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48 Hours of Riviera Sun & Sea: The Ultimate Saint Vincent Getaway

From sunrise markets to moonlit beaches, sample the Côte d'Azur's best-kept pocket

Trip Overview

This three-day Saint Vincent itinerary balances lazy beach mornings with quick bursts of Provençal culture. You'll pedal the waterfront Promenade Maurice Rouvier, taste just-pressed olive oil at the covered market, and watch fishing boats unload their catch while cicadas hum in the pine groves above town. The pace is deliberately unhurried—you'll cover short distances, linger over long lunches, and still catch every sunset from a different angle.

Pace
Relaxed
Daily Budget
$120–180 per day
Best Seasons
Late May through early October, when Saint Vincent's beaches glitter under steady sun and the sea is warm enough for morning swims
Ideal For
Couples, First-time Riviera visitors, Wine lovers, Beach seekers

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1

Old-Town Stroll & First Dip

Saint Vincent
Ease in with a lazy market breakfast, a dip at Plage de la Fossette, and sunset drinks on the marina.
Morning
Marché Provençal
Start in the shady arcades of the Marché Couvert, where the air smells of rosemary and warm melons. Taste a paper-thin slice of socca from Chez René's griddle while stall-holders shout prices in lilting Provençal.
1 hour $12
No booking—arrive before 9 a.m. to beat the crowds
Lunch
Le Comptoir du Port
Seafood tapas (anchovy toasts, sea-urchin flan) Mid-range
Afternoon
Plage de la Fossette
Roll out a towel on the pale-pebble crescent where the water turns from turquoise to deep cobalt. The pine-crowned cliff blocks most wind, so the sea stays mirror-calm for floating.
2–3 hours $0
Evening
Sunset apéro at Le Before
Order a chilled glass of Bellet rosé and watch fishing boats slide back into the tiny marina as swifts dart overhead

Where to Stay Tonight

Vieux Port (Hôtel Sube)

Steps from the market and waterfront cafés, with balconies that catch the first morning light over Saint Vincent's bell tower

Bring a reusable tote to the market; vendors happily fill it with ice for your rosé from the fishmonger's cooler.
Day 1 Budget: $130
2

Coastal Cycle & Seaside Picnic

Cap Ferrat loop via Saint Vincent
Rent bikes, coast the palm-lined Promenade, and pick up a picnic at a cliff-top vineyard.
Morning
Cycle to Domaine Saint Vincent
Pick up electric bikes at LocaBike by 9 a.m., then glide east along the sea wall where oleander blooms brush your elbows. Stop at the family-run vineyard for a crisp Rolle and views across the Baie des Fourmis.
2.5 hours $35
Reserve bikes online the night before—stock is small and disappears fast in July
Lunch
Vineyard picnic basket (tapenade, goat cheese, baguette)
Provençal Budget
Afternoon
Secret calanque swim
Lock the bikes and follow the dirt path behind the lighthouse to Calanque des Fossettes. The inlet is only 50 m wide, the water so clear you can count pebbles at six-foot depth.
2 hours $0
Evening
Dinner at La Table du Port
Sit on the quay for grilled red mullet served whole, drizzled with lemon and olive oil pressed from Saint Vincent's own groves

Where to Stay Tonight

Vieux Port (Hôtel Sube)

Same base lets you leave luggage unpacked and cycle straight out after breakfast

Pack reef-safe sunscreen; the calanque's shallow water intensifies midday rays.
Day 2 Budget: $150
3

Sunrise Kayak & Market Farewell

Saint Vincent
Paddle at dawn, linger over a market lunch, and catch the train with salt still in your hair.
Morning
Guided kayak to Calanque de la Mala
Meet your guide at 6:30 a.m. on Plage de la Salis. The sea is glassy, the limestone cliffs glow peach in early light. Dip your paddle and taste the faint salt on your lips as gulls wheel overhead.
2 hours $45
Book the day before at the nautical club kiosk; only 8 kayaks go out
Lunch
Café du Marché
Niçoise salad topped with just-caught anchovies Mid-range
Afternoon
Boules and rosé at Place des Récollets
Grab a shaded bench, order a pichet of chilled local rosé, and watch elderly locals clack steel boules beneath plane trees that smell faintly of resin. The slow-motion game is the perfect send-off.
1.5 hours $15
Evening
Train station farewell
Walk 6 minutes to Gare de Beaulieu-sur-Mer for frequent trains back to Nice or Monaco

Where to Stay Tonight

Late checkout at Hôtel Sube (Check bags at reception)

Keeps hands free for kayaking and market browsing

Order your train ticket via the SNCF app while sipping coffee; skip the ticket window queue entirely.
Day 3 Budget: $105

Practical Information

Getting Around

Everything in this itinerary lies within 3 km of the port. Walk, cycle, or call the town's three-taxi fleet (Taxi Vincent—save the number). Trains link Nice to Saint Vincent in 12 minutes if you're flying into Côte d'Azur Airport.

Book Ahead

Electric bikes (LocaBike), sunrise kayak tour, and Hôtel Sube for July or August weekends

Packing Essentials

Reef-safe sunscreen, quick-dry towel, light sweater for breezy evenings, and a swimsuit you can wear under shorts

Total Budget

$385–435 for the full long weekend including meals, activities, and beachside drinks

Customize Your Trip

Budget Version

Skip the kayak tour, bring supermarket picnic supplies, and choose the municipal campground behind Plage de la Fossette—showers are clean and a two-minute walk from the sand.

Luxury Upgrade

Swap the hotel for Villa Cosy on the tip of Cap Ferrat, book a private catamaran sunset cruise, and dine at Michelin-starred La Palme d'Or in nearby Beaulieu.

Family-Friendly

Exchange the dawn kayak for a late-morning paddleboard lesson at the calm Plage de la Salis; kids love the supervised trampoline raft just offshore, and the market offers fresh-pressed orange juice instead of wine.

Book Activities for Your Trip

Tours, tickets, and experiences in Saint Vincent

Continue Planning Your Trip

Things to Do

Top attractions and activities for Saint Vincent

Budget Guide

Trip costs and money tips for Saint Vincent

Getting Around

Transport options and tips for Saint Vincent

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