Lemons, lagoons, and pastel-perfect lanes
Menton is the French Riviera’s sunny little wink right on the Italian border, where pastel houses tumble down to the sea and lemon trees act like local celebrities. Start in Vieux-Menton, climbing the honey-coloured lanes to the Basilica of Saint-Michel-Archange for views that make you forget your phone has other apps. Then drift down to the Promenade du Soleil for a palm-lined stroll, before claiming a spot on Les Sablettes beach, one of the area’s gentler, family-friendly stretches.
Got a culture itch? Seek out Jean Cocteau’s seaside stamp on town, from the Bastion to the painted Wedding Hall, then snack your way through the covered market for socca, olives and anything involving citrus. If you’re planning to go in late winter, Menton turns up the volume with the Fête du Citron, where giant sculptures and parades are built from oranges and lemons.
When evening arrives, order seafood with a side of sea breeze, or go full Riviera with a slow dinner on a terrace in the old town. Menton’s also brilliantly placed for day trips: hop on the train to Monaco or Nice, then come back for a calmer nightcap. In Menton, the big-city buzz is optional; the gelato is not, ever.
Explore our map of Menton