Last weekend we spent two days in the French Riviera! A short trip, but a nice escape from the city for a bit!
We stayed in Nice, but ventured by bus to Monaco to see Monte Carlo, the Prince's Palace, & the Oceanography Museum! I definitely recommend visiting all three, but make sure you allow time to walk through Vielle Ville and relax on the pebble beaches of Nice.
Here are some of my favorite snapshots from the trip!
our bus to monaco took us right along the coast with beautiful views like these! at only 1.50euros each way and only a 45minute ride, i definitely suggest the bus over the train to get to monaco!
monte carlo!
while it's a long train from paris to get to the coast (5.5hrs), it was definitely worth it to see these beautiful blue skies and the deep blue Mediterranean sea!
Madeleine
all photos property of madeleine bloxam
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Tips for Visiting the French Riviera
1. Know what you're looking for: are you looking for a relaxing, quiet beach OR a fun bar scene and are you looking to spend as little as possible or go for luxury?
Nice had a little bit of both! We stayed in an inexpensive hostel, but still felt safe. The beach was a great place to unwind during the day, but the city stays up pretty late and there are a ton of international travelers looking to have a nice night of the town!
2. Plan in advance: Trains
I booked my train tickets almost a month in advance to insure the train didn't fill up and that I could get the lowest price possible. Traveling to the French Riviera on a summer weekend isn't cheap though, so expect to pay between $75-100+ for each way. If you aren't restricted to weekends, look at rate timetables to find the cheapest days to travel.
And bring a comfy sweater or towel to use as a pillow. 5+ hours in an economy seat isn't the most comfortable.
3. Plan in advance: Room & Board
As far as hostels, do your research and book as soon as possible. I looked for a well-rated hostel that was still in my budget and booked a private room for me and 3 friends (which meant we didn't have to stay with any random traveler.) It definitely gave us an extra feeling of security.
4. See more than the beach!
This is just my opinion and it really depends on what you want to do while you're there, but I was definitely glad we trekked out to Monaco. We spent the majority of our day there which meant we lost beach time, but I got to see sites I had never seen and the gorgeous views of the different inlets from the surrounding mountains. And I still had time to swim in the Med!
If you have a couple days, maybe devote one to lounging at the beach and another to exploring around town and beyond!
Those are just my two cents, but hopefully it gives you something to think about when planning a trip to the Cote d'Azur!
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Greats views and suggestions!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Momma