The best destination in the South of France for families: Why Menton is hard to beat

If you’re looking for the best destination in the south of France for families, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. So much of the French Riviera can seem way too up market and expensive for a genuinely relaxed week with kids.

But Menton is different.

It’s our one reliably slow holiday of the year; where despite my usual lack of chill, we just relax, enjoy the beach, the food, the town, and don’t feel the need to “do” very much at all.

The first time I visited Menton, it was at the end of the final stage of the GR5 long-distance hike through the French Alps (with my parents) – and we leapt straight into the hugely inviting turquoise sea!

We vowed to come back with the kids, and since then we’ve come here multiple times in May half term over the last decade – one of the few places we return to again and again.

What makes Menton work so well for families is how simple it is. You’ve got the Côte d’Azur setting; warm sea, colourful buildings, palm-lined promenade – but without the high rise resorts, flashiness or eye-watering prices. It’s also easy to get to by train (or plane) from the UK and northern Europe; being just a short (and very scenic) train journey from Nice.

And due to it’s microclimate, it is the sunniest town on the French Riviera!

Days revolve around swimming, bakery runs, long lunches and the occasional low-effort adventure. It suits younger kids, teenagers, and grandparents equally well, and because of this, it’s also a great multi generational destination.

If you’re looking for:

• A family-friendly town in the south of France that isn’t overwhelming, exclusive or insanely expensive
• A place where you can happily stay put for a full week
• Easy day trips if you want them; but no pressure if you don’t

…Menton ticks all those boxes.

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Why Menton is one of the best family-friendly towns in the South of France

Menton has all the ingredients you probably have in mind for a South of France destination – warm sea, colourful buildings, a proper promenade, good food everywhere – but it feels relaxed rather than flashy, and crucially, you don’t feel like you’re paying a premium just to exist there.

What I really like about Menton is that it feels properly French. It hasn’t been smoothed out for tourists in the same way some Riviera towns have. There are no big high rise or all inclusive resorts.

You’ve got bakeries and markets, slightly chaotic restaurants, and at the same time, you’re right on the Italian border, so there’s a bit of that influence too; good coffee, better ice cream, and a slightly more relaxed feel to the food. It’s a good combination.

It’s also really good for multi-generational trips. We nearly always come with my parents, and often my brother’s family too. We all find our own pace; some head out early for a swim and to pick up the breakfast croissants, others take it slower with coffee on the balcony, and no one feels like they’re compromising too much.

Menton also works brilliantly as a “stay put” destination. You don’t need a packed itinerary to justify being there for a week. You can quite happily fall into a rhythm of beach, food, wander the old town, repeat – and not get bored, but still feel like you’ve had a proper break.

Having said that, if you do want to explore, you’ve got Monaco, Italy and a string of coastal walks all within easy reach.

Another thing that makes Menton work so well with kids is that you really don’t need a car. We’ve never had one here. Everything you need is walkable; beach, restaurants, playgrounds, old town, and the train station for day trips. It takes a lot of the usual friction out of a family holiday.

Where to stay in Menton for families

For a week in Menton, I’d almost always choose a self catering apartment or house over a hotel.

Having a bit more space makes a big difference; being able to put together a quick lunch with food from the extensive covered market, or sit out on a balcony with a drink once the kids are in bed, is part of what makes this kind of trip be so enjoyable.

Location-wise, you’ve got two good options (and a third I wouldn’t recommend as much):

Seafront (including Garavan)

This is where we usually stay.

You’re close to the beach and everything is walkable. If you can find somewhere with a balcony overlooking the sea, even better.

The Garavan area (towards the Italian end of Menton) is particularly good for families. It’s a bit quieter than the main promenade, and a little cheaper being further from the old town, and you’ve got the marina and Italian border just down the road.

You’ll also find good apartment options slightly above the seafront, between Boulevard de Garavan and the coast. These are often better value and give you more space or a bigger terrace. It’s a bit of a walk uphill on the way back from the beach, but we’ve never found it an issue; especially if it means a better view and a bit more breathing room.

Old town (Vieux Menton)

Much more character; narrow streets, colourful buildings, and a much more local feel.

It’s a lovely place to wander, but with kids it can be a bit less practical to stay here depending on where you are, because a lot of places in the old town have little or no outdoor space.

It’s been really nice having a balcony or terrace in Menton; somewhere to eat, sit out in the evening, or just have a bit of breathing room. You don’t always get that in the old town, so it’s worth checking carefully when you book.

New town (around the train station)

You’ll also see quite a lot of accommodation around the train station and newer part of town.

Personally, I wouldn’t choose to stay around the train station for a family holiday. It’s more of a residential area; bigger buildings, busier roads, and it doesn’t have the same charm as the seafront or old town. The beach here is also noticeably less appealing.

It’s fine for passing through, but for a week in Menton, you’re much better off closer to the seafront or in Garavan.

