DELICIOUS EXPERIENCES
IN AND AROUND THE COTE D'AZUR
Market Tours, Cooking Classes, Pastry Workshops...
Nice
The fresh scent of a Menton lemon. The melting texture of long-cooked onions. The bracing chill of that first sip of rosé. These are just a few of the pleasures of a day spent shopping at the Cours Saleya market in Nice and then preparing an authentic Niçois meal in France's most-Italian city. Our favorite foodie here is a native English speaker, food writer, Cordon Bleu-trained cook and longtime French resident who leads popular food tours and hosts cuisine and pastry classes in her custom-designed cooking studio on the Old Town. All classes and tours are available year round. Her offerings for 2025:
* The most popular program is the Cours Saleya Market Tour, Cooking Class and Lunch, a fabulous intro to the culture and cooking of Nice. Visit the market, learn about the city's history and food culture and then head back to the kitchen through the narrow streets of the Old Town, where you'll pick up wine and cheese to accompany the meal. A couple of hours later you will be enjoying the results of your efforts, enhanced with great conversation and local wines. Note: this is not a private experience...you'll almost certainly be joined by others. Hours: 9:30 am to 3 pm, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, two people minimum. Price: 220€ pp or 210€ pp for a group of 4 or more; maximum 8 people.
* Also offered is the Liberation Market Tour, Cooking Class and Lunch, focusing on Nice's biggest and most local food market with a group limited to seven people. Hours: 9 am to 3 pm, Fridays, two people minimum. Price: 230€ pp or 220€ for a group of 4 or more; maximum 7 people.
* Another option is the three-hour Private Nice Street Food Tour, an exploration of the city's unique culinary traditions. Nice is the only city in France that's famed for its street food, a reminder of the days when the county of Nice belonged to the Italian-ruled Kingdom of Savoy. You'll taste pissaladière (caramelized onion tart), socca (chick pea pancakes), fougasse (Provençal flatbread) and tourte de blettes (a sweet Swiss chard pie). Plus, you'll sample Provençal olive oils, flavored vinegars, exquisite cheeses....visit an artisanal butcher..and get our expert's list of recommended restaurants for the rest of your stay. Tour hours: 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, Tuesday to Saturday, on request. Prices: 440€ in total for up to four people; 95€ per person for 5 to 10 people.
* The Macarons and Choux Pastry Classes demystify these French classics and draw on local, seasonal flavors. Hours: Macarons 10am-1pm Mondays, Choux Pastry 10am-1pm Wednesdays, and on request for a minimum of four people. Price: €110 per person.
* Private Rosé tasting with Niçoise Nibbles, led by a sommelier. Available 5-7pm Fridays, and on request for groups of 4 or more. 450€ in total for up to 4 people; 75 euros per person for 5 to 10 people. More details about this appear just below.
Yay, Rosé! A Private Two-Hour Guided Wine Tasting with Niçoise Snacks
Old Town Nice
How great does this sound? Discover a selection of fantastic rosé wines from Provence and the French Riviera. Learn professional tasting techniques from a charming female sommelier. Nibble traditional Niçoise snacks. And do it all in a beautiful studio in Old Town Nice, with like-minded travelers. from all over the world. Yes, it seems that everyone is falling for the crisp Rosé wines of the Mediterranean coast, which conjure up deep turquoise water and a refreshing sea breeze with every sip. But how is rosé produced and what makes certain bottles stand out? Under the expert guidance of a certified sommelier and cookbook author, you'll learn how modern rosé came to be born in Provence, discover several different rosés from the region and learn to identify your preferred sipping style. While she's sharing her best tips and wine-making tales she'll be uncorking bottles from her favorite producers. Because rosé is an integral part of la merenda, Nice’s famous street-food tradition, nibbles will be served and you'll learn about pairing rosé with foods from the Mediterranean and elsewhere. 2025 Pricing: 450€ in total for up to 4 people; 75 euros per person for 5 to 10 people. Available as a private class only from 5 to 7 pm on Fridays with other days upon request. Available: year-round.
