The Côte d'Azur — the French Riviera — runs from Cassis east of Marseille along to the Italian border, taking in Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Monaco and Menton. The climate is the textbook Mediterranean of European holiday literature: sunny and dry in summer, mild and bright in winter, with the Maritime Alps providing a dramatic backdrop and channelling the famous Mistral wind. It is also one of the most expensive coastlines in Europe — and worth it once or twice.
Late May through June and September are ideal — warm sea, full sun, and crowds before or after the July-August peak. April and October are pleasant for hill villages, Monaco and Cap d'Antibes without summer prices.
Mild and bright: 13-14°C daytime highs, frequent sunshine, and the Mediterranean too cold to swim. Menton's Lemon Festival in February and Nice Carnival are the cultural anchors. The Maritime Alps offer skiing 90 minutes north of Nice — Isola 2000 and Auron — making this the only Mediterranean coast with day-trip skiing.
April brings the gardens at Èze, Villa Ephrussi and Menton into bloom. By May daytime temperatures reach 22-24°C and the first beach days arrive — though sea is still cool at 17-18°C. The Cannes Film Festival in mid-May packs the central coast.
June through August delivers the postcard: 28-30°C highs, sea at 23-25°C, and twelve hours of daylight. July and August are extremely busy and expensive; the Mistral can blow for a few days at a time. Antibes Jazz festival in July is a highlight.
September is the connoisseur month — water still warm, air softening into the mid-twenties, and the season-end calm settling in. October stays mild and is excellent for Riviera hill villages and the wine country of Bandol.
For a once-in-a-lifetime visit, yes — the combination of light, food, art, and architecture is genuine. For repeat beach holidays, you may find better value in Provence proper, the Costa Brava, or Italy.
Nice for transport and museums; Antibes for character and walking; Villefranche for views and quiet; Menton for warmth and Italian food. Cannes is large and best for film-festival fans or cruise-ship travellers.
Yes between Nice and Menton — comfortable shoes recommended. Sandy beaches exist at Antibes, west of Cannes, and at the eastern stretches of Cap-d'Ail and Larvotto in Monaco.
It blows hardest in late winter and spring — three or four days at a time of clear, dry, gusty conditions. Pleasant for walking and photography, less pleasant for sailing.