Quai Napoleon III in Menton, France
Staying in Nice for a week and thinking about which neighboring towns to visit along the French Rivera? Be sure to consider Menton during your vacation in Nice! Nestled in between mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, Menton, shimmers and shines as a coastal paradise! Menton boasts the warmest climate of France and the town’s blissful beaches are a popular getaway spot for both French and Italian locals. Since Menton is positioned along the French-Italian border, the regional influence of Italian culture intermixes with French traditions. Even in peak season, this charming seaside town is free of tourist masses and a spot not to miss out on!
How to get to Menton from Nice
From Nice Ville Station, Jason and I took the SNCF train to Menton and arrived in under 40 minutes. We purchased our tickets the day of on the GoEuro App and simply kept a screenshot of the tickets to scan before entering the turnstiles in the station. During the enjoyable six Euro ride, the air conditioned train charted us between mountains, revealing incredible seaside cliff views. Once we arrived to Menton, we headed straight to the coast! Since we didn’t research the city much ahead of time, we adventured to the beach wanting to take photos with the insta famous colorful buildings!
Where to begin a day trip in Menton
When first arriving to Menton, don’t let the surrounding area of the train station let you down! At first, the town may seem residential and a bit rundown, but head straight to the waterfront! Before transitioning away from wifi, set your Google Maps with directions to the Promenade du Soleil, the colorful coast of the city! The city is nicknamed “The Pearl Of France” and the beach boulevard confirms why!
How to get to the Instagram Spot in Menton
As Jason and I walked along the beach boulevard, we enjoyed the aromas from the beach side cafes! Unsure of the exact location of the “insta spot,” we kept walking along the beach side and eventually found the spot just past the lighthouse and marina! The actual name of the spot is Quai Napoleon III and here is the Google Maps location! Once we finished taking a few photos and videos, we headed to the town square and stopped for some lavender flavored gelato before scoping out a dinner spot!
How to return to Nice from Menton
After dinner, we headed to the train station and bought tickets from a kiosk for our return back to Nice. Since Menton is a quiet town without hordes of tourists, we easily purchased our return tickets. Just as a heads up, the ticketing system is a bit strange in the smaller cities! On our ride home, no one even asked for our physical tickets or a PDF on our phones!
If you’re planning on vacationing in Nice, be sure to add this oceanside escape to a day trip!
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