The French Riviera, also referred to as the Côte d`Azur, extends west along the coast from Menton and Monaco to Théoule sur Mer and up into the Southern Alps. The Riviera contains some of the world`s most famous beaches and destinations, including Nice, Cannes, and Saint Tropez, as well as, fourteen national parks, medieval villages and Roman ruins. Once a health retreat in the 18th-century, the area attracted aristocrats and artists, and today brings the rich and famous, sun lovers and socialites from around the world.

Most international flights arrive at Nice International airport, the main hub for the French Riviera and the second busiest international airport in the France. You have many transportation options available such as shuttle buses, train service, car rentals, Uber and taxis from the airport to points along the Cote d`Azur. The below information provides information on these different means of transportation.

By Bus: The public bus line, Lignes d`Azur (www.lignesdazur.com) connects the 24 towns and cities throughout the Cote d`Azur. With ticket Azur, travel for a single ticket cost about €1.50 and allows you to hop on buses that link Nice to nearby towns. The ticket permits you to take two transport networks in succession, to complete a journey, including one change between one of the lines on the Departmental Council`s TAM network and a line on one for the following networks: Evibus (Antibes and surrounding area), Comunaute del la Riviera Francaise (Menton and surrounding area), Sillages (Brasse and surrounding area), Bus Varmer (Carros and surrounding area), Linge d`Azur (Nice and surrounding area), Bus Azur (Cannes and surrounding area). All-day passes are available for about €4.

By Train: The train station, Gare de Nice Ville, is located 4 miles from the Nice Airport, about a 15 to 20 minute drive. Although it is not directly linked, a special airport express bus 99 connects both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 with the station twice per hour in 15 minutes.. Almost all regional TER (Regional Express Trains) trains are here at both Nice-Saint Augustin and Nice-Ville stations. The TER operated by the French state-run monopoly SNCF, allows rapid connections between the major coastal cities on the Cote d`Azur from Cannes to Vintimiglia, the first town over the Italian border. Trains are available every 30 minutes at certain times of the day and most of the stations are within walking distance of the town center, or offer a bus service from the station. Tickets can be purchased from machines at each station, just make sure to validate the ticket onboard.

Important bus and tram lines always start at, or pass near, the train station in cities and towns with municipal bus and tram systems. TER trains are generally faster than buses and stop at most French Rivier resort towns including Mandelieu, Cannes, Antibes, Nice-Saint Augustin, Nice-Ville, Villefranche-sur, Monaco, Menton, and Ventimiglia. Intercity and TGV trains depart only from Nice Ville. For Services: www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter

By Car: One of the most convenient ways to get around the Riviera is by car. All of France and Europe`s major car rental companies have branches at Nice Airport. You typically have to pay for parking from Monday to Saturday from 9 am - 12 pm and from 2 pm - 6 pm. In the summer months, traffic conditions may prove to be difficult along the coast.

A car will allow you to optimize your time, as well as more flexibility that the train or the bus, especially if you`re moving around late. There are four main thoroughfares that run along the coastline, the A8 motorway and the three `Corniches,` roads that are carved into the mountainside between Nice and Italy. Below provides some additional details:

The A8 motorway, or `La Provencale,` crosses the whole French Riviera region (as part of the link between France and Italy). It is important to note that there are a number of tolls linked to the number of tunnels and viaducts. The motorway is relatively close to the coastline but after Nice airport, it curves inland and then east through the mountains so it is not too convenient to head down to the coast.

The D6007 main road (formerly know as N7) is toll free, mostly runs parallel to the A8 and also links France to Italy. Moyenne Corniche, the section in the mountainside between Nice and Monaco, is a beautiful ride that provides impressive views from over 950 ft above sea level. This is a great road to use to get around the eastern Riviera as it is one of the legendary mountain roads of the Cote d`Azur. It is also worth noting that the section west of Nice is not as exciting and usually has lots of traffic.

The Bass Corniche coastal road runs from the port of Nice to the Italian border and follows both the train line and the bus route 100. This road offers stunning views but does have a number of traffic lights and some areas of slow speed limits. This road is great to drive from Nice or Monaco to Cap d`Ail, Eze sur Mer, Beaulieu, Cap Ferrat and Villefranche sur Mer.

