Want to get away from the crowds? This list will take you through Cote d’Azur hidden gems (French Riviera off the beaten path locations), so you can enjoy a relaxing day at the beach without having to deal with other tourists and visit less-touristy locations where you can truly get a feel of the local life and culture.

In the last post I mentioned the top places to visit in Cote d’Azur but, as usual, I love to promote the hidden gems of each place, so here is a list of Cote d’Azur hidden gems, full of less explored sites in the French Riviera.

If you’re one to watch videos instead of reading, you can watch my YouTube video below.

Even though I decided to include Villefranche-sur-Mer in my Cote d’Azur hidden gems (French Riviera off the beaten path) list, this small town has been gaining popularity among visitors in the past few years.

It’s a beautiful colourful town by the coast, so if you like pretty locations, this one will not disappoint. Even though the views from the top road are certainly the best, you will also enjoy a stroll along the coast, overlooking the colourful houses.

Villefranche-sur-Mer also offers beaches with much better conditions than the ones in Nice: no pebbles, less crowded and less dangerous (there isn’t a big dip like the one in Nice’s beach).

Not far from Villefrance-sur-Mer you can find Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, another beach paradise. When we stayed in Nice, we spent our beach time in both of these towns as they offer so much better conditions! I personally prefered the beaches in Cap Ferrat as they have better views than the one in Villafrance, and less crowds: you can relax at Paloma Beach (near the bus stop, and so, definitely more crowded) or Passable Beach (way more relaxing, and less crowded, with a beautiful background).

If you’ve got a bit of time, make sure to visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, especially if you enjoy beautiful gardens and impressive Villas.

Close to both of the locations mentioned above (Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat), Beaulieu is a very small village that you probably didn’t even know existed in the French Riviera. It is a great Cote d’Azur hidden gem, often overlooked, that offers beautiful views of the hills, a small harbour, plenty of local shops (selling souvenirs, clothing and local products for a much smaller price) and a great escape from the crowds and tourists as you enjoy a good afternoon by the beautiful coast.

If you’re in the French Riviera for sunbathing, this small village will not disappoint: you can stay at the popular Plage des Fourmis (located in Baie des Fourmis) and the less crowded Plage de la Petite Afrique, with stunning views to the fantastic hills.

When in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, you should consider visiting the Greek Villa Kerylos. This building can be seen as you walk along the coast due to its location by the edge of the Bay, and it’s popular for its great interiors.

You can easily walk to Beaulieu-sur-Mer from Villefranche-sur-Mer or Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Cap d’Ail is located between Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Monaco. It has been a choice of residence for some celebrities over the years and certainly a beautiful Cote d’Azur hidden gem. This place has a beautiful port right by the border with Monaco, stunning beaches and a coastal path that connects them. While Mala Plage is the most beautiful and popular beach, Plage Marquet is best for families.

I still can’t believe most people do not include La Turbie in their trip to the French Riviera, especially if you’re planning on visiting Monaco (which by the way, you really should!). La Turbie is a small town, popular for its gigantic Trophee d’Auguste (35m high), narrow picturesque cobbled streets and Tête de Chien viewpoint, with breathtaking views of Monaco and other towns on the Mediterranean coast. This was one of my favourite Cote d’Azur hidden gems and is a site not to miss if you are on a hunt for the best views!

Are we back to Italy? Port Grimaud is a colourful village right next to Saint-Tropez, which is sometimes compared to Venice for obvious reasons. This is a perfect place for a relaxing afternoon or even a whole day, while you enjoy a walk along the canals, go on a boat tour, shop local clothing at small boutiques and visit the medieval village of Grimaud and its castle.

Grasse is a town on a hill not too far from Cannes, mostly famous for its perfume production and lavender fields. From Grasse, you can drive along the lavender fields to a very popular site in Gordes (2-3h drive): Senanque Abbey, a scenic monastery on a lavender field. If you decide to visit this site, make sure to check their website since there are visiting rules and a fee to be paid.

Not far from Grasse (only half an hour drive), you can visit the hidden gem of Gorges du Loup, a great spot for nature lovers.

These two villages are next to each other, and not far from Grasse. If you love to explore quiet villages and great viewpoints, then these two will be a great addition to your trip. Since they stand quite high on a hill, great views are guaranteed.

St. Paul de Vence is one of the oldest medieval towns in the French Riviera, and it sits beautifully on a hill. This small town is mostly popular for its art museums and galleries, but it’s also a great place to stroll along the small streets and shop some local goods. If you’ve got time and you want to explore every corner of the French Riviera, then you might want to visit the less popular Vence.

You probably never heard of this small village, and that is mostly because visitors tend to explore only the coast of French Riviera, and completely ignore the countryside. Sainte-Agnès is the highest coastal village in Europe. Located in the mountains above Menton, it reminds me of the countryside villages on the hill in the Italian Riviera (check them out on my Liguria off the beaten path post).

Sainte-Agnès offers beautiful views to the Mediterranean coast due to its high location, but it is also a great place to explore: narrow cobbled streets, local shops as well as ruins of a fort and a castle.

Only 20min by boat from Cannes, you can get to the Lérins islands (Sainte-Marguerite and Saint Honorat), popular for their quiet sand beaches and wildlife. Sainte-Marguerite, the largest island, contains the popular Fort Royal, a former prison (now a museum) where you can visit the cell of the mysterious “Man in the Iron Mask”. If you love nature, then you might consider bird watching. The smallest island, Saint Honorat, has a large community of monks, and you can visit the Lérins Abbey and Monastery.

Verdon Gorge is a bit further away from the French Riviera coast, hence why being at the end of this list of Cote d’Azur hidden gems. That being said, hiking, going on a boat tour or kayaking in the scenic Verdon George, the deepest gorge in France, should definitely be on your bucket list.

Porquerolles is the last location on this list of Cote d’Azur hidden gems, not because it is less important or less picturesque, but because it is quite far from all of the other hidden gems and even the most popular sites in the French Riviera (as mentioned on Top Places to Visit in Côte d’Azur post). This island can be reached by boat in 10min from the coast (Hyères), and it’s a perfect escape for a beach day. Its blue turquoise waters are perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving, as well as sailing. If you enjoy hiking, there will be plenty of opportunities to do it.

As usual, I filtered this list so you can get the best of the hidden gems in French Riviera. However, there are certainly other locations that you might want to look into if you want to fully explore this area of France, such as Gassin and Ramatuelle – two small villages on a hill close to Saint-Tropez – or even Mougins, another small village, close to Cannes.

I hope this list was helpful to you, and that you have an amazing time in this glamorous and beautiful part of France!

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