ideal holiday.
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The French Riviera: a year-round destination
As a long-time resident of the French Riviera and owner of a property in Grasse, which is just 20km inland from Cannes, Tim Swannie, Director at Home Hunts, has many favourite places and ways to spend time on the Riviera. But he says the first thing to consider before coming to the Riviera is the time of year.
“The beauty of the French Riviera is that it really is a year-round destination – it’s not all about laying on a beach and soaking up the sunshine, although this is popular too, of course,” says Tim. “Many of our clients who buy properties on the Riviera don’t visit during the height of summer as they prefer to rent out in the high season instead and visit at other times of the year.”
With around 300 days of sunshine a year in the region and with the Alps just behind, the nearest ski slopes are less than an hour away, which means that winter holidays can be just as enticing as summer ones.
How to avoid the crowds in Saint-Tropez
Holidaying before and after the high season can also make for a more tranquil holiday. “Saint-Tropez is fantastic at any time, but in the high season it gets very busy,” says Tim. “Our favourite months for Saint-Tropez are May and September because the weather is wonderful, the roads slightly less crowded and there is a lot going on: markets, car shows and concerts, and so on.”
Tim says that for those still planning a visit in July or August, it is worth considering driving to Sainte-Maxime and taking a ferry over to Saint-Tropez. “It will save you at least an hour and it is a great way to arrive too,” he says. “You are dropped right in the centre of town, then you can wander around the port and the little winding streets of the village, have lunch in one of the many beautiful restaurants on the Place des Lices and then jump back on the ferry later in the day.” The ferries leave around every fifteen to twenty minutes, depending on the time of day.
Where to find the best views on a Riviera road trip
Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieur-sur-Mer – there are three roads going to these destinations between Nice and Monaco which offer magnificent views of the Mediterranean coastline.
“I would recommend taking the ‘Moyenne Corniche’ (the middle of the three roads) from Nice to Eze as you’re high up on this road and the views are stunning,” says Tim. “When you get to Eze, stop and wander around the medieval village, and when you’re back in the car and exiting the village take a right-hand turn that drops you down onto the coast road, which is known as the ‘basse corniche’. Then head to Cap-Ferrat to take in some of the world’s most expensive properties.”
Following this Tim suggests visiting the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its magnificent gardens en-route to Villefranche-sur-Mer. “This is one of the most beautiful bays in Europe,” he says. “Stop for a coffee, or something stronger, along the port and soak up the incredible atmosphere.”
Shop and eat like a local
Locals always know which markets to go to, and on the Riviera Friday mornings in Valbonne (around half-an-hour north of Cannes) is always time well spent. “Valbonne’s market is one of the best markets on the Riviera,” says Tim. “It fills the whole village and there’s local produce, hand-made goods and all sorts of treasures.” After working up an appetite wandering around the market, Tim recommends stopping for lunch at the Café des Arcades in the main square of the village.
“It is a simple restaurant with a huge terrace that catches the sun all day, and even throughout winter it is always busy,” he says.
For those looking for something more refined, just ten minutes down the road in Mougins is another favourite of Tim’s: Le Mas Candille in Mougins. “This is a stunning hotel on the hillside, next to the old village of Mougins, which has beautiful views,” he says. “A long lazy lunch or brunch on their terrace is really hard to beat.”
If you are looking to buy property on the French Riviera, visit www.home-hunts.com. But to speak to a consultant about your specific needs and find out more about potential properties on sale that could meet your criteria, call +33 (0)970 44 66 43.
