Menton seafront, Garavan

Hôtel Napoléon

★★★★★

Menton is the Riviera's gentlest town, a pastel old town tumbling down to the sea at the Italian border, famous for its citrus, its mild winters and its gardens, and the Hôtel Napoléon is one of the best places to enjoy it. The four-star hotel stands on the seafront at the eastern side of town, facing the bay of Garavan, with a panoramic view across the water to the old town on one side and to the Italian coast on the other. It has been recently renovated, and its forty-four rooms, including two suites, a family suite and three rooms adapted for guests with reduced mobility, are air-conditioned and soundproofed, many with views of the sea. The facilities are generous for a hotel of its size and rare in Menton: a swimming pool, a garden and terrace, a restaurant and bar, room service, a small fitness room and private parking, which is valuable in a town where parking is tight. The beach and the sea are across the road, and the old town, the Basilica of Saint-Michel and the covered market hall are a pleasant walk along the promenade. Menton station is a short taxi or bus ride, with trains to Monaco in about ten minutes and Nice in about half an hour, and the Italian Riviera begins just beyond the border. The hotel is listed as open every day of the year, and its published 2026 room rates start in the mid-range and rise in high season. In February, the Lemon Festival transforms the town, from 13 to 28 February 2027.

Choosing a room: sea-view rooms, with the bay and Italy in front of you, are the reason to choose this hotel. Ask for a higher floor for the widest view. Rooms facing the hillside are quieter and cheaper. The seafront road has some traffic, but soundproofing helps. The family suite is a good option for families, and accessible rooms are available.

Living here: Menton is a town for slow days. Walk the seafront into the old town, climb the stairways to the Basilica for the view, browse the covered market for local citrus products, and visit the gardens for which the town is famous, several of them public. In winter, Menton is one of the sunniest towns in mainland France, and the hotel's pool and terrace make the most of mild days. During the Lemon Festival, with its giant citrus sculptures and parades, hotels fill early and rates rise, so book well ahead if February is your target.

Who it suits: couples, older travellers and families looking for a calm, comfortable base, and anyone who wants to combine the French and Italian Rivieras. It is also an excellent alternative base to Nice for the Monaco side of the coast, with Monaco only minutes away by train.