The Sebastian Luxe Guide to Luxury South of France Travel (Riviera and Provence)
Luxury villas and coastline of the French Riviera, South of France travel guide.
There are trips that reset you, and then there’s the South of France.
The light alone could make a poet out of anyone. The sea is the kind of blue that makes you question your phone’s color settings. The rosé isn’t really wine; it’s mood therapy.
And yet, the South of France isn’t one place. It’s a patchwork of coastlines and countryside, of markets and medieval streets, of high glamour and unhurried beauty. The trick is to do both: the sparkle and the stillness.
This is how to do it, the Sebastian Luxe way.
The French Riviera Coast: Luxury Hotels & Glamour Spots
Èze
If a fairytale ever moved to the Mediterranean, it would choose Èze. Perched between Nice and Monaco, the village feels like a mirage of cobblestones, jasmine, and dramatic sea cliffs. The climb to the Jardin Exotique brings you to succulents perched above the Côte d’Azur. On clear days, the view reaches to Corsica.
Stay at La Chèvre d’Or, where bougainvillea-draped terraces, cliffside paths, and an infinity pool appear to dissolve into the sea.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche is the Riviera at its most romantic. Everything is painted in gelato colors. The bay is still and luminous, the mornings feel private, and the whole town seems to hum in a softer key.
Lunch or dinner at La Mère Germaine, a beloved seafood institution nearly a century old.
Stay at Welcome Hotel, where every room faces the harbor.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Cap-Ferrat is understated glamour at its finest. Quiet pathways, manicured gardens, discreet villas, and a cliffside coastal walk that passes hidden coves and turquoise water.
Lunch at Jasmine at the Royal Riviera for an easy seaside afternoon.
Stay at Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, a Riviera icon with one of the most spectacular pools in Europe.
Monaco
Monaco is the Riviera’s sparkling postcard. Small, impossibly glamorous, and unapologetically theatrical.
For dinner, choose Amazonico Monaco for tropical glamour, Cipriani for iconic Italian classics, Gaia for modern Greek elegance, or Sass Café for late-night cocktails when bedtime becomes optional.
Stay at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo for the full Riviera fantasy or Hôtel Hermitage for Belle Époque romance.
Just outside Monaco, The Maybourne Riviera sits suspended on a cliff above Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. The views stretch from Italy to Monte Carlo, and the design is a masterclass in contemporary coastal luxury.
Eat: Jean-Georges Riviera for bright Mediterranean dishes, or Riviera Restaurant for simple elegance and horizon-wide views.
Why go: Close enough for cocktails in Monaco, far enough to hear the sea instead of the engines.
Antibes
Image courtesy of Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Antibes blends old-world charm with sunlit Riviera ease. Visit the Marché Provençal, explore the Picasso Museum in his former seaside château, and end the day walking the ancient ramparts above the sea.
Dine at Le Figuier de Saint-Esprit, a refined Provençal classic.
Stay at Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel for modern minimalism or Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc for legendary Riviera elegance.
Cassis
Cassis feels like a quieter, gentler Saint-Tropez. The pastel harbor glows beneath steep cliffs, and the nearby Calanques offer some of the most dramatic turquoise coves in France.
Take a private boat through the Calanques for swimming and rosé on deck.
Dine at Chez Gilbert for classic bouillabaisse or La Villa Madie for a Michelin-starred evening above the sea.
Stay at Les Roches Blanches, a chic, Art Deco cliffside retreat with the best terrace bar in Provence.
Ramatuelle and Saint-Tropez
Ramatuelle and Saint-Tropez
High above Pampelonne Beach, Ramatuelle is Saint-Tropez at its most elegant. Sunlight filters through vines, long lunches become longer, and rosé feels practically medicinal.
Spend the day at GiGi Ramatuelle, Nikki Beach, Loulou, or Kinugawa, each offering a slightly different shade of summer glamour.
Stay at La Réserve Ramatuelle, where everything smells of cedar and every terrace seems to hover above the Mediterranean.The Provence Countryside: Charming Villages & Luxury Villas
Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Vence
If you’ve ever dreamed of painting in Provence, this is the place. Cobbled lanes, golden light, stone arches, art in every direction.
