How privileged we are to live by the extraordinary Mediterranean, in a region that has inspired artists, visionaries, and travellers from around the world for centuries.
Between glamorous coastal cities, hidden coves, and an endless horizon unfolds a way of life that lingers far beyond summer itself. That water moves us so deeply is no coincidence. Research on so-called “blue spaces” confirms what we have long known intuitively: proximity to the sea fosters inner calm, reduces stress, and enhances emotional well-being.
For those visiting or discovering this remarkable region anew, we have curated a selection of inspiring addresses, exceptional experiences, and summer rituals.
An invitation to experience the Mediterranean at its finest – stylishly, effortlessly, and filled with unforgettable moments.
PRIVATE ESCAPES ON THE WATER – YACHT LIFE
Between the glamorous coastlines of the Côte d’Azur and the turquoise harbours of Italy, yachting is being redefined as a new form of luxury. Today, it is no longer ownership that matters, but the quality of experiences – personalised, unhurried, and curated down to the finest detail.
Video via Moravia Yachting on YouTube
Among the most renowned names in this sector is Moravia Yachting in Monaco. They will design tailor-made journeys to your requirements, combining exceptional expertise with the discreet elegance that defines true luxury.
With an impressive fleet of yachts that can accommodate any requirements from day trips to week-long cruises with up to 38 guests, Moravia Yachting caters to every style of charter. For a truly seamless journey, the company also provides bespoke private aviation services through its parent company, Hill Robinson.
The perfect blend of privacy, relaxation and first-class service awaits with Cannes-based Nautibliss. Whether you’re planning a family escape or a getaway with friends, discover the French Riviera from a new perspective. Cruise to secluded coves, swim in crystal-clear waters, admire spectacular sunsets and explore charming coastal towns. Ideally located, Nautibliss offers easy access to some of the Riviera’s most sought-after destinations, making it perfect for day trips or leisurely weekend charters.
Nautibliss also specialises in tailor-made yacht charters for major events taking place on the Côte d’Azur, alongside bespoke “workation” experiences at sea. Ideal for business meetings, small corporate incentives or simply working in complete tranquillity, these exclusive charters combine productivity with the exceptional surroundings of the Mediterranean.
SEASIDE RITUALS – LUXURY BEACH PICNICS
There is something truly special about enjoying the beauty of nature while gathering with family and friends. A carefully curated picnic offers the perfect opportunity to do just that – where every detail is thoughtfully designed to create a memorable experience.
Courtesy The Nice Picnic
This concept is particularly well interpreted by The Nice Picnic, which transforms the relaxed elegance of the Côte d’Azur into unforgettable summer experiences – some moments feel like scenes from a summer film! Guests simply arrive, settle in, and enjoy the moment.
Handcrafted tableware, seasonal menus, and spectacular coastal settings elevate a simple day at the beach into something truly special. Here, luxury is defined by thoughtful details and effortless sophistication.
Four picnic experiences are available, starting with the Medium package at €59 per person and the Premium package at €79 per person. Guests can also opt for a two-hour Wellness Picnic from €39 per person or indulge in the exclusive Floating Picnic at €89 per person, designed for two guests. Tailor-made experiences are also available on request.
Courtesy The Nice Picnic
Along some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful coastlines, exclusive pop-up picnics combine gastronomy, design, and French savoir vivre! With a variety of stunning locations and bespoke settings to choose from, you are guaranteed to find the perfect picnic experience.
CULTURAL ESCAPES BY THE COAST
Summer by the water does not only change our daily rhythm, it also transforms the way we experience stories – as if proximity to water heightens our attention and makes us more receptive to emotion, memory, and nuance.
It is precisely in this setting that Sailing Across a Wounded Sea by Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara reveals its full resonance. His work as a marine biologist combines scientific rigour with a deeply reflective, almost poetic exploration of the Mediterranean.
Book cover courtesy Enrico Damiani Editore e Associati
Here, the Mediterranean is not merely a place of longing, but a living archive: of ancient civilizations, trade routes, departures, and returns, as well as contemporary forms of travel, leisure, and encounter. At the same time, the book turns an unflinching gaze toward its fragility. Overfishing, pollution, rising maritime traffic, and the accelerating impacts of climate change are rapidly reshaping one of the world’s most captivating ecosystems.
