In between Nice and Monaco, there are a number of lovely resorts that have very convenient access from the airport. The so-called ‘golden triangle’ of the Côte d’Azur comprises Villefranche-sur-Mer, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
Villefranche-sur-Mer has a particularly beautiful old town. The red tiled roofs dot their way down the steep hillside to the sea and the labyrinth of steep cobbled streets are a delight to explore. Villefranche-sur-Mer is a popular up-scale tourist stop. It has an attractive seaside and the bay is one of the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, providing anchorage for large ships and sometimes naval vessels. None other than Tina Turner has a villa here! Taxi transfers from Nice airport to take less than half an hour, so you can be through baggage claim and walking the streets of the old town, vieille ville, in no time.
The Villefranche Bay is sheltered by Cap de Nice on one side and Cap Ferrat on the other. One the far side of Cap Ferrat from Villefranche-sur-Mer you will find St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a peaceful resort favoured by the rich and famous. Cap Ferrat is one the most prestigious peninsulas on the Côte d’Azur; its grand villas hidden away from prying eyes behind lush vegetation and high stone walls. The village of St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is quite small, but has a number of quaint cafés and restaurants from whose sun terraces you can soak up the rays and enjoy the beautiful seaside views. There is a small marina and a number of high-end – mostly four-star – hotels to choose from. There are three small beaches within an easy walk from the village and a great many paths through which you can explore the whole peninsular.
On the far side of the Cap Ferrat peninsular from Nice you will come across Beaulieu-sur-Mer, another high-end resort, which – thanks to its quality marina – is particularly popular with the yachting fraternity. The town sits behind a long, sandy beach and there is a popular casino, which provides the pain focus for the nightlife of the town.
Cheap transfers from Nice airport to St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu-sur-Mer are perfect for cheap weekend breaks in the sun as they are close to Nice.
On the other side of Nice from the Principality of Monaco you will find the resort of Menton – sandwiched between Monaco and the Italian border. Menton is famous for its gardens and the subtropical climate is perfect for the orange trees, lemon trees and palm trees that grace its beautiful streets. Menton has many colourful old buildings and a range of public and private beaches. Airport taxi transfers take just 45 minutes from Nice airport.
Hop over the Italian border and you reach the beautiful resort of San Remo. Albeit in a different country, Nice airport is the closest airport to San Remo, being just 80km and a 1-hour taxi transfer away. San Remo is also accessible from Genova airport, which is situated about 1.5 hours to the northeast. Famous for its flower cultivation, Samo Remo has the largest flower market in Italy and exports throughout continental Europe.
Heading west from Nice airport, Cannes, whose name is synonymous with Cannes International Film Festival, is another Côte d’Azur destination that offers the red-carpet lifestyle all year round. The city is centred around the port and Cannes has a number of good beaches, although many are privately owned and solely for the use of hotel guests. Situated just 35km west of Nice, Cannes is a mere 45-minute airport taxi transfer away from Nice airport.
Inland from Cannes and Nice there are a number of delightful resorts that have great access to all that the Côte d’Azur has to offer.
Sitting high up on a hill behind Cannes, the village of Mougins has panoramic views of the French Riviera. Picasso once lived here and, although his villa is not open to the public, you can draw inspiration from the beauty of the surrounding countryside. The village is gastronomic heaven and there are a number of nationally, if not internationally, renowned restaurants to choose from.
A bit further inland, the town of Grasse is known as the perfume capital of the world. There are more than 30 perfumeries here, many of which offer tours. Grasse has a pretty old town and a thriving year-round community. Mougins and Grasse are great stopping-off points for exploring the whole region and have very convenient access from Nice airport, with taxi transfers taking in the region of half an hour.
Even closer to Nice, St Paul de Vence is an extremely popular tourist attraction. It is a beautiful medieval fortified village, and is perfect for a pleasant stroll because only resident’s cars are allowed in the village. St Paul de Vence has long been popular with artists, writers and filmmakers. In fact, the Russian-born painter Mark Chagall is buried in the Saint Paul de Vence cemetery. There are art galleries at every turn in St Paul de Vence and a range of accommodation for those who wish to stay longer. St Paul de Vence is very easy to get to, being situated just inland from Nice airport, and taxi transfers from Nice airport take less than 30 minutes.
Situated between Cannes and Nice you will find the old town of Antibes and the modern resort of Juan-les-Pins. Both are just a 30-minute taxi transfer from Nice airport. The area of Juan-les-Pins and Antibes has 25kms of varied coastline including in the region of 50 beaches and coves, and the region is popular for water sports of all kinds, as well as fishing. Juan-les-Pins is a lively resort with plenty to amuse in the evenings and it holds a famous jazz festival in July called Jazz à Juan.
Travelling west along the coast from Cannes, the next major resort you come across is Fréjus, which adjoins Saint-Raphaël. As well as being a popular seaside resort, the Roman town of Fréjus contains some significant ruins and tourists are attracted as much by its history as its sandy beaches.
In between Cannes and Frejus you will come across the pretty little village of Le Trayas. It is quite untouristy for the Côte d’Azur, but there is still plenty to amuse the undemanding holidaymaker in this peaceful village, and taxi transfers are only an hour from Nice airport to Le Trayas.
Situated on the Nice side of Saint Tropez, Port Grimaud was created by a French architect in the 1960s; his dream was to create a ‘Provencal’ Venice. What now exists are a few thousand houses based around an intricate system of canals, which gives every house owner access to a mooring right outside their property. The town is free from traffic, making it a pleasant place to walk… across bridges interlinking the many islands and past properties that are painted all the colours of the rainbow. There are a number of popular waterside bars and restaurants and Port Grimaud has a large, sandy beach overlooking the bay of Saint Tropez. Airport taxi transfers to Port Grimaud take just over an hour from Nice airport.
There is a reason why Saint Tropez lent its name to a famous brand of self-tanning lotion, because here the sun shines all year round, glinting off the jewellery of the rich and famous who frequent this glitzy resort. People-watching is a favourite sport in Saint Tropez, when your eye isn’t drawn by some magnificent yacht entering the marina, that is. Everyone should visit Saint Tropez at least once in their lives, make this year your year – taxi transfers from Nice airport take about 1hour 15minutes making Saint Tropez perfect for a weekend’s celeb watching!
Pre-booking your cheap airport transfer will save you time and money. Don’t worry about taxis not being available, being ‘ripped off’, not speaking the language or not having the correct currency.Book your cheap private or shared transfer from Nice online now! |
