The French Riviera sparkles with more than just celebrity sightings and red carpets. While the glitz of Cannes draws thousands each May, the surrounding region offers countless treasures waiting to be discovered.
From hilltop villages that seem frozen in time to coastal gems where locals outnumber tourists, the area around Cannes presents a perfect blend of culture, history, and Mediterranean beauty. Beyond the festival’s spotlight, these nearby destinations showcase the real charm of the Côte d’Azur.
Whether escaping the crowds or extending your stay, each spot tells its story through cobblestone streets, artistic heritage, and stunning vistas. Here is a list of 20 remarkable places to explore beyond Cannes’ famous Croisette.
Antibes
This ancient port town feels like Cannes’ more laid-back cousin, with its massive stone ramparts and yacht-filled harbor. Pablo Picasso spent a productive summer here in 1946, and his former studio now houses the Picasso Museum, which houses works he created during that prolific period.
The old town’s narrow streets lead to a vibrant covered market where locals haggle over fresh produce every morning.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Since the 1920s, artists have been drawn to this medieval village like bees to honey. The stone walls practically ooze creativity, with galleries tucked into every corner and sculptures that dot the ramparts.
Walking through the main gate feels like stepping into a living painting, where even the cobblestones have stories to tell.
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Grasse
Known as the world’s perfume capital, Grasse sits in the hills about 12 miles from Cannes. The town’s perfume factories offer fascinating tours where you can watch master ‘noses’ at work and create your signature scent.
The old town’s winding streets smell faintly of jasmine and rose, especially during harvest season.
Îles de Lérins
Just a 15-minute ferry ride from Cannes, these two islands offer a complete escape from mainland bustle. The larger island, Sainte-Marguerite, holds the fortress where the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned.
Saint-Honorat, home to Cistercian monks, produces wine and liqueurs that visitors can sample at the monastery.
Nice
While technically a city, Nice deserves a day trip for its pebble beaches and the Promenade des Anglais alone. The old town’s baroque churches and bustling flower market create a vibe different from Cannes’s polished elegance.
Don’t miss the Marc Chagall Museum, which houses the largest public collection of the artist’s works.
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Monaco
This tiny principality packs a serious punch into less than one square mile. Beyond the famous casino and palace, Monaco offers jaw-dropping views from its clifftop gardens and the fascinating Oceanographic Museum.
Even if you’re not a Formula 1 fan, walking the Grand Prix circuit gives you a new appreciation for those hairpin turns.
Eze Village
Perched like an eagle’s nest 1,400 feet above the sea, Eze offers some of the most spectacular views on the entire coast. The exotic garden at the summit surrounds castle ruins with cacti and succulents from around the world.
Every twist and turn reveals another postcard-perfect vista or charming artisan shop.
Cap Ferrat
This exclusive peninsula between Nice and Monaco showcases how the ultra-wealthy have lived for over a century. The coastal path offers public access to private paradise, winding past grand villas and hidden coves.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, with its nine themed gardens, opens a window into Belle Époque opulence.
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Mougins
Food lovers consider Mougins the gastronomic capital of the Riviera, with more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere else. This hilltop village attracted Picasso in his later years, and you can still see why artists love its honey-colored stone buildings.
The village square, shaded by ancient trees, makes the perfect spot for a long lunch.
Valbonne
Unlike many tourist-heavy villages, Valbonne maintains its authentic Provençal character with a weekly market that serves locals first. The village center, laid out in a perfect grid pattern by 12th-century monks, creates a unique atmosphere.
Tech workers from nearby Sophia Antipolis mingle with longtime residents in the arcaded square.
Vallauris
Picasso revolutionized this pottery town when he moved here in 1948, turning traditional ceramics into high art. Today, over 100 pottery workshops and galleries line the streets, offering everything from tourist souvenirs to museum-quality pieces.
The town’s ceramics biennial attracts artists from around the globe.
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Menton
Sitting on the Italian border, Menton enjoys a microclimate producing France’s finest lemons. The town’s pastel-colored buildings cascade down to the sea like a watercolor painting come to life.
Jean Cocteau fell in love with Menton and left his mark everywhere, from the wedding hall he decorated to his namesake museum.
Saint-Tropez
Yes, it’s famous and can be crowded, but Saint-Tropez still retains pockets of its original fishing village charm. The early morning fish market and the old port’s narrow streets show a different side of this celebrity magnet.
The coastal path to nearby beaches reveals why Brigitte Bardot fell for this place in the 1950s.
Gourdon
Often called the ‘Eagle’s Nest of the Riviera,’ Gourdon clings impossibly to a cliff face 2,500 feet above sea level. The village defies gravity, with houses built right to the edge of the precipice.
On clear days, you can see Corsica from the medieval castle gardens.
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Tourrettes-sur-Loup
This ‘City of Violets’ produces most of France’s violet flowers, which are celebrated with a festival each March. The medieval village appears to grow out of the rocky cliff, with houses forming a continuous rampart.
Artisan workshops specializing in weaving, pottery, and jewelry have replaced the olive oil mills that once dominated village life.
Biot
Glass-blowing put Biot on the map, with the famous bubble glass technique invented here by accident in the 1950s. Visitors can watch artisans in several glass workshops create everything from simple vases to elaborate sculptures.
The village charms with its narrow archways and small squares, perfect for afternoon aperitifs.
Cagnes-sur-Mer
Cagnes consists of three distinct areas: the medieval hilltop Haut-de-Cagnes, the fishing village of Cros-de-Cagnes, and the modern town between them. Renoir spent his final years here, and his former home showcases his paintings and the olive groves that inspired them.
The medieval castle now houses a contemporary art museum with surprising rotating exhibitions.
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Villa Kérylos
This extraordinary Greek villa in Beaulieu-sur-Mer represents one man’s obsession with ancient Greece taken to its logical extreme. Built in the early 1900s, every detail recreates authentic Greek architecture and decoration.
Swimming in the sea below, you half expect to see ancient triremes sailing by.
Théoule-sur-Mer
Red rocks meet blue sea in this small resort town, creating a landscape unlike anywhere else on the Riviera. The dramatic coastline includes hidden beaches accessible only by boat or challenging hiking trails.
Local restaurants serve fresh catch with views that make even simple grilled fish taste extraordinary.
Le Cannet
Just 10 minutes from Cannes, Le Cannet offers an authentic glimpse of everyday Riviera life away from tourist crowds. Pierre Bonnard lived and painted here for over 20 years, and a museum dedicated to his work opened in 2011.
The old town’s stepped streets and small squares provide endless photo opportunities without the tourist markup.
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Where Stars Meet Stones
These 20 destinations prove the French Riviera’s magic extends far beyond film festivals and yacht harbors. Each village, town, and city adds flavor to the coastal cocktail, creating a region where ancient history and modern luxury blend seamlessly.
Whether seeking artistic inspiration, culinary adventures, or unforgettable views, the area around Cannes delivers lasting experiences long after the festival lights dim. The real stars of the Riviera aren’t on any red carpet – they’re the timeless villages, dramatic coastlines, and welcoming locals who make every visit feel like a scene from your movie.
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