The Pearl Route on the Côte d'Azur

Your ideal itinerary on the Côte d'Azur: Port-Grimaud > Saint-Tropez > Sainte-Maxime > Cannes > Grasse > Antibes > Nice > Menton

Total distance: 196 km
Total travel time (by car): 4 hours, 25 minutes

Walks on the beach, Mediterranean flavors, lush landscapes - the Côte d'Azur keeps its promises for an amazing trip.

Port-Grimaud

The "Venice of Provence," this colorful lakeside city is on the Ministry of Culture's list of "Heritage of the Twentieth Century."

Cruise through the city on a boat-bus down its flowery canals and marinas. Scale its medieval castle for an amazing view of Saint Tropez's golf course.

Saint-Tropez

Take the D98A to see this fishing village turned international jetsetting hotspot. Give in to the charm of the authentic Provençal architecture - so Bardot!

  • 9:00 AM

Enjoy the fresh air at the Place aux Herbes's Provençal market before enjoying a morning coffee in one of the Quai d'Honneur's famous brasseries.

  • 5:00 PM

Time to head to the bach: Caneliers, Salins, or Pampelonne? Stars prefer the Place des Lices for a little game of pétanque. Exploring the city's boutiques, buying a pair of tropéziennes (leather sandals), you're on a roll! Other possibilities: the city's art galleries or the Musée VIvant de l'Histoire Maritime.

  • 10:00 PM

With its party reputation, the Saint-Tropez is sure to have whatever you're in the mood for: a little disco, a chic bar lounge, or tapas out on the terrace?

Sainte-Maxime

Continue another 15 kilometers towards Sainte-Maxime, surrounded by the Maures Mountains. Savor the sweetness of southern French living with a dash of Art Deco!

  • Option 1: Sea-Lovers

6 kilometers of beaches await: La Nartelle, Les Elephants, or La Croisette, the fine sand is irresistable!

Plan a picnic in the shadows of the Pointe des Sardinaux's pine trees, climb the beach's rocks, and go for some family snorkeling on the tip of this well-preserved peninsula.

  • Option 2: Maximoise

On foot, on horseback, or on all-terrain bikes, explore the scents of the Côte d'Azur's landscape, full of olive trees and mimosa trees.

By night, see the charm of the old city's streets. The Art Deco architecture is fabulously Riviera.

Cannes

One hour from Sainte-Maxime, succumb to the elegance of Cannes under the light of the film projectors of the Cannes International Film Festival.

After you've basked in the glamorous ambiance, enjoy the nature of the îles de Lérins. Accessible by boat, take the paths from Sainte-Marguerite to the Fort Royal and the Cape Saint-Honorat - its fortified Abbaye de Lérins is currently occupied by Cisterian monks.

Grasse

Half an hour from Cannes on the D6185, stop over in Grasse for a total immersion into the world of perfume.

Enter the backstages of Fragonard, Galimard, and Molinard to unlock the secrets of your sense of smell.

Over the course of your aromatic journey, find your perfect fragrance!

Antibes

Next, it's 27 kilometers to Antibes: its Port Vauban is the first marina in Europe to house its famous Quai des Milliardaires.

Meet up in the south end of the city to see the Cap d'Antibes peninsula. The ideal journey would entail walking on the coastal "Tire-Poil" path to discover the coves and luxurious castles at the Villa Eilenroc.

Nice

Drive another 23 kilometers to the capital of the Côte d'Azur, Nice.

Just a stone's throw from the Promenade des Anglais, immerse yourself in the charm of Old Nice in its Marché aux Fleurs on the Cours Saleya.

Be sure to stop in a little alleyway for a traditional socca, or few farcis niçois - perfect for lunchtime.

Menton

Two ideas to experience the charm of this city, right on Italy's doorstep.

Stroll through the Baroque streets of Old Menton with its tiny alleys that fall in a cascade towards the sea.

Take advantage of the hundred-year-old market to buy authentic Menton lemons and taste a piece of delicious pastry, the Barbajuan.

Be sure to take a bucolic break in the Jardin Campanin, decorated with a seashell fountain and Andalousian mosaics.

Visit the Musée Jean Cocteau at the foot of the old city. Its poetry, architecture, and drawings by the artist are revealed in a black-and-white building designed by the same architect as the MuCEM in Marseille, Rudy Ricciotti.

Port-Grimaud