Autumn weekend on the Côte d’Azur: your agenda!

Admire the beautiful autumn colours on a Côte d’Azur island

The Côte d’Azur offers magnificent viewpoints thanks to its islands in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, its mountain ranges and its breath-taking views.

Take a boat to a Côte d’Azur island to enjoy its beaches and its vegetation, which are taking on autumnal colours.

The more daring can swim in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean: this little pleasure is reminiscent of the summer season.

The destination has not finished surprising you during your short trip.

Our selection of islands to visit during your weekend on the Côte d’Azur:

• The Ile d’Or
• Sainte-Marguerite Island
• Saint-Honorat Island
• Port-Cros Island
• Porquerolles Island
• Levant Island

Set off to conquer the hilltop villages of the Côte d’Azur

The hilltop villages of the Côte d’Azur are some of the nicest Côte d’Azur destinations in autumn. Nestled in the heart of the Côte d’Azur hills, these villages all seem to have stepped right out of the Middle Ages. They are also a pure example of the friendliness of the Côte d’Azur residents: a true land for meetings of all types.

Here is our selection of hilltop villages to visit during an autumn weekend:

• Èze charms every traveller with its Exotic Garden that offers an unimpeded panoramic view over the Mediterranean. The view of the Cap Ferrat peninsula is a perfect location for a few photos as a souvenir of the weekend.
• Saint-Paul-de-Vence has attracted designers and artists from the world over. On the corner of a narrow street, you will come across one of the village’s many art galleries. The spot not to miss? The Maeght Foundation, an open-air museum in the heart of the countryside.
• Sainte-Agnès is the highest coastal village in Europe! Sainte-Agnès offers one of the most beautiful views over the Mediterranean, which earned it the nickname of the “balcony of the Côte d’Azur”.
• Gourdon is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. The 80 km panoramic view from Nice to the Estérel mountain range is the specific feature of this medieval village. Here, you can also visit a Romanesque church, an ancient chateau and sublime gardens created by Le Nôtre.
• Tende offers a Himalayan feel on the Côte d’Azur! On the edge of the Italian border, this picturesque village takes you on a tour of its heritage: the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption [Our Lady of the Assumption] church, its unusual bell tower, etc. You can take the Train des Merveilles to get to Tende!

→ Discover all the hilltop villages on the Côte d’Azur

100% cultural family weekend on the Côte d’Azur

The weekend is also the opportunity to enjoy yourself and learn! As a family, head for one of the museums on the Côte d’Azurto take in a bit of culture!

In Antibes, the Picasso Museum offers a unique sensory experience in which young and old can interpret shapes as they hear them! After this museum, a stroll through Antibes allows for continuing…in this open-air museum. Unique architecture, colourful narrow streets, sculptures beside the beach… Art guides us to discover every corner of the town.

Further away, in Nice, the Matisse Museum has set itself up in a 17th century former Genoese villa: impossible to miss it during an autumn weekend on the Côte d’Azur. Its orangey colours blend perfectly with those of the season: it’s as if it was built for that!

At night, a theatre evening in the former church by the Nice National Theatre is a wonderful end to this day of culture. The following day, we start over: your cultural trip to the Côte d’Azur has only just begun!

What hotel should you book for an autumn weekend on the Côte d’Azur?

Everyone knows there’s nothing like the water to occupy the children during the holidays! Most hotels with a swimming pool on the Côte d’Azur are closed in the autumn: for swimming, the best thing is to book a room in a seaside hotel. There’s nothing better than walking on the sand as soon as you get up on your weekend for forgetting about the coming Monday and organizing a sandcastle competition!

Fancy a snack during your trip? Choose a hotel with a restaurant to try dishes typical of the region. On the menu: pissaladière and tropézienne! And if your youngest prefers chicken nuggets, there’s always the local meats. From breakfast to dinner, the hotels with restaurants on the Côte d’Azur will treat the entire family. One thing is sure: everyone agrees on homemade ice cream for dessert!

If you come for a romantic weekend on the Côte d’Azur, the charming or luxury hotels will be able to offer the romanticism you need. Snuggle into the premium bedding in a luxury hotel room or take a bath with an unimpeded view over the Mediterranean… The Côte d’Azur is romantic in any season!