French Riviera and Monaco

Tour start date(s):	18-07-2026
Duration:	8 Days / 7 Nights
Location:	Nice (arrival, 7 nights) – Saint-Paul de Vence – Cannes – Monaco – Monte Carlo – Rothschild Villa – San Remo – Nice(departure)
Price (including tax):	DBL 2,860.00 USD; SNGL 3,830.00 USD (flights not included)

Jewels of the French Riviera: Discover the Côte d’Azur

The Côte d’Azur stretches along the Mediterranean coast from Cannes to Monaco. Thanks to its mild climate and stunning scenery, the Côte d’Azur is considered one of the best resort regions in France. Numerous tourists are drawn here not only by the sea air and abundant sunshine but also by the opportunity to explore the ancient landmarks of the Mediterranean.

The history of the towns of the Côte d’Azur goes back to the 6th century BC, when the Greeks settled along the Mediterranean coast, founding trading port cities. Thus emerged Massalia, Nicea, and Antipolis — the ancestors of modern Marseille, Nice, and Antibes.

In the 2nd century BC, the Greeks were displaced by the ancient Romans, and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the coastal territory became part of Provence.

Today, the Côte d’Azur is part of the Alpes-Maritimes department. This romantic name — the French Riviera — was given thanks to the French poet of the last century, Stéphen Liégeard, who wrote the poem “Côte d’Azur.”

The development of Nice in the 19th century is closely connected to the presence of Russians on the Côte d’Azur, especially the imperial family of Alexander II. The largest and most beautiful Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia is located in Nice, in the Imperial Quarter.

 

Day 1 – Nice

Arrival in Nice, airport meet & greet, and transfer to the hotel regardless of arrival time. Check-in at the Splendid Hotel or similar.

Walking tour of Old Nice — the informal capital and unofficial queen of the Côte d’Azur. A city praised in thousands of enthusiastic descriptions, Nice welcomes travelers with the murmur of sea waves, the refined beauty of its ancient quarters, and the enticing aromas of famous Provençal cuisine.
Walking tour of Nice’s historic center.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Nice.

 

Day 2 – Nice

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting in the hotel lobby after breakfast.
Sightseeing tour of Nice by car.

Nice arose on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Nikaia. From the 14th to the 18th centuries, the city belonged to the Counts of Savoy, and in 1860 it became part of France. Since the mid-19th century, Nice has been one of the finest resorts in the Mediterranean. Its mild climate and excellent geographical location offer ideal conditions for climatotherapy and sun therapy. Light industry and souvenir production are developed here; in the suburbs, floriculture and fruit growing flourish.

Today, about 342,000 people live in Nice itself, but the Greater Nice area includes 49 communes with about 540,000 residents. The tourist season lasts almost year-round, attracting many travelers and vacationers; therefore, most of the population works in the service industry. Popular annual events include international regattas, the famous ten-day carnival, the International Jazz Festival, and the folk festival.
Free time.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Nice.

 

Day 3 – Nice – Saint-Paul-de-Vence – Cannes – Nice

Breakfast at the hotel.
Trip to Saint-Paul-de-Vence — an ancient fortified town, one of the most visited and most beloved medieval towns in France, preserving its feudal architecture. Surrounded by powerful ramparts, it features cozy squares with fountains and flowers; narrow streets with art galleries, souvenir shops, and charming cafés and restaurants once frequented by Picasso, Matisse, Simone Signoret, Yves Montand, Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni, and many other celebrities.
Walk through Saint-Paul-de-Vence and visit to Marc Chagall’s grave. Free time for lunch.

Departure to Cannes. Walking tour along the famous La Croisette promenade — lined with luxury hotels and boutiques right on the seafront.

The mild climate and scenic beauty attract many tourists to Cannes. The city celebrates the Mimosa Festival, introduced in 1835 from South America; today mimosa plantations cover about 700 hectares. Cannes has about 74,000 residents and thrives mainly on business tourism: exhibitions, congresses, festivals.

