The Ultimate French Riviera Roadbook: 5 Must-Visit Stops to Experience in a Classic Car

There are few places in the world where the joy of driving meets the majesty of the landscape quite like the French Riviera. Known for its azure waters, cliff-hugging roads, and cinematic views, this iconic stretch of Mediterranean coastline begs to be explored behind the wheel of a classic car.

Stop 1: Nice – The Gateway to the Riviera

Start your engine in Nice!

Nice is more than just the Riviera’s capital—it's the soul of the coast. Begin your road trip in the old town (Vieux Nice), where cobbled streets and pastel buildings offer a warm-up to the beauty ahead. Grab an espresso at a streetside café, then cruise along the legendary Promenade des Anglais, where palm trees sway and the sea sparkles beside you.

Ride Classics Tip: Sunrise is pure magic on the Promenade. Drive slow, let the early morning light bounce off your chrome bumpers, and savor the stillness before the coast awakens.

Stop 2: Èze – The Cliffside Jewel

Drive time: 30 minutes from Nice via the Grande Corniche

Climb up the winding Grande Corniche, one of the most dramatic coastal roads in Europe, and you’ll reach Èze, a medieval village perched 400 meters above sea level. The road here was immortalized by Grace Kelly in *To Catch a Thief*—and it’s easy to see why. With panoramic vistas at every turn and hairpin bends that test your steering finesse, this stretch is made for driving purists.

Once in Èze, park the car and hike to the exotic gardens for a breathtaking view of the coastline. Don’t rush—this is a place for slow steps and long looks.

Ride Classics Tip: Consider a short stop at La Chèvre d’Or, a château-turned-hotel with one of the best terraces on the Riviera. Even if it's just for a drink, the view is worth the splurge.

Stop 3: Monte Carlo – Elegance on Display

Drive time: 20 minutes from Èze

As your classic car growls into the city-state of Monaco, the roads become tighter, the buildings shinier, and the stakes higher. Monte Carlo is the playground of the rich, and its streets are a rolling museum of automotive beauty. Take your time driving around the Grand Prix circuit’s iconic corners—Mirabeau, the Tunnel, and La Rascasse—then pull up near the **Casino de Monte-Carlo** for a photo op that’ll make your car look like a million bucks.

Ride Classics Tip: Visit the Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco—a museum showcasing Prince Rainier III’s personal car collection. It’s a pilgrimage for car lovers.

Stop 4: Saint-Paul-de-Vence – The Artist’s Retreat

Drive time: 1 hour from Monaco (via A8, then scenic D436)

Swap the sea breeze for a taste of Provence as you head inland to Saint-Paul-de-Vence. This walled hilltop village is a serene contrast to the glitz of Monte Carlo. Its cobbled lanes, art galleries, and bougainvillaea-covered façades have inspired generations of artists from Chagall to Picasso.

Arrive in the late afternoon, when the sun warms the stones and casts golden light across the vineyards. Park your car outside the ramparts and wander through time.

Ride Classics Tip: Dine at La Colombe d’Or, an inn where the walls are hung with original artworks traded for meals and stays. It’s living history served with rosé.

Stop 5: Saint-Tropez – The Final Sunset

Drive time: 2.5 hours via the A8 and coastal D559 (or take the Route des Crêtes for drama)

No Riviera roadbook would be complete without Saint-Tropez. Once a sleepy fishing village, now a legend of luxury and freedom, it’s the ideal end to your classic car odyssey. Roll in via the coastal road, and you’ll understand why Brigitte Bardot made it her playground. The narrow streets, the old port, the beaches—it’s a place that still lives by its own rhythm.

Ride Classics Tip: Park outside the town center (the streets are tight) and stroll in. At sunset, take your car for one final spin along the **Route des Plages**—top down, scarf on, music up.

Final Thoughts: Drive It Like You Mean It

The French Riviera was made to be savored slowly, and no modern machine can match the romance of a classic car hugging the bends of coastal roads, sunlight dancing across its curves. This journey isn’t about getting there fast—it’s about feeling every moment: the smell of lavender and sea salt, the thrill of an uphill turn, the silence of golden hour in a forgotten square.

So bring the right car, the right playlist, and someone who loves the road as much as you do. The Côte d’Azur awaits.

Roadbook Essentials:

Car: Pre-1980s preferred. Maintenance check mandatory.

Best Season: Late spring (May–June) or early fall (September).

Navigation: GPS is helpful, but paper maps give character.

Luggage: Travel light. Trunks are notoriously small.

Soundtrack: Françoise Hardy, Serge Gainsbourg, or Miles Davis.

Bon voyage!