I’ve Visited the French Riviera Every Spring for Four Years — These Are the Best Beach Towns

Flowers in bloom, shimmering turquoise sea, fewer crowds, and sunny days—the French Riviera in spring is full of charms. Visiting this spectacular coast before summer allows you to save money on accommodation and enjoy its delights without the mass tourism drawbacks. I’ve been coming to the South of France for the last four springs in search of beauty and inspiration. And I found it in the idyllic beach towns.

How can one resist long scenic promenades, exceptional art museums, fresh Provençal products in local markets, elegant restaurants, and picture-perfect architecture? From the well-known stunners like Menton and Antibes to the underrated Le Lavandou and Sainte-Maxime, here are the most beautiful French Riviera beach towns to visit before summer.

There are two sides to Roquebrune. Perched above the coast, the upper village enchants with narrow alleys and a medieval castle. The streets all overlook the Mediterranean. Also, the world-famous architect Le Corbusier is buried in a local cemetery. Descend to the beaches to find one of the Riviera’s most elegant resort towns. Drowning in greenery, Cape Martin is an incredible place for walks. Head to the turquoise Plage de Carnolès for swimming—it offers pebbles and nice cape vistas.

The views on the Sentier du Corbusierri, a trail connecting Roquebrune-Cap-Martin to Monaco (the Principality is just 3 miles away), are incredible. The walk takes you to some of the region’s most beautiful beaches, such as Plage du Buse, Plage du Golfe Bleu, and Plage du Rocher. You can take a local bus from Menton or hop on a regional train to reach Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

Visiting Menton is like stepping into a real-life French impressionist painting. This town is where the Riviera’s allure reaches its apogee. There’s a gorgeous Old Town on a hill, a towering Baroque church, a long seaside promenade, and, of course, miles of magnificent beaches. I have always found Menton to be the most relaxed of all the French Riviera beach towns, a place where you can really unwind, surrounded by pure beauty. Spring months are great for discovering the local attractions.

Visit the Musée Jean Cocteau to immerse yourself in the artistic world of the famous French painter. Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton and Serre de la Madone are two sublime gardens with Mediterranean and tropical plants. Taste the locally produced lemons and oranges at the atmospheric fresh market. Sunbathe and picnic at Plage des Sablettes, a pebble-and-sand stretch right in front of the Old Town. You can also take a 20-minute direct train to Ventimiglia, in Italy, for a cultural change.

With its looks like a smaller version of Monaco, Beaulieu-sur-Mer is ideal for a quiet, luxurious beach break. This town between Cap d’Ail and Nice is dotted with grand hotels and aristocratic residences. It has long been a top destination for the world’s wealthy and famous. Beaulieu is home to the gorgeous Plage Petite Afrique, a pebbly beach overlooking the mighty limestone cliffs.

If you plan to charter a yacht, the local modern marina is a great spot to base yourself. There’s also Villa Kérylos, a splendid Ancient Greek Revival house built for the Ephrussi family in 1900. Its lavish interiors transport you to the golden age of the French Riviera and come with fantastic views of Cape Ferrat.

Arriving at the Villefranche-sur-Mer train station is an unforgettable experience. The train exits the tunnel, giving you the best look at the breathtaking bay. It’s an explosion of different turquoise shades. The town next to the water is equally stunning: pastel-colored houses, labyrinthine streets, and the ancient Citadelle. Villefranche-sur-Mer is just 5 miles away from Nice, but it feels like a different world. 

Painted wooden window frames of Baroque houses, the ancient ramparts hugged by the sea, a buzz of the traditional Provençal market under the wrought-iron pavilion. Just add the accordion melody and Antibes is pure cinema. One of the yachting centers of the French coast, this town is home to the gargantuan Port Vauban, standing next to the star-shaped Fort Carré.

Another famous attraction is the Musée Picasso, a castle and the former residence of the iconic Spanish artist, hosting over 200 of his works. The narrow streets of the historic Antibes are filled with tiny bistros and charming cafes. But it’s the mornings at Marché Provençal (or the Provençal market hall) where you find the authentic urban life of the South of France. That’s where you can try the local street food, such as freshly baked socca flatbread, pissaladière (a Provençal pizza variety), pan bagnat (a sandwich with salade niçoise), and beignets de fleurs de courgettes (deep-fried zucchini flowers).

Théoule-sur-Mer is a hidden gem of the French Riviera. Surrounded by green hills, it’s a small resort town with photogenic beaches. The main showstopper is Plage du Château, a sandy stretch next to the five-star, Belle Époque Château de Théoule. For snorkeling, head to Plage de l’Aiguille, set between the cliffs of the Pointe de l’Aiguille State Park.

Théoule-sur-Mer is also a great destination for seafood restaurants. Chez Philippe and Marco Polo serve the traditional Provençal dishes with awe-inspiring Mediterranean views. The town is a gateway to the stunning Esterel coast. Rent a car to drive the windy roads of the Corniche d’Or, reaching the La Figuerette beach.

Although it’s across the gulf from Saint-Tropez, the tranquil Sainte-Maxime is the opposite of the famous billionaire’s playground. This town is perfect for those interested in the unfiltered French Riviera lifestyle, without celebrities, red carpets, and megayachts. A favorite resort for French families, it’s about lazy sunbathing on golden-sand beaches, long conversations on the promenade terraces (many feature Parisian-style chairs), and enjoying the picturesque boardwalk. Nevertheless, the town has the Belle Époque Casino Barrière if you’re into that kind of activity.

There’s a compact Old Town to soak in the Provençal vibes. Much like Antibes, Sainte-Maxime has its own Marché Couvert (a covered market), where local farmers sell their products in the morning. Visiting in the spring introduces you to the most authentic side of the town. And you’re never far from Saint-Tropez glitz and glamor; the celebrated destination is less than an hour away by car or boat.

Le Lavandour greets you with a lovely harbor dotted with many palm trees. The town is the center of the Côte d’Azur Varoise, a beautiful section of the Mediterranean coast in the Var department. Travel here for the fine sand beaches. Twelve magnificent stretches, to be precise. Plage du Lavandou is the central and most developed one, flanked by the lively boardwalk. But the real marine magic is found in the farther bays, such as turquoise Plage d’Aiguebelle, white-sand Plage de Jean Blanc, and naturist Plage du Layet. It’s the French Riviera without crowds, sublime and wild.

For water activities, visit the long Plage de Cavalière, where you can jet ski, paddleboard, kayak, and play volleyball. Hike the rugged coastal paths of Pointe du Layet. The hip Coco Beach is the go-to spot for beach bar glamor in Plage de la Fossette.

Regardless of the season, Nice is an incredible destination. In summer, the local airport becomes the French Riviera’s main point of entry for thousands of tourists. This makes spring an ideal time for a more relaxed and hassle-free visit to this gem of a city. April and May are great months to grab a bike and cycle along the 4-mile-long Promenade des Anglais, the city’s boardwalk with numerous blue-water beaches. A visit to Nice usually includes eating well at the bistros and taverns of the atmospheric Old Town, watching sunset from the pebbles of Ponchettes Beach, getting to the top of the Colline du Château Hill for magnificent city views, and exploring many art museums.

Spring is a fantastic time to explore the city’s blooming green spaces, such as Jardin Botanique, Parc du Mont Boron, and Parc du Vinaigrier. For more inspiration, make a detour to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a fortified medieval village that became popular with artists.