The French Riviera is one of the world's great driving destinations. Between the Alps tumbling into the Mediterranean and ancient hilltop villages perched above turquoise bays, the road itself becomes the attraction. Here are the drives you absolutely cannot miss.
The Grande Corniche
Napoleon built the Grande Corniche at an altitude of 500 m to provide a strategic military road. Today it offers the most dramatic views on the Riviera. The drive between Nice and Menton winds through the village of Èze-sur-Mer (do stop — the medieval village clings to a cliff above the sea) and offers endless panoramas over Cap Ferrat and Monaco.
Distance: Nice to Menton — 31 km. Allow 1 hour without stops, half a day if you linger.
The Moyenne Corniche: Grace Kelly's Route
This is the middle road — the one immortalised by Alfred Hitchcock in To Catch a Thief and, tragically, the route where Grace Kelly had her fatal accident. It's also, arguably, the most elegant of the three corniches. The village of Èze Village is accessed from here and is unmissable: a labyrinth of stone alleyways at 429 m with a cactus garden at the summit commanding a 360° view.
The Corniche Inférieure: Glamour at Sea Level
The lowest corniche follows the shoreline through Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and Cap d'Ail — some of the most exclusive real estate on Earth. This is the drive for lingering lunches, yacht-gazing, and stopping at the Villa Kérylos in Beaulieu, a faithful reconstruction of an ancient Greek villa right on the water's edge.
Massif de l'Estérel: The Red Rocks Drive
West of Cannes, the Esterel massif offers a completely different landscape — volcanic red porphyry rock plunging into cobalt sea. Drive the Corniche de l'Estérel (D559) from Saint-Raphaël to Cannes and you'll pass Cap Roux, Agay bay, and some of the most photogenic coastline in France. A convertible is essentially mandatory here.
The Verdon Gorge: Europe's Grand Canyon
For those with a day to spare, the Gorges du Verdon — 90 minutes north of Cannes — is one of Europe's most spectacular natural wonders. The Route des Crêtes circles the canyon rim at 1,200 m with vertiginous drops to the turquoise Verdon river below. The round trip from Cannes is about 300 km; allow a full day.
Arrière-Pays: The Perfume Route
Head inland from the coast to discover the Route du Mimosa and the perfume town of Grasse (world capital of perfumery). The road climbs through fields of lavender, jasmine, and rose — entirely different from the coastal glitz, and genuinely beautiful. Mougins, Valbonne, and Gourdon are all worth a detour.
Planning Your Drive
The best months for top-down driving are May–June and September–October. July and August see heavy traffic on the coast, though early mornings (before 8 am) the roads are often blissfully empty. Always keep a full tank — petrol stations thin out quickly once you head inland.
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