Jess and Jer's Preview of the French Riviera and Monaco 2025

Nearly two decades after our first visit, another work trip to Monaco gave us an excuse to visit the South of France.

Do:

• Stay in Juan-les-Pins for a relaxed vibe and good neighborhood restaurants, from Tunisian takeout to bistro fare to Provençal dishes
• Explore Antibes, Cagnes-sur-Mer and Monaco
• Eat croissants in the morning, including from train station cafés like Coffee Station
• Opt for pastries the rest of the day, like a raspberry tart from 31 Massena, a Paris-Brest from Au Palais de la Friandise, or madeleines from Mado à Cannes

Don't:

• Inadvertently visit Cannes on the first day of the film festival or Monaco during their Grand Prix preparations
• Skip the Lérins Islands on a visit to Cannes
• Limit yourself to the few restaurants in Cagnes-sur-Mer's old town for lunch, when you could have a fabulous lunch at La Fabrique à Croque in the new town instead
• Try to do too much in a day, rather than leaving time to stroll and explore