Strolling on the Côte d'Azur

We certainly don't want to undermine other regions, but the Côte d'Azur is simply the most beautiful and famous region in France. The Côte d'Azur or the French Riviera is known by the rich and famous. Just the road to it is worth it! Driving on the Route du Soleil along vineyards and lavender fields is a pleasure. Who will be the first to see the azure blue Mediterranean Sea? On arrival quickly put on your swimming trunks and take that first refreshing dive into your own private swimming pool in your holiday villa in southern France. Who wouldn't be looking forward to that? Villa for You has a villa on the Côte d'Azur for everyone for a fantastic holiday. Experience all the beauty that the Côte d'Azur has to offer. White sandy beaches, an azure blue Mediterranean Sea, fashionable and cosy seaside resorts and colourful, deliciously smelling markets. Should we also tell you about that glass of rosé on the sunny terrace with that delicious bouillabaisse? Or have you already started looking forward to a holiday on the Côte d'Azur?

The Côte d'Azur is the sunniest region of southern France. The region covers the entire southern French coast, from Marseille to Menton, as far as Italy. Parts of the departments Bouche-du-Rhone, the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes are also included in this region. Between Menton and Nice lies the Principality of Monaco. The tax haven for the rich of the world and known for the presidential palace of the Grimaldis. As a Formula 1 enthusiast, you obviously think of Monaco at the Grand Prix of Monaco!

Villa for You has various types of accommodation on the Côte d'Azur. From a romantic village house among the locals, spacious holiday homes on a holiday park to detached villas with private pool and large garden. And all within an hour's drive of the long sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you will find the most beautiful seaside resorts, such as the well-known Saint-Tropéz, Sainte-Maxime, Cannes and Nice.

Attention beach lovers!

The Côte d'Azur is the most popular region of southern France and is known for its sunshine and beautiful beaches. Along the entire coast, there are small bays with intimate sandy beaches, such as in the Calanques of Cassis. But there are also large, popular beaches such as Plage Pampelonne near Ramatuelle/Saint-Tropez. On this 5-kilometre-long beach, you will find the most beautiful beach clubs such as the famous Club 55. There are also plenty of beach bars here for tasty snacks. There are many public beaches and nudist beaches where you can create your own paradise with your picnic basket and towel. The beach is for everyone!

Water sports enthusiasts can hire a sailing boat or go jet skiing, water skiing, snorkeling and parasailing. Walking paths run along the entire southern French coast. They are often called sentier des douaniers or sentier littoral.

In the 1970s, the French government decided that the Mediterranean Sea should be accessible to everyone. Because of this, the gardens of the most expensive villas could no longer reach the sea. Are you a bit curious? Come and have a peek at the gardens of gigantic villas while walking along the surf of the Mediterranean Sea. A great thing to do!

Then start at Brigitte Bardot's house by the sea on the Plage de Canebiers. Bring your four-legged friend along, because at Brigitte Bardot there's always a dog bowl ready for them! Then walk around the peninsula and admire the most expensive villas in the Parc de Saint-Tropez. Walk on towards Cap Tahiti.

Prefer an island in the sun? Then a day on the paradise island of L'ile de Porquerolles off the coast of Hyères is a must! A nice boat trip for the children and to the island. Let them bring their snorkeling gear!

Popular seaside resorts on the Côte d'Azur are:

• Saint-Tropez
• Sainte-Maxime
• Fréjus
• Cannes
• Nice

Route de soleil

The best-known road to southern France is the Route du Soleil or simply the road to the sun! We advise you to enjoy your holiday as soon as you get into the car. So, make a stopover in the beautiful Bourgogne! Stock up on good bottles of wine for a great start to your holiday!

Don't feel like spending the day in the car? Then book a flight! There are daily flights to Nice and several flights a week to Hyères-Toulon. You can also take the high-speed train from Amsterdam to Nice. You will have to change trains in Paris.

