Top 4 ways to end your season in the French Riviera

Once the Monaco Yacht Show (September 27-30) has finished there's no need to race away from the French Riviera. Make the most of the autumn sunshine and a more relaxed atmosphere with our guide to four routes to finish of the Mediterranean season in style.

1. To embrace the elements

After a long season of partying, eating and drinking, you may find that you need some fresh air and exercise to rejuvenate your spirit. Find your energy again by taking part in some of the outdoor activities on offer, from hiking in Eze to paragliding in Provence.

Nice

Head to Nice for stunning seaside scenery, best enjoyed in the great outdoors. Moving away from the main port, the surrounding countryside offers extraordinary hiking and cycling paths over the rambling terrain. The Nietzsche path is reputedly the best, named after philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who walked it on a daily basis during the summer when he lived there. The path takes about an hour and half and makes for a good workout with its steep ascent. For something a little different, explore the paths on horseback before embarking west to continue your invigorating trip.

Hyères

Off the coast of Hyères is a collection of small islands known as the Golden Isles. Îles d’Hyères has some beautiful anchorages and is only 7.5 nautical miles from the Port-Cros National Park. Snorkelling in the sanctuary, which covers about 13 kilometres, will reward you with sightings of live coral fans, tuna or jellyfish. There are plenty of wreck dives to explore, including a couple of submerged aircrafts. This is also the place to get out any water toys and practice your water skiing or kayaking skills. Port-Cros is one of the best secret islands in the French Riviera and the waters of the Côte d’Azur will surely be welcoming and warm for whatever aquatic activity you have planned.

Aix-en-Provence

Only half an hour from the port of Marseille is the town of Aix-en-Provence, famed for its vibrant lavender fields. The locals know that this picturesque area is best seen from up top, so there are many opportunities available for enjoying the coastal area from a birds-eye-view. Hire a private helicopter for an exhilarating, open door tour, or enjoy a romantic sunset trip in a hot air balloon. Paragliding and skydiving are also options for the real thrill seekers, with this region boasting the biggest skydiving centre in Europe. If you want to scale heights a little closer to the ground, you can engage in any of the crag climbing activities.

If you want to continue the summer party vibe then a cruise between the two most glamorous spots on the Côte d’Azur might be the perfect option.

Monaco

If you are still in Monaco the make sure you visit Sass Café, one of the best restaurants in Monaco. The venue has been around for more than 20 years and attracts a host of celebrities including Penélope Cruz and Jay-Z.

Cannes

You can recover from any over indulgences at the Monaco Yacht Show while you head to Cannes. One the best nightspots to visit is Le Bâoli, a Balinese bar packed with the rich, the famous, and the acutely good-looking — all stylishly smashed on Pink Basilic cocktails. The staff have a reputation for being slightly self-satisfied but it also offers one of the best ambiances on the French Riviera.

Alternatively if you're feeling lucky then you can visit one of the town’s three casinos: Casino Palm Beach, Casino Barrière Le Croisette or Casino Barrière Les Princes.

Saint-Tropez

After leaving Cannes you can then cruise overnight to arrive in Saint-Tropez, one of the Mediterranean's top summer party destinations. The town has a plethora of famous nights spots — Les Caves du Roy, VIP Room and Le Papagayo are the best known.

Les Caves du Roy is arguably France’s most famous nightclub. Despite having been around for more than 40 years it has not lost any of its panache. The resident DJ is Jack-E, who has a reputation for being able to flawlessly blend classics and modern favourites.

If you are looking to wind down after the excitements of the the summer then you can ditch the hustle and bustle of Monaco for a leisurely five-day cruise to the western side of the Côte d’Azur.

Èze-sur-Mer

The first stop is Èze-sur-Mer, a medieval town perched atop a rocky peak. The ocean views from its upper reaches are a calming pleasure — although they are even better with haute cuisine from one of the top restaurants in the French Riviera, the two-Michelin-star La Chèvre d’Or.

Hotel Majestic Barriere

In the morning continue to Cannes, leave your superyacht and visit the spa at the Hotel Majestic Barriere to revive yourself from your wild nights in Monaco. Considered to be one of the best spas in the Mediterranean, it has four treatment rooms, a pedicure-manicure room, a hairdressing space, a sauna, a hammam, an "experience course" (for multi-sensory stimulation), and a relaxation room.

Îles d’Hyères

Cruise overnight on your superyacht and the next day drop anchor among the Îles d’Hyères to spend time on the Notre Dame beach which offers white sand fringed with pine and eucalyptus trees. It is a favourite destination for superyachts as it is a 50-minute walk or 20-minute cycle ride from the port.

Sanary-sur-Mer

For a little more action — just a little more — continue west the next day to the pretty fishing town of Sanary-sur-Mer, with palm-treed promenade and a selection of neat little beaches, the pick of which is Portissol. The surrounding woodlands, olive groves and fields also offer a romantic stroll.

Camargue

For true peace there’s little to rival the final superyacht stop, the delta of briny lagoons and sandbars at Camargue. Explore by foot or bicycle to meet the bountiful wildlife, including semi-wild Camargue horses and flamingos. Back aboard, fall asleep to the sound of crickets and absolutely nothing else.This itinerary is guaranteed to leave you feeling revitalised and ready for the Caribbean season.

Make the most of your final days in the French Riviera with an adventurous three-day itinerary taking in the fresh delights of up-and-coming restaurants, local secrets and under-the-radar classics hidden in the Côte d’Azur.

La Turbie

Leave the shores of Monaco and head into the hills of La Turbie for two restaurants run by Bruno Cirino, a protégé of Alain Ducasse: lunch on simple market dishes at Le Café de la Fontaine and linger for dinner at one-Michelin-star Hostellerie Jérôme, a former Cistercian refectory serving what the guide calls “delicate southern cuisine”.

Nice

The following day take your luxury yacht west for Nice’s pick-and-mix scene of hole-in-the-wall bistros, some of the best rustic restaurants in the Mediterranean. Two favourites are La Merenda, which Dominique Le Stanc ditched his two-Michelin-star restaurant to set up and Italian-influenced Chat Noir Chat Blanc, by two cooks from chic Nice eaterie La Réserve.

Antibes

For lunch in old-town Antibes visit local favourite L’Armoise, but for supper with a sea view, try Bacon. This classic fish restaurant has kept its Michelin star since 1979 and is often unwisely overlooked for flashier newcomers. Robert De Niro, Jude Law and Angelina Jolie are just some of the celebrities who have enjoyed its cuisine over the past decade.