Whirly Bird Special
Why sit in traffic when you can lift off from Nice Airport, enjoy a breathtaking helicopter ride along the stunning coastline and land at Monaco Heliport just 7 minutes later.? This terrific company, in business since 1976, has 12 single- and twin-engine helicopters and an impeccable safety record providing transfers and site-seeing throughout the Riviera region and beyond. A one-way flight between Nice and Monaco (or vice versa) is just €135 per person. Private transfers range from €775 to €1180 depending on the size of your group. If you’re landing at Nice and heading elsewhere in France or to Italy, you can helicopter to many cities and villages, landing at heliports, on golf courses and in the gardens of some restaurants and hotels. The company also offers panoramic site-seeing flights, departing from Monaco or elsewhere. The most popular flights are 10 minutes (€60 per person), 20 minutes (€115 per person) or 30 minutes (€150 per person)…but of course the sky’s the limit: this summer, a client of mine booked a one-hour site-seeing flight for her family of four, with pick up and drop off on the lawn of her hotel in Vence (total cost: €2500). Depending on the length of the flight, you may see Monaco, Eze Village, Juan les Pins, Cannes, St. Jean Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu, Villefranche, Menton, Roquebrune and the Lerins Islands. Seriously, you deserve this! Packages are also available, such as a one-night gambling jaunt to Monaco, including heli transfers from Nice, shuttle to your 5-star hotel, room and a casino gift card (€ 475 per person).
An Elegant Speedboat Cruise
French Riviera/Cote d'Azur
Private charter a luxurious 11.5 meter Superhawk 34 (max 7 passengers) with captain for a glorious cruise along the Cote d'Azur. Skipper, fuel, snorkeling, towels and soft drinks included. Departures are from Beaulieu, Monaco, Cap Ferrat or Nice; details of each cruise depend on port of departure. A wide range of larger boats are also available.
2 hrs - The Essential Coastal Views: 1220 €.
3 hrs - The Must-See Shore-Side: 1550 €
4 hrs - Best of the Littoral: 1830 €
4 hrs - Tour to Cannes & the Lerins Islands (Juan les Pins, Cap d' Antibes, Billionaires Bay, Eden Roc and the red rocks of the Esterel): 2080 €
8 hrs - The Best-Of Local Navigation: 2760 €
8 hrs - Cruise to Cannes & the Islands: 2950 €
9 hrs - The Cote d'Azur to St Tropez: 3340 €
2 hrs - Sunset Cruise with Champagne and snacks (chips, hummus,etc.), along the coast between Monaco Bay and St. Jean Cap Ferrat: 1290€.
Touring the Cote d’Azur with Elegance and Ease
Explore the glorious Côte d’Azur in a luxurious vehicle, with an experienced English-speaking driver/guide. I work closely with a few wonderful companies to custom-design glorious days out, depending on what interests you most, whether it’s stunning scenery, historic sites, gardens, vineyards, museums, markets, shopping or all of the above! Explore the famous seaside cities and villages (Nice, Antibes, Cannes, St. Tropez, Villefranche, etc.) and the stunning hill towns above them (Ezes, St. Paul de Vence, Mougins, etc.) ...and of course Monaco’s best sites...without the hassles of driving and parking. Tours are either in a sedan, minivan or Mercedes V Class, depending on the size of your party and the particular driver/guide we choose to use. 2025 pricing is 400€ to 500€ for a four-hour half-day tour or 690€ to 900€ for a full, eight-hour day. The cost of any entry fees and lunch is always extra. All prices include pick up and drop off at your hotel or rental within 20 km of Nice; pick up further afield is available for a small surcharge. Available: Year Round.
The Stress-less Riviera and Cote d'Azur:
Guided Sightseeing Trips for 2025
Whether you have your own car or not, exploring the Cote d’Azur on your own can be a bit challenging, particularly for first-timers. So why not treat yourself and let someone else handle everything? I work with a terrific company that offers a wide range of sightseeing tours up and down the coast. Group shared tours are full-day (8-hour) tours in a deluxe late-model Volkswagen or Mercedes minivan (eight guests max) and are priced at 105€ to 145€ per person. They depart from Cannes, Nice or other locations upon request. Kids under 12 pay half price. Private tours are also offered for all of the itineraries below or let us completely customize your day out! Private tours are €390 to €450 (half day, 4 hours) or €690 to €790 (full day, 8 hours) for your group of eight people max. For private tours, you’ll be picked up and dropped off at your hotel or vacation rental. All entry fees, food and beverage are extra.
