Menton — The Lemon Capital of the Riviera 🍋
Pastel façades tumbling to a turquoise bay, Belle Époque gardens, and the warmest microclimate in France — Menton is the Riviera's sun-drenched last stop before Italy, famous for its lemons and its February Fête du Citron. Hand-picked stays and must-book experiences — every link takes you straight to Trip.com to check live prices and book.
🏨 Where to Stay
- The Maybourne Riviera ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — the showstopper of the eastern Riviera: a modernist glass palace from the owners of Claridge's, perched on the clifftop at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin between Menton and Monaco. Suites with sweeping sea-view balconies, an infinity pool gazing down on Monte Carlo, a private beach club and world-class dining. Rated a near-perfect 9.9 by couples.
- Hotel Napoléon ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Menton's seafront classic on the Garavan bay, with Jean Cocteau-themed interiors, a tropical garden, outdoor pool and balconied rooms looking across the water to the pastel old town. Steps from the beach and a short stroll to the Cocteau sights.
- Hôtel Riva Art & Spa ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — the smart pick: a sleek contemporary boutique right on the Promenade du Soleil, directly across from the beach. Sea-view balconies, contemporary art through the lobby, and the rooftop Prãna Spa with a panoramic hot tub over the Mediterranean.
✈️ Flights
- Flights to Nice (NCE) — around 2 hours direct from Manchester, then a scenic 40-minute drive (or a lovely half-hour coastal train ride) east along the Riviera to Menton.
🎟️ Experiences
- Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh Tickets — Menton's exotic botanical garden in the Garavan hills, run by the Natural History Museum of Paris: a lush amphitheatre of citrus, palms, lotus ponds and rarities from every continent, thriving in the town's famous microclimate.
- Serre de la Madone Tickets — the romantic terraced garden created in the 1920s by Lawrence Johnston (of Hidcote Manor fame): fountains, statuary and rare subtropical plants cascading down a quiet hillside above the town. A dreamy, crowd-free wander.
- Basilique Saint-Michel Archange — the great baroque basilica crowning the old town, reached by climbing lantern-lit stepped lanes from the sea. Its Italianate square hosts summer chamber-music concerts, with one of the loveliest views on the coast.
🚗 Car Hire & Transfers