In summer, when the sea itself becomes a backdrop for our own fantasies of escape and freedom, this book serves as a quiet but powerful reminder that beauty and vulnerability are inseparable.
Available in English and Italian
OPEN-AIR ESCAPES
Few experiences capture the magic of summer more than a film or a concert under the open skies.
A glass of rosé, the sound of the sea, a classic film or soothing tunes beneath the stars – sometimes that is all it takes for the perfect summer evening.
Hôtel Belles Rives, Cap d’Antibes – come experience one of the season’s most coveted Riviera experiences, an exclusive open-air cinema club staged on the hotel’s private beach overlooking the Mediterranean.
The Maybourne Riviera, Monaco – Movie nights take on a whole new dimension this summer on the suspended terrace of the hotel with breathtaking views of Monaco and the Mediterranean. In association with Food Fiction.
Courtesy Les Nuits Dime On du Cap Estel
Hôtel Cap Estel, Èze – Les Nuits Dime On du Cap Estel, the hotel’s signature summer music festival, is back for a new season of truly unforgettable nights on the Riviera. Great food, great music, and the Mediterranean on the doorstep.
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild – Les Nocturnes de la Villa return for a captivating fourth edition devoted to emotion, music, and the art of live performance. Why not opt for the picnic option and make it a memorable night by the Med?
COASTAL WALKS
The Promenade Le Corbusier, also known as the Sentier des Douaniers, is one of the most impressive coastal trails of the Côte d’Azur. Running between Menton and Monaco / Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the roughly 5 to 7.5 km path follows the rocky Mediterranean coastline.
Depending on the starting point, the walk takes approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The route is generally easy to moderately demanding.
The path passes hidden coves, Mediterranean vegetation, and architecturally remarkable villas discreetly embedded into the Riviera cliffs. One particular highlight is Villa Cyrnos, once the summer residence of Eugénie de Montijo, the last Empress of France and widow of Napoleon III, and still one of the coast’s most iconic estates.
Video via TF1 INFO on YouTube
The trail is named after Le Corbusier, who frequently visited this coastline and spent his final years in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Nearby is his famous Cabanon de Le Corbusier – a minimalist cabin that remains an important testament to his architectural philosophy.
The promenade uniquely combines landscape, architectural history, and the distinctive lifestyle of the Riviera.
The coastal hike between Villefranche-sur-Mer and Nice (or in the opposite direction) is one of the most spectacular sections of the Sentier du Littoral. The trail runs directly along the cliffs, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea at every turn.
Along the way, you walk through a typical Mediterranean coastal landscape. The vegetation is made up of fragrant maquis, with herbs such as thyme and rosemary, accompanied by gorse and low shrubs. Aleppo pines and maritime pines line the path in many places, while agaves and palm trees in the villa gardens add further character to the scenery.
The architecture along the route is equally striking. Elegant Belle Époque and early 20th-century villas are a defining feature, often set in elevated positions with expansive gardens and stunning sea views. In addition, you will pass smaller historic coastal fortifications as well as the lively and charming harbour areas of Villefranche and Nice. The contrast between the natural coastal path and the elegant, luxurious architecture is one of the highlights of this route.
The trail is approximately 5 to 6 kilometres long, depending on the chosen starting and ending points – for example, from Port Lympia in Nice to the harbour of La Darse in Villefranche. The hike takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete and is of moderate difficulty, making it suitable for most walkers.
Video via Me and Mon Ami on YouTube
Another beautiful section of the Sentier du Littoral is the loop around Cap Ferrat – an impressive, moderately challenging coastal hike on the Côte d’Azur. Covering roughly 9 kilometres, the route circles the entire peninsula and offers continuous, stunning views of the Mediterranean. The walking time is approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
The trail is about 9 km long (as a full loop) with an elevation gain of around 80 to 100 metres. Suitable starting points include both the harbour of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and the beach of Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
The coastal path itself is particularly scenic: it winds directly along the cliffs, passing rugged rock formations and small, hidden coves such as Plage de Passable and Plage des Fossettes.
At the southern tip of the peninsula, you pass the Cap Ferrat lighthouse, which offers sweeping views as far as Nice and, on clear days, even to Italy.
A detour onto the smaller eastern peninsula of Cap Saint-Hospice is also worthwhile. There you will find the Chapel of Saint-Hospice as well as a Belgian military cemetery, both of which lend the area a distinctive historical atmosphere.
