French Riviera

French Riviera banner Foreshore with marina - 1200px

Located on the French coast of the Mediterranean Sea and the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur) has the glitz and glamour rivaled by few places on earth.

Although the Riviera is famous for the glamour of St. Tropez, Monaco or the Cannes Film Festival and there are many other less well known attractions, such as the perched villages of Èze and Gourdon and the perfumeries of Grasse and the glass blowers of Valbonne and Biot|Biot and the potters in Vallauris. The Riviera has been the inspiration for many well-known artists such as Picasso and Matisse, and many of their works are on display in local museums and art galleries.

One big problem that the Riviera faces is its popularity. During the summer months (July/August particularly) the Riviera is a crowded mess - particularly on the strip of land between the A8 Autoroute and the coast - and events such as the Film Festival drive up the prices of just about everything. On the other hand even in August the lesser known attractions such as the Loup Valley|Gorges du Loup and Gourdon are far less.

Cities in Cote d'Azur

Cotedazur - French Riviera]

Coast

• Antibes
• Bormes les Mimosas
• Cagnes-sur-Mer
• Cannes
• Èze
• Fréjus
• Haut de Cagnes
• Menton
• Monaco
• Nice
• Saint-Tropez
• St. Raphael
• Toulon
• Villefranche-sur-Mer

Inland

Villa Kerylos BW 2011-06-10 11-55-14 - View of Villa Kerylos, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, about 9 kilometers east of Nice

• Fayence
• Grasse
• Mougins
• Néoules
• Loup Valley (Tourrettes-sur-Loup etc.)
• Saint-Paul de Vence
• Vence
• Sospel

Get in

Monaco Panorama 2015 - Monaco

The Riviera is well served with roads and railways, and Nice Airport is one of the busiest in France.

By car

If you are travelling by car then you should probably arrive using the A8 motorway from Aix-en-Provence or from Italy. The French department name for this region is Alpes Maritimes and the back country is extremely hilly. Driving from Geneva, Avignon or Turin as the crow flies is extremely scenic - however it is also mountainous, slow and not for those who suffer from car-sickness.

Travel by train to Cote d'Azur

Major towns such as Cannes and Nice are also served by express trains from Paris as well as (for Nice) trains from Genoa and other places in Italy. While Nice and Cannes themselves are not on a high speed line, Marseille is. This means that the trip from Paris to Marseille takes only three hours, whereas the rest of the trip to your ultimate destination can take two hours or more. Due to competition from low service airlines as well as political considerations, SNCF (the French state owned railways) often offers very affordable fares from northern France. Booking in advance comes highly recommended, as many offers sell out quickly. If you are coming from London, you can take a direct Eurostar (remember to be at the station half an hour or more prior to departure for border crossing|passport control) to Marseille from where it is another two hours on a French train to Nice.

Get around

File:Église Èze village - Èze

The Riviera has an adequate bus and train service. Most towns and villages also have taxis. However if you intend to do a lot of sightseeing between towns relatively far from one another as opposed to just lying on the beach or sightseeing in and around one of the larger cities and then you should probably have your own vehicle, despite the dangers of driving here.

Rent a Car or Limousine in Cote d'Azur

Driving a vehicle on the Riviera is only for the brave and the region has one of the worst accident records in France (which is saying something) and every local has his or her favorite story about a mad driver. At vacation times the driving situation is exacerbated by the hordes of tourists from different countries who have completely different driving styles.

The primary artery is the A8 Autoroute which stretches from the Italian border (there is an Italian Autostrada the other side) to Aix/Marseille. The A8 stays close to the coast from Cannes to Italy; west of Cannes, it heads more inland with a spur down to Toulon. Between Cannes and Italy there are a number of "Penetrantes" - that is roads that penetrate inland from the A8 towards (and through) the mountains. Apart from the penetrantes and the A8 most roads are narrow, very curvy and hilly when inland and extremely crowded when by the coast. It can be very pleasant to drive these roads as part of a tour but if speed is required it is generally quicker to take the indirect route using the A8.

One additional feature of the roads of this region is that the builders seem to like roundabouts (traffic circles). This leads to two problems - firstly there seem to be a considerable number of people who seem unable to grasp the concept and do unexpected things such as reversing and secondly many of them are wrongly cambered which means that if you take them too fast you end up skidding off the side.

