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Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Monaco 7-day luxe itinerary
- 7 days
- Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Monaco · FR
- Luxury
A 7-day luxe itinerary in Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Monaco. Concierge timings, luxury hotels, luxe, mer highlights, and verified bookable addresses.
This 7-day journey through Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze and Monaco sets the French Riviera at a measured pace. The route is divided into five stops, with two longer seaside stays and three shorter interludes, so the week never feels rushed. Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Château de la Chèvre d’Or anchor the tone well. Expect a working budget of 14,000 to 22,000 EUR including taxes for two, excluding flights, depending on room category and Michelin-starred dining choices. The best window is May to late June, then September, when roads and hotel terraces stay manageable. One practical note matters here: private drivers should be booked with fixed pickup times, especially on Monaco day. For insider handling, request Cabana 1 to 4 by the Eden Roc rock pool for direct sea access. At Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, secure the pool-edge breakfast table at Le Cap before 8 am for a clear line over the headland.
What is the best 7-day itinerary for Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Monaco?
7-day luxury Riviera circuit: Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Monaco. Day 1: La Croisette, Îles de Lérins, Musée Picasso Antibes. Day 2: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Sentier du Littoral Cap Ferrat, Baie de Villefranche. Day 3: Village perché d'Èze, Jardin Exotique d'Èze, Parfumerie Fragonard. Base at Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Best in June to September. Updated May 2026.
The itinerary, step by step
Each step combines an exceptional hotel, a tested timing and our on-site recommendations.
- Day 1
Days 1-2: Cannes & Antibes — The Riviera at its finest
- Cannes & Antibes
- Stay duration: 2 days
Between Cannes and Antibes, the Riviera here is best handled at water level, with short crossings, sea swims, and timings that run to the minute. Check in at Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a 5-star Palace according to Atout France, then go straight down to the rock-cut pool. The right rhythm is to arrive before 16:00, swim, and book the next day’s ferry to Île Sainte-Honorat from Cannes. The round trip is EUR 18.50 per person, including tax, with the bay operators, and the crossing takes 15 minutes. Take the first boat, around 09:00, so you can walk the island quietly before the late-morning flow. Back on shore, head to La Croisette for a beach lunch, then continue to Antibes early in the afternoon. The Musée Picasso, inside Château Grimaldi, takes 60 to 75 minutes. Follow it with Vieux-Antibes on foot, when the lanes thin out after 17:00. At Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, ask the concierge for a Cabana at pool-rock level, numbers 1 to 4. They give direct sea access by private stairs. For dinner, book La Passagère, 1 Michelin star, or, for lunch, Plage Keller in Antibes for a Niçois table facing the bay. Confirm the waterside table the day before. Concierge secret: have the concierge buy the Sainte-Honorat tickets and request a departure before 09:30; you avoid the Cannes quay queue.
Things to see / do
- La Croisette
- Îles de Lérins
- Musée Picasso Antibes
- Vieux-Antibes
- Day 2
Days 3-4: Cap Ferrat — Europe's most exclusive peninsula
- Cap Ferrat & Villefranche
- Stay duration: 2 days
Cap Ferrat is best done early, on foot, and in short segments, while the peninsula is still quiet and Villefranche has not yet started its arrivals. Base yourself at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, a 5-star Palace according to Atout France. Start the Sentier du Littoral at 08:30. The smoothest loop takes 45 to 60 minutes on the coastal section around the cap, before the heat and the late-morning joggers. Return to the hotel, then leave for Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild at 09:00 sharp. That timing lets you see the gardens before the groups; admission is EUR 18 per adult. Keep the indoor museum for later, once the outside areas fill. In the afternoon, go down to the Baie de Villefranche and its calm water, then finish at Port de Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for an easy walk back. At the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, book the poolside table at Le Cap before 08:00 for breakfast. It gives you the right angle on the cap, with no parasols in frame. For lunch, Le Capitaine Cook at the Royal-Riviera hotel in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is the most practical table after Villa Ephrussi; ask for the terrace and confirm the 12:30 service the day before. Concierge secret: arrange a one-way transfer to Villa Ephrussi, then return on foot to Saint-Jean; you keep the best light over the bay of Villefranche.
