French Riviera Road Trip: Nice, Monaco & Saint-Tropez in Style

Forget the tour bus. Hire something special, take the Mediterranean coast road and discover why the French Riviera is one of the world’s most glamorous driving holidays.

There are holidays where you hire the cheapest little car available, squeeze your luggage into the boot and hope the air-conditioning survives.

Then there’s the French Riviera. I have had the priviledge of visiting this part of the world twice in my life.

This is one of those rare places where hiring a Porsche 911, Mercedes-Benz convertible or something equally ridiculous actually feels entirely appropriate. After all, when you’re driving past superyachts, billionaires’ villas and beach clubs where a bottle of champagne costs more than your weekly groceries, turning up in a tired little hatchback seems almost disrespectful.

Welcome to the Côte d’Azur, where the Mediterranean sparkles, the roads twist around spectacular headlands and even stopping for a coffee can feel like a scene from a James Bond film.

Our route takes us from Nice to Monaco, before heading west to Saint-Tropez. Three extraordinary destinations, some unforgettable driving and plenty of opportunities to pretend your bank balance is considerably healthier than it actually is.

Nice – Where the Riviera Adventure Begins

Fly into Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and collect your chosen set of wheels. Specialist luxury rental operators offer everything from premium Mercedes and BMW convertibles to proper Italian exotica.

Nice deserves at least a night before hitting the road.

Stroll the famous Promenade des Anglais, wander through the colourful Old Town and explore the Cours Saleya market, where fresh flowers, local produce and French delicacies compete for your attention.

For accommodation, the legendary Hôtel Le Negresco delivers old-world luxury overlooking the Mediterranean. Its extraordinary interiors and art collection are almost attractions in themselves.

For dinner, try Le Chantecler, the hotel’s celebrated fine-dining restaurant.

Just remember, you’re paying for an experience, not simply something to stop your stomach rumbling.

Nice to Monaco – The Drive That Makes It All Worthwhile

Forget the motorway. The real magic lies along the Riviera’s famous Corniche roads.

Take the Moyenne Corniche for sweeping Mediterranean views, dramatic bends and glimpses of impossibly expensive properties clinging to the hillsides.

The drive from Nice to Monaco is relatively short, around 20–25 kilometres depending on your chosen road, but allow considerably longer. You’ll want to stop regularly, and not because the Porsche has developed a problem, there is just simply so much to see.

For something different, visit the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, a remarkable hillside garden overlooking the Mediterranean. The views alone justify the detour.

Then it’s into Monaco, a tiny principality with a rather large opinion of itself.

Drive portions of the famous Formula 1 street circuit, admire the superyachts in Port Hercule and visit Casino Square, where luxury cars seem to multiply by the minute.

You won’t be setting any lap records. Between pedestrians, traffic and speed restrictions, Lewis Hamilton himself would struggle to make an impression.

For the ultimate overnight indulgence, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is the obvious choice, if its good enough for Bradley Cooper and Margot Robbie, Selena Gomez and many other celebrities, then its good enough for me!

Even if your budget doesn’t stretch to staying, the surrounding Casino Square is worth exploring.

And if you’re a motoring enthusiast, Monaco’s Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco offers an impressive collection of historic and exotic vehicles.

Monaco to Saint-Tropez – Trading Supercars for Beach Clubs

Now for the longer leg, roughly 130–150 kilometres depending on the route, and easily several hours once Riviera traffic has its say.

Head west, enjoying stretches of Mediterranean coastline before taking the scenic roads around the Estérel Massif, where dramatic red volcanic cliffs tumble towards impossibly blue water.

It’s one of the most beautiful sections of coastline in southern France and a brilliant excuse to lower the roof.

Saint-Tropez has been attracting celebrities, artists and wealthy holidaymakers for decades, but beneath the designer boutiques and enormous yachts is a surprisingly charming old fishing village.

Explore the harbour, wander the narrow streets and visit the famous Place des Lices market, where local produce, antiques and fashion make for an entertaining morning.

For accommodation, Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez combines five-star luxury with a fantastic central location and rooftop swimming pool.

Its rooftop Les Toits is also a lovely choice for Mediterranean dining overlooking the village.

And if you fancy experiencing Saint-Tropez’s famous beach-club culture, head for Pampelonne Beach.

Order something cold, find a comfortable sun lounge and enjoy some world-class people-watching.

You’ll quickly discover that on the French Riviera, doing absolutely nothing can be an impressively expensive activity.

Who’s This Road Trip For?

This isn’t really a budget family holiday, although there’s nothing stopping families with older teenagers from enjoying it.

It’s particularly suited to couples celebrating something special, motoring enthusiasts, luxury travellers and those in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond who fancy swapping the everyday routine for a little Mediterranean indulgence.

And you don’t necessarily need a millionaire’s bank account. Hire the special car for a day or two, mix luxury accommodation with more modest stays and save the expensive restaurants for memorable occasions.

Sometimes a taste of the high life is all you need.

A Few Riviera Road Trip Tips

• Travel in May, June or September. You’ll generally enjoy pleasant weather without the worst of the summer crowds.
• Book parking before arriving. Monaco and Saint-Tropez aren’t particularly forgiving places to discover your hotel has nowhere to park.
• Check your rental agreement. Confirm that driving into Monaco is permitted and understand the insurance excess, mileage allowance and deposit requirements.
• Don’t underestimate traffic. Particularly around Saint-Tropez, a relatively short drive can become a lengthy affair.
• Travel light. A convertible sports car might look spectacular, but its luggage space probably won’t accommodate three enormous suitcases and your partner’s entire wardrobe.

The French Riviera isn’t simply about visiting glamorous destinations. It’s about enjoying the roads between them, the views around every corner and the occasional opportunity to feel like a movie star.

Even if, eventually, you have to hand back the Porsche and return to reality.

Useful Venue Links

Hôtel Le Negresco: Click Here (opens in a new tab)

Le Chantecler: Click Here (opens in a new tab)

Jardin Exotique d’Èze: Click Here (opens in a new tab)

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo: Click Here (opens in a new tab)

Prince of Monaco’s Car Collection: Click Here (opens in a new tab)

Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez: Click Here (opens in a new tab)

Les Toits: Click Here (opens in a new tab)

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