With its mild climate, year-round sunshine, and proximity to Italy, living in the south of France has its distinct benefits — something I know from personal experience as I’ve called the Côte d’Azur home for 15 years. This is a part of the world where the colours have inspired artists and the scenery captivated royalty, and today the French Riviera (as it is also known) continues to be one of the most sought-after locations for people making the move to France.
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Of course, blessed with such a scenic stretch of coastline, life on the Côte d’Azur is centered around the water; whether that’s a lunch invite on a friend’s boat or a relaxing day spent in a lounge at a beach club. With the sun shining more often than not, there is a heavy emphasis on outdoor living all year round, from sports to gardens to markets. You may even be surprised to find ski resorts less than an hour from the coast!
Nationalities from all over the world have set down roots here, many working for the global tech companies with offices in Sophia Antipolis or yachting companies in Monaco. Infrastructure has sprung up to support this, especially in terms of international schools. With its great transport connections (Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is the second busiest in France), the French Riviera has also long attracted fly-in fly-out workers and now, as the world embraces remote working, is an attractive option for digital nomads. Although, it’s worth remembering that the cost of living on the Côte d’Azur is up there with the highest in the country.
The Côte d’Azur stretches from Saint Tropez to Menton and, as you are contemplating where to live in the South of France, we’ve put together a list of eleven of our buyer’s favourite places to live on the French Riviera.
As well as being Kyero’s most-searched-for city in France, Nice is the fifth-largest in the country, with a population approaching 350,000. I lived in Nice for over a decade and thought I’d never leave as it offers the best of big city living while keeping a small-town vibe — you’ll get to know your local bistro owner but, at the same time, there is a great selection of museums and a busy annual calendar of events. Nice is a great starting base for people new to the Côte d’Azur, whether students, digital nomads, couples, retirees and families: the centre is easily accessed by foot with plenty of green spaces and a tasty culinary heritage which is celebrated today — keep a look out for classic niçios street food snacks such as socca, a savoury pancake made from chickpea flour, and pissaladière, a pizza topped with onions.
As the largest city on the Côte d’Azur, Nice has all the facilities you would expect when you move to the French Riviera: the region’s main hospitals, public and private schools, and great public transport coverage. It’s also a city that has captured the attention of investors looking to capitalize on its popularity as a year-round tourist destination.
Famed for its annual Film Festival, when the red carpet is rolled out for a galaxy of global stars, Cannes epitomizes French Riviera glamour. Yes, you’ll find designer boutiques and five-star hotels along the glitzy waterfront boulevard, La Croisette, but there’s also a more authentic, local side such as the busy Marché Forville markets (with some of the best fresh produce for miles) and the charming restaurant-lined alleyways of Le Suquet, the old town. Just off the mainland, the Iles des Lérins are a slice of peace and tranquility just 15 minutes away by ferry, where walking trails are shaded by fragrant pine trees and a community of monks grow wine. With its proximity to Sophia Antipolis, selection of schools and modern hospital, Cannes has a large international population who have made the town home, although it has long been a popular spot for retirees in search of winter sun. With a busy schedule of international events, it’s also a great place to own a holiday let.
Border towns don't come prettier than Menton, the easternmost town of the French Riviera and the frontier between France and Italy (you can literally walk across the border). It’s fitting that the gastronomic emblem of Menton is the lemon, a fruit the colour of the golden sun that shines here all year round. February’s Fête du Citron is held in its honour and draws visitors from around the globe. You’ll also find one of the world’s best restaurants in Menton — the three-Michelin-star Mirazur — on your doorstep.
For a long time Menton was known as the retirement capital of France but thanks to slightly more affordable property prices, and proximity to Monaco, Menton is increasing in popularity with younger families, many of whom spend their weekends on the seafront at Les Sablettes, a convivial spot with open-air cafés, play equipment and a long wooden boardwalk perfect for mastering bike riding and roller skating. There is a hospital with an emergency department in Menton as well, although the nearest maternity ward is at Monaco’s public hospital CHPG (Princess Grace Hospital).
On the coastline between Cannes and Nice, Antibes is a friendly city where, today, one activity dominates above all else: yachting. You’ll hear accents that remind you of home as you wander the pretty pedestrian streets of the old town and along Port Vauban, one of the largest marinas in the world. While the population swells in summer, there is still a significant international population living in Antibes year-round, especially young professionals and families who work in yachting — you’ll get to know many if you stop for an early-evening apéritif in places like the Hop Store. While there are local schools in Antibes, the cluster of international schools around Mougins and Valbonne are also within reach (although there’s the usual peak hour traffic to contend with). Antibes also has its own hospital in the La Fontonne neighbourhood.
One of the resort town’s most famous residents is Pablo Picasso, who owned a house here. Today, the Picasso Museum in the ramparts is one of Antibes’ premier attractions.
The place that managed to steal me away from Nice? Villefranche-sur-Mer. I’ve fallen in love with this pretty fishing village set in a protected bay just around the headland from Nice because of its community feel — we’ve met so many other families (both international and French) by sending our children to the local school. But, when I feel like a change of scenery, Nice, and its important services such as hospitals, is less than ten minutes away by car or bus. It’s the best of both worlds! Plus, Italy is a 40-minute train ride away — and Monaco is just 15 minutes.
