Côte d'Azur, France - Romantic Date Ideas
Visit the Côte d'Azur for that movie-star experience. Wouldn't it be Nice?
The Côte d'Azur stretches roughly from Marseilles in the
West to Monaco and the Italian border in the East and includes the well-known
towns of Cannes, Nice, St Tropez and Toulon. It has been the playground of the
rich and famous since the Sixties and the facilities and shops reflect the
presence of the well-heeled. However, even if your idea of hiring a boat is
booking one with pedals for an hour or two then you can take your loved one and
dream. Money helps but there is still a wealth of fascinating things to see and
do that don't require a credit card that has no limit to enjoy. Whisk your
partner away for a romantic date on the Côte d'Azur
and you will impress and enchant them.
Romantic things to do on the Côte d'Azur, France
- No date on the Côte d'Azur would be complete without
some time on one of the beautiful five-star beaches. Marvel at swim-suits that
cost as much as you are paying for your accommodation.
- Stroll along the strands taking the air, holding
hands and trying to spot the rich and famous who are probably doing the same
- Stake yourself a few euros and try your hand in one
of the casinos but don't get carried away
- Hire a convertible (it's worth it for the sensation)
and take a slow drive along the coast road (le Grande Corniche) from Nice to
Monte Carlo admiring the view and dreaming that every day could be like this
- Get away from the shameless ostentation of the major
hot-spots and go inland to enjoy peace and quiet and the hospitality of the
many small mediaeval villages which perch on the top of hillsides adorned with
cypress trees
- Sit and watch the world go slowly while you drink hot
chocolate at a pavement-side table alongside an ancient cobbled street
- Sign up for a short painting or pottery course and
make yourself a permanent reminder of your romantic Côte
d'Azur date
- Drive the course of the Monaco Grand Prix and imagine
what it must be like for the Formula 1 racing drivers who compete there
- Visit some art galleries and follow in the footsteps
of the great artists - Chagall and Matisse (Nice and Vence), Picasso (Antibes
and Vallauris) and Cocteau (Villefranche and Menton)
- Have a candlelit dinner and enjoy the seafood and
cuisine for which the Côte d'Azur is rightly
world-famous for
- If you are not too bothered about lounging around on
the beaches, February is a good time to visit as it is when the Mimosa blossom
is in full bloom
Romantic meals on the Côte d'Azur, France - things to try
- Niçois cuisine (cuisine Niçoise in French) is the local taste and you will
find a host of relatively simple meals made with locally-produced fresh fruit,
cheese and salad vegetables
- Seafood is high on the menu - lobster, squid, prawns etc
- The proximity of Italy to the Côte d'Azur has a real
influence on the catering with pasta being very popular
- Grab a baguette with a typical Provençal filling such as goat's cheese,
basil, olive oil and so on
- Skip breakfast at your hotel and enjoy a croissant and coffee at a small
cafe while you watch the world go by
Tips for dates on the Côte d'Azur, France
- July and August are good months to avoid as the Côte
d'Azur gets very busy then and, in any case, the countryside is not at its
best
- Unfortunately the prevalence of the wealthy has
attracted a growing number of pickpockets and other petty criminals - take
care of your valuables and don't be ostentatious
- A restaurant overlooking the harbour or the quay may
well be appealing but (like them and their seafront rates premium) you will
pay top-dollar for your meal. There are plenty of other equally-good
restaurants in the towns which will be glad of your custom and give you more
for your Euros
- Many restaurants only have one sitting or, if they
have two, the first one tends to be a relatively hasty affair. Accordingly
either turn up before 8pm or book. It will not be romantic traipsing from one
restaurant to another trying to find one with a free table
We hope you enjoyed our ideas for a romantic date on the Côte
d'Azur.