THE RIVIERA TRIANGLE: ÈZE, SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT & VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
Monaco sits at the center of one of the most beautiful coastal stretches in the world. Within minutes, you can reach three Riviera jewels — Èze, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and Villefranche-sur-Mer — each offering a different expression of Mediterranean elegance.
Together, they form The Riviera Triangle: a curated route of cliffside views, sunlit villas, quiet coves, pastel harbors, and unforgettable sea horizons.
This is your MonacoVITA guide to the Côte d’Azur at its most cinematic.
⭐ ÈZE — THE CLIFFSIDE VILLAGE ABOVE THE SEA
🌤 9:00 — Morning Arrival in Èze Village
Perched high above the Mediterranean, Èze Village feels suspended between sky and sea.
Walk its narrow stone alleys, lined with bougainvillea and artisan boutiques, until you reach the panoramic terrace.
Everything here is bathed in morning light — golden, calm, and breathtaking.
🌿 10:00 — The Exotic Garden of Èze
At the summit of the village, the Jardin Exotique opens onto one of the most iconic views on the Riviera.
Terraced paths lead to viewpoints overlooking the curve of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the deep-blue sea below.
Soft breeze, warm stone, Mediterranean plants — a perfect quiet-luxury moment.
☕ 11:00 — Coffee With a View
Stop at a terrace café overlooking the bay.
Order a cappuccino or citrus drink and simply absorb the altitude — Èze is one of the most peaceful places to pause before descending toward the sea.
⭐ SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT — THE MEDITERRANEAN AT ITS MOST ELEGANT
🌅 12:00 — Head to Cap-Ferrat: Paloma Beach & Clifftop Paths
Cap-Ferrat is the Riviera’s quiet-luxury peninsula — cinematic, serene, and deeply Mediterranean.
Choose your experience:
Paloma Beach
Pebble shoreline, turquoise water, and a terrace restaurant overlooking the bay.
The Coastal Path
A gentle walk tracing the edge of the peninsula, passing pine trees, hidden beaches, and luminous sea views.
Both capture the Riviera’s softest, most refined beauty.
🏛️ 14:00 — Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
One of the Côte d’Azur’s most iconic sights.
The pink Italianate villa, surrounded by themed gardens, feels like stepping into a Riviera dream — fountains, rose terraces, palms, and sweeping sea views from every angle.
Take your time here; this is an essential Riviera experience.
🍽️ 15:30 — Late Lunch on the Peninsula
Choose from one of the peninsula’s elegant addresses:
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Paloma Beach Restaurant — refined Mediterranean seaside dining
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La Table du Royal (St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) — terrace overlooking the gardens
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Club Dauphin (Chevre d’Or, seasonal) — poolside luxury with sea views
⭐ VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER — THE PICTURE-PERFECT BAY
🌤 17:00 — Golden Hour in Villefranche
Arrive in Villefranche as the light begins to soften.
The bay is one of the deepest natural harbors in the Mediterranean — calm, luminous, and framed by pastel houses cascading toward the sea.
Walk the narrow lanes, explore the old citadel, and enjoy the waterfront promenade.
🍹 18:30 — Aperitivo by the Water
Choose a sunlit terrace along the harbor for an early-evening drink.
The view of boats swaying gently in the bay creates a cinematic end to your Riviera escape.
🌙 20:00 — Return to Monaco
Drive or take the coastal route back toward the Principality.
The road curves along the cliffs, offering night views over the entire coastline — a peaceful, glowing finale.
✨ CONCLUSION
The Riviera Triangle reveals the Côte d’Azur’s most poetic contrasts: cliffside villages, pine-lined peninsulas, pastel harbors, and quiet Mediterranean magic.
Just minutes from Monaco, each destination offers a different perspective of the region’s beauty — refined, intimate, and profoundly atmospheric.
