Moving to the French Riviera and Monaco
Light, sea and an international life all year round: the Riviera attracts families, entrepreneurs and retirees from all over the world. Here are the key points to choose where and how to settle.
A unique way of life
From Saint-Tropez to Menton, the Côte d'Azur combines a mild climate, hilltop villages and a rich cultural life. Nice Côte d'Azur airport, one of the busiest in France, connects it directly to Europe's major capitals. Ski slopes are less than two hours away.
Where to live
- Nice: a real city, with its old town, its promenade and every service.
- Cannes, Antibes and Cap d'Antibes: the elegance of the Croisette and seaside villas.
- Mougins, Valbonne and Sophia Antipolis: the hinterland, houses with gardens, a technology business park and international schools.
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villefranche, Beaulieu: discretion between Nice and Monaco.
- Saint-Tropez: a legendary village, much sought after for second homes.
Monaco
The Principality is a sovereign state, with its own residency rules, separate from French procedures. Many families choose to live on the French side, a few minutes away, in Beausoleil, Cap-d'Ail or Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
International schools
The Riviera has several renowned schools, notably around Sophia Antipolis, Nice and Monaco, as well as international sections in state schools. Places are in demand: plan enrolment early.
Finding a home
The market is seasonal: year-round rentals are rarer than summer lets, and the finest properties often change hands off-market. A ready file and a quick response make all the difference.