Last Visited: September 2026
Is Menton worth visiting? Yes, every single time. For me, it’s the most colourful and picturesque town along the Riviera. Granted, I’ve claimed Antibes as my favourite on more than one occasion, but Menton is the showstopper.
I’ve been visiting the Côte d’Azur for decades and have been lucky enough to call it home for the last five years. I live closer to Cannes than to Menton, about one hour’s drive away from my home, but I make the trip as often as I can, mostly in summer.
Whether you come in the heat of summer or in the quieter months, give it at least a day and you will see just how charming Menton is.
Quick Facts – Is Menton Worth Visiting?
✅ Worth it? — Yes, every single time
🎨 Why — the most colourful town on the Riviera, with a sandy beach beside the old town
🪜 Don’t miss — the Rampes Saint-Michel, then keep climbing to the cemetery
🍋 Lemon stop — frozen lemon sorbet, La Tarte Mentonnaise, €10
🚆 Getting there — ZOU! train from Nice, 25–40 min, €7.70
🅿️ Parking — Vieille Ville – Sablettes, €16.20 a day
🗓️ Best time — May–June or September–October
⏱️ Day trip or stay? — a day is enough; stay a night for the walk to Italy
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Who will love Menton, and who won’t?
Menton suits travellers who want to visit a proper French old town with narrow streets, beautiful buildings and superb vistas, but then would equally love to spend the afternoon relaxing at the beach. Just 100 metres from the ‘Rampes Saint-Michel’ you can be on the beach.
It is less well suited to people with limited mobility as many of the sites worth visiting are accessed by staircases or steeper paths. However, Menton’s recent renovation of the Promenade de la Mer (unveiled in July 2024) is wonderfully accessible, and a pleasant walk around the beach, framed by the colourful houses of the old town.
Everyone I know who has visited Menton has come back saying how much they loved it.
What is Menton actually like?
Menton is one of the most colourful towns on the Côte d’Azur and its charm strikes you as soon as you arrive. There are vibrant colours everywhere – on the buildings, in the flower displays and all around the town. Contrasted with the blue sky of the Côte d’Azur, it’s real Riviera beauty and a place that I never get tired of being immersed in.
The beach – Plage des Sablettes – is right at the boundary of the old town, just 100 metres from the Rampes Saint-Michel. It is a sandy beach, hence the name ‘sablettes’ and entry to the water is shallow making it perfect for lazy beach afternoons with refreshing dips into the Mediterranean to cool off. It is where I love to go, after spending the mornings wandering through the old town and up to the Cimetière du Vieux-Château for the views over the bay.
Being so close to the border the presence of Italy is evident all around you, in the buildings and not least when looking along the coast towards Ventimiglia.
One of the most best things about Menton, if you are willing to walk a few kilometres (5km out and back in total), is that you can walk the entire bay (Plage des Sablettes and Avenue Porte de France), and then cross over the border into Italy on foot. In fact I have actually cycled from Menton across to Ventimiglia, the first market town that you reach once you cross the border. It’s a 24km round trip, done on my own bike but it is possible to rent bikes in Menton to ride the coastal route.
What has changed in Menton in the last few years?
With a history as a frontier town dating back to the 14th Century and architecture that can be dated back to the 1600s, you might expect little to have changed since then in comparison to the previous few hundred years.
However Menton has seen considerable investment in the last few years. A €6.8million development of the walkway (Promenade de la Mer) around the Plage des Sablettes has made a real improvement to Menton’s sea-front. It is a wonderful pedestrianised zone to enjoy the beach, walk and observe daily life.
Recently opened (February 2026) in Menton is La Tarte Mentonnaise at 24 rue Saint-Michel. It is hands down the best frozen lemon sorbet I have ever eaten and is one of the reasons I love to return to Menton regularly. It is well worth the ten minute queue and the €10 price tag.
What is there to do in Menton?
If you’re happy exploring on foot and don’t mind stairs, Menton has some of the best views on the Riviera.
Whilst there are other sights to see, from the Jean Cocteau Museum to the Val Rahmeh gardens and the market at Les Halles, this isn’t a full guide. These are the three I’d climb for if you only had a day.
