Côte d'Azur Cruise: Exotic Cars & Coastal Views on the French Riviera

Anyone who appreciates a good drop-top grand tourer will tell you there's nothing like a cruise on a scenic road in one, and there's no shortage of roads that qualify on this planet. There's the remarkable drive through the Swiss Alps, the coastal roads of Monterey and Carmel in California, and the famous North Coast 500 in Scottland, just to name a few. Here, we're exploring the magical scenic drives along the coastal roads of the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur).

You may have seen our blog post about things to do in Cannes. In it, we mentioned that driving on Boulevard de La Croisette is a great way to enjoy the views in the beautiful city of Cannes. Raquel may have had all the camera time but I was the only one on the team to drive through Cannes. All in, I drove from Nice to Theoule-sur-Mer and back to Cannes, where we dropped off the car at night. So, in case you're wondering why I'm writing this post instead of Raquel, there's your answer.

I selected the Ferrari Portofino for the drive because I thought it was a better option than the Ferrari 488 Spider for a coastal drive. After all, the 488 isn't a grand tourer. The Mercedes SL was another option I considered, but we didn't find one that could be delivered to us early enough to give us as much filming time.

Between three members of the team, the places we drove through in the French Riviera include Promenade des Anglais, Mont Boron (and the edge of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat), Port Lympia, Vieille Ville, Antibes (mostly through the A8 freeway), Cannes and Theoule-sur-Mer. Obviously, that took the whole day, but if you're going to drive for just an hour or two, where would I recommend? Perhaps it's best to talk about the best parts of driving through each of these places before offering my recommendation.

Mont Boron

I have to admit that I knew nothing about Mont Boron before we started planning our Nice tour. Our Cannes-based film crew had recommended the views there. I'm sure glad I listened because Mont Boron probably has the best scenic views in all of Nice. The elevation offers incredible Mediterranean Sea scenery, and the collection of coastal villas on the slopes makes it difficult not to fall in love with the place. The added benefit of a quiet environment with few tourists also improves the allure.

Once at the Mont Boron peak, you should stop at the park and look around. In my opinion, the views here are better than what you'll be treated to at Le Parc de la Colline du Château (Castle Hill Park). You'll enjoy views of the bay and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Peninsula of Billionaires).

Promenade des Anglais

Needing no introduction, Promenade des Anglais is probably the best-known attraction in Nice. Driving down this road is a great experience as you get to see some iconic landmarks, including Le Negresco Hotel, Villa Messina, and Théâtre de Verdure de Nice. Of course, you also get the benefit of enjoying views of the beaches and rows of palm trees along the road. One interesting thing about driving in Nice and Cannes is that the traffic lights are on the side of the road, so it's easy to miss them while trying to enjoy the scenery. The lights in Paris are on the side too, but they're more prominent.

Another downside about driving on the promenade is that you'll encounter traffic jams sooner or later. If you want to avoid this, consider driving at night. The dusk view of Le Negresco alone may be enough to make it worth it, but you'll miss out on the views of the Mediterranean Sea. That has to be a deal breaker.

Port Lympia

There's something very alluring about Port Lympia. The colorful buildings, restaurants, and yachts of different sizes moored around the port make it a quintessential Mediterranean coastal neighborhood. It's like driving through brilliant poetry, if that makes any sense. Outside of the driving, we spent a fair amount of time here. The car was delivered to us at the port, and it was an excellent place for b-roll. Driving by Monument aux Morts de Rauba Capeau is intriguing and intimidating at the same time. It's hard to miss the giant monument, even if you didn't know about it before your drive.

I rode shotgun on the drive to Mont Boron from Port Lympia. While we drove through town most of the way, as we approached Mont Boron, the views of the Baie des Anges made a strong case for staring helplessly. If there are better views of a bay anywhere in the world, I want to know about them.

Cannes

On our way to Theoule-sur-Mer, we mostly stayed on the freeway, where there was nothing to see. However, we drove through Boulevard de La Croisette on the way back. The experience of having the incredible view of the Bay of Cannes to the right and the exquisite sight of the luxury shops in and around the Carlton Cannes Hotel and J.W. Marriot Hotel is hard to describe. Cannes is one of the most popular cities in the French Riviera for reasons beyond hosting the annual film festival. Driving down this world-famous street makes you understand why very quickly. I find Belle Epoche architecture quite fascinating, and the abundance of this on Boulevard de La Croisette made the drive even more enjoyable.

The lighting around the J.W. Marriot Hotel after dark really brings out the beauty of the building's architecture. The complex curved glass and steel façade of the ground floor makes the building stand out among its Belle Epoche neighbors. If I had the liberty to indulge, I would have driven through the street multiple times. While here, you should drive through Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, home of the Cannes Film Festival, and perhaps stop for a good authentic Mediterranean meal close to Le Vieux Port, Cannes' main harbor.

Theoule-sur-Mer

Theoule-sur-Mer is a resort town west of Cannes. It’s not as well-known as other French Riviera towns and there's a sharp contrast between this village and other places we visited. Its claim to fame is the "Red Rock" formations and pebble beaches all around the town. Perhaps the most popular beach here is La Pointe de L'Aiguille, which has been featured in many French movies. Theoule-sur-Mer is also home to Pierre Cardin's Palais Bulles (Bubble Palace), a uniquely designed house that was once the home of the late designer.

While you're in Theoule-sur-Mer, try to stay on Rte du Trayas. It's a coastal road that offers unobstructed views of the bay most of the way. To get the most out of your drive here, you should take a break at one of many rest stops along the way to take in the views of the Mediterranean Sea. The dusk views are like fine art.

Having driven on some remarkable coastal roads on both sides of the Atlantic, it's hard for me to imagine any better activity for a car enthusiast. The French Riviera makes a strong case for housing some of the best roads for this. Each one of the places I mentioned has its own unique appeal, so choosing one as the most rewarding is challenging.

If you have a whole day at your disposal, I recommend starting your French Riviera scenic drive in Èze Sur Mer, driving through 'Peninsula of Billionaires', Nice, Antibes, Cannes, and ending your journey at one of the pebble beaches in Theoule-sur-Mer. The drive is one you will never forget. However, if you have to choose a shorter route, I have to recommend driving from Mont Boron to Èze. The elevation here and the unobstructed views of the bay give it the edge over the other places. It also scores extra points for having fewer crowds of tourists and no traffic jams to deal with (relatively speaking).