If you look at the east side of the the new town, where it borders the old town, that’s a decent spot, and well located.

What to look for

A few things that are worth prioritising:

• Air con – especially if you’re travelling in peak summer (we have managed in May without!)
• Outdoor space – balcony or terrace makes a big difference
• Proximity to the beach – saves a lot of effort over a week – although a short walk is fine
• Washing machine – can be useful with kids, even for a short trip

If you’re travelling in May half term, it’s worth booking early. It’s a popular time, and the good places go quickly.

What Menton is actually like (and why we keep going back)

It’s a proper French town; not a resort. The old town is genuinely beautiful, with narrow alleyways lined with pot plants and faded pastel buildings.

There are bakeries, good local restaurants, multiple ice cream shops, and the brilliant covered market (Les Halles) where you can pick up delicious fresh salads, bread, fruit, and all sorts of local bits; including courgette flowers when they’re in season. It’s an easy way to sort lunch without much effort.

But then you’ve also got the beach and the Mediterranean right there.

The best beach is the Plage des Sablettes, on the east side of the old town. It offers a beautiful view of the mountains of the Southern Alps in one direction, and the beautiful old town in the other. It’s made up of coarse sand and gravel (don’t expect Caribbean style deep white sand!), which is totally fine to lie on with a towel or beach mat. The beaches are cleaned every morning, the sea is really calm, and the water is properly clear.

It’s a nice shallow, sandy entrance into the sea, so brilliant with toddlers and kids, but it’s great for swimming for teens and adults too. There are showers and public toilets nearby.

The sea front promenade behind the Plage des Sablettes has been done up over the last few years. It feels smarter than it used to, with more polished restaurants and beach bars, but it hasn’t tipped into anything too flashy.

There is also a spot which offers seasonal paddleboarding and kayak rental on the promenade (from mid-June to mid-September), which is easy to have a go at if you want something a bit more active.

That combination is what makes it so easy to spend a week here. You’re not just lying on the beach all day; you can swim, head back into town for a wander, stop for food, pick up a few things from the market, and then head back to the sea again if you fancy that.

You can walk pretty much everywhere; beach, old town, market, restaurants, playgrounds. We’ve never had a car here, and never felt like we needed one.

If you do want to get out and explore further afield, it’s all very easy; there are trains along the coast in both directions, coastal walks, or if you have transport, you can drive up into the hills. But equally, you can just stay put for the week and not feel like you’ve missed anything.

Best things to do around Menton with kids

One of the best things about Menton is that you don’t need to plan much; but if you do fancy getting out for a day, there’s a lot within easy reach.

And you can do all of it without a car.

Easy day trips by train

The train line along this stretch of coast is brilliant. It runs frequently, it’s cheap, and it takes you straight into places that would be far more hassle to reach by car.

Monaco is the obvious one. It’s only about 10 minutes away on the train, and worth doing at least once; if nothing else, for the contrast. If you happen to be there during the Grand Prix period (which is often the start of May half term), it’s busy, but also quite entertaining, with helicopters landing on yachts in the bay, and the whole place feeling slightly over the top.

In the other direction, Ventimiglia (just over the Italian border) has a big Friday market right by the sea. It’s a bit chaotic, but good fun; and a nice excuse to dip into Italy for the morning.

You can also hop off the train going in the Monaco direction at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and walk back along the coast and around the headland to Menton on the Promenade le Corbusier (completely traffic free until you reach the west end of Menton). It’s an easy, scenic, approx 8 km (flat) route, and a good way to break up a beach-heavy week.

Getting out into the hills

Menton sits right at the end of the GR5 long-distance hiking route, which runs all the way from Lake Geneva down to the Mediterranean.

You don’t need to be doing multi-day hikes to make the most of this though. There are plenty of (quite strenuous!) walks in the hills behind Menton that give you a completely different view of the area; quieter, greener, and with some good views back down to the coast.

Road cycling (for the keen ones)

If you’re travelling with much older kids, or just want a day to yourself, this is a very good area for road cycling.

My husband usually rents a bike for a day when we’re here. Last year he got overtaken by Chris Froome, which he’s still talking about!

Getting out on the water

If you want to do something a bit different, or treat yourselves, a private boat trip along the coast is an exciting option. It’s not cheap, but it’s a great way to see the Côte d’Azur from the water.

When to visit Menton with kids

We’ve always come to Menton at the end of May (May half term), and it’s hard to beat.

The weather is usually excellent; warm enough for swimming, but not uncomfortably hot. You can happily spend most of the day outside without feeling like you desperately need shade, which makes a big difference with kids.

It’s also noticeably quieter than peak summer. The town has a bit of life to it, but it doesn’t feel overcrowded, and you’re not battling for space on the beach or in restaurants.

If you’re tied to school holidays, the peak summer months will be hotter, busier, and more expensive. You’re more likely to end up structuring your day around the heat, which isn’t ideal if you’re travelling with younger kids.