The world-famous Cannes International Film Festival is held at the Palais des Festivals on La Croisette. The fireworks festival is also very popular.
Return to Nice.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Nice.

 

Day 4 – Nice – Monaco – Monte-Carlo – Villa Rothschild – Nice

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for an excursion to Monaco.

Monaco is the smallest sovereign state in the modern world, located on the Côte d’Azur. The principality covers 192 hectares and has a population of about 30,000, of whom only 5,500 are subjects of the Grimaldi dynasty. It consists of five districts — Monaco (the capital), La Condamine, Monte-Carlo, Fontvieille, and Larvotto — united under one municipality.

The Palace of Justice and the cathedral are not of great artistic significance. The Oceanographic Museum, founded in 1899, is world-renowned and is an international center for oceanographic research. The building, resembling a Greek temple, stands 86 meters above the sea. The museum houses rich zoological collections, marine research equipment, fishing gear collections, and illuminated aquariums filled with exotic marine life.

Monaco is one of the world’s major tourism centers and one of the best resorts on the Côte d’Azur. Its luxurious thalassotherapy center is extremely popular. About 700,000 tourists visit annually. Most of the working population is employed in the service sector. One of Europe’s most powerful medium-wave radio stations, Radio Monte-Carlo, broadcasts mainly commercial advertising for neighboring countries. Since 1885, Monaco has also issued limited-edition postage stamps, bringing considerable revenue. It is also home to many international organizations (the International Tourism Academy, the International Hydrographic Bureau, etc.) and hosts numerous international meetings.

Optional: visit to the Prince’s Palace (entrance €8).
Walk in the gardens of Monte-Carlo.
Optional: visit to the Monte-Carlo Casino — entrance €17 (10:00–13:00), dress code applies.

On the way back, visit the Rothschild Villa (Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild), one of the most beautiful Renaissance-style palaces on the Côte d’Azur, built between 1905 and 1912 by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild on Cap Ferrat. Includes audioguide in Russian (entrance €16, included in the tour price).
Return to Nice.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Nice.

 

Day 5 – Nice – San Remo – Nice

Breakfast at the hotel.
Trip to San Remo — an Italian resort town 70 km from Nice with about 60,000 inhabitants, a mild climate, warm sea, and sunlit green slopes. San Remo was beloved by the Russian Empress, who gifted the town its grand seafront promenade. Many comfortable hotels and beaches, elegant shop windows, a casino, and famous street markets can be found here. The Ariston Theater hosts renowned song festivals. Alfred Nobel chose San Remo as his home and developed his “Nobel Prize” here.
Return to Nice.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Nice.

 

Day 6 – Nice – Saint-Tropez

Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion with a driver-guide to Saint-Tropez — an ancient fishing village on a peninsula of extraordinary natural beauty and a deep, quiet bay. It became a favorite retreat of film and theater stars, journalists, fashion icons, and political figures. Today it is home to many prominent industrialists and businessmen. Brigitte Bardot lives here permanently. The road leading there — the Golden Corniche — is one of the most beautiful in the world, running along the red cliffs of the Esterel Massif and the sea.
Along this road lies Port Grimaud, the “French Venice,” built about 40 years ago.
Return to Nice.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Nice.

 

Day 7 – Nice

Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Nice.

 

Day 8 – Nice – Airport

Breakfast at the hotel.
Group transfer to the airport.

 

Tour Price Includes:

• Accommodation at Splendid 4* Hotel or similar, with breakfast
• Transportation according to the program
• Airport transfers regardless of arrival time
• Guided excursion program
• Entrance ticket: Villa Rothschild
• Russian-speaking guide
• Parking in Monte-Carlo

 

Not Included in the Price:

• Tourist tax paid at hotel check-in: €3.10 per person per night
• Lunches and dinners
• Tips for the guide and driver