As a family, we visited the French Riviera – or as the French call it, Côte d’Azur – in the summer month of July 2024.
We love traveling to warmer latitudes, and every time we plan our summer holidays, we look at countries with hot summers. The reason is simple: we live almost all year in a cold country and therefore need to spend a few weeks in a warm climate.
Here’s a list of the places we visited on the French Riviera:
- Cannes
- Menton
- Monaco
- Nice
After arriving at the international airport in Nice, we walked for about half an hour to the train station, where we were to catch a train to Cannes. The train was delayed and completely packed, and with further delays, it took about an hour to reach our destination.
Cannes is renowned in the film world. Every May, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival is held, where many movie stars come to present their latest films.
Cannes is a very beautiful city. Ferraris and Lamborghinis are a common sight on the streets, and enormous yachts line the beaches. There is no doubt that this is a place where wealthy people tend to gather. The pedestrian street is filled with shops for everyone – both the rich and the middle class. Restaurants offer food from around the world. A long beach promenade with fine golden sand is usually crowded with bathers. The overall atmosphere in Cannes is relaxed.
It wasn’t hard to capture the mood and scenery – the beach, palm trees, and the city’s architecture. Many places were postcard-worthy, and I had fun trying to capture that. The colors I noticed most were blue and orange – the popular “Teal and Orange” tones in the photography world. They gave my photos a warm feeling, which is characteristic of the Mediterranean.
We spent the next few days in the small town of Menton, located at the border with Italy. Life in Menton is even more laid-back than in Cannes, and we slowed down even more since we had no schedules or sightseeing plans. Menton is built quite differently from Cannes – the town is heavily influenced by Italian architecture, as it was part of Italy until the second half of the 19th century. There are narrow streets between tall buildings and long staircases where it’s easy to get lost. We stayed in a small, charming two-story apartment with a view of Italy.
Most of the photos I took were of the narrow streets, architecture, and the town nestled at the foot of high mountains.
It took us about an hour by train to get back to the largest city on the Côte d’Azur, Nice. Nice is a big city, and I didn’t take many photos there – only a few of the beach with its characteristic pebbles.
We went on day trips to various nearby places – especially to the small town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, just one train stop away. We swam there several times.
The town is built on a slope with multiple levels. I mostly photographed the small streets, the beach with golden sand, and the striking blue hues. Beautiful.
Not far from the town lies Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild – a grand palace that now serves as a museum. Surrounding the villa are gardens inspired by various parts of the world, which we explored before entering the house itself. There was a strong contrast between light and shadow, which you can see in my photos that feature soft and dreamy tones.
It was hard to avoid Monaco while staying on the Côte d’Azur. We spent one evening in the small independent state, where most residents are very wealthy. Monaco is truly unique – tall, ornate
buildings dominate the cityscape. It’s easy to see that the architecture blends both tradition and modernity. There’s no doubt that the population embraces their heritage while also looking forward. The photos I took in Monaco speak for themselves – they’re all about luxury.
This won’t be the last time we visit the Côte d’Azur. As a photographer, what struck me most was how the traditional Mediterranean lifestyle blends with the modern and luxurious. I hope you can see that in the photos I captured.