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel →
Things to see / do
- Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
- Sentier du Littoral Cap Ferrat
- Baie de Villefranche
- Port de Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
- Day 3
Day 5: Èze — Hilltop village, sea views, Michelin dinner
- Èze & arrière-pays
- Stay duration: 1 day
Èze calls for one simple discipline: arrive before everyone else, walk lightly, and save the evening for the village terrace with the best position. Leave before 08:30 from Cap Ferrat or Monaco to enter the hilltop village of Èze before 09:00. That is the only slot when the lanes stay workable, with no photo delays or groups. Go straight to the Jardin Exotique d’Èze as it opens. Entry is EUR 7 per adult. Allow 45 minutes for the cactus garden and the viewpoints over the Mediterranean. Then descend slowly through the village, and continue to the Parfumerie Fragonard Èze for a self-guided visit or a short workshop. It is the better option if you want a precise souvenir rather than an unplanned purchase. Late in the morning, head to Col d’Eze to open the view over the corniche and avoid the centre’s congestion. For this stop, stay at La Chèvre d’Or, Relais & Châteaux, 5 stars. Ask for a sea-facing terrace room and have the porter fixed on arrival; the cobbled lanes slow transfers quickly. For dinner, book Le Restaurant La Chèvre d’Or, 2 Michelin stars, at sunset. Request a confirmed terrace table, with 19:30 service, so you keep the panorama before dark. Concierge secret: open the Jardin Exotique first, then keep Fragonard for 11:30; that is when the groups arrive and the perfumery clears out.
Things to see / do
- Village perché d'Èze
- Jardin Exotique d'Èze
- Parfumerie Fragonard Èze
- Col d'Eze
- Day 4
Day 6: Saint-Paul-de-Vence — Contemporary art and Provençal light
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence & arrière-pays
- Stay duration: 1 day
Saint-Paul-de-Vence works best as a timed art day, with little car time and well-placed pauses between the foundation and the ramparts. Stay at La Colombe d’Or, the historic 4-star hotel in the heart of the village, if a room is available; otherwise, keep the house for lunch and arrive by 09:45. Fondation Maeght opens at 10:00. That is the right moment to see the Giacometti sculptures in the gardens, then the Miró and Calder rooms before the coach arrivals. Full-price admission is about EUR 16, and you should allow 90 minutes on site. After that, head back to the Saint-Paul-de-Vence ramparts through the main gate, when the light sharpens on the stone and the galleries are only just opening. In the afternoon, go on to Vence for the cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité, linked to Matisse, then return to Saint-Paul at the end of the day, when the lanes empty decisively after 17:30. At La Colombe d’Or, ask the concierge to coordinate car arrival right to the village gate; it avoids unnecessary carrying over the cobbles. For lunch, reserve the terrace at La Colombe d’Or for the first service at 12:15. Ask for a garden-side table to stay quiet. Concierge secret: buy Fondation Maeght tickets online the day before and enter at 10:00; the gardens read better before the sun hardens the forms.
Things to see / do
- Fondation Maeght
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence remparts
- Vence cathédrale Matisse
- Day 5
Day 7: Monaco — The Rock, the casino and farewell
- Monaco
- Stay duration: 1 day
Monaco is best handled in an efficient half-day, between institutions, a brasserie terrace, and an evening shaped around Casino Square. Leave early from Cap d’Antibes to reach the Rocher by 10:00. Start in Monaco-Ville and the Prince’s Palace, then descend to the Musée Océanographique de Monaco, founded in 1910. Admission is EUR 22 per adult, and the visit takes 75 to 90 minutes if you keep to the aquariums and the terrace. Continue to Port Hercule by car or on foot, depending on your driver. The right rhythm is an early lunch, then a pause before the evening on the place du Casino. Casino de Monte-Carlo is best reached after 18:00 for the Salle Europe. Bring ID and dress properly. You stay at Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Ask the concierge for a car drop at the foot of the Rocher, then a pick-up at Café de Paris. It avoids broken routing. For lunch, book Café de Paris Monte-Carlo for 12:15, on the terrace if the weather holds. Ask for a table on the edge of the square, which is more useful for watching arrivals than for the view. Concierge secret: have the concierge reserve the Musée Océanographique tickets and casino access the same morning; in Monaco, the real time gain comes from confirmations, not distances.
Things to see / do
- Casino de Monte-Carlo
- Rocher de Monaco
- Musée Océanographique
- Port Hercule
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the French Riviera?
