Travel Guide
Move Over St. Tropez! 4 French Riviera Alternatives That Are Cheaper & Less Crowded
Apr
If you’re planning a sunny getaway to France this summer, St. Tropez is likely to be at the top of your list, and we get it: the ocher-colored facades, the turquoise seas, and the perfect combination of traditional French and Southern European cuisine…
You just can’t go wrong with it, except for the surging July crowds and the expensiveness of it all.
Listen, going to this part of France in the peak season, you better have a big budget, and we’re talking $191 per day at a minimum—just check these Budget Your Trip estimates.
But hey, as a budget traveler, you don’t need to feel discouraged from village-hopping around the French Riviera, especially these 4 St. Tropez alternatives:
Menton
The very last stop in France before you reach the Italian border, Menton is often referred to as the most colorful town in France, with its brightly-painted houses on the waterfront, landmark yellow-washed belfry, towering above it all, and plethora of Franco-Italian eateries.
It’s a storybook cover come to life, especially when seen from its rocky jetty, and the best part is, though it is undoubtedly popular, especially as a day trip for Nice residents, and Italians living in Liguria, it has far smaller crowds than a jam-packed St. Tropez.
Beautiful townscape aside, lemon gelato is Menton’s greatest triumph, and you can find it for as cheap as $3 in any gelateria on the marina.
As for a reasonably-priced restaurant, there’s Le Petit Port, serving succulent octopus salads and other fresh seafood, usually under $25.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Located directly southwest of Monaco, one of the priciest destinations in the French Riviera, you’d think Villefranche-sur-Mer would be equally boujee and cater exclusively to Russian millionaires and yacht owners, like its neighbor, but that’s not necessarily the case.
It has a more laid-back vibe, with a modern coastal promenade lined with brasseries and shops.
Its Old Town has retained much of that 1950s, vintage vibe: you know, the muted tones, floral arches, and all, except it has none of Monaco’s surging crowds or stuck-up attitude.
A 3-star Hotel la Citadelle will set you back by $175 per night as a couple this May, or an acceptable $87.50 each, and it’s only a few steps from the scenic, sand-and-pebble Plage de la Darse.
As for a dinner spot that won’t break the bank (we’re talking $23—$34) try La Baleine Joyeuse.
Still one of the best tartare beef and fries we’ve had anywhere in France.
Antibes
An ancient resort town founded by Greeks in immemorial times, Antibes is known locally for its walled historic center, which has remained largely untouched since the 16th century, and lively Port Vauban, where luxury yachts usually moor for the day.
It is quintessential French Riviera:
Skinny buildings with green shutters coming in every imaginable pastel hue, bougainvillea-framed alleys, and artisanal ice cream shops specializing in unique flavors—have you even been to Antibes if you haven’t tried Gelateria Del Porto’s glace à la lavande?
Antibes is also incredibly well-placed on the coast, halfway between Nice and Cannes, yet it can feel comparatively quieter as it has not achieved the same level of Instagram fame, not to mention its relative inexpensiveness: renting a private room in a seafront apartment will cost you $91 as a duo.
Porquerolles
Something most tourists don’t actually know is that there is a collective of islands, the Hyères, lying justt off the South of France, and if you’re craving absolute peace, and an escape from the hectic scenes of the Riviera, Porquerolles is where it’s at.
Covering an area of only 4.84 square miles, and with a permanent population of around 200 inhabitants (multiplied by 50 in summer), it is a natural oasis offering secluded sandy beaches bathed by crystal-clear seas—Plage Notre-Dame is easily one of the most beautiful in Europe—and authentic culture.
Its main town, the village of Porquerolles, straddles the tiny harbor, and it exudes Provençal charm:
Picture rows of ochre-tone dwellings, and narrow streets flanked by a handful of locally-owned bakeries and bike rentals.
Porquerolles is tiny, and there is a limited number of accommodation providers on the island, with prices ranging between $286 and a whopping $395 per night.
It’s worth noting, however, that it is often visited as a day trip from Hyères, a town on the mainland, where studio rentals start from a much cheaper $98.
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