Seven nights across the Côte d'Azur's finest addresses: two nights above Nice, three at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, and two at the Hôtel de Paris in Monte-Carlo — with a Provençal detour to Villa La Coste.
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Best for
Couples and milestone trips
Trip length
7 nights
Ideal budget
A$28,000–A$60,000 (couple, all-in)
Best time to visit
May–June, or September
Style of travel
Belle Époque grande dame + design retreat
Editor's Top Pick
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel · French Riviera
From A$3,200 per night (deluxe sea view)
Editor's top pick for this itinerary. Check current rates and terms with the booking provider.
Fly into Nice Côte d'Azur, transfer to Villa La Coste in the Provençal hinterland for two nights of art and vineyards, then east to the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat for three nights, and finish with two nights at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.
Stylised route overview — not to geographic scale.
Day 1
Arrive Nice, transfer to Villa La Coste
Nice → Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade
Morning
Land Nice Côte d'Azur. Pre-arranged Mercedes transfer to Villa La Coste in Provence (about 2 hours 20 minutes on the A8).
Afternoon
Villa La Coste check-in — 28 villas in a working vineyard with a Tadao Ando visitor centre and a sculpture park by Serra, Bourgeois, and Calder.
Evening
Dinner at Louison — Riviera-Provençal by Gérald Passédat's team, one Michelin star.
Where to stay
Villa La Coste
Insider tip
Book a villa with a vineyard view rather than a Luberon view — the shaded morning light over the vines is remarkable.
Day 2
Sculpture park, wine tasting, Aix afternoon
Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade
Morning
Guided walk through the sculpture park at opening — the Louise Bourgeois spider in the pond is the reason people come.
Afternoon
Aix-en-Provence 40 minutes away. Cours Mirabeau, the Cézanne studio, and a long lunch at Le Formal.
Evening
Return to Villa La Coste for a wine tasting in the Jean Nouvel cellar. Dinner at Francis Mallmann's fire kitchen.
Where to stay
Villa La Coste
Insider tip
Book Mallmann's dinner as soon as you confirm the trip — one seating, once a week in summer, always sold out.
Day 3
Transfer to Cap-Ferrat, Grand-Hôtel check-in
Provence → Cap-Ferrat
Morning
Chauffeur transfer to Cap-Ferrat (2h 30m). Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel — check into a sea-view suite.
Afternoon
Pool afternoon. The heated seawater pool is the reason to be here; the view down to Beaulieu is timeless.
Evening
Dinner at Le Cap (one Michelin star). Modern Riviera cooking, deep wine list.
Where to stay
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
Insider tip
The Villa Rose-Pierre in the grounds sleeps six and rents as a private house — the discreet upgrade for a milestone anniversary.
Day 4
Villa Ephrussi, Beaulieu lunch, cape walk
Cap-Ferrat
Morning
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild at opening. The gardens are one of the finest Belle Époque compositions in France.
Afternoon
Lunch at La Réserve de Beaulieu — 15 minutes east, seafront terrace, another Michelin star.
Evening
The full Cap-Ferrat coastal path walk (10km loop). Sunset from the lighthouse at Pointe Saint-Hospice.
Where to stay
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat
Insider tip
Do the coastal path in reverse (clockwise) — the light on the return leg is softer and the harder inclines come first while you're fresh.
Day 5
Private yacht day
Cap-Ferrat → open sea
Morning
Private yacht from Beaulieu marina. Cruise east past Monaco, west past Villefranche, anchor for a swim off Cap-Ferrat itself.
Afternoon
Lunch on board — the hotel's kitchen packs it. Nap on the sun deck; that's the point.
Evening
Return at golden hour. Casual dinner at the Grand-Hôtel's Club Dauphin beach club.
Where to stay
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat
Insider tip
Book a 12m Sunseeker not a superyacht — the smaller boat can enter Villefranche and Nice ports; the big ones can't.
Day 6
Transfer to Monaco, Hôtel de Paris check-in
Cap-Ferrat → Monaco
Morning
20-minute transfer to Monaco. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo — check into a Riviera suite with a Casino Square view.
Afternoon
Long lunch on the Le Grill terrace with a moving roof and a view over Port Hercule.
Evening
Dinner at Louis XV — Alain Ducasse's three-star flagship. Book six months ahead. Casino de Monte-Carlo afterwards.
Where to stay
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Insider tip
Louis XV requires jacket and, for men, closed shoes; the dress code is enforced. Don't let a dinner reservation die at the door.