Rampes Saint-Michel
One of the most well-known sights in Menton is the Rampes Saint-Michel. This is essentially a staircase constructed in 1753 connecting Rue Longue to the Basilica Saint-Michel. In 1941 the staircase was extended further down to the Quai Bonaparte.
The baroque style staircase theatrically turns as you ascend giving sweeping views across the Mediterranean. I particularly love the deep orange colours of the staircase and the surrounding buildings.
It is little wonder that by the afternoon it is always packed full of people hoping to get the perfect shot. My advice, as always, is to go early (before 11am) if you want to experience ‘les rampes’ in relative peace.
Basilica Saint-Michel-Archange
Once you reach the top of the Rampes Saint-Michel you will find yourself in the square before the Basilica Saint-Michel-Archange. This magnificent building has an imposing baroque façade and towering campanile.
It’s worth timing your visit with the very limited opening hours as the interior is even better than the outside. The nave, with its majestic ceiling decorations, and a copy of a piece by Raphael, is unlike anything else I have seen on the Côte d’Azur.
⏰ Opening times: Monday to Friday, 3pm to 5pm; Saturday, 10am to 12pm and 3pm to 5pm; Sunday, mass at 11am
Le Cimetière du Vieux-Château
Most visitors stop at the Basilica. Keep climbing. For the best views in Menton wind through the narrow streets of the old town to the cemetery of the old château. Towering above the town, this cemetery is renowned as much for its views as it is for its elaborate tombs, and famous ‘residents’.
In the 19th century Menton became known as a haven for patients of tuberculosis after Dr James Henry Bennet arrived in Menton and recovered from his illness, thanks in large part to the clean sea air. People arrived from all over Europe hoping to recover from the sickness. Sadly, not all of them did.
The stories of many are told by the tombstones here in the graveyard. Expect to see the grand Russian Orthodox chapel of Prince Troubetzkoy (aide-de-camp to the Tsar), and the tomb of Janina Lewandowska, a young Polish woman who died here aged just 27. Her marble figure rising out of the sarcophagus (a design by the sculptor Donato Barcaglia) is one of the best-known tombs on the Riviera. You can also find the headstone of William Webb Ellis, the man credited with inventing the game of rugby.
For me the most poignant was the gravestone of Alice Farquharson, dead at just 12 years of age, a long way from home in the United Kingdom. She arrived in Menton the same year that Dr Bennet published his book.
As well as the tombs, the views stretch over the bay and towards the Italian frontier and Ventimiglia beyond.
⏰ Opening times:
April-October – 7am-7pm
November-March – 8am-5pm
Entry is free
Worth The Detour: Sainte-Agnès
The village of Sainte-Agnès is the highest coastal village in Europe and it has rich history both above and below ground.
Whilst it is close to Menton as the crow flies, It’s a good 30-minute drive along a winding, scenic road, so a car makes it easiest, though there is a bus from Menton’s bus station. However, if you’re staying longer it is possible to hike or cycle there from Menton, but this would be a full day excursion.
I love Sainte-Agnès as it is a medieval village complete with castle ruins as well as the Fort de Sainte-Agnès, which was built before the Second World War. It was designed to house around 350 men underground, self-sufficient for three months. In 1940 the fort had a full garrison and was able to stave off invading forces; over 1000 shells were fired at Italian positions and helped to block the Italian invasion of Menton, contributing to the only French victory of the 1940 Alpine campaign.
Find my full guide to Sainte-Agnès and other perched villages of the Côte d’Azur here.
How far is Menton from Nice, and is the train the easy way?
Menton is around 20km from Nice as the crow flies. For most people visiting the Côte d’Azur, the coastal train is the best way to get there, and it runs past some of the best views on the Riviera. The one you want is the regional train, branded ZOU!. There are more than 60 a day, up to every 15 minutes at peak times, and the journey takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on the stops. The first train leaves Nice just before 6am, and the last one back from Menton is just after midnight. Trains will usually show their final destination so look out for Vintimille (the French name for Ventimiglia in Italy).
Tickets are €7.70 each way (at the time of writing). The price is fixed, so there’s no need to book ahead: buy at the machine in the station or on SNCF Connect.
