The French Riviera as a destination has flourished into the glittering playground of conspicuous wealth and glamour you see today.

The concept of leisure travel in the contemporary sense evolved on the French Riviera back in the 1920s. Travelling the French Riviera is the time to indulge solely in the pleasures of relaxing and sun worshipping. This is where Picasso spent the summer with his family in Cap d’Antibes (an area he loved as a painter for its limpid light and vibrant colours) and since then travelling to the French Riviera as a destination has flourished into the glittering playground of conspicuous wealth and glamour you see today.

Nowadays, many feel the original lyrical charm of the French Riviera lies in the less developed hinterlands, where one can gaze down from more peaceful retreats to the congested shoreline, overflowing with summer revellers and million-dollar yachts.

The French Riviera stretches from Marseille to the Italian border. It twists and turns for more than 160 kilometres, and is dotted with glitzy legends such as St-Tropez and Cannes, Cap Ferrat, Monaco and Nice. The French Riviera remains one of Europe’s most glamorous holiday destinations and unlike many resort areas, it does not close down completely in winter.

When to travel to the French Riviera

Beautiful warm weather can be enjoyed from May to September in the French Riviera, August being the busy peak season. Autumn in the French Riviera October/November and early spring March/April is the rainy season.