The Grande Corniche also offers magnificent views of the mountains with average heights over 1,600 ft high between Nice and Roquebrune Village. This is a beautiful road to travel if you are looking to enjoy the journey, just keep in mind that the road can be a bit scary at times if you are afraid of heights and also can get quite narrow in some places.

By Uber: Uber is available throughout most of the Côte d`Azur and into Monaco (but not vice-versa) and is a much easier option than calling a cab or waiting for one at a designated taxi stand.

By Taxi: There are taxis stationed at the Nice airport that are easy to locate. Taxi ranks in town are indicated by a blue panel. To reserve a taxi, central booking services are available in the Riviera`s main towns. It is important to note that taxis can be expensive on the Cote d`Azul.

By Boat: Boat travel on the Côte d`Azur is a beautiful way to get around while enjoying the scenery from the water. There are shuttle boats that operate April through October with Les Bateaux Verts (www.bateauxverts.com), trips between Saint Tropez and Saint Maxine cost about €13.50 and take around 15 minutes. Another shuttle services, Trans Cote d`Azur (www.trans-cote-azur.com), departs from Nice and Cannes and goes to Corniche de l`Estereland Saint Tropez. Some of these routes are only offered from May to early October.

Parking can be difficult and expensive. Paid parking on the streets is available but at times, tricky to find. Should you find street parking, make sure to look for and pay the horodateur (meter), take the ticket and put it in the windshield of your car. You typically have to pay for parking from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to noon and from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Having a car can make your itinerary very flexible, plus there are some amazing scenic drives along the coastline that will take your breath away. The downside to renting a car is the traffic conditions on the Riviera, especially during the summer months, on the coastal roads and in the town centers. It is advised to avoid rush hours, around 7:30 – 10:00 am and again between 4:30 – 7:30 pm. It is important to be aware that the drivers on the Cote d`Azur are known to be aggressive.

The French Riviera is considered relatively safe, although travelers should always be on the lookout for pickpockets and thieves. Theft is more common in summer months and at frequent tourist attractions such as museums, restaurants, hotels, beaches, trains, train stations, airports, and subways. It is smart to wear a bag diagonally across your chest and carry your passport on your body or keep only a copy on you and not the original. When on the beach leave your valuables at your hotel or pay for a private beach. Bad things can happen anywhere but by exercising precaution, you`ll find the French Riviera a safe and secure destination.

At night, don`t walk down unnecessary dark streets. Try to stay on the busy ones and try not to be obvious as a tourist. Avoid walking in and around train station/subways at night as it can be home for pickpockets.

The currency in France and on the Riviera is the Euro. Once you`re in France you will need to use the Euro in most all places. It is recommended to exchange at least some money before you leave home so that you can avoid lines at airport ATMs. There are various ATMs throughout the cities, towns and major villages in the Riviera. If you need to exchange currency, do so at a bank, not a currency exchange desk, hotel, or shop.

Tipping in France can vary (refer to our Tipping in France page). It is not automatic and generous as it is in the US, but for special service, tips are appreciated, if not expected. At cafes and restaurants, a service charge is always included in the price of what you ordered, but you won`t see it listed on your bill. Unlike in the US, France pays servers a decent wage. Because of this, many locals never tip. If you feel the service was exceptional, it is kind to tip up to 5% extra but don`t feel guilty if you don`t leave a tip. For taxi drivers, it is safe to round up for a typical ride. If the ride was long or the cab driver goes above and beyond you may want to add a little more.

French is the official language spoken on the French Riviera. The area has a large population of international tourist and you will find that many people speak English in the restaurants, bars and hotels. If you do decide to travel into the surrounding, more rural villages, or head off the beaten track you may find fewer people that speak the English language. We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Major department stores and grocery stores may be open Sundays, but most of the smaller boutiques and markets are closed. Restaurants often close on Sundays and may also be closed on Mondays. Most banks are open Monday through Friday from around 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Many banks, especially in the smaller towns, take a long lunch break. Most museums close one day a week, usually on a Monday or Tuesday, and generally on national holidays as well. Stores hours are around 10 am to 7 pm, and in some cases close for a lunch break (up to two hours).

