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Marseille has two main parks with beautiful assets. The Parc Borély and its castle, near the racecourse. During our walks, the children love to ride the electric car, feed the ducks and geese. A sublime rose garden is also a must. On the nature side, the Campagne Pastré is more authentic and offers a space of more than one hundred hectares. The sportsmen can train while the families meet there for big birthday parties around the beautiful Bastide from the XIXth century. Finally, some can also take riding lessons.
La Joliette is an evolving district thanks to the construction of the Terrasses du Port shopping center or the MuCEM museum (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations) with its art and history exhibitions, or for its surprising views over the city. La Joliette is also the departure point for various ferries going to Corsica or Morocco for example.
To get away from it all, take the shuttle bus for about 15 euros each way to the Old Port of Marseille which will take you to the Frioul Islands. Many rentals are possible including Airbnb. You will enjoy the wild creeks, the magnificent sunsets and views of Marseille or visit the Château d’If, which inspired Alexandre Dumas for his novel The Count of Monte Cristo.
To meet the artists, you can choose between the Friche La Belle de Mai or the Cours Julien. Shows, concerts, restaurants, animations, street art or exhibitions are regularly held there, making it friendly and animated.
Finally, organize a day in the Calanques. Several buses can drop you off at different points from where you can start your hikes and go to the Calanques of Sormiou, Morgiou or En-Vau for example. Take enough water, sunscreen and good walking shoes.
Our little pleasure? We go to Les Goudes for a small evening in one of the restaurants (book beforehand!) or just come and watch the sunset over the Château d’If and the island of Frioul.
Cannes attracts many tourists because of its luxury shops, the steps of the Festival with its red carpet and its Croisette. It is good to stroll with the wind, sunglasses on. You can choose to be chic or go to the beach!
From the Old Port, take the shuttle to the Lèrins Islands and find a sunbathing spot on a cove, or visit the Musée de la Mer at Fort Royal if you have some time left!
In the hinterland, Grasse is where perfume factories Fragonard, Molinard or Galimard are located. During your visit to Galimard, you can create your personalized perfume.
It’s hard to find such an atmosphere anywhere else around the world. Some will find that Nissa la Bella has a Miami feel, with its Art Deco buildings. The city is loved for its Promenade des Anglais, its old quarter, its old coloured streets.
The Parc du Mont Boron will give you a breathtaking view of the bay of Nice. The people of Nice generally come here to get a bit of fresh air on its plateau and near the Casteu waterfall on hot summer days. You will be able to attend the traditional midday gunfire on the castle hill which has been giving the exact time to the people of Nice since 1861.
There are several options for getting up there. The easiest way is to take the free lift from the bottom of the ledge to Rauba Capeu. For the more athletic, the ascent can be done in an hour by the steps on the seaside. A small train also makes the ascent. Finally, free parking is available in the heights on Montfort and Eberlé streets, but you should arrive early.
Start your visit from the unique hotel Negresco and have coffee at the Rotunda. The room is richly decorated and represents a carousel. Then get on a blue bike and ride along the Promenade des Anglais bike path to the port of Nice to get to the Vieux-Nice.
The Cours Saleya is lively from morning to night, with its fruit and vegetable market and craft market in the evening, its restaurants and bars. Stroll through the narrow streets of the old town to one of the ice cream parlours in Piazza Rossetti, Fenocchio’s (a huge choice of flavours) or Azzurro’s (homemade cone).
Our little pleasure? Ending our evening in one of the bars in the old town of Nice, like at the Distilleries!
The city has done a lot in recent years to suit families with its “coulée verte” for example, which runs along a good part of the center, its new tramway from the airport to the port.
The “coulée verte” – or Promenade du Paillon – offers children’s games and water games, a beautiful walk in the center of Nice. The old carousel called Palace of Nice still attracts many families, and events are regularly held on the square such as jazz concerts, and the Christmas Village in winter with its stands and its ice rink.
A Ferris wheel on the Place Masséna also allows you to admire the expanse of the Bay of Angels and the various points of interest in the city. For more information on activities and festivities in Nice, visit the RécréaNice website.
Small aside. The Church of St. Pierre d’Arène is where we were married. It has the distinction of being very lively and proactive in the community. Many events and exhibitions take place there. One day a year is set aside, for example, for blessing pets. Rather atypical, isn’t it?
Apart from its beaches, the place is known for its famous villas inhabited by celebrities and its beautiful walk along the rocks on the customs path that leads to the Cape lighthouse.
The visit of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is famous and also worth the detour with its magnificent gardens.
Èze-Village is a perched at a height of more than 400 m, accessible by the middle ledge. Its advantage: it offers a breathtaking view of the coast. Stroll through its old streets; the hardest part will be finding a parking space.
