Winter vacations: our ideas for vacations in the sun!

Festival, carnival: celebrate on the Côte d’Azur!

Rediscover the region’s traditions with the whole family during Côte d’Azur events! Every year, the winter vacations signal the start of the carnival season. In the streets of Côte d’Azur towns and cities, carnival-goers parade on colorful floral floats to the delight of children. And there’s plenty of entertainment planned and organized for this important time of year!

Here’s our selection of the Côte d’Azur’s finest winter carnivals:

• In Menton, winter comes to an end with the Fête du Citron! This unique event celebrates Menton’s flagship citrus fruit with parades and folk dancing.
• In February,Saint-Tropez hosts its own Provençal carnival. With their costumes and instruments, folk groups immerse you in the traditions of Provence.
• The Nice Carnival is one of the most famous in the world. For two weeks in February, Nice is alive with festival-goers and artists from all over the world. It’s also an opportunity to discover ganses and tourte de blettes, two of Nice’s most famous Carnival specialties!
• Yellow is the new black in Mandelieu-la-Napoule in February! The Fête du Mimosa pays tribute to the flower that has made the town famous. For the occasion, the streets of Mandelieu-la-Napoule are decked out in winter sunshine and the scent of flowers.

Ready to go downhill in a ski resort on the
Côte d’Azur?

Feet in the sand in the morning, in the snow in the afternoon… Only on the Côte d’Azur is this possible.

Just a few kilometers from the coast, the ski resorts of the Alpes d’Azur welcome winter sports enthusiasts for a thrilling experience.

Just 1h30 from Nice, the Isola 2000 ski resort even offers a view of the Mediterranean Sea on the way down!

Of course, skiing isn’t the only sport on offer in the Côte d’Azur mountains: snowshoeing, snowboarding, dog sledding and ice skating are also available during your winter vacations.

A stay in the sun on the beaches of the Côte d’Azur

The colors of winter sublimate the Côte d’Azur. Its blue skies are reflected in the waters of the Mediterranean, and snow-capped peaks offer breathtaking views of the coastline. Between land and sea, from summer to winter, the Côte d’Azur seduces all seasons. In winter, the beaches of the Côte d’Azur also charm walkers and photographers in search of exceptional scenery.

Here are our top 3 most beautiful Côte d’Azur beaches in winter:

• Antibes: At the edge of the Mediterranean coastline, Antibes offers one of the most beautiful views of the Côte d’Azur in winter. From the beach, the snow-capped peaks are visible and seem so close! Come at sunrise or sunset to admire 1001 colors in the Antibes sky: the view is breathtaking.
• Bormes-Les-Mimosas: The Estagnol beach in Bormes-Les-Mimosas looks like paradise. It’s even nicknamed the “Tahiti Provençal”.
• Menton: In Menton, the Sablettes beach stands out for its mountain views and colorful houses. A landscape that resembles the Cinque Terre on the other side of the Italian border.