Note: Value-added tax (VAT) rate is currently 20% in France for standard goods. A reduced rate of 10% applies to restaurants, transport, and certain medical drugs. And a 5.5% tax applies to food, water and non-alcoholic beverages, books, some entertainment events and some domestic personal services.

The French Riviera offers some of the best shopping no matter where you are. Here are some of the top places that you will be sure to find some great shopping:

Cannes offers posh boutiques on the famous La Croisette, including Dior, Channel and Louis Vuitton, as well as an outpost of the upscale French department store, Galeries Lafayette. At the other end of the scale is rue Meynadier, an active street with a market atmosphere, and a big contrast to the designer shop offerings on La Croisette. This affordable bustling shopping district is lined with clothes shops and artisan food stores. In addition, rue d`Antibes, which runs parallel to La Croisette, covers all shopping needs from clothes and jewelry to perfumes.

Nice offers many charming shops on almost every street. You`ll find markets all over the French Riviera. In Nice, the Cours Seleya is the city`s most famous market, particularly for the flowers. The market also sells fruit, vegetables, cheeses, spices, fish, and olives, along with various other items.

Saint Tropez has another famous market on the Riviera, the open air market in Place des Lices. The market is open every Tuesday and Saturday and sells a huge range of foods, paintings, arts and crafts, antiques, and more.

Some of the best things to bring home from the French Riviera are food items. The region is famous for olive oil production, and this is something you will definitely want to get a bottle or two of. Wine is another favorite being that it is home to the Azur Wine Tours. Perfume is another favorite from the small town of Grasse, just outside of Cannes. Make a stop in the perfumerie Gailmard, one of the oldest perfume makers in the area to find the perfect custom scent to take home. While in Saint Tropez, be sure to pick up a pair of sandals from the fashionable sandal makers, some of which do not export their crafts. And there are always many things at the numerous open-air markets that line the Riviera selling all kinds of enticing items. Some other local items to look out for: glass earrings hand made in Cannes and brightly colored leather bags and purses hand-stitched in Nice.

There are many magnificent beaches featured in the Cote d`Azur, with private hidden coves and civilized urban beaches in the heart of coastal cities. The temperature of the sea varies from a low of around 57° F in January to a high of 78° F in July. Along the coast are some sandy beaches, but many are pebbly. Topless bathing is common, especially in Saint Tropez.

Many of the private beaches close down in the off season, usually the end of October through to April. There are about thirty beaches across the Cote d`Azur that remain open year-round. This includes Plage Beau Rivage and Blue Beach along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, as well as the L`Ecrin and Plage Goeland on the Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes. The private beaches offer mattresses, parasols, changing cubicles and showers, as well as a restaurant overlooking the sea, prices will vary. It is recommended to call ahead if you are looking to reserve a bed at one of the private beaches; the first row facing the sea goes fast. If you don`t want to pay, you can get everything you need and go to the public beaches. It is important to note that it can be quite crowded in the peak season, on weekends especially.

To avoid the crowds, skip the beaches in Nice, Cannes and Saint Tropez and go to the surrounding areas of these cities, the beaches can be much better and with many less crowded options.

If you are planning on doing a fair amount of sightseeing, the Cote d`Azur card allows you to visit over 180 sites and activities on the French Riviera. A 3-day pass will cost about €45 and a 6-day pass will cost around €72. The pass includes admission to most major museums like Monaco`s Oceangraphic Museum, the Picasso Museum, the Cocteau Museum of Menton, to name a few, as well as kayak rentals in Menton and guided cruise tours around the coast. The Cote d`Azur card is available at tourist offices throughout the region, and in hotels and other accommodations, as well as online at the official website: www.cotedazur-car.com.

Many cities in the Riviera have set up a public bicycle-rental program. This allows people to rent bikes on a short-term basis, and then return these bikes to various stations around town. These bike systems are efficient and offer a fast and inexpensive way to get around the cities. You will also find it easy to rent scooters and bicycles in the different cities as well.

