The hardest part about planning our French Riviera trip was deciding how to split up time. I wanted to explore Nice, visit the smaller towns along the coast, spend plenty of afternoons at the beach, and still have a few days in Saint-Tropez. There was just so much I wanted to fit in, but I also didn’t want to feel rushed the entire time.

After 10 days in the French Riviera—six nights in Nice and three nights in Saint-Tropez—I feel like we were able to do pretty much everything I’d hoped we could!

With most of our time based in Nice, we were able to explore the city and take day trips without having to keep moving our bags. Then we ended on a high in Saint-Tropez with beach clubs, shopping, and some incredible nights out. I really loved this combination and would keep the same two bases if we went again.

This 10-day French Riviera itinerary brings it all together, with a few changes based on our experience.

Here’s how I’d divide the days, which stops I’d prioritize, and where I’d leave time for a long lunch or another afternoon by the water.

Quick Deets: Planning 10 Days in the French Riviera

• WHERE SHOULD YOU STAY?
  • I’d split the trip between Nice and Saint-Tropez. Nice is your base for exploring, while Saint-Tropez deserves its own stay.
• HOW MANY NIGHTS IN EACH?
  • This itinerary uses six nights in Nice and three nights in Saint-Tropez, with departure on Day 10.
• DO YOU NEED A CAR?
  • We managed without one. Trains work well for the coastal day trips, and we used rideshares around Saint-Tropez.
• WHAT SHOULD YOU BOOK FIRST?
  • Hotels and Airbnbs first, your Saint-Tropez transfer, and the restaurants and beach clubs that are highest on your list.
• IS THIS A BEACH TRIP?
  • Very much so! The itinerary leaves room for swimming, coastal walks, and afternoons by the water.
• DO YOU NEED TO VISIT EVERY TOWN?
  • Definitely not. I’d choose a few day trips you’re excited about and actually give yourself time to enjoy them.

The 10-Day French Riviera Itinerary at a Glance

Here’s how I’d split up the 10 days, starting with Nice and the nearby day trips before heading to Saint-Tropez.

This assumes you arrive with some afternoon left to explore on Day 1. If you land later, just work those stops into another day in Nice. You can also shuffle the first six days around the weather and your reservations, then keep the final few days together in Saint-Tropez.

DAY	THE PLAN	OVERNIGHT
1	Arrive in Nice, Old Nice & the Promenade	Nice
2	Electric Fiat tour, shopping & dinner in Nice	Nice
3	Castle Hill & a proper beach afternoon	Nice
4	Èze & Plage Mala	Nice
5	Antibes & Cap d’Antibes	Nice
6	Menton, or Villefranche & Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat	Nice
7	Travel to Saint-Tropez, shopping & a night out	Saint-Tropez
8	La Réserve à la Plage & a relaxed evening	Saint-Tropez
9	Market morning & Shellona	Saint-Tropez
10	Departure	—

Where to Base Yourself

Nice for the First Six Nights

One of the best decisions we made was keeping a home base for the first part of the trip. You can leave your bags unpacked, head somewhere different during the day, and come back to streets you recognize and plenty of dinner options.

I’d choose somewhere that makes both evenings out and trips to the station convenient. A beautiful place can become less convenient if every morning starts with a long journey just to catch your train. We found an incredible Airbnb just outside of Old Town that was about a 7-minute walk to the train and a 10-minute walk to the beach.

Saint-Tropez for the Final Three Nights

We stayed in an Airbnb in the center of Saint-Tropez, and I really loved being able to walk around town and head out for dinner without organizing another ride.

The beach clubs around Pampelonne are a good bit of a drive away, so those outings still take some planning. But staying in town made the rest of our time very easy.

If you’re deciding between town and a hotel farther out, just keep in mind how where you stay will affect your nights. For this itinerary, I’d prioritize being able to walk to the port, shops, and restaurants.

10-Day French Riviera Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Nice, Explore Old Nice & Walk the Promenade

Keep your arrival day easy. After dropping your bags, start at Place Masséna, wander through Old Nice, and make your way toward the Promenade des Anglais.

This is a good afternoon to get your bearings without booking anything you’ll feel rushed to reach. Stop when somewhere catches your eye, browse a few shops, and leave yourself time to sit by the water.

If you arrive too late for the Cours Saleya market, save it for another morning. You have several nights here, so there’s no need to fit everything into the first few hours.