Shared tour offerings for 2025:
*Monaco, Èze and La Turbie (includes the Cathedral, Casino, Gardens, Formula One Grand Prix Circuit and Fragonard perfume factory).
Available every day.
*Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence (coastal road, Antibes harbor and ramparts, La Croisette and Palais des Festivals in Cannes and hilltop Saint-Paul-de-Vence). Available every day.
*French Riviera (includes medieval hilltop Èze, Fragonard perfume factory, La Turbie, Monaco, Antibes, Cannes). Available every day.
*Saint-Tropez and Port-Grimaud. Wednesday and Sunday only.
*The Countryside with Wine Tasting (includes perfume capital Grasse, medieval Valbonne, Loup River to Gourdon and tasting of red, rosé and white wines at a winery in the heart of a vineyard of Bellet above Nice. Monday and Thursday only.
*Discover Italy: Visit the famous San Remo Market and the 12th-century village of Dolceacqua. Tuesday and Saturday only.
Private tour offerings include all of the above or tailor-made itineraries. Here are some ideas:
*Full Day in Monaco (could include Villefranche, La Turbie and best of the Principality including the changing of the guard, Cathedral, Prince’s Palace and free time on “The Rock”).
*Nice (could include Promenade des Anglais, Castle Hill, Cimiez, possibly the Russian Orthodox Church, Old Town and the Cours Saleya flower market).
*Art Tour (could include well-known museums such as the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and the Chagall and Matisse Museums in Nice). Available every day but Tuesday.
*Monaco by Night. Experience the glamour and charm of Monaco on a captivating night tour. As the sun sets, explore the sparkling streets of Monte Carlo, admire the illuminated Casino de Monte-Carlo, and enjoy panoramic views of the Mediterranean coastline. Discover the beauty of the Prince's Palace, the luxury yachts in the harbor, and the vibrant nightlife, all while soaking in the unique atmosphere of this world-famous destination. Night tours are priced at €120 per hour.
Please note that prices are set by the wonderful people who provide these experiences for our clients. We do our very best to keep them current but it's possible they've changed slightly since our last update.
Riviera Portrait Sessions, Photo Lessons and Mini Tours
Available up and down the Cote d'Azur
This talented American photographer has been living and working on the Riviera for five years. While weddings are his pain et buerre (his wedding portfolio is just fantastic) he also offers portrait sessions, photo tours and more. He's based in Nice but regularly zips up and down the coast, from St. Tropez to the Italian border. "Every corner of this place is filled with beauty and is waiting to be shared with you!" he says. Intrigued? Here are some ideas, all of them available year round. One Hour Photo Tours. A great way to explore some of the Riviera's most photogenic sites, such as Old Antibes, the Nice Flower Market, The Rock in Monaco and the fishing village of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Every tour is a mini-workshop, filled with an insider's perspective and lots of great photo tips. First, you'll learn some quick basics: how to use a camera in "Manual" mode; what F-stop, shutter speed and ISO mean; how to compose an image, etc. Then, James tells me, "we'll take test shots, stumble around getting the grip of things and share photos. While the clients are shooting, I'm taking photos of them. All the way, I'm throwing in fun art and city facts. We always have a great time." Each tour also includes a printed photo (of you) as a souvenir. Pricing: 1 person: 80€ per hour. 2 people: 150€ per hour. 3 people: 170€ per hour. 4 people:: 200€ per hour. Larger groups and longer day tours are available with price upon demand. Note: admission costs, transportation costs and meals are extra. Portrait Sessions. James will suggest some amazing locations such as villages, gardens, mountains, seaside, beaches or even a boat. This is perfect for family trips, couples, honeymoons, kids. Price: 350€ for a one-hour photo session, plus any transportation or admission costs. The Portrait Session includes 15 digital HD files sent directly to your inbox.