February 11, 2023
Menton, France - a detailed guide to the Pearl of France
Our Menton France travel guide covers everything you need to know to plan the ultimate trip to the ‘pearl of France’. Menton is just 30km from Nice and very easily accessed by train. This makes it a delightful day trip in the French Riviera. Menton is the last stop on the train before Italy. It is much less visited than neighbouring towns known for their glitz and glamour like Monaco and Cannes.
The town of Menton France has the classic Riviera charm, but is quite laid back and a little sleepy. This makes it a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the Riviera. It’s well known for its famed lemon products and pastel painted old town. It’s more affordable than Nice and other surrounding towns. It has charming views from both the summit of the old town as well as on the water’s edge. For a sleepy town, there’s also a bustling boulevard lined with both French and Italian restaurants, many of which with menus incorporating local lemon products.
In this guide, we provide information on how to get to Menton France, what to see and do while you’re there, where to stay and the best time to visit.
Looking for more guides to the South of France?
If your visiting Menton as par of a larger trip to South of France, check out our 10 day French Riviera guide, or our guide on the best day trips from Nice. We highly recommend that you make Nice your home base when travelling through the South of France. We have incredibly detailed city guides to Nice, Monaco, Marseille, Cassis, and Villefranche-sur-Mer, and and a guide to the best day trips from Nice.
Tip: avoid the biggest mistake we made. If you ask for water at a restaurant they will give you bottled still or sparkling water. They will never bring you tap water. To save yourself the money, ask for a carafe of water by saying the following ‘carafe d’eau s’il vous plaît’.
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In this article
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What to see and do in MentonWhat to see and do in Menton
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What to pack for MentonWhat to pack for Menton
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Where to stayWhere to stay
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How to get to Menton FranceHow to get to Menton France
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Getting around the French RivieraGetting around the French Riviera
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When to visit MentonWhen to visit Menton
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Travel budgetTravel budget
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What to see and do in Menton France
Wander around the Old Town in Menton France
You can wander through the streets of this beautiful pastel town for hours and you will mostly have it to yourself. There are small pockets that are busy, but the majority of the area is very quiet and calm. There’s not too much happening in the old town during the day, though it does come to life in the evening. We had hoped to get some lunch once we arrived but struggled to really find much open. It’s a sleepy town, but we thought that made it extra special!
The narrow paved streets are surrounded by tall buildings painted in the most delightful hues of pink, yellow and orange. The buildings contrast beautifully against the backdrop of the turquoise bay. Every single corner seems more beautiful than the last. Wandering through the old quarter with a camera in hand is the perfect way to spend a morning in the French Riviera.
Basilica of Saint Michael Archangel
If you google Menton, you’ll probably see a photo of this stunning church! The geometric staircase leading up to the basilica is very photogenic. Head to Ramp Saint-Michel for the best angle to capture it. The lemon-yellow basilica is a 17th century cathedral, located at the summit of the old quarter. Both the church and spire are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The annual music festival is held here between July and August. Beware the stage set up for the festival impacts on the symmetry of the staircase if you are hoping to photograph this location. You will only be able to enter a couple of hours each day (typically 10am to 12pm and 3pm to 5pm). And you won’t be able to access it at all on Sundays. You can enter the church for free, however entry to the bell tower is by paid ticket in return for panoramic views over the city.
Menton France’s gardens
One thing Menton is known for is its exquisite gardens including Serre de la Madone Garden and Val-Rahmeh Menton Botanical Garden. Serre de la Madone Garden may not be very convenient if you’re only here for a day as it’s a 45 minute walk from town or a half an hour bus ride. Regardless, if it is something you’re interested in seeing, Serre de la Madone Garden is a six-hectare terraced sub-tropical garden designed in the 1920s and 30s.
Val-Rahmeh Menton Botanical Garden is easier to reach and is only a 15 minute walk out of town. Val-Rahmeh Menton Botanical Garden is nicknamed ‘valley of tranquility’. It is a one-hectare garden surrounding an Italian-Provençal villa with themed unstructured gardens dedicated to Mediterranean diversity.
Quai Impératrice Eugénie for the best photo spot in Menton France
Walk down to the port and along the port walls at Quai Impératrice Eugénie for a fantastic viewpoint back towards the pastel skyline. If you can plan your trip to coincide with sunset we highly recommend this. Menton is famed to have one of the most beautiful harbours in all of Cote d’Azur.
Go for a swim at Plage des Sablettes
If you’re looking for a beach day on the French Riviera, definitely consider Menton. Plage des Sablettes is very large, sandy, and there are even bathrooms here! It’s located at the bottom of the old quarter with a new promenade featuring many restaurants and bars overlooking the water. There are of course a few beach clubs if you prefer but either way you’ll have stunning views of the colourful buildings in Menton set against the backdrop of the vast Italian mountains. The beach itself is very calm and shallow, perfect for families and those wanting to participate in some water sports.