For dinner, La Claire Fontaine was our first-night pick. Then take another little walk if you have the energy, or head back and get some sleep before your first full day.

Day 2: Electric Fiat Tour, Shopping & Dinner in Nice

Start with breakfast at La Base before heading out for the electric Fiat tour. This was one of our favorite activities and a fun way to see coastal viewpoints beyond the city center.

I’d leave the afternoon for shopping rather than immediately booking another activity. Give yourself time to browse, stop for a drink, and come back to anything you spotted the day before.

Then plan the evening around a dinner you’re excited about. Since you’re staying in Nice tonight, this is a useful day for a reservation that might be harder to time after a day trip.

I’d recommend Le Plongeoir – it’s the iconic restaurant built onto the rocks that you’ve probably seen online everywhere. But the food and drinks here are actually amazing – get the truffle pasta and a pornstar martini!

Day 3: Castle Hill & a Proper Beach Afternoon

Start with Castle Hill, the classic Nice viewpoint we missed and would add next time. I’d do this early, before settling into the slower part of the day.

Then pick up sandwiches at BART or Foca and give the beach a proper afternoon. We arrived too late to justify paying for loungers, so next time I’d allow enough time to enjoy La Plage de L’Opéra.

This is the day I’d protect from extra plans. Once you’ve finished the morning outing, you can swim, read, order another drink, and stay put.

Keep dinner flexible enough that you don’t have to leave the beach just as you’re getting comfortable.

For the full breakdown of these first three days, including restaurant stops, the Fiat tour, and beach details, check out my 3 Days in Nice itinerary.

Day 4: Èze & Plage Mala

This is the day I’d choose for a mix of sightseeing and swimming.

Start in Èze Village and give yourself the morning to explore. It’s worth arriving with enough time to wander instead of rushing through the little streets before moving on.

One detail to understand before you go: the train station is down by the coast, while the village is up on the hill. Taking the train to Èze does not drop you in the village. We used Bolt to reach the village, which kept that part straightforward.

For the afternoon, head toward Cap-d’Ail and Plage Mala. The beach and the coastal walk were highlights for us, and I’d leave enough time for both.

Pack your swimsuit and comfortable walking shoes so you can make a full day of it, then return to Nice for dinner.

My Èze and Plage Mala Day-Trip Guide covers this pairing in more detail.

Prefer Monaco? Swap it in for Mala. I’d choose between a Monaco afternoon and a beach afternoon instead of squeezing both behind Èze.

Day 5: Antibes & Cap d’Antibes

Start with Old Antibes: wander, browse the shops, and have something to eat before heading toward the coast.

Then make your way out to Cap d’Antibes for a walk and a swim around Billionaires’ Bay. We used a Bolt for this part, rather than walking all the way from town.

We only walked part of the coastal trail, which is useful to know if the full walk feels like more than you want to do. You can plan around a shorter outing instead of turning the afternoon into a major hike.

I’d keep this as your one main day trip. After a morning in town and an afternoon by the water, you’ll have plenty to fill the day without immediately heading somewhere else.

You can find more of the beach options in my guide to public beaches near Nice.

Day 6: Menton or Another Beach Day

For the last day based in Nice, I’d choose according to what you still want more of.

Choose Menton for Another Town to Explore

Menton is a good option for a shorter outing. Give yourself time to wander the Old Town, see the waterfront, and have lunch before returning to Nice.

I like keeping this day a little lighter. It leaves room to revisit a favorite shop, pack without rushing, or have one last dinner in the city.

My Menton day-trip guide walks through how to spend half a day here.

Choose Villefranche & Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for More Swimming

If you’re more excited about another beach than another Old Town, I’d use this day for Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Start in Villefranche, then decide whether to stay around the bay or continue toward Cap Ferrat. You don’t need to fit every beach into the same afternoon.

For the easiest version, stay in Villefranche and spend the afternoon at Plage des Marinières. For more exploring, choose a beach or two around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

My Day Trips from Nice Guide will help you choose the version that fits your trip.

Day 7: Travel to Saint-Tropez, Shop & Go Out

Check out of Nice and make your way to Saint-Tropez.

Arrange this transfer before the trip. It takes more planning than the day trips along the coastal railway. Depending on your dates and preferences, you can look at a booked road transfer, a rental car, or public transport connections. The Saint-Tropez tourism transport guide is a useful starting point.

I wouldn’t book a beach-club lunch for your arrival day. Give yourself time to get there, drop your bags, and settle in.