A delicious glass of rosé wine

We're still going to talk about that glass of rosé wine and that bouillabaisse. After all, that is part and parcel of a wonderful holiday on the Côte d'Azur! And we're not just talking about a glass of rosé wine here. The sunny Côte d'Azur is home to the best rosé in the world! Beautiful light pink in colour and perfect with all delicacies of the Côte d'Azur. A wonderful start as an aperitif together with a piece of Pissalidière. A delicious onion cake with anchovies. Subsequently, good company with a salade Niçoise as an entrée and excellent with the famous fish soup from Marseille, the bouillabaisse as the main meal. And finally, also delicious as dessert, Tarte Tropézienne. For the children, a glass of real Orangina, of course. You know it from Orangiiiiiina!

What is there to do on the Côte d'Azur?

The Côte d'Azur is known as a sunny destination and the beautiful beaches at the Mediterranean Sea are ideal for a beach holiday and boat trips! Also explore the cosy seaside resorts, art museums and enjoy the most beautiful views while walking. Fancy a game of golf? Then don't forget to bring your golf set to your rented villa. The Côte d'Azur and the French Riviera have the most beautiful golf courses. The wonderful golf courses where you can play are:

• Golf Club de Beauvallon
• Sainte-Maxime Golf
• Golf de L'Esterel
• Golf de Barbaroux
• Golf de Terre Blanche.

Here is a list of day trips that we are very excited about

Our top 10 daytrips are:

• Take the little ferry (the bateaux vert) from Sainte-Maxime and sail to Saint-Tropez! It' s a 20-minute trip amidst the luxury yachts and then you can take the most beautiful photos of Saint-Tropéz. Upon arrival, you can get an ice cream and stroll along the boulevard. Here you can contemplate the spectacle of the rich & famous.
• On Tuesdays and Saturdays, shop at Saint-Tropéz's lively market, found at the iconic Places des Lices.
• Stroll through the colourful and lively streets of vieux Nice and enjoy a plateaux fruits de mer at Le Café de Turin. It's finger-licking good!
• Admire beautiful works of art in art museums such as the Fondation Maeght and the art galleries in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
• Drive along the beautiful coastal road to Monaco and watch the Changing of the Guard at the palace. This daily ritual takes place around noon.
• Take a boat trip in the Venice of France, Port-Grimaud
• Enjoy the feeling of being on a real Bounty island on the Notre Dame beach in Porquerolles. You can reach this island by boat from Giens.
• Have lunch on the beach at Plage Gigaro near La Croix-Valmer.
• Drive along the coastal route from La Croix-Valmer to the flower village of Bormes-les-Mimosas. Enjoy the panoramic view on one of the cosy terraces with or without Pastis. This is a typical Provençal aniseed drink! Delicious!

Fun for young and old!

Of course, the Côte D'Azur is a child-friendly destination! Every child loves the beach and water fun! They can build sandcastles, play in the sea for hours, or make 100 different dips into the private pool at their holiday villa. But did you know that the Côte d'Azur is full of amusement parks, playgrounds, water parks and tree climbing parks as well? Here is a handy overview for a day out with the children!

• In Nice, on the Promenade de Paillon near the Place Massena, the many fountains make it fun for children to run around!
• In Sainte-Maxime, take the ferry to Saint-Tropéz or go on a 'submarine' where the children can see underwater!
• There is a large fun fair at the roundabout just before Saint-Tropez.
• There is also an Aqualand water park at Fréjus.
• Daredevils go to the mega water theme park at Vidauban. Here you will find a drop-in water jump!
• The little ones go to le bois de lutins, the tree climbing park in the dwarf forest, near Villeneuve-Loubet
• Speed freaks go karting in Hyères, Saint-Tropéz or Fréjus

There is so much to do on the Côte d'Azur! And how lovely it is to come home to your own villa with private pool after an adventure-filled day and light up the barbecue for a long summer evening. Guaranteed holiday fun for the whole family!