Aerial view of crystal-clear turquoise water with sailboats and rocky coastline on the Côte d'Azur, France

🇫🇷Côte d'Azur & Monaco

From the beaches of Nice to the hilltop village of Èze and the tiny glamour of Monaco, the Côte d'Azur is a brilliant family destination packed with food, culture, and outdoor adventure.

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Your family guide

Côte d'Azur with kids: beaches, hilltop villages and Monaco

“Mountains that drop into the sea and meals that always feel a bit special. The Côte d'Azur does family holidays differently.”

— San & Jo

The Côte d'Azur is one of those places that genuinely delivers on its reputation. Deep-blue water, dramatic clifftops, sandy coves, and a string of beautiful towns from Fréjus in the west all the way to Menton and Monaco on the Italian border. Whether your family is drawn to lazy beach days, medieval hilltop villages, or world-class museums, this region has a way of keeping everyone happy at once.

What makes the French Riviera so special for families is the sheer variety packed into a compact stretch of coastline. One morning you could be exploring the colourful streets of Vieux Nice, picking up a warm socca pancake from a street vendor. The next, you could be hiking in the Mercantour National Park watching marmots dart between rocks. And yes, a quick trip to Monaco to spot superyachts and watch the changing of the guard at the Prince's Palace is absolutely worth it.

The food culture here is genuinely something your whole family will remember. Rooted in fresh Mediterranean ingredients, the Côte d'Azur blends Provençal, Niçoise, and Italian influences into a cuisine that is flavourful, approachable, and endlessly snackable. From salade niçoise to crispy barbagiuan pastries in Monaco, eating your way through this region is one of the great pleasures of the trip.

French RivieraSoutheast France

Mediterranean climateMild and sunny year-round

Euro (EUR)Currency

Cities and places in Côte d'Azur & Monaco

6 places

Antibes

Antibes packs beaches, a Picasso museum, medieval ramparts, and Europe's biggest marina into one walkable old town on the French Riviera.

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Cannes

Discover Cannes with kids: island boat trips, medieval old town, the iconic Croisette, fresh market food, and real Provençal culture on the French Riviera.

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Monaco

Discover Monaco with kids: royal palaces, the Oceanographic Museum, Monegasque street food, and a principality small enough to explore in a single day.

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Nice

Discover Nice with your family: iconic promenade, colourful old town, world-class museums, and the freshest street food on the French Riviera.

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Promenade des Anglais

Walk, cycle, and explore the Promenade des Anglais in Nice with your family. Iconic landmarks, pebbly beaches, and great Niçoise food all in one place.

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Saint-Tropez

Discover Saint-Tropez with kids: golden beaches, a historic citadel, world-famous tarte tropézienne, and a charming Provençal village behind the glitzy harbour.

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What makes it special

What makes the Côte d'Azur work for families

A coastline built for exploration

From the wide sandy beaches of Cannes to the hidden coves near Antibes and the pine-scented islands off the coast, the Riviera shoreline gives your family endless reasons to pull on swimsuits and head out.

Hilltop villages with stunning views

Èze sits 429 metres above the sea on a rocky outcrop, with narrow cobbled lanes and views that will genuinely stop you in your tracks. It is one of the most beautiful villages in France, and kids love the dramatic clifftop setting.

Monaco: a tiny country, a big impression

Monaco covers just two square kilometres, but packs in the Prince's Palace, the world-renowned Oceanographic Museum with its aquariums and VR experiences, Port Hercule's superyachts, and the legendary Formula 1 circuit. It is a genuinely memorable half-day for the whole family.

Wild nature just behind the glamour

The Mercantour National Park is surprisingly close to the coast and offers dramatic mountain hiking trails and wildlife including marmots and ibex. It is a brilliant contrast to the beach towns and a great option for active families.

Art and culture at every turn

The Côte d'Azur has inspired artists for generations. Picasso and Matisse both worked here, drawn by the extraordinary light. Antibes, Nice, and the surrounding towns are full of museums and historic neighbourhoods that bring that creative legacy to life.

Your kind of holiday

Beach and water adventures

The Riviera coastline offers everything from calm, shallow bays perfect for little ones to water sports and snorkelling in clear Mediterranean water. Cannes, Antibes, and Villefranche-sur-Mer are all brilliant bases for a beach-focused family trip.

A foodie family adventure

The Côte d'Azur is a dream destination for families who travel with their stomachs. Wander the markets of Vieux Nice for socca and pissaladière, sit down to a proper salade niçoise by the water, and let the kids try barbagiuan pastries in Monaco. Every town has its own flavour.

Culture, history, and the great outdoors

Beyond the beaches, the Riviera rewards curious families with medieval hilltop villages, world-class museums, and easy access to the Mercantour National Park for hiking and wildlife spotting. There is always something new to discover just a short drive inland.

Fun facts

Things to know about Côte d'Azur & Monaco

Monaco is smaller than Central Park

The entire country of Monaco covers just two square kilometres, making it one of the smallest sovereign states in the world. Yet it fits in a royal palace, a Formula 1 race circuit, a world-famous casino, and a harbour full of superyachts.

The Grimaldi family has ruled Monaco since 1297

The Prince's Palace has been the official home of the Grimaldi family for over 700 years. Every day at noon, the changing of the guard ceremony takes place outside the palace, and it is completely free to watch.

The Riviera used to be a winter holiday destination

Hard to believe now, but from the late 18th century, wealthy English aristocrats and Russian nobles came to the Côte d'Azur to escape cold winters, not to sunbathe. It was only from the 1920s onwards that summer became the fashionable season, thanks in part to American celebrities and industrialists.

Taste the Côte d'Azur

What to eat with your family on the French Riviera

Socca

A thin, crispy pancake made from chickpea flour, water, and olive oil, cooked in a wood-fired oven and sold by street vendors across Nice. It is warm, salty, and completely addictive. Head to Vieux Nice and join the queue.

Kids love it

Salade Niçoise

The signature salad of the region, made with tomatoes, tuna, olives, anchovies, hard-boiled eggs, and green beans dressed with olive oil. Fresh, filling, and on almost every menu along the coast.

Local favourite

Ratatouille

A slow-cooked Provençal vegetable stew of courgette, tomato, aubergine, peppers, and onion. Yes, the Disney film is named after this dish. Kids who have seen the film are usually very keen to try the real thing.

Must try

Barbagiuan

Monaco's national dish: crisp fried or baked pastries filled with Swiss chard, ricotta, leeks, garlic, and herbs. Usually served as a starter, they are the perfect snack to share while exploring Monaco.

Safe choice

Soupe au Pistou

A thick, hearty Provençal soup of vegetables and beans, finished with a fragrant basil pesto called pistou. It is warming, wholesome, and a brilliant introduction to the herb-forward flavours of the region.

Daily treat