Menton, France
Menton, France Travel Diary
Menton is a beautiful little city on the French Riviera, two towns over from Monaco and right on the border of Italy. To the west, it borders the town of Roquebrune, and to the east Ventimiglia, Italy.
I ended up visiting three times during my 2 months in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The first time, I went with no particular plan in mind other than wandering around and taking pictures of whatever caught my eye. I had a great time exploring the city and found a few spots I knew I wanted to return to and shoot in the early morning light.
On that first visit, I took the bus from Villefranche, #600, which runs along the sea from Nice to Menton with spectacular views. I got off the bus at the casino in Menton and walked along the waterfront towards Old Town. I went out on the pier in the old port (Quai Impératrice Eugénie) and got the classic photo of Menton that everyone takes (below) 🙂 before spending time around the beach and then continuing to Old Town.
Menton, France
Menton, France
Plage des Sablettes
The Plage des Sablettes beach is located between the Old Port and Port Garavan, along the Quai Bonaparte and is supposedly the most shallow beach on the Riviera, so great for kids. I’ve seen it mentioned as a sandy beach, but I would describe it as small pebbles. It’s a very pretty beach with dreamy views of the Mediterranean and the Italian coastline.
There’s a really nice boardwalk that runs along the beach with pergolas and benches to relax on, shops that sell beachy stuff, and private beach clubs.
Menton, France
Old Town
Once it got too hot to be in the sun, I headed up to old town, and spent a lot of the afternoon wandering the narrow, winding streets. Many are so narrow that the sun is blocked out most of the time, so it was a bit cooler there.
I loved all the colors, and the little surprises I kept coming across around every corner.
And there are nice views from up there too.
Menton, France
Architecture
There is a lot of beautiful architecture and details everywhere in the city, not just in old town. And a huge mix of architectural styles.
A random mix of architecture and details (and palm trees 🙂) that caught my eye
Roof detail at The Casino Barrière
Below: Moorish-inspired architecture at Le Grand Hôtel d’Orient, a former luxury hotel for wealthy vacationers during the Belle Epoque period, now apartments, some of which are available as vacation rentals.
Below: The now closed Hotel Mondial. I love the Art Nouveau facade details!
Menton, France
Citrus
Menton has a subtropical microclimate and supposedly averages 316 days of sunshine/year. They are known for their citrus fruit and there’s a lemon festival in February-March every year with absolutely mind-blowing sculptures made out of citrus. I was there in June, so I missed that, but there was a horse show happening one of the times I was there, and they had this citrus creation in the arena.
Of course they also use the citrus for things other than sculptures. On my first visit, I came across Au Pays du Citron, a cute little shop with all things lemon (and mandarin, orange, etc.). One of the girls in the shop asked if I wanted to try the limoncello, and wow, it was the tastiest limoncello I have ever had. Dangerously good!
I went back to Au Pays du Citron on another visit and bought an ice cream (more of a granita, really) which was also delicious. Definitely make a stop there if you’re in town (and like citrus). Au Pays du Citron, 22 Rue Saint-Michel.
Menton, France
Flea Market / Antique store
Just by chance, I stumbled upon the most magnificent vintage / antique store / indoor flea market – L’usine Centre D’Antiquite Brocante – with room after room filled with cool, surprising, and also some slightly frightening stuff.
I love browsing stores like that although I hardly ever buy anything since it has to fit in my already packed to the brim suitcase. I do regret not getting at least one of the block printing stamps I found there though (image #3 below). 3 Rue du Général Gallieni.
Ice Coffee
I kept looking for ice coffee everywhere on the Riviera, nobody had it, and then I stopped in at this one restaurant in Menton where they said they did! I was so excited until they brought me this not very cold, and quite expensive, glass of whipped cream with the tiniest touch of coffee. I hate to say it, but if you want an American-style ice coffee in France, go to Starbucks (there isn’t one in Menton, but there are two in nearby Monaco).
Menton, France
Jean Cocteau
The artist Jean Cocteau spent a lot of time in Menton, where he among other things decorated the Salle des Mariages at City Hall. It’s supposedly really cool, and you can visit (for €2) as long as there isn’t a wedding going on. I tried, unsuccessfully, to get in and see it at least twice on each of my 3 visits to Menton. One time, there was a wedding in progress, the other times, it was “just closed” according to the staff. 🤷♀️ Jean Cocteau himself is quoted as saying: “See your disappointments as good fortune” so perhaps I should consider myself lucky… ?
Then there is the Jean Cocteau / Séverin Wunderman Collection museum, which was “temporarily” closed in 2018, after storm waves flooded the basement and part of the ground floor, damaging many pieces as well as the building itself. As of April 2026, it’s still closed.
The building was designed by French architect Rudy Ricciotti and it’s hard to miss. Do you think it’s cool-looking or just peculiar? I think it’s kind of cool!
Part of the collection was moved to the nearby Bastion, a small 1600s fort in the harbor that was already a Cocteau-museum. Jean Cocteau came across the building in 1957 and restored it himself. It opened as a museum in his honor in 1966, 3 years after he died. I didn’t go in, but it was a nice visit anyway; the fort is pretty, and there are a few mosaics by the artist outside.
There is a LOT more to see in Menton, and there are so many things I didn’t have time for, including the gardens. Oh well, next time!
The Prettiest French Riviera Travel Guide
Before I left the US, I bought the prettiest French Riviera travel guide: “Travels through the French Riviera” by Virginia Johnson. It has lots of great information and tips, and is illustrated with her beautiful watercolor paintings throughout. It’s hardcover, and makes a great coffee table book, or gift for a Riviera-loving friend.
Getting to Menton
If you’re staying in Nice, Menton makes a great day trip. You can take the #600 bus from Nice (or Villefranche-sur-Mer like I did, since I was staying there), or the train. The train is faster, but the bus ride is spectacular. It travels along the Basse Corniche, which runs along the sea the entire way and the scenery is amazing. Sit on the right side on the way to Menton for the best views, and get off the bus at the Casino stop in Menton. It’s very close to the beach and you can stroll along the water to the Cocteau Museum, Plage des Sablettes, Old Town, etc. Definitely my favorite way of getting there unless you’re in a hurry.
Menton Art prints
If there’s a particular image in this post that you would like as a print but don’t see in my store, just get in touch and let me know which image it is, and the size you would like. I’m happy to do a custom print whenever possible.
More French Riviera Travel Posts on the Blog
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