Pick up some lemon products in Menton France
Bordered by Italy, Menton is famous for its citrus due to its exceptionally mild climate which makes it the perfect region to cultivate lemons. Sweeter and less bitter than the lemons you are used to, the Menton lemon is available year round and has become an essential part of Menton’s heritage. You’ll find citrus products such as jams, preserves, lemonade and limoncello in boutique stores all around the old town. There’s even a lemon festival (La Fête du Citron) in February-March every year where the city hosts giant sculptures and exhibits made from citrus. All in all, 140 tonnes of fruit (about 8km of fruit garlands) and 20,000 hours of work go into making the festival happen and it is truly a sight to see.
What to pack for Menton France
For the beach
Unless you plan on only visiting organised beach clubs, you will need to bring your own towel. You will be able to find quite a few stalls, bazaars and shops in the old town and near the promenade that sell beach towels if you have forgotten to bring one with you.
The beach in Menton is sandy, however in general most beaches in the French Riviera are pebble beaches. While you can lay on a towel for a little while, you will be uncomfortable if you’re staying for long. This is where a beach mat will come in handy. Some hotels will have beach mats that you can borrow but these will also be available from the same shops you’ll find towels in. The pebble beaches can be uncomfortable to walk on (and hot!) so water shoes or sandals will also be really helpful during your visit for walking around and getting in and out of the water.
Finally, there is more or less no shade at the majority of beaches (literally no shade at the public beaches in Nice). Again, a lot of hotels will have beach umbrellas that you can borrow. But if they don’t and you plan on spending a fair bit of time at the beach, you should pick one up (ask your hotel to keep it when you leave and lend it out to future guests so that it’s not trashed).
Universal adaptor
Don’t forget to bring your adaptor! If you don’t already have one, make sure you buy one that has USB and USB C ports so that you can plug in your phone chargers as well.
European sim
All European data and minute plans are interconnected, so if you’re arriving from another European country your sim card will work in France. You will only need to worry about picking up a sim card if you’re arriving from outside of the EU.
Try and pick up a European sim card (like Lycamobile, Giffgaff or Lebara) on your arrival at Nice airport. You can find sim cards at ‘Relay’, a large newsagent which has stores in both terminals at the airport. Relay will close at 9.30pm however, so if you’re arriving late at night you might need to wait until you get into town. In Nice (and also Menton) you’ll be able to pick up cheap sim cards at the tobacco stores and corner shops. If you need help installing the sims however, you will be best off going directly to a provider’s store such as Orange.
Where to stay
While some people choose to stay overnight in Menton, we definitely recommend making Nice your home base and taking day trips to towns such as Menton. This is especially true if you’re planning on traveling around by public transport. Nice has an incredible amount of connections to nearby towns and villages by train and bus at very affordable rates. In fact, most places on the Cote d’Azur can be reached from Nice.
Nice is a fantastic home base to explore the French Riviera due to its:
- Proximity to international airport
- Train and bus connections to nearby villages and beaches
- Accommodation and restaurant options
- Sightseeing options for your downtime
Best areas to stay in Nice
We suggest that you try to stay in the area between the train station and the old town / beach. These are the areas of Le Carré d’Or (green in map above), Thiers (red in map aboce) or Carabacel (purple in map above). We split our visit between staying very close to the train station for a few days, and then a few days very close to the promenade.
Hôtel Byakko Nice
At Hotel Byakko Nice we paid €490.50 for 3 nights in August 2022 (the MOST EXPENSIVE time of year to visit Nice). The hotel’s location was perfect for day trips, being only a 6 minute walk to the train station. It was also only a 15 minute walk into the old town and a 20 minute walk to the promenade. We really liked this hotel. The staff were really friendly, the aircon was cold, and the room was perfect for a few nights with enough space to spread out our luggage. An added bonus was the rooftop here, perfect for a rose at the end of the day.
Hôtel de la Fontaine
We also stayed at Hotel de le Fontaine and paid €585 for 4 nights in August 2022. It was only a 2 minute walk to the promenade, which was perfect for our beach days, and sunsets on the beach with a pizza and a bottle of wine. It was a 15 minute walk into the old town, and a 15 minute walk to the train station (or take the tram for €1.50 and you will cut down walking time to just 7 minutes). The distance to the promenade was our favourite thing about this hotel, but again the staff were incredibly friendly and the rooms were super spacious for a few nights.
Where to stay in Menton France
If you would like to stay overnight in Menton you will find that it is slightly more affordable than Nice (yay!). If you’re arriving by public transport, be aware that it is a 15 minute walk to town from the train station. So if you have luggage with you, you may need to organise transport to and from the train station. We would recommend that you stay in or near the Old Town especially if you’re only staying one night.
How to get to Menton France
You will most likely be traveling to Menton from Nice. If so, you will need to take the train to Menton. From your closest train station (Nice Ville or Nice Riquier) take the line towards Ventimiglia (Ventimille) and hop off at Mention station after 35 minutes. You’ll need to walk 15 minutes into town from here. The trip will cost €3-5 per person one way.