As I live up in the villages surrounding Grasse, I usually travel to Menton by car. I always park at the Parking Vieille Ville: Sablettes. It is easy to access, and rates are reasonable. Expect to pay €4.70 for 2 hours or €16.20 for the whole day.
Day trip or stay the night?
Menton works well as a day trip from Nice. A day is enough for the old town, the Rampes Saint-Michel, the cemetery and an afternoon on the beach.
Stay a night and you get more of it: experience the morning as the town wakes up with coffee at the harbour. You’d also have time for the 5km return walk along the bay and across the border into Italy.
Where I’d Stay
Villa Genesis – Great for a luxury stay. It is beautifully appointed just 15 minutes on foot from Menton Old Town. The swimming pool is a tranquil spot for relaxing after an afternoon of sightseeing.
Hôtel Gabriel – In the heart of the Old Town, Hôtel Gabriel is a recently renovated boutique hotel and one of the best renovations I have seen on the Riviera. The Neo Riviera style captures the essence of Menton well.
When is the best time to visit Menton?
Menton is a year round destination thanks largely to the Mediterranean climate – the Côte d’Azur enjoys around 300 days of sunshine per year.
Most visitors come during the peak summer months. It can get busy in July and August and you can expect the main sights to feel more crowded. In February each year an estimated 200,000 people visit for the famous Fête du Citron.
I love the shoulder seasons on the Côte d’Azur, May and June before the summer crowds arrive, and September and October after they’ve gone, when the Parisians have returned north and the children are back at school.
I last visited in September: the sunlight bathing the colours of the old town in the morning and then an afternoon swimming at the Plage des Sablettes.
FAQs
Is Menton worth visiting?
Yes, every single time. It’s the most colourful town on the Riviera, with a proper French old town of narrow streets and staircases just 100 metres from a sandy beach. Climb the Rampes Saint-Michel in the morning, visit the old castle cemetery for the best views in town, and spend the afternoon at the Plage des Sablettes.
Where is Menton?
Menton is the last town on the French Riviera before the Italian border, east of Monaco, in the Alpes-Maritimes. Ventimiglia, the first Italian town across the border, is close enough to reach on foot along the coast.
How far is Menton from Nice?
Menton is around 20km from Nice as the crow flies and roughly 30km by road. The coastal train takes 25 to 40 minutes, depending on the stops, and costs €7.70 each way at the time of writing.
Is Menton a good day trip from Nice?
Yes. A day is enough for the old town, the Rampes Saint-Michel, the cemetery and an afternoon on the beach. Trains run more than 60 times a day, from just before 6am, and the last train back to Nice leaves Menton around midnight.
Is there parking in Menton?
Yes. I always park at the Parking Vieille Ville – Sablettes, right in the town centre beside the old town and the beach. Expect to pay €4.70 for two hours or €16.20 for the day.
Is Menton expensive?
Menton is comparable to Nice in terms of cost for drinks and snacks. However, many of the best things cost nothing: the Rampes Saint-Michel, the basilica and the old castle cemetery are all free. The train from Nice is €7.70, and a frozen lemon filled with sorbet at La Tarte Mentonnaise is €10.
Can you take the train from Menton to Italy?
Yes. The same coastal line continues across the border to Ventimiglia. You can also walk there along the bay, or cycle it, as I have, a 24km round trip.
The Wrap Up – Is Menton Worth Visiting?
Short answer: Yes.
Many of the main sights in town are free to visit. Start by wandering the streets of the old town, then climb the Rampes Saint-Michel and visiting the Basilica Saint-Michel, and the cemetery of the old château. Stop for the best frozen lemon sorbet I have ever eaten at La Tarte Mentonnaise, and then head off to the Plage des Sablettes to relax in the afternoon sun.
If Menton is your kind of place Antibes will be too; check out my full guide of things to do in Antibes.
Menton is one of my favourite towns to visit along the Côte d’Azur. In fact I think it is the real showstopper of the Riviera.
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Written by Richard Hoskisson
After 22 years based in Dubai, I’m now settled on the French Riviera, with long stretches in Crete each summer and Cape Town each winter. I write candid, first-hand travel guides from wherever I actually am.