A French Riviera Garden Festival tour invites you to wander through the Mediterranean’s most enchanting gardens, from Hyères to Menton. This 10-day self-drive itinerary, designed for English-speaking travelers, celebrates the region’s botanical heritage with visits to Hyères gardens, Villa Ephrussi gardens, and Menton’s garden city. Experience a Grasse perfume workshop and explore Porquerolles Island’s artistic landscapes. Stay in charming 3-star or 4-star hotels and immerse yourself in the Riviera’s floral and cultural allure.
Why Choose This Garden Festival Tour?
This itinerary is perfect for garden enthusiasts and culture lovers seeking a blend of botanical beauty and unique experiences. The French Riviera Garden Festival (adaptable outside festival dates) highlights ephemeral and remarkable gardens, while Hyères gardens and Villa Ephrussi gardens offer timeless elegance. A Grasse perfume workshop and Porquerolles Island’s Villa Carmignac add sensory and artistic depth. With luxurious accommodations and curated activities, this tour ensures a seamless, blooming adventure.
Practical Information for Your Trip
What to Expect on Your Garden Tour
This 10-day itinerary spans roughly 300 km from Hyères to Menton, requiring a rental car for flexibility. You’ll stay in charming 3-star or 4-star hotels, with breakfast and garden entrance fees included. Spring (March-May) or fall (September-October) offers ideal weather for garden visits, though the program adapts year-round. Activities like the Grasse perfume workshop involve light walking, suitable for most. All key experiences are pre-arranged for a hassle-free journey.
Itinerary
Hyères’ Garden Welcome
Your French Riviera Garden Festival tour begins in Hyères, arriving via Toulon-Hyères Airport or train station. Check into a 4-star hotel in the heart of Hyères, a city famed for its 19th-century villas and gardens. Spend the evening strolling the historic streets, where aristocratic palaces hint at the Riviera’s botanical legacy. Settle into your luxurious accommodation, ready to explore the region’s floral treasures over the next ten days.
Porquerolles Island’s Art and Gardens
After breakfast, enjoy a free morning exploring Hyères gardens, where Victorian-era villas boast lush landscapes. In the afternoon, take a shuttle to Porquerolles Island, a car-free haven, to visit Villa Carmignac’s contemporary art collection and open-air sculpture gardens. Wander the island’s trails, framed by Mediterranean flora, before returning to Hyères by boat. Relax at your hotel, reflecting on the day’s blend of art and nature.
Saint Tropez to Cannes
Drive to Port Grimaud, a canal-lined town with Provençal charm, and take a water taxi to Saint Tropez, soaking in its celebrity allure and vibrant port. Optionally, visit the Rayol Botanical Garden en route, a 20-hectare “Remarkable Garden” with global Mediterranean flora. After a free lunch in Saint Tropez, return to Port Grimaud and continue to Cannes, checking into a 4-star hotel for three nights, poised for the Garden Festival’s floral displays.
Grasse’s Perfume and Gardens
Journey to Grasse for a perfume workshop, crafting a 100 ml eau de cologne with citrus and orange blossom notes, leaving with your creation and a diploma. Tour the historic perfumery factory, then explore Grasse’s ephemeral gardens, part of the Garden Festival’s competition (or year-round remarkable gardens). Return to Cannes, where your boutique hotel offers a restful retreat after a day of sensory delights and floral inspiration.
Cannes’ Festival Gardens
Spend a free day in Cannes, wandering its remarkable and ephemeral gardens showcased in the Garden Festival. Stroll the Croisette’s “Walk of Stars” or relax on the beach, soaking in the Riviera’s glamour. Optionally, join a private guided tour focusing on Cannes’ historic palaces and gardens. With no set plans, immerse in the city’s floral artistry, returning to your 4-star hotel for a tranquil evening amid the festival’s vibrant energy.
Antibes’ Coastal Charm
Drive to Antibes-Juan-les-Pins, a Riviera gem between Nice and Cannes. Explore the Garden Festival’s ephemeral gardens or visit Cap d’Antibes’ coastal trail, a serene path through prestigious parklands. Discover Antibes’ historic old town or Juan-les-Pins’ lively cafés, then continue to Nice, checking into a 4-star hotel for two nights. Settle in, ready to uncover Nice’s botanical and cultural treasures in the heart of the Riviera.
Nice’s Floral Markets and Gardens
Wander Nice’s Promenade des Anglais and Cours Saleya market, brimming with flowers and local specialties like socca. Visit the Garden Festival’s ephemeral gardens or explore year-round botanical sites. Stop by Florian Confectionery on the old port to taste crystallized flowers, a Riviera delicacy. With a free afternoon, soak in Nice’s vibrant colors and Mediterranean charm, returning to your charming hotel for a restful evening.
Villa Ephrussi and Monaco
Drive to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat for a self-guided tour of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a Renaissance-style palace with nine exquisite gardens overlooking Villefranche Bay. Savor a gourmet break at its tea room, shaded by orange trees. Continue to Monaco, exploring its lush gardens and Casino Square’s elegance. Arrive in Menton, checking into a 3-star hotel for two nights, poised to discover the garden city’s subtropical allure.
Menton’s Garden City
Spend a free day in Menton, a garden city nestled between Italy and Monaco, famed for its subtropical microclimate. Explore the Garden Festival’s ephemeral gardens or year-round botanical havens, wandering ochre alleys warmed by the sun. Menton’s serene charm and vibrant history unfold in its flower-lined squares and historic sites, offering a peaceful finale to your tour. Return to your hotel, savoring the Riviera’s preserved Eden.
Farewell to the Riviera
After breakfast, reflect on your French Riviera Garden Festival tour, from Hyères gardens’ elegance to Menton’s garden city charm. Savor memories of Villa Ephrussi gardens, the Grasse perfume workshop, and Porquerolles Island’s artistry. Depart from Menton, leaving the Riviera’s floral splendor behind but carrying its scents and colors with you. Extend your journey to Monaco or Italy, or return home, enchanted by the Mediterranean’s blooms.
How to Prepare for Your Botanical Escape
Pack comfortable clothing for mild Mediterranean days, sturdy shoes for garden strolls, and a hat for sun protection. Bring a camera for Villa Ephrussi gardens and a notebook for the Grasse perfume workshop. Basic French phrases enhance local interactions, though English is common.
Expect leisurely exploration with ample time to savor Menton’s garden city charm and Porquerolles Island’s landscapes. An appreciation for nature and art will enrich your Riviera experience.
Conclusion: A Blooming Riviera Escape
From Hyères’ historic gardens to Menton’s subtropical charm, this French Riviera Garden Festival tour unveils the region’s botanical treasures. Explore Villa Ephrussi gardens, craft scents in Grasse, and wander Porquerolles Island’s artistic landscapes. Perfect for English-speaking garden lovers, this 10-day adventure creates lasting memories. Plan your French Riviera Garden Festival tour today and immerse yourself in the Mediterranean’s floral splendor.