If you drive into Monaco you can in fact drive most of the Grand Prix circuit but do NOT try racing it - the Monaco police do not have a sense of humour. On the way to Monaco you can drive the roads where James Bond has exciting encounters with Russian secret agents and where Princess Grace died.

Although the police are cracking down on drunk drivers, many drivers especially late on Friday night are clearly less than 100%. Driving defensively is a really good idea.

Finally and the French government is introducing speed cameras around France, and there are a few cameras along the highway.

Travel by train to Cote d'Azur

There is one main line from Italy via Monaco/Nice/Cannes and then off towards Marseille. If you must visit Cannes during the Film Festival or Monaco during the Grand Prix then it is strongly advised to take the train from some station a little distance away. The train gets you into the middle of the action and you don't have to find a parking space or battle with 50,000 other people trying to get down the limited access routes. Unfortunately this does not work if you wish to visit St. Tropez because there is no train to it.

In addition to the mainline there are two scenic branch lines - from Nice to Cuneo and Nice to Digne]. In addition and there is a branch line from Cannes to Grasse, which is especially convenient for people who wish to avoid driving into Cannes.

Take a bus to Cote d'Azur

There is no unified bus network. Rather there is a hodgepodge of routes and information can be hard to come by on the internet. Probably the best place to start is at Envibus.

Talk

Calanque du Petit Canereit-Massif de l'Esterel - The calanque (cliff bay) of Petit Caneiret, in Anthéor near Saint-Raphaël, Var

The Riviera makes much of its living through tourism, thus people are generally willing to communicate in English - particularly in the most tourist areas. Indeed in the foreign restaurants the waiters and sometimes the managers are native English speakers. However service tends to be better if you try to use French. If it is really fractured then quite often people will take pity on you.

Muslim Friendly Food & Restaurants in Cote d'Azur

Cafés, restaurants are available to meet almost all price-points and most tastes, however the vast majority of eateries serve food local to the area - that is to say Provençal cuisine with influences from Italy. Pizza restaurants are ubiquitous here, and the Pizzas is thin-crusted as is common in Italy. Many Pizzas are served with a few olives on top unless you explicitly request their absence and it is normal to add a spicy Olive oil based dressing - "sauce pimente" - before eating.

Asian cuisine - Indian, (Thai), Chinese, Japanese etc. is available but is not common outside the main seaside towns and it can be very hard to get the ingredients yourself although there are specialty stores in Cannes and Nice. Many Asian restaurants offer a multitude of Asian cuisines (e.g. Thai/Chinese/Vietnamese) and the food is commonly spicy unless you specifically request it to be so.

Bouillabaisse and Salade Niçoise are perhaps the best known local specialities although there are others such as Socca. The mountainous back country makes a number of (mostly goat or sheep) cheeses which are usually available in local supermarkets as well as at market stalls. The Riviera has a number of Olive oil mills and a lot of olive trees.

Most supermarkets are open Monday-Saturday from approx 9am-8pm and, particularly in the summer, some are also open on Sunday mornings. Most towns have markets which typically operate in the morning and early afternoon of a particular day or days to sell fresh produce. Most towns and villages also have a number of bakeries which generally open from around 6 or 7am every morning as well as butchers, fish-mongers and so on.

Buy Muslim Friendly Condos, Houses and Villas in Cote d'Azur

eHalal Group is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Cote d'Azur. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Cote d'Azur ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Cote d'Azur. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Ramadan in French Riviera

Ramadan 2025 in French Riviera

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Stay safe

Criminals prefer to pick on tourists because the Muslims are usually relaxed and not expecting anything. Avoiding being a victim is generally as simple paying attention to what you are doing, locking your vehicle while you are in it and not flaunting your valuables. This can take the fun out of the holiday but on balance it is probably even less fun to be a crime-victim!

Where to go next after Cote d'Azur

• The Italian Riviera starts across the border in Liguria.
• The rest of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur|Provence beckons to the West.
• The Alps start to the north.

Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd.
To Advertise or sponsor this Travel Guide, please visit our Media Kit and Advertising Rates.