The Nietzsche Trail connects Èze-Sur-Mer to Èze-Village in 45 minutes by foot. An undeniable charm to discover during an afternoon.
Sailing clubs are located all along the Mediterranean coast. At the Pointe Rouge in Marseille, I suggest you trust the company Bleuevasion for an organized sea trip or to rent a boat.
If you want to rent a boat with your family, or rent a water scooter/sea-doo, you will need a licence in hand.
Sportsmen will be happy: try climbing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, diving, paddling, jet-skiing, or canyoning. Not to mention the hiking trails.
Many of them go through the Massif des Maures, the Gorges du Verdon, the calanques (Port Miou, Sugiton, Sormiou or Marseilleveyre), the ascent of the Sainte Baume, the tour of Saint Jean-Cap-Ferrat or the one of the Cap d’Antibes, and many more. One more for the road? Le Corbusier’s walk in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin!
Oh la la, there is also the salade niçoise, the fougasse, the soupe au pistou, the raviolis, the panisses, the tapenade, the escargots, the tropézienne, the oreillettes, the pompe à huile and so on… !
It is customary to present the 13 Provençal desserts on the big dinner table during the New Year’s Eve meal.
Nothing better than watching or reading classics such as the works of Marcel Pagnol. Qriter, novelist and video maker from the city of Aubagne, Pagnol is a great lover of Provence to whom we owe Marius, Fanny and Caesar or Manon des sources, The glory of my father, The castle of my mother … classics that all French know!
Aubagne is the city of Marcel Pagnol but also the city of the santons of Provence! Every winter the Santon Fair is held in the main square.
During the tourist season, there are many direct flights between Montreal and Marseille / Nice.
From Montreal, for example, it starts from 35,000 Aeroplan points one way.
Alternatively, you could also find a flight with other airlines like Air Transat or Air France and apply your travel points to the ticket cost! We’d use Scene+ points, American Express Membership Rewards points, NBC À la carte Rewards points or HSBC Rewards points!
Here’s an excellent credit card for your trip to the Côte d’Azur: the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card. With this card, you won’t pay any conversion fees for your foreign currency transactions!
Do not hesitate to book a flight to Marseille to leave from Nice. This is what we do on a regular basis.
A direct flight from Montreal to Nice or Marseille is possible. And you can enjoy an airport lounge in both Nice and Marseille. Provided, of course, that you have the right credit card.
It all depends on what you are looking for and your budget! To visit the French Riviera, every option is possible, from camping to caravanning, from classic rentals to Airbnb, from bed and breakfast to luxury hotels. Check out the provenceweb site, which gives a detailed list of accommodations in the region, or our map of Marriott hotels.
Of course you can find a Marriott Bonvoy or a Best Western hotel. For a romantic stay, why not opt for a charming starred hotel, if you have the budget!
Generally we are hosted by our respective families, however here is a list of reviews for all the accommodations tried in the area:
For example, we enjoyed a free night at this charming Best Western in the heart of Nice thanks to the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard.
Finally, those who wish to live a true experience and have a bigger budget will not be disappointed with the list of luxury hotels and palaces from Marseille to Monaco.
If you don’t want to stay there because of the price, a small detour for a coffee can be nice for an afternoon (of course with an appropriate outfit). Our usual guilty pleasure? A drink at the Bar de l’Hôtel de Paris on the Place du Casino in Monaco! James Bond atmosphere guaranteed.
There are more than a dozen hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program if you want to visit the French Riviera.
If you want to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, the easiest way is to apply for for the Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card, of which this is the current offer:
If you are renting a car, you will have to make sure that you can return it to Nice in the rental options. Count in your expenses the tolls on motorways or tunnel in center town as in Marseilles, during holidays in France. These costs are not negligible on a holiday budget.
If you are on foot, no problem: the region is very well served by trains. You will be able to navigate from center to center. It takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to travel from Marseille to Nice by TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) or TER (Transport Express Régional). A ticket can cost between 25 and 50 euros depending on your destination and the fare class you choose.
The SNCF trains are comfortable and allow you to enjoy the seaside landscape. Note that it is not uncommon for an incident on the tracks to delay arrivals, so be patient.
For the sportsmen who want to visit the French Riviera, the bicycle is an interesting option allowing you to stop from village to village.
The Ulysse Guides offer different guides to help you prepare your trip to the French Riviera; do not hesitate to check them out.
Notably:
As you will have understood, the French Riviera is best explored while following the coast line. Since this is my native region, I have way too many favourite spots. A single article would not be enough to reveal all its secrets!
To follow our adventures on our Instagram account @milesopedia, it’s this way!
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