Day 7
Monaco morning, transfer to Nice
Monaco → Nice
Morning
Morning walk through the Rock — Prince's Palace at 11:55 for the guard change. Coffee at Le Café de Paris on the way back.
Afternoon
Private transfer to Nice Côte d'Azur (30 minutes). Lounge access on departure.
Evening
Evening flight home. If flying overnight, book the Nice–Doha–Sydney route on Qatar — the timing is genuinely better than through Dubai.
Where to stay
In-flight
Insider tip
Nice Terminal 1 is the private-jet and premium terminal; make sure the transfer knows which terminal your airline uses — some carriers use T2 and it's a 15-minute walk between.
Recommended Hotels
Editorially selected by Only5Star. We never accept payment for placement.
Similar stay style
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
The Riviera at its most classical — Belle Époque architecture, seven hectares of pines, the finest heated seawater pool in Europe. Impeccably run by Four Seasons.
Three Michelin stars, arguably the most historically significant fine-dining room on the Riviera. Book six months ahead.
Le Cap at Grand-Hôtel
Cap-Ferrat · Modern Riviera
One Michelin star, oceanfront terrace, and the most confident wine list at any hotel between Nice and Menton.
La Colombe d'Or
Saint-Paul-de-Vence · Provençal
The Matisse-and-Picasso hotel-restaurant. Reserve a garden table and order the raw vegetable basket — the same dish for 60 years.
Optional Upgrades
Worth considering for milestone trips. Check availability and arrangements with the provider.
Upgrade
Full-day superyacht charter
Trade the day-yacht for a crewed superyacht: private-chef lunch, Villefranche anchorage, Portofino option for a two-country day.
From A$18,000 per day
Upgrade
Helicopter Nice → Monaco → Cannes
Skip the Riviera's summer traffic entirely with a private helicopter loop.
From A$4,800 per family
Upgrade
Grand Prix suite (May only)
Casino Square-facing suite at Hôtel de Paris with garden-view balcony over the F1 circuit. Books three years in advance.
On request
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit the French Riviera?
Mid-May to mid-June and September are ideal — sea warm enough to swim, restaurants open, Ferragosto (August) crowds absent, and the light is at its Mediterranean best. Avoid July–August in Saint-Tropez and Monaco unless you're deliberately here for the season.
How much does a luxury French Riviera trip cost?
Realistically A$28,000–A$60,000 for two, all-in for seven nights. Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat and Hôtel de Paris run A$2,400–A$3,500 per night in summer; private yacht days A$4,500–A$18,000; business-class flights A$8,000–A$14,000; dining at three-star addresses A$1,000+ per couple per night.
Should we stay in Nice, Cap-Ferrat or Monaco?
None as a base for the whole trip — split between them. Cap-Ferrat for the classic experience, Monaco for the grande-dame service and the Louis XV, Nice only if budget-constrained or if you want city-hotel dining variety. This itinerary uses all three.
Is 7 days enough for the French Riviera?
Yes for a first visit, if you split between two or three properties. Add 2–3 nights in Saint-Tropez or Provence at the start for a longer trip; add Portofino by yacht for a two-country loop.
Do we need a car on the Riviera?
No. Private drivers between hotels; the coastal train between Nice, Villefranche, Beaulieu, Cap-d'Ail and Monaco is exceptional; and boat is the honest way to see the coast. A car is more liability than utility.
Which is better — Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat or Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc?
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat for hotel quality, service consistency and the pool — the Four Seasons operational discipline shows. Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc for scene, history and the Antibes location — but service can be inconsistent in season. First-timers: Cap-Ferrat.
Can we visit Saint-Tropez on this itinerary?
It's a full day-trip from Cap-Ferrat (2h+ each way in summer) so we don't include it; add two nights in Saint-Tropez at the start if it's essential. Château de la Messardière and Cheval Blanc St-Tropez are the two we'd send you to.
What's the dress code at Riviera fine dining?
Louis XV, Le Grill and Le Cap all expect jacket for men (no tie required). Beach clubs and lunch venues are elegantly casual. Avoid overtly branded logos and gym-luxury; the Riviera style is quieter than social media suggests.
Is Monaco worth spending nights, or day-trip only?
Two nights minimum — Louis XV alone justifies one, and the Hôtel de Paris experience is a chapter in itself. Day-trippers see the Casino and Rock; overnight guests get the quieter Monaco after 7pm when the coaches leave.
Can we combine the Riviera with Italy or Provence?
Yes, both. Provence works at the start (Villa La Coste as in this itinerary, or Château Saint-Martin). Italy at the end — take the coastal train or yacht east to Portofino, add 2–3 nights at Belmond Splendido or Villa Vera Riva.