October half term (late October) could also work, but it’s a bit less reliable. You’ll likely get mild weather and fewer crowds, and the sea is still warm from the summer; but you’re not guaranteed the kind of consistent sunshine you tend to get in May.

One thing to be aware of is the Monaco Grand Prix, which usually falls around one of the weekends of May half term.

Menton itself doesn’t feel overwhelming during that period, but Monaco (just along the coast) is very busy. Having said that, it’s quite a unique time to be in the area; the whole coastline feels a bit more lively, and we once saw a helicopter landing on a yacht in the bay of Monaco, which was very exciting!

If you’re after a slightly quieter week, it’s worth checking the dates and planning around it. If not, it’s not something I’d avoid completely; just something to be aware of.

Getting to Menton from the UK (it’s easy!)

Menton is tucked away right in the south east of France, next to the Italian border; but it’s actually very straightforward to get to.

By train (my favourite!): London → Paris → Nice → Menton

We’ve done this journey by train a few times now, and it works really well.

The route is simple:

• Eurostar from London to Paris Gare du Nord (~2h 15)
• High-speed TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice (~5h 45)
• Local train from Nice to Menton (~40 minutes, and very scenic)
• Choose Menton main station, or Menton Garavan station if you’re on the easy side of the old town

If you want to break it up, you can stay overnight in Paris; or even take the overnight train from Paris to Nice, which saves a day of travel and turns the journey into part of the trip.

I use Rail Europe to book both the Eurostar and the trains in France. The Rail Europe website will automatically suggest suitable connection times between trains.

To get from Paris Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon, hop on the Green RER Line D for two stops. It’s super easy!

💡TIP: Buy Paris metro tickets (Navigo Easy pass) from the café on board the Eurostar to avoid the queues and touts at the Gare du Nord!

By plane: flying into Nice

If you’d rather fly, Nice Airport is the obvious option.

From there, you can walk to Nice Saint-Augustin train station in about 10 minutes (or take the free tram) and it’s about 50 minutes to Menton by train or just under an hour by car.

No car needed

Once you’re there, you really don’t need a car, unless you want to be doing far afield day trips (we don’t)!

Everything in Menton is walkable; beach, old town, market, restaurants; and the train line along the coast makes day trips to places like Monaco and Ventimiglia in Italy very easy. We’ve never hired a car here, and never felt like we were missing anything!

Is Menton the best destination in the south of France for families?

For us, yes; it’s hard to beat.

This isn’t a classic “fly and flop” beach holiday. It has a similar ease to those kinds of holidays, but without the slightly artificial feel; and without feeling like you’re surrounded by exactly the same people you left back at the airport.

You’re not staying in a resort, and it’s not all-inclusive. What you get instead is something with a lot more character; a proper French town, good food, markets, and a bit of culture alongside the beach and sea element.

It’s particularly good if you’re looking for a week-long base rather than somewhere you’re constantly moving around from. You can stay put, fall into a nice daily routine, and feel like you’ve had a proper break.

It also works well across different ages. Younger kids can happily spend hours on the beach or in the water, older kids get a bit more independence, and it makes multi-generational trips feel straightforward as there’s something for everyone.

I would say; if you’re after long sandy beaches, big attractions, glamourous resorts or loads of organised activities, there are probably better options elsewhere along the coast. And if you want something quieter or more remote, this isn’t that either; it’s still a lively town.

But if you’re looking for a family-friendly town in the south of France that’s easy, good value for the Riviera, and somewhere you can genuinely relax for a week; Menton is a very strong option.

Quick Menton travel tips for families

A few things that are worth knowing before you go:

• Book early
  The good apartments (especially with balconies) go quickly.
• Stay near the Plage des Sablettes, Garavan or the old town if you can
  It’s the absolute best end of town, and makes everything easier; quick dips in the sea, easy lunches, and no long walks back with tired kids.
• Use the train for day trips
  It’s cheap, easy, and saves you the hassle of driving and parking. Monaco, Italy, and nearby towns are all within easy reach.
• Don’t over-plan it
  Less is more! A loose plan is plenty.
• Market lunches are an easy win
  The covered market (Les Halles) is perfect for picking up something fresh and simple without committing to a full restaurant meal.

Why Menton keeps pulling us back

If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know we usually go for more active trips; with multi-stop itineraries, hut to hut hikes, cycling routes, canyoning adventures and more; and we love all of that.

But Menton is the one we come back to when we want something shorter and simpler; a beach holiday, but without giving up the character and local feel that we always look for in our more adventurous trips.

You still get the French town, the food, the markets, and that sense of being somewhere real rather than artificial (this is NOT a package holiday!); just with the added bonus of the sea being right there.

It’s really easy to get to and it works just as well with younger kids as it does with older ones, and it’s great for multi-generational trips as well.

If you’re looking for the best destination in south of France for families, Menton is a fantastic choice.