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Nice and the French Riviera

10 days, from Thursday, March 5 to Saturday, March 14, 2026

Enjoy an early spring on the French Riviera, with sightseeing in Nice, Monaco-Monte Carlo, Cannes, Grasse, Vence, and Saint Paul, and lots of art, as we visit the Maeght Foundation, the Chagall and Matisse Museums, Matisse’s Chapel of the Rosary, etc. This tour features a traditional first-class hotel in a superb location, excellent Provençal food, and talks about the history of the city, the region, and France in general by tour host Jacques Pauwels, PhD, author of ten books, published in as many languages, among others on the history of France.

Tour participants need to book a flight arriving in Nice on Thursday, March 5, which typically requires a departure from Toronto or another Canadian/North American gateway the day before, i.e., Wednesday, March 4. From Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, convenient flights to Nice are available with Air Canada, KLM, and other airlines, via Munich, Zurich, and/or Amsterdam, etc. Please do not book flights until the tour is guaranteed with the minimum registrants. 


BOOKING INFORMATION

March 05 - 14, 2026

Land only:$3,795 based on double occupancy

Single room supplement: $1,150

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DOWNLOAD PDF OF ITINERARY

*If the tour is SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Thursday, March 05: Arrival in Nice

Morning arrival in Nice, where taxi and Uber services are available for the short transfer to our hotel, the centrally located first-class/4-star Hotel Beau Rivage. Free time to settle in and get some rest after your overnight flight. In late afternoon, meet with other tour members and your tour host for an introductory walk along the beachfront and the adjoining shopping district, followed by a welcome drink and dinner in a typical restaurant.

Day 2 - Friday, March 06: Nice

We start our exploration of Nice with a visit to the flower market, followed by a leisurely walking tour of the picturesque old town. Then we board a little electrical tourist train for a panoramic city tour, including the old harbour and the hilltop “castle” for a magnificent view of the city, the “Bay of Angels,” and the blue Mediterranean. Afternoon at leisure. Group dinner in a typical restaurant of the old town.

Day 3 - Saturday, March 07: The Outskirts of Nice

After breakfast we take a city bus to the Cimiez district on a hill overlooking Nice. This used to be an important Roman town, as attested by the ruins of ancient baths as well as an arena. We visit the Archeological Museum, then continue to the neighbouring Villa des Arènes, home of an impressive museum devoted to the work of Henri Matisse, who lived here and is buried in the Cimiez cemetery. Return to the hotel in the afternoon and rest of the day at leisure. This evening it will perhaps be possible to enjoy a concert. 

Day 4 - Sunday, March 08: Monaco and Monte Carlo

Full-day excursion by private coach to Monaco-Monte Carlo. We motor to the principality via the scenic coastal road, the “Basse Corniche”, featuring some superb vistas of wonderful coastal communities (and jet-set resorts) such as Beaulieu and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. In the principality, our visit will start with the yacht harbour, then continue with the old town of Monaco, perched high on a rock and featuring the Palace, Cathedral, and Oceanographic Museum. After a group lunch in a typical restaurant, and finish with the mainland district of Monte Carlo, featuring the world-famous Casino. Returning to Nice, we enjoy the spectacular mountain road, with a stop in the picturesque hilltop town of Eze. 

Day 5 - Monday, March 09: Old Nice

After breakfast, we first explore Old Nice’s antiques and flea market, then head for the fabulous Marc Chagall Museum, featuring a marvelous collection of the Russian-French artist’s paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, stained glass, tapestry and mosaics, inspired by  colourful inventions and a universal message of peace are combined. Returning to the city centre, we visit the Belle Époque-style Masséna Museum, “where history and art meet to reveal the exceptional heritage of the Côte d'Azur in the heart of magnificent gardens”.

Day 6 - Tuesday, March 10: The Mountain Area of the Cote d'Azur

Full-day excursion, again by private coach, into the beautiful mountainous hinterland of the Côte d’Azur. Our first stop is in the town of Vence, where we visit the wonderful little Rosary Chapel with Matisse’s stained glass windows. On to Saint Paul de Vence, a picturesque fortified Provencal village and famous artist colony; we explore the village, then visit the Maeght Foundation, a stunning, ultra-modern art gallery by Catalan architect Jose Luis Sert, surrounded by wonderful gardens and featuring creations of great modern masters such as Sert’s friend Miro, Braque, Kandinsky, Calder, and Zadkine. Late afternoon return to Nice via the scenic road through the river valley known as the “Gorges du Loup,” with a stop, time permitting, to taste some candied fruits, chocolates or other wonderful regional sweets in a traditional candy store, Confiserie Florian.

Day 7 - Wednesday, March 11: Day at Leisure

Today is a free day, set aside for shopping and/or enjoying Nice on your own. Your options also include exploring the city on a rented bicycle; taking a boat tour to view Nice from the Mediterranean Sea; or participating in a food and wine tour of the city. This evening, opera lovers may want to head for the Nice Opera (very close to our hotel) for a performance of Don Pasquale, an opera buffa by Donizetti. 

Day 8 - Thursday, March 12: Antibes

Full-day excursion to Antibes, a pretty ancient coastal town founded by the ancient Greeks, and the nearby small town of Golfe Juan, where a small monument commemorates Napoleon’s return from exile on the island of Elba; a stretch of the “Route Napoleon,” the road he subsequently followed back to Paris; the picturesque town of Grasse, where we will visit one of the local perfume manufacturers; and the jet-set resort of Cannes, where we will use a little tourist train to get to know the old town and the waterfront boulevard, La Croisette, backdrop of the city’s annual movie festival. After some free time to enjoy Cannes on your own, return to Nice via the Autoroute.

Day 9 - Friday, March 13: Day at Leisure

Your last day in Nice is entirely “at leisure,” except for this evening’s “au revoir” dinner in a typical restaurant.

Day 10 - Saturday, March 14: Tour ends after breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Make sure to book a taxi or Uber for a short transfer to the airport in time for your return flight to Toronto! 

ITINERARY PDF

EXPLORE THE AREA

INCLUDED

- Accommodation, based on double occupancy, in the first-class/4-star Hotel Beau-Rivage - Breakfast daily and five dinners (or full lunches) - All visits and sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary, including admission to museums and monuments mentioned in the itinerary - Excursions by private coach; visits in Nice itself on foot or by public transportation - Gratuities for driver(s) and local guide(s).

NOT INCLUDED

- All items of a personal nature; - Beverages with dinners and meals other than those outlined above; - Travel Insurance, available upon request.

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