Tours to Menton France
Tours to Menton don’t seem to be that common, but you should be able to find an option or two leaving from Nice. This 8 hour day trip for example takes you to Menton and the Italian Riviera for €120 per person (quite a bit more expensive than your typical French Riviera day tour). This 8 hour tour is €110 and will take you to Italy for the morning and stop at Menton on the way back.
How to get to Nice
You will pick up flights direct to Nice from most destinations in Europe as well as further afield in the US, North Africa and the Middle East. The closest airport is Nice Cote d’Azur Airport, an international airport situated just 8km away from the city centre. It is the third busiest airport in France after the two that service Paris so that gives you an idea of how popular this destination is!
Getting from Nice airport into the city is soooo pleasant and easy! Inside the airport you’ll see signs directing you to the tram. Take tram line 2 in the direction of Port Lympia for €1.50 each way. There are multiple stops in town depending on where your hotel is. The main stop in the city centre is Jean Médecin. The whole journey won’t take longer than 30 minutes. The tram leaves the airport every 8 minutes and runs from around 4am to after midnight depending on the day. You can find more information including timetables here.
Getting around the French Riviera
As you will most likely be visiting other villages and towns on the French Riviera at the same time as Menton, I wanted to cover off the basics on how to get around the south of France. Southern France is one of the easiest regions to travel around by public transport that I have ever experienced! It’s so well interconnected and affordable. Below I cover all the major options for traveling around southern France including public and private transport.
Public transport
To get to destinations outside of Nice you will want to take public transport. It’s quick, affordable and you won’t have to worry about traffic and parking.
Train
There are two train stations in Nice, Nice Ville and Nice Riquier. If you’re booking your tickets in advance be sure to check which station is closer to your accommodation. Nice Ville is to the north west of the old town. If you’re planning on staying close to the promenade this will probably be the closer option for you. Nice Riquier is further east, just above Quartier du Port. We found using the Trainline app to book our tickets ahead of time to be very easy and convenient. The prices are the same, and the schedule is accurate and up to date.
Bus
You will find that the train will get you to most surrounding villages much quicker than the bus, but there are exceptions. A notable example is Èze. The train station goes to the town on the coast, whereas most people want to visit the village at the top of the hill which can only be reached by bus. Bus tickets can be bought from the bus driver, just bring cash with you (typically a ticket will cost you €1.5 each way).
Car
Realistically a lot of destinations on the French Riviera are much more convenient to visit by public transport due to the lack of availability and high cost of parking in many villages. If you do need to hire a car, there are plenty of options in Nice both at the airport and in town. This is a hugely popular destination, so booking your hire car in advance will help you to secure a good price and the kind of vehicle you are after. If you’re driving make sure you plan your days so that you are arriving at your destination early in the morning so that you can find parking, and also make sure you’re factoring in parking fees in your budget as this will add up.
When to visit Menton France
We visited Menton in August and honestly I wouldn’t suggest it. It’s very hot and France isn’t made for the heat. Between the hot trains, the beaches without shade and all of the outdoor eateries, Menton would be much nicer in June or September. There are obviously crowds in summer, but we didn’t find them so bad. In fact, the crowds create a great atmosphere and add to the European summer vibe. Some of the trains got a bit uncomfortably packed but we didn’t struggle with anything else.
If you are visiting in the summer be sure to book restaurants ahead of time, like you would for anywhere in Europe. Between November and May a lot of tour operators, beach clubs and some restaurants will be closed. The weather will still be pleasant though, you will just have a quieter time and will have to plan ahead more to make sure what you want to do is possible. Menton actually has a unique micro-climate which provides it with a temperate environment all year round with an average 316 days of sunshine annually.
Travel Budget?
The below costs are what we actually spent in August 2022. If you’re looking to save a bit of cash, definitely consider visiting in June or September. You’ll still have the vibe of the European summer crowds, but with discounted prices on everything.
Honestly, we thought the French Riviera was going to be more expensive than it ended up being for us. We were very selective about where we ate out (only ate out at a really nice restaurant once) and only went to a beach club once, plus mostly bought bottles of wine to drink at the beach rather than at bars.
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tram between Nice airport and Nice city (one way) | €1.50 |
| Trains to other villages in the French Riviera (one way) | €2 - 5 |
| Bus (one way) | €1.50 |
| Beach club (full day - beds and umbrella) | €30 |
| Cheap meal (e.g. socca, per serving) | €3 |
| Hotel (per night, 3* in peak season) | €150 |
| Nice meal out (main) | €20 |
| Cocktail (at an upscale bar) | €15 |
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Thanks for stopping by!
We hope we’ve inspired you to visit Menton on your next trip to the south of France. Menton, the Pearl of France, is an incredible destination, be it for a day trip or a peaceful few days away from the hustle and bustle of the French Riviera.
If your visiting Menton as par of a larger trip to South of France, check out our 10 day French Riviera guide, or our guide on the best day trips from Nice. We highly recommend that you make Nice your home base when travelling through the South of France. We have incredibly detailed city guides to Nice, Monaco, Marseille, Cassis, and Villefranche-sur-Mer, and and a guide to the best day trips from Nice.
If you have any questions, please let us know, and please subscribe!
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