Nice, Cannes or Monaco: Where to Stay
Nice, Cannes or Monaco — how to choose where to stay on the French Riviera, and what each base offers for your trip.
Deciding where to base yourself is the first big choice of a Riviera trip. Nice, Cannes and Monaco each make a fine base, but they suit different travellers. Here is how they compare and how to choose where to stay on the French Riviera.
Nice — central and connected
Nice is the natural all-round base: central on the coast, with its own airport, a lively old town, museums and the Promenade, plus the best public transport and the easiest reach of the whole Riviera. It also offers the widest range of prices, from grand hotels to simple ones.
For most first-time visitors, Nice is the sensible, flexible choice.
- Central and best connected
- Airport, old town and the Promenade
- The easiest reach of the whole coast
- The widest range of prices
Cannes — glamour and the west
Cannes suits those drawn to glamour, beaches and the western Riviera — the Croisette, its palace hotels, the Lérins Islands and easy trips to Antibes, Grasse and the Esterel. It comes alive around its festivals and is a stylish, beach-focused base.
Choose Cannes for the west of the coast and a more glamorous, seaside stay.
- Glamour, beaches and the Croisette
- Palace hotels and the Lérins Islands
- Easy trips west to Antibes and Grasse
- Lively around its festivals
Monaco — luxury and the east
Monaco is the choice for luxury and the eastern Riviera — its palace hotels, the Casino, the harbour and easy reach of Èze, the corniches and the Italian border. Compact and glamorous, it is a small but dazzling base, best paired with a chauffeur for the steep, tight streets.
Choose Monaco for luxury, events and the eastern coast.
- Luxury, the Casino and the harbour
- Easy reach of Èze and the corniches
- Compact but dazzling
- Best paired with a chauffeur
How to choose
For flexibility and value, base in Nice; for glamour and the west, Cannes; for luxury and the east, Monaco. Whichever you choose, a private chauffeur closes the distance, so a single base easily reaches the whole coast for day trips.
Many visitors stay in Nice and let a chauffeur bring the rest of the Riviera to them.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay on the French Riviera?
Nice is the best all-round base — central, well connected and good value; Cannes suits glamour and the west, Monaco luxury and the east.
Is Nice or Cannes better as a base?
Nice is more central and better connected with a wider price range; Cannes is more glamorous and beach-focused, suiting the western coast.
Should I stay in Monaco?
Choose Monaco for luxury, events and the eastern Riviera. It is compact and glamorous, best paired with a chauffeur for its steep streets.
Can I reach the whole Riviera from one base?
Yes. The coast is compact, and a private chauffeur links the towns and villages into easy day trips from a single base.
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Continue planning your Riviera journey
How to Plan a French Riviera Trip
Where to base yourself, how long to stay, getting around and what to see — how to plan a French Riviera trip.
Best Things to Do in Nice
From the Promenade des Anglais to Old Nice and Castle Hill, the best things to do in the Riviera's capital.
Best Things to Do in Cannes
La Croisette, Le Suquet, the Lérins Islands and the red carpet — the best things to do in Cannes.