Once you’re ready, stop at Sable for coffee or matcha, wander around the port, and explore the shopping streets behind it. I loved the mix of designer stores and smaller boutiques here.

Before dinner, head to Le Tigrr for drinks overlooking town. We stayed for a couple of hours enjoying the view, and I’d happily do that again.

Then head to Noto for dinner. This became one of our most fun nights: live music, people dancing, and dinner turning into the whole evening out.

Day 8: La Réserve à la Plage & an Easy Evening

Make this your first full beach-club day.

We went to La Réserve à la Plage, and even though the morning started with rain, it ended up being such a good afternoon. Our server was wonderful, the weather cleared, and we stayed until around 5 p.m.

We originally had a late lunch booked at Gigi, but we canceled that plan because the delayed start would have left us rushing through our time at La Réserve.

That’s the main thing I’d keep in mind here: give yourself enough time to enjoy what you’ve booked.

Gigi is still somewhere I’d love to try next time. If it’s high on your list, you could plan the afternoon around lunch there, but I wouldn’t cut your beach day short just to squeeze in another reservation.

Back in town, keep the evening flexible. Sénéquier gives you the iconic red chairs and harbor setting, although the food and service didn’t justify the price for us. You could also get ice cream at Glacé Cyril Lignac and wander until somewhere catches your eye.

Day 9: Market Morning & Shellona

If your dates line up, start at the Place des Lices market, held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. The square is right in town, a few blocks inland from the port.

If the market falls on a different morning during your stay, move it there. Otherwise, spend the morning getting coffee and browsing any shops you missed.

Then head to Shellona.

This is the afternoon I’d leave open. We saw Max Styler when we went and had such a fun time staying for the music after lunch.

Check the event, seating options, and any minimum spend for your date before booking. On our visit, the later seating came with a much higher minimum, so we chose an earlier lunch and stayed afterward.

I wouldn’t automatically add another big dinner reservation. If you leave early and want dinner in town, Pablo is an option to look into. Otherwise, enjoy Shellona without watching the clock.

For more on the beach clubs, restaurants, shopping, and reservations, check out my 3 Days in Saint-Tropez itinerary.

Day 10: Departure

Leave this day for getting home or continuing your trip.

If you’re flying out of Nice, plan your transfer around your flight time before committing to the final night in Saint-Tropez. For an early departure, I’d move back toward Nice on Day 9 and shorten the last beach-club day.

That changes the final hotel night, but it’s better than trying to force a full Saint-Tropez afternoon and an early flight into a schedule that doesn’t comfortably allow for both.

Where Does Cannes Fit?

I’d treat Cannes as a swap or an optional evening during your Nice stay.

We visited for one of the summer fireworks nights and booked beach-club chairs to watch. Afterward, we spent time at a few beach clubs before catching the train back.

It was a really fun evening, but fireworks only happen on select dates. Check the event schedule and the last train for your actual visit before planning around it.

If I did it again, I’d look at booking dinner with a view of the fireworks. Otherwise, I’d substitute Cannes for one of the other day trips if its shopping and beach-club scene appeals to you more.

What I’d Book Before the Trip

Once your hotels and transport are sorted, start with the experiences you would be disappointed to miss.

For us, Saint-Tropez required the most planning. Choose your priority beach clubs and restaurants, then leave space around those reservations.

I’d also avoid assuming a restaurant booking includes a beach chair, or that one event’s seating and minimum spend will match another date. Check exactly what you’re reserving.

The rest of the itinerary can stay fairly flexible. A day trip can move when the weather changes, and you don’t need a reservation for every lunch.

Is 10 Days Enough for the French Riviera?

For this combination, I think it works really well.

I loved having Nice as our home base, getting out to explore different towns during the day, and then finishing with a few days in Saint-Tropez. Each part of the trip felt different, and I’d keep that same split if we went back.

The biggest thing I’d do again is leave room to stay somewhere longer than planned. Some of my favorite parts were the coastal walks, afternoons swimming, shopping without anywhere we needed to be, and lunches that ended up taking most of the day.

You can fit a lot into 10 days on the French Riviera, but I wouldn’t add more stops just because you technically have time. Pick the places you’re most excited about, book the experiences you really care about, and give yourself time to enjoy being there.

For more help putting your trip together, you can find all of my itineraries, restaurant recommendations, and day-trip guides on my France Travel Guides page.