What Make the French Riviera an Ideal Destination for Your Holidays?

With 9 million visitors every year, the French Riviera (Cote d’Azur) is one of the most famous holiday destinations in the world. It is the most visited region by French tourists and the second most frequented region by foreign tourists, just after Paris. Bordering Italy, it is located in the South of France and extends along the Mediterranean Sea.

The strongest pull for visitors to this region is its diversity, as the French Riviera offers all kinds of tourists a wide range of activities all year round.

For yachters and boaters, there are 135 marinas in The French Riviera. These give you access to amazing seaside resorts. The beaches on this stretch of the South French coast are highly popular during the summer. Saint-Tropez and Saint Raphael are very famous for their exceptional beaches. The climate is exceptional during the summer and even the winter stays quite warm. The French Riviera is a region which can be visited all year.

If you like sport you’ll enjoy walking in the mountains, surfing on the sea, skiing in the winter, cycling and the 66 golf courses invite for a round all year. The surrounding Alps, some of which reach 3,000 metres, provide excellent ski resorts. You’d no doubt be surprised to hear that the area boasts 68 ski resorts within easy reach of the coast. The sea and the mountains give an exceptional landscape, making this destination unique.

The three national parks in the area are very popular. The national park of les Ecrins which is located amongst the mountains, welcomes 800,000 visitors each year. Mercantour National Park is another of the nine national parks in France with 800,000 yearly visitors as well. Mercantour National Park is well known for the wolves it welcomes from across the Italian border. Finally, Port-Cros, located on an island, welcomes around half a million visitors every year. In the Cote d’Azur, you will also find another four regional nature parks.

The cultural heritage of the French Riviera is amazing. Among the 1,800 edifices registered or classified as historical monuments, three are classified as world heritage site by UNESCO. The old harbour of St Tropez has some very charming small streets, Cannes and Nice welcome celebrities all year for different events and Marseille is very famous for its old harbour as well. You will be welcomed by small villages where you will be able to discover their custom and their local traditions.

Local gastronomy is also a good reason to spend your holidays in the French Riviera. Lavender grows wild in this area of France and is very typical of the region’s cuisine. The plant is used both in the Provencal herb mixture so common in traditional French food and to make lavender honey. Adding to the flavour of the Cote d’Azur are the olive groves that have become a regional speciality.

Alternatively the Cote d’Azur is excellent for just sitting back, sunbathing, and relaxing on one of the many fantastic beaches!

With something for every visitor, whichever season you wish to visit, the French Riviera is an ideal destination for your next holiday.

For more tips, and accommodation in the area visit South of France Tips