Cote d`Azur is great to explore by bicycle, offering a nice way to see the city in a short period of time. Often, the cities will offer cycle routes and trails so you don`t have to fight too much traffic to enjoy the lovely surroundings. In addition, there are bike routes that run along the coastline; you can travel for miles enjoying stunning views of the coast on your journey. Keep in mind that roads are rarely level.

The Cote d`Azur has a mild Mediterranean climate year round due to the positioning of hills in the west and the Mercantour Alps in the northwest. You can expect almost 300 days of sunshine, with stretches of rain around March and April, as well as in October and November. July and August are the highest tourist season when visitors pack the beaches, making for congested streets, and pricey hotel rooms, as well as making it harder to snag dinner reservations. In Spring (April - June) and Fall (Sept - Nov), the weather is still beautiful, and the coastline is warm enough for both swimming and sunbathing. Winter (Dec - March) is far from beach weather but still considered to be beautiful, with hardly any tourists and prices of hotels and restaurants seem to drop during these months. Also, some of the larger towns and small villages host traditional Christmas markets selling local specialties.

From the fresh seafood markets to the abundance of locally grown fruit and vegetables, the area is widely renowned for offering healthy, flavorsome and colorful cuisine, as well as traditional dishes. There is a mix of unique flavors only available in this region - traditional Provençal and Niçoisecuisine (the term coined for the style of food) isn’t the typical French food. With influences from the Mediterranean Sea, its warm and sunny climate, and proximity to Italy, the offerings include lots of fresh fish, vegetables, and herbs, along with Italian favorites such as pizza and gelato. What sets Nicoise cuisine apart from traditional French fare is the use of olive oil rather than butter. In fact, the use of olive oil in the French Riviera cuisine is reflected by the fact this region is one of the main suppliers of olive oil in France.

The Cote d`Azur offers numerous Michelin-starred restaurants and alfresco dining in charming cafes is popular from spring to autumn. Some traditional local dishes you`ll want to be sure to try would be Beignets de Fleurs de Courgettes (Courgette flowers), this is a firm favorite when they come into season. The Bouillabaisse, a traditional Provencal fish stew, originated by the Marseille fishermen, it has become one of the best-loved and most popular dishes along the French Riviera. The Pissaladiere is another favorite sold in pretty much every bakery and market, it`s a caramelized onion and anchovy flatbread. The traditional Ratatouille, vegetable stew from the Occitan region, is another Provencal staple. And Socca, a chickpea flour pancake, a delicious treat of a snack!

The French Riviera celebrates an array of festivals year round; here are a few worth noting:

Feb/March:

Mimosa Festival -- Held for 10 days each February in the town of Mandelieu-la-Napoule.

Lemon Festivals -- Held in Menton, the festival takes place over the months of Feb and March and displays hundreds of thousands of lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits shaped into floats and sculptures in the spirit of each year`s theme.

Nice Carnival -- Nice hosts a festival each year to embrace the oncoming spring with a variety of festivities.

April:
Regates de la Baie des Anges -- A weekend of sailing races in Nice, organized by local sailing clubs.

ATP Masters Series -- Monte Carlo is a popular stop each year on the Masters tour for many of the top players in preparation for the French Open.

May:

Cannes Film Festival

Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco

Historic Grand-Prix

Antibes Rallye is a motorsport event held each year at the end of May

June:

Mois des Jardins

Ironman-- Triathlon featuring swimming, bicycling, followed by a marathon. It attracts numerous competitors and spectators.

July:

Nice Jazz Festival -- takes place in Place Massena and the Theatre de Verdure

Jazz a Juan-- Jazz festival in Juan-les-Pins offering concerts in a beautiful setting by the sea.

July 14th Bastille Day -- Fireworks display in almost every town throughout the Riviera.

Summer Sales -- take advantage of these each year from mid-July to mid-August.

August:

Festival Pyrotechnique -- takes place in Cannes, this is a firework competition where countries compete to have the best display.

Promenade en Fête -- in Cagnes-sur-Mer

In an Emergency dial 112

Travel Health Online (www.tripprep.com) - sponsored by a group of travel medicine practitioners, may offer helpful advice on traveling abroad.

International Society of Travel Medicine (www.istm.org) - offers a list of medical clinics overseas.