Menton is one of those French Riviera towns that looks almost too pretty to be real. Pastel buildings climb up the hillside, lemon everything fills the little shops, and the old town spills right down toward the Mediterranean.

It’s also incredibly easy to visit from Nice. The direct train takes around 40 to 50 minutes, which makes a Menton day trip one of my favorite places to tack onto a French Riviera itinerary when you don’t necessarily want to commit an entire day.

Shockingly, I had never even heard of Menton until I started researching this trip, and it ended up being one of my favorite towns we visited. It was so colorful, so charming, and just felt a little different from everywhere else we went along the coast.

We only had a few hours here, so we spent our time wandering through the Old Town, stopping for a Menton lemon tart and lemon sorbet, climbing up for the views, and eventually making our way down toward the port and Plage des Sablettes.

Menton completely blew me away, and next time I’d absolutely plan to stay longer. But if you’re working with a shorter timeframe, half a day is still plenty of time to see the highlights and get a really good feel for the town.

Quick Deets

• How long do you need for a Menton day trip?
  • I’d give yourself around four to five hours. That’s enough time to explore the Old Town, stop for something lemon flavored, walk along the waterfront and spend a little time at Plage des Sablettes without rushing.
• How far is Menton from Nice by train?
  • Take the direct TER train from Nice. The ride is usually around 40 to 50 minutes.
• Is it better to visit Menton in the morning or afternoon?
  • I’d go in the morning, especially if you want to visit the market, Marché des Halles. It also gives you plenty of time to explore the Old Town before ending by the beach.
• Do you need a car in Menton?
  • Nope. Menton is really easy to explore on foot once you arrive!
• What is Menton known for?
  • Lemons, pastel architecture, its beautiful Old Town, and its location right near the Italian border.
• Can you swim in Menton?
  • Yes! Plage des Sablettes is right below the Old Town and makes the perfect last stop if you’re visiting during the summer. I’d throw a swimsuit in your bag even if you’re not planning a full beach day.
• Can you combine Menton with another French Riviera town?
  • You can, but I wouldn’t overpack the day. If you have limited time, Menton works especially well as a standalone half-day trip before heading back to Nice. You could also pair with Monaco, which is a little over 20 minutes away via train.

How to Get from Nice to Menton

The easiest way to get to Menton from Nice is by train. Direct TER trains run along the coast and usually take around 40 to 50 minutes.

We bought our train tickets as we went throughout our French Riviera trip instead of planning every departure ahead of time, and I’d do the same here. You can check the train times on the SNCF App before you leave.

Once you get to Menton, everything in this itinerary is walkable right from the station!

If you’re only spending half a day here, I’d try to take a morning train from Nice so you have plenty of time to wander without feeling rushed.

The Perfect Half-Day Menton Itinerary

Start at Marché des Halles

If you’re taking a morning train from Nice, I’d make Marché des Halles your first real stop once you get into town.

The market sits right between the waterfront and the Old Town, so it works perfectly as the starting point for this itinerary. Inside you’ll find produce, cheese, fish, bread and plenty of regional specialties.

This is also where I’d look for something small to eat rather than sitting down for breakfast. Because Menton is so close to both Nice and the Italian border, you’ll see a mix of French Riviera and Italian-influenced food around town.

Keep an eye out for barbajuan, a small fried pastry usually filled with greens and cheese, or pissaladière, a savory flatbread topped with caramelized onions, olives, and anchovies. Both are a perfect and easy snack while you’re wandering.

Just keep in mind that the market generally runs through the morning until around 1 PM, so if you come in the afternoon, you might miss it.

Wander Rue Saint-Michel

From the market, head toward Rue Saint-Michel, the main pedestrian street leading into the Old Town.

This is where Menton starts to get super charming. The street is lined with colorful buildings, little shops, bakeries, and cafés, and you really don’t need much of a plan beyond slowly making your way toward the basilica.

One stop I’d specifically add is La Tarte Mentonnaise. They have two famous lemon items on their menu: a lemon meringue tart and a frozen lemon/sorbet-style dessert. I couldn’t resist and got one of each to try, and they ended up being some of my favorite desserts of the entire trip!

If not everyone in your group is as lemon-obsessed as I am, you can also try Mitron Bakery instead. They still have an amazing lemon tart, but there’s a much wider selection of baked goods, too.

Explore Menton’s Old Town

From Rue Saint-Michel, start making your way up into Menton’s Old Town.

This was my favorite part of Menton. The streets get narrower and steeper as you climb, with pink, peach, yellow, and orange buildings packed together along little staircases and pedestrian streets.

Menton sits right near the Italian border, and you can definitely feel that influence here. The colorful façades, narrow lanes, and more Mediterranean feel make it look a little different from some of the other French Riviera towns.

