Southern France "Special Forces" Guide | Nice Marseille

Finally visited the glamorous-sounding southern France! A tight 4-day itinerary, but with a "special forces" pace, you can soak up all the highlights of the French Riviera 📍 Nice · The Angel-Kissed Blue ▪️ Jardin Exotique d’Eze (Eze Botanical Garden) 💡 Highly recommend evening visits! Golden sunset over cacti, with panoramic Mediterranean views from the cliff-top that take your breath away The garden clings to a cliff, where succulents and the blue coast create a stunning contrast. Note: It closes at 18:30, so 2 hours is plenty. ▪️ Château de Nice (Castle Hill) There’s an elevator, but we climbed it twice—once from the old town in the morning, and again from the coast at dusk. It’s the best spot for panoramic shots of Baie des Anges . Dusk light is softest, and the hill has beautiful waterfall views. ▪️ Vieux Nice (Old Town) Pastel-colored houses and narrow lanes offer a peek into local life. ▪️ Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels) A 7-km crescent-shaped bay with gray pebble beaches. Rent a blue lounge chair if time allows. Try Italian restaurant La Favola—their seafood pasta is cheap and generous. 📍 Monaco · A Quick Glimpse We hit F1 road closures and heavy rain, so it was a quick visit. The Prince’s Palace guard change (starts at 11:55) is optional. The Monte Carlo Casino has a lineup of luxury cars outside—dress formally to enter the main hall. 📍 Cannes · Half a Day of Stardom ▪️ Palais des Festivals et des Congrès (Red Steps) No need to linger—snap a photo and move on. ▪️ Le Suquet (Old Town) The hilltop offers sweeping views of Cannes Bay . Stairs and benches along the way make perfect spots to admire the sea. 📍 Marseille · Wild, Rustic Beauty 💡 Take the little train! The uphill route (€8 round-trip) covers all the highlights. ▪️ Marseille Old Town Colorful murals and art shops are charming —small oil paintings cost €25. ▪️ Cathédrale La Major & Notre-Dame de la Garde Cathédrale La Major shines with marble (, stunning from land and sea. Notre-Dame de la Garde, atop a hill, overlooks the entire city. ▪️ Vieux-Port (Old Port) The heart of Marseille ), lined with restaurants and cafés—don’t miss the bouillabaisse. ▪️ Château d’If & Île Ratoneau The prison island from The Count of Monte Cristo! Ferries run hourly (€11), but it was closed when we visited, so we went to Île Ratoneau instead—full of wild charm. 🚌 Transportation Tips Cities in southern France are connected by train—travel in one direction for efficiency. Nice and Marseille were the most stunning: one as polished as a postcard, the other raw with vitality. The choice is yours! #SouthernFranceTravel #FrenchRiviera #NiceTravelGuide #MarseilleTravel #CannesTravel #NiceBotanicalGarden #MonacoTravel