Visit Fondation Maeght, then linger over lunch at La Colombe d’Or, where Picassos hang casually next to diners.
Stay at Château Saint-Martin & Spa for sweeping views or Le Saint-Paul within the medieval walls.
Gordes
A storybook perched on limestone cliffs. Gordes is classic Provence: shutters, stone, lavender, and views that make you linger.
Stay at La Bastide de Moustiers, Alain Ducasse’s intimate countryside inn with gardens and cuisine worth traveling for.
Aix-en-Provence and Villa La Coste
Aix is sunshine, fountains, tree-lined boulevards, and cafés that feel like small worlds. Spend the morning on the Cours Mirabeau, take an espresso at Les Deux Garçons, then follow Cézanne’s trail toward Mont Sainte-Victoire.
Nearby, Château La Coste offers architecture by Tadao Ando, art by world-renowned artists, and vineyards stretching toward the hills.
Stay at Villa Saint-Ange for city elegance or Villa La Coste for suites with private pools and sculptural calm.
Cotignac and Villa Life
Cotignac is Provence untouched. The cliffs hide ancient caves, the fountains sing all afternoon, and every terrace seems designed for rosé and long conversations.
Stay at Hostellerie de Cotignac or rent a villa through Le Collectionist or Haven In. Most come with pools, shaded pergolas, and kitchens ready for market finds.
Provence with Kids
Provence is one of the few places where a family trip doesn’t mean compromise. Kids can swim, run, and eat crêpes while parents sit under olive trees with rosé and call it supervision.
Things to Do:
• Kayak or paddle in the Verdon Gorge
• Walk the Ochre Trail in Roussillon
• Watch the Carrières de Lumières in Les Baux
• Visit goat farms or olive mills for tastings
• Spend a day at Aqualand Sainte-Maxime, the best local waterpark
• Bike or picnic on Porquerolles, a car-free island
• Stop at the Haribo Museum near Uzès
Best Michelin-Starred & Luxury Restaurants in the South of France
Mirazur, Menton – three Michelin stars and views that make you quiet
Oustau de Baumanière, Les Baux – Provençal perfection in an olive grove
Louison, Villa La Coste – where art, architecture, and food meet
La Colombe d’Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence – lunch among Picassos
Le Figuier de Saint-Esprit, Antibes – refined and romantic
Jasmine, Royal Riviera, Cap-Ferrat – long seaside lunches
GiGi and Kinugawa, Ramatuelle – sushi, glamour, and laughter under the pines
Nikki Beach and Loulou, Ramatuelle – lunch that becomes a memory
Chez Gilbert, Cassis – bouillabaisse and sea spray
When to Go
May and June bring flowers, perfect weather, and smaller crowds.
July and August are lively, with lavender and festivals in full swing.
September offers warm seas, quiet roads, and golden light.
Why You’ll Fall in Love
The coast dazzles; Provence seduces. Together they remind you to slow down, linger, taste, and breathe beauty back into everyday life.
Because the South of France doesn’t ask for much. It simply invites you to notice how good it feels to be here.
If you enjoyed reading this, you’ll love…
The Perfect Luxury Bali Honeymoon Itinerary (2026 Edition)
From Acropolis to Amanzoe: The Ultimate Luxury Greece Itinerary (The Dolli & Amanzoe)
The Sebastian Luxe Travel Guide to St. Barth
Don’t miss our South of France Honeymoon Itinerary published on Fora. It’s a step-by-step guide to balancing Riviera sparkle with Provençal calm.
Ready to Plan Your South of France Getaway?
If you’re dreaming up your own Riviera or Provence trip and want help choosing the right towns, hotels, and experiences for your style, you can start planning right here on our website. I know these destinations well and can guide you toward the spots that feel like you—the glamorous ones, the quiet ones, and the ones that strike the perfect balance.
We help you with the parts that matter most: choosing the right home base, matching you with hotels that fit your taste, arranging transfers, securing Virtuoso perks where available, and building an itinerary that blends coastline sparkle with Provençal calm. If you want to double check our credentials, you can peek at my Fora advisor page, my Virtuoso profile, or read our testimonials.
When you’re ready for the rosé, the sea breezes, and the slow Provençal mornings, we’ll take care of the details.