The French Riviera, known for its turquoise waters, pastel-colored towns along the Mediterranean, and vintage charm, is a top summer destination in Europe, comparable to Italy’s Amalfi Coast and the Greek islands. Many Americans might not know that they can fly nonstop to one of the Riviera’s prettiest towns from the United States this season without stopping in Paris and taking a six-hour train south.
Menton, a charming town that looks like it’s straight out of a storybook, is just a 7-hour and 40-minute transatlantic flight away. Although it’s less known than Cannes or St. Tropez, this won’t be the case for long.
Menton, the last town in the French Riviera before the Italian border, is often called the most Italian town in France due to its proximity to Italy. You can walk to Italy from here, and the town’s architecture, cuisine, and multicultural vibe reflect this closeness. The lines between France and Italy blur in Menton, with a mix of Italian and French heard in the streets and narrow houses that make you feel like you’re already in Italy.
The Old Town of Menton is a colorful mix of muted orange, yellow, green, and maroon buildings, with cobbled streets leading to hidden courtyards, lush gardens, and Baroque churches. The picturesque townscape, with rows of pastel houses, unfolds along a public sand-and-pebble beach, bordered by a modern promenade and the clear sea, and lined with traditional Italian trattorias and French brasseries.
Menton is perfect for sampling Mediterranean food. Primo Atelier Della Pasta offers the best seafood spaghetti at affordable prices, with main dishes averaging $15-21. La Crepe a l’Envers is the go-to spot for delicious French crepes, with lunchtime menus starting at $15. Fleur de Mozza, an Italian-run pizzeria, serves some of the best pizzas, with prices starting at $10.
Menton is also famous for its lemons, which have a distinct aroma and can be surprisingly sweet. Gelateria Sofia, a gelato shop at the end of Bonaparte Quay, offers a variety of flavors, with Menton lemon-derived options being a must-try.
Menton can be a great base for exploring the French Riviera. Monaco is a 25-minute drive away, the medieval village of Èze is 30 minutes away, Nice is 35 minutes away, and Cannes is just over an hour down the coast. If you’re not driving, Menton is well-connected by train to these tourist hotspots, with tickets ranging from $3 to $12 one-way.
Hotel options in Menton vary, with Hôtel Narev offering a seven-night stay for $892 in August. Hotel Paradiso costs $1,493 for a week, and the beachfront Princess Et Richmond costs $1,376. Studio apartment rentals can be found for under $800 for a week on Booking.com, especially off-season.
Menton is only 24 miles or a 45-minute train ride from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. American Airlines offers nonstop flights daily from Philadelphia to Nice from $1,351 round-trip. The flight from Philadelphia departs at 9:00 P.M. and lands in Nice at 11:00 A.M. the next day. The return flight departs Nice at 1:00 P.M. and arrives in Philadelphia at 3:55 P.M. This seasonal route is active until October 5.
From Nice Airport, you can take a tram to downtown Nice and then a train to Menton. The train from Nice to Menton takes just over half an hour, with one-way tickets costing $7. There are up to 50 departures per day, with the earliest at 5:40 A.M. and the latest at 10:50 P.M. An Uber from Nice Airport to Menton costs around $68.31 one-way.