What to do in Menton: the local guide (gardens, Old Town, Italy)
Tucked up against the Italian border, Menton enjoys a unique microclimate and a light that painters and gardeners have long prized. Between its baroque Old Town, botanical gardens and citrus flavours, here are our local pointers — and how to easily reach the easternmost town on the Côte d'Azur.
The Old Town and the seafront
The heart of Menton is best explored on foot: the Saint-Michel-Archange basilica and its pebble-mosaic square, the colourful lanes climbing towards the old château cemetery with its plunging view over the bay, then the covered market hall for local produce. Below, the Promenade du Soleil runs alongside an often calm sea.
The 17th-century bastion, reworked by Jean Cocteau, and the museum that bears his name recall the artist's bond with the town. A morning is enough to take in its Italian-Provençal atmosphere.
Gardens of distinction
Menton is a capital of gardens. Val Rahmeh and its botanical collections, the Serre de la Madone garden, the Colombières estate and the Maria Serena garden all benefit from a microclimate that lets citrus and exotic plants thrive year-round.
Many require booking or open on seasonal schedules: it is best to check before setting out and to plan for two gardens in the same half-day.
The Lemon Festival
Each winter, the Fête du Citron transforms the town: giant citrus sculptures fill the Biovès gardens, with parades and events drawing visitors from around the world. It is Menton's great annual highlight, heir to its citrus-growing past.
During this period, crowds and parking are heavily constrained: arriving by chauffeur spares you the search for a space and the congested approaches.
A hop into Italy
Menton is the last French town before the border: Ventimiglia and its large Friday market are minutes away, and the Italian Riviera di Ponente (Bordighera, San Remo) is an easy day out.
This is one of the town's assets: combining the Côte d'Azur and Italy without changing base. A chauffeur handles the border crossing and the often tricky parking on the Italian side in season.
Getting there and exploring
Menton sits at the eastern tip of the Riviera, beyond Monaco. From Nice or its airport, allow just under an hour depending on traffic; the corniche roads throw in superb panoramas along the way. On the spot, a private chauffeur or a rental car makes trips to Monaco, Èze or Italy easy.