With 120 km of coasts, the French Riviera offers 40 km long beaches, sandy or singly. Most beaches are public, but 150km are privately owned. It is a tradition in Nice to go for a swim…on January 1st, that says something of the climate!

The French Riviera is the place to be for palace lovers, gourmets and yacht owners. It boats more than 70 luxury hotels: 22 in Nice, 19 in Cannes, 12 in Antibes-Juan-les-Pins, 6 in Monaco,… To name the most famous: Martinez, Carlton and Majestic in Cannes; Négresco, Sheraton, Radisson, Westminster Concorde on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice; Hôtel de Paris, Hermitage and Métropole in Monaco. Gourmets will enjoy many exquisite restaurants. 1, 2 and 3 star Michelin restaurants, including Alain Ducasse’s Louis XV in Monaco, are very numerous. The French Riviera is also a major boating and yachting destination. 33 yachting harbours accommodate small units as well as the world’s most luxurious motor yachts from Menton to Théoule. Cannes and Antibes are very prestigious ports, Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer more traditional. To benefit from the therapeutic mineral composition of the Mediterranean sea water, one can go to one of the three spas: Thalazur in Antibes, Thalassoleil in Villeneuve-Loubet or in the luxurious Thermes Marins in Monaco.

Ups: it is the place to be if you want to be a classy jetsetter

Downs: very, very expensive real estate (but a good investment)