For a luxury trip, aim for mid-May to late June, then September. Sea temperatures are usually comfortable from June, often around 22°C to 24°C. July and August stay in high demand, with heavy traffic on the lower coast road between 11 am and 7 pm. For beach clubs and yachts, book 6 to 10 weeks ahead. For quieter visits, schedule Èze and Cap Ferrat before 10 am. Updated May 2026.
Which are the best five-star hotels on the French Riviera?
On this route, four properties stand out. Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes remains the benchmark for a seaside stay. Ask for Cabana 1 to 4 by the rock pool, with a private stairway into the sea. Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, is highly polished. Reserve the pool-edge table at Le Cap before 8 am for breakfast. In Èze, Château de la Chèvre d’Or, a Relais & Châteaux address, suits a quieter two-night stop.
What is the best way to travel between Cannes, Nice and Monaco?
The smoothest option is the TER regional train on the Cannes–Nice–Monaco line. Expect roughly 40 minutes from Cannes to Nice, then about 25 minutes to Monaco-Monte-Carlo. In summer, it is often more reliable than a driver on the A8 motorway or the lower coast road. Keep a private car for Cap Ferrat, Èze and late dinners. In Monaco, use the public lifts up to the Rock instead of a taxi stuck downtown.
What budget should you plan for a seven-day luxury trip on the French Riviera?
For seven luxury days for two, plan on EUR 18,000 to EUR 35,000 including taxes, excluding serious shopping. That usually covers six nights in the hotels listed, breakfasts, private transfers, two Michelin-starred meals, one coastal day charter and several beach lunches. With a signature suite, a larger yacht or July-August dates, the total can rise quickly beyond EUR 45,000 including taxes. The biggest variable is usually time on the water, not the room.
Is it worth chartering a boat or yacht on the French Riviera?
Yes, if you want to see the coastline without losing a full day to road traffic. For 2 to 6 guests, a skippered day boat is often enough between Antibes, Cap Ferrat and Monaco. If you want more deck space and service, book a yacht for the day. Check fuel, VAT and berth fees before confirming. The best window is usually 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Seas are often calmer in the morning. Reserve lunch in Saint-Jean port the day before.
Which Michelin-starred restaurants should you book on the French Riviera?
Start with La Chèvre d’Or in Èze, Michelin-starred and especially practical if you are staying there. In Monaco, Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, with three Michelin stars, remains a benchmark table. Blue Bay Marcel Ravin, with two Michelin stars, works very well for a more contemporary dinner. In high season, book 4 to 8 weeks ahead. Ask for the first seating, around 7:30 pm, to avoid slow drives back.
How should you visit Monaco in one day?
Arrive before 9 am at Monaco-Monte-Carlo station, then take the public lifts up to the Rock. See the Prince’s Palace area and old town before group tours build up. Continue with the Oceanographic Museum, then lunch around 12:30 pm. In the afternoon, head to the Casino de Monte-Carlo and nearby gardens. If you want to drive the Grand Prix circuit, do it after 4 pm. Between 11 am and 3 pm, traffic disrupts the day. Allow 8 to 10 hours.
Is the French Riviera a good destination for a couple’s trip?
Yes, very much so, especially on an Antibes–Cap Ferrat–Èze–Monaco route. Driving times stay short outside peak hours, and each stop has a distinct mood. For a couple, I would suggest 2 nights in Antibes, 2 in Cap Ferrat, 1 or 2 in Èze, then Monaco as a day visit. The real luxury here is pacing. Breakfast before 8 am, boat time in the morning, dinner at 7:30 pm. You avoid crowds without giving up the right tables.
What can you do on the French Riviera besides the beach?
Away from the beach, focus on three tracks. First, culture, with Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum. Then heritage, with the village of Èze and the villas of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, depending on opening schedules. Finally, sea time without swimming, such as a sunrise photo boat outing or a private coastal transfer. Timing matters most. Visit Fondation Maeght at opening, Èze before 10 am, and Monaco after 4 pm for easier movement.
Is June better than July for the French Riviera?
June is usually the smarter choice for a luxury trip. Hotels are fully operating, the sea is swimmable, and roads remain more manageable than in July. July brings more energy, but also more noise, tighter availability and longer transfer times. If you choose July, secure hotels, restaurants and your boat 8 to 12 weeks ahead. For Cap Ferrat and Èze, leave each morning before 9:30 am. Updated May 2026.