You really don’t need to follow an exact route. Just keep heading toward the Basilique Saint-Michel-Archange and let yourself wander a little on the way.

There are definitely stairs, so this is not the day for shoes you don’t actually like walking in.

Climb the Rampes Saint-Michel

Next, make your way to the Rampes Saint-Michel, the huge staircase leading up toward the Basilique Saint-Michel-Archange.

The staircase itself is one of the most iconic sights in Menton and honestly just as worth seeing as the basilica at the top. The wide, symmetrical steps climb dramatically through the colorful Old Town. It’s even more dramatic and gorgeous than photos of it you’ve probably saved before your trip.

Take your time walking up because the views get better with every level. Once you reach the top, you’ll come out onto the basilica’s beautiful pebble-covered square with views looking back over Plage des Sablettes, the old port, and the Mediterranean.

Even if you don’t plan on going inside the basilica, I’d still absolutely make the climb. Between the staircase, the square, and the views from the top, this was one of my favorite stops in Menton!

Keep Going to Cimetière du Vieux-Château

Don’t turn around quite yet!

From the basilica, keep climbing toward Cimetière du Vieux-Château. It only adds a little more walking, but you’ll get even wider views over Menton and the coastline.

If you only have half a day, I’d choose this over trying to squeeze in one of Menton’s gardens. It stays right along your route and gives you a completely different view of the town without pulling you away from everything else.

Then start making your way back down through the Old Town.

Stop for Lunch

By this point, it’s probably time to grab something to eat.

If you want something casual, Côté Bistrot is right in the Old Town and has cute outdoor seating on a small square. It’s the perfect lunch spot for a half-day trip: somewhere cute, central, and easy rather than turning lunch into a two-hour event.

If you’d rather keep making your way toward the water, Les Incompris is right by Plage des Sablettes and would be such a pretty place to stop before heading to the beach. It has a more lively waterfront feel with Mediterranean food, cocktails, and views out over the sea.

If you’re making Menton more of a full-day trip, you could absolutely plan a longer lunch. But for a half day, I’d keep it fairly casual and save some time for the water.

Walk Through the Vieux Port

After lunch, head back down toward the waterfront and walk along the Vieux Port.

This is where you start getting those classic views back toward the Old Town, with the pastel buildings stacked behind the basilica and the water in front of you.

Make sure you keep looking back toward the Old Town as you walk. Some of the prettiest views of Menton are actually from down by the water, where you can see all of the pastel buildings climbing up behind Saint-Michel.

Finish at Plage des Sablettes

And finally, it’s time for the beach. Finish your day over at Plage des Sablettes.

The beach sits directly below the Old Town, so you get that classic Menton view with the colorful buildings and basilica rising behind you. If you’re here in summer, I’d definitely bring a swimsuit and plan for a nice, refreshing dip!

You don’t need to turn this into a full beach day. Go for a quick swim, hang out along the waterfront for a bit, or grab a drink before starting the walk back toward the train station.

It’s the perfect way to end a few hours in Menton without trying to squeeze one more thing into the itinerary.

How Much Time Do You Really Need for a Menton Day Trip?

I think four to five hours is perfect if Menton is one of a few stops on a longer French Riviera trip.

That gives you enough time to wander through the Old Town, stop for something lemon flavored, climb up for the views, have lunch, and spend a little time by the water without rushing.

That said, Menton ended up being one of my favorite towns we visited, and I definitely wish we had given ourselves more time here. If you want to visit one of the gardens, have a long lunch, spend a few hours at the beach, or just slow down and wander, I’d turn it into a full day.

If you’re staying in Nice for several days, I’d still recommend taking a morning train over. You can easily head back to Nice in the afternoon, but I’d keep your schedule flexible in case you end up wanting to stay longer like I did.

If You Have More Time in Menton

If you do have a full day, I’d absolutely take advantage of it.

Spend longer at Plage des Sablettes, stop for a proper lunch, visit one of Menton’s gardens, or simply give yourself more time to explore the Old Town without feeling like you need to move on to the next stop.

Looking back, I would have loved a few extra hours just to slow down and enjoy it. Menton is so colorful and charming that it’s one of those places where wandering around with nowhere specific to be is honestly part of the appeal.

I’d personally add more time in Menton before trying to squeeze another Riviera town into the same day.

Is a Menton Day Trip worth it?

Absolutely. Menton ended up being one of the biggest surprises of our French Riviera trip and one of the towns I’d be most excited to go back to.

I had barely heard of it before planning this trip, but between the colorful Old Town, the views, the lemon everything, and the waterfront, it completely won me over.

If you only have a few hours, it still works really well as a half-day trip from Nice. But if your itinerary has the room, I’d give Menton a full day. Next time, I definitely will!

Looking for more day trips from Nice? Check out my Èze + Mala Day Trip itinerary for more inspo.