In summer, the pretty streets of the old town come alive with tourists, but the winter months are my favourite. Often we have the beach or the leafy gardens inside the town’s medieval citadel to ourselves on a sunny January day. Given its coastal placement and proximity to both Nice and Monaco, Villefranche is considered one of the best villages in the Côte d’Azur to live, but the property prices reflect this. It is popular with investors looking to short-term let over summer, but equally with retirees looking for second homes. Like me, however, there are also families who have made Villefranche-sur-Mer their permanent home.
On the Gulf of Saint-Tropez in the Var, the neighbouring administrative department to the Alpes-Maritimes, Sainte Maxime is a pretty resort town that is popular with second homeowners thanks to its pretty beachfront where restaurants serve up the catch of the day and laid-back lifestyle. It's a world away from the glitz of Saint-Tropez, yet also an easy drive away. Closer to the coast, you’ll find the real estate market is dominated by apartments which are popular with retirees looking for a second home in the sun, while further away from the centre, you’ll find spacious villas for families with plenty of green space, many inside private domains. Nice airport is just 80 kilometres away and the nearest major hospital is less than 20 kilometres away in Fréjus.
Grimaud, between Sainte Maxime and Saint Tropez in the Var, comes in two parts: the pretty Medieval old town in the hinterland with its warren of pedestrian streets, and Port Grimaud, the purpose-built marina on the Gulf of Saint Tropez with a network of restaurant- and ice-cream shop-lined canals and bridges. Port Grimaud is affectionately known as the Venice of France and a boat is the standard mode of transport. To live here is to be surrounded by the vineyards who produce the crisp rosé so perfect on a summer’s afternoon (although, living in the south of France you’ll soon come to realise that rosé is a year-round drink). The property market offers a variety of styles, from marina-front modern apartments, charming flats in the old town, or standalone villas in the countryside. For this reason, it is popular with couples, families and retirees, but also a destination in demand with investors looking for a secure rental income.
Away from the coast, are there places where expats live in the South of France? Yes, in fact, you’ll find a thriving international community set back from the waterfront, in hinterland villages where people can own villas with a pool and garden in a natural setting, as opposed to the apartment living that is common closer to the sea. Set between Cannes and Grasse in the hills, Mougins is one of the most popular towns for families to set up base thanks to its charming village, quality restaurants and international school. There’s plenty to do on your doorstep with the region’s many golf courses within easy reach, as well as fine art museums such as the Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins (MACM).
Like Mougins, Valbonne is considered one of the best destinations in the Alpes-Maritimes for families to call home. Its character-filled old town is a community hub with plenty of restaurants and cafés with terraces opening out onto sunny squares and you’ll also find a choice of English and Irish pubs which fill up with friendly faces for sporting events throughout the year. Its proximity to Sophia Antipolis, as well as the CIV, Centre International de Valbonne, a public high school with a prestigious international program, means this is one of the most popular choices for living in the South of France and real estate prices, especially for a modern villa with swimming pool, reflect this.
A mix of older style apartments full of charm and modern lock-up-and-leave flats overlooking the water means that the waterfront resort town of Golfe-Juan attracts a diverse crowd from professional couples to young families and retirees who appreciate its central location on the coast between Antibes and Cannes and proximity to Nice Côte d’Azur airport. Of course, these characteristics all make the town a popular place for investors looking for solid income from their property on the French Riviera. The waterfront near the yacht-lined harbour of Port Camille Rayon is lined with restaurants offering sunny, al-fresco seating, while artistic highlights include the Musée Magnelli ceramic museum. Golfe-Juan is also the starting point for the Route Napoléon, the route taken by Napoléon Bonaparte as he returned from exile in Elba. Today, the road connects the coast with Grenoble and is popular with motorbike riders in particular.
Just off the A8 highway where the Alpes-Maritimes turns into the Var, the area surrounding Fayence and its surrounding villages are growing in popularity with expat buyers looking for a more low-key lifestyle but with the main hubs of the Côte d’Azur within easy reach. Fayence itself is a charming village with a weekly market, plenty of good restaurants, a smattering of vineyards and even a five-star hotel, the Terre Bianche resort. The nearest major hospital is 30 kilometres away in Draguignan, although there’s an international medical centre where English is spoken. It’s worth keeping this corner in mind as you think about your move to the French Riviera, especially if you are coming with children and wanting a house with a garden and a pool — the prices are usually lower here than closer to the coast. The surrounding countryside is perfect for hiking, walking, horseriding and other outdoor activities.
While they all share the blue skies and year-round sunshine that France’s south-eastern corner is famed for, the stretch of coastline known as the Côte d’Azur is home to cities, towns and villages that all offer a different taste of living in the south of France. We definitely recommend taking your time to get to know the destinations that match your interest the best, ensuring that the lifestyle, and style of property you want, is achievable with your property budget. Happy home hunting!