FOR THE ARCHITECTURALLY MINDED
For architecture lovers, the region offers a wealth of remarkable villas and historic landmarks, many set against a stunning Mediterranean backdrop. Here are a few recommendations to explore, perhaps combined with one of our suggested coastal walks.
Video via Le Centre des monuments nationaux on YouTube
In Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, we have the superb Villa E-1027, which lies anchored directly into the rock, opening out toward the sea. Designed by Eileen Gray, she thought of architecture as a way of living: how spaces feel, how light moves, how the sea seeps into the rhythm of the day.Sliding elements, precise relationships, fluid transitions between inside and outside. Nothing is loud. Nothing insists. Everything is there – and yet remains understated. Today, the villa stands less as an icon and more as a reminder: architecture is never only built – it is read, experienced, and sometimes overwritten.
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is one of the French Riviera’s most remarkable Belle Époque landmarks. Built between 1907 and 1912 by Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, the elegant pink villa overlooks the Mediterranean from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and is celebrated for its outstanding art collections and nine beautifully themed gardens. The villa and gardens can be easily integrated into the circular walking route, being just a short detour inland of about 10–15 minutes (approx. 0.5–1 km) from the coastal path. It is slightly elevated but is easy to reach and well signposted.
Villa Kérylos is a remarkable early 20th-century landmark in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, designed as a faithful tribute to an ancient Greek noble residence. Set on a rocky promontory above the Mediterranean, it combines Hellenistic inspiration with the refinement and modern comforts of the Belle Époque. The villa is situated right by the sea and can be easily included in an extended coastal walk.
JEWELS OF THE SEA
Courtesy Esty Grossman Handmade Jewelry
For centuries, the sea has inspired art, architecture, and fashion. Today, its aesthetics are particularly reflected in the world of jewellery. This idea finds a particularly refined, organic interpretation In the work of Esty Grossman.
Shells, starfish, coral structures, and the fluid motion of waves are translated by designers into contemporary forms. Freshwater pearls, mother-of-pearl, and precious metals like silver lend these creations a natural elegance that feels both modern and timeless.
FASHION – POOL POSITION: THE RETURN OF AN ICON
This brand tells a story of timeless chic from Monaco.
With Pool Position, one of Monaco’s most iconic swimwear lines returns, reimagined through a contemporary lens while remaining deeply rooted in its heritage. Originally founded in the 1980s by Princess Stéphanie, the brand today finds a new creative voice in her daughter, Pauline Ducruet.
Between past and present, a quiet continuity emerges – a dialogue between tradition and contemporary evolution that subtly reshapes the brand’s identity.
Designed in Monaco, the pieces combine sporty sophistication with a conscious commitment to sustainability, quality, and longevity.
A modern homage to the Riviera – confident, minimal, and effortlessly chic.
THE SCENT OF SUMMER
Courtesy Toni Gard
With its maritime fragrance notes for him and her, Seaside by Toni Gard captures the atmosphere that makes long days by the water so special: the salty sea breeze, sun-warmed skin, and a sense of effortless ease. The fragrance unfolds with fresh aquatic notes, citrus accents, a subtle floral transparency, and a soft, clean base of musk and light woods.
A scent that does not describe summer – it makes it tangible.
Available online: shop tonigard.com
Courtesy Hinaiti
Hair is considered one of the most long-lasting carriers of fragrance: thanks to its unique structure, it can retain scent molecules exceptionally well and subtly release them with every movement. During the summer months, however, hair deserves extra care and attention. Intense sun exposure and salt water can stress the hair fibre and strip it of essential moisture.
Hinaiti products help maintain moisture, softness, and shine, while imparting an elegant fragrance that lingers delicately throughout the day.
VISUAL NOTES FROM THE COAST
Photographer Saverio Chiappallone’s images translate the presence of the ocean into a visual language.
A selection of his work is currently on view in the exhibition SottoSopra at Porto Cala del Forte in Ventimiglia, running until mid-July 2026.
Set within the atmosphere of the marina and the shifting Mediterranean light that runs through his work, the exhibition feels less like a presentation and more like a pause inside his world.
Open Friday to Sunday, 7–10 pm, or by appointment.
Courtesy Saverio Chiappalone
Wishing you a beautiful summer – and a season that stays with you long after it ends.
PHOTO CREDITS
- Lead image by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash, licenced under the Unsplash License
- All other photos and videos as credited
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