101 places to go – Côte d’azur

Now summer’s on its way out you may be looking for more autumnal pursuits, such as long walks through ochre-hued woodland, or long afternoons lazing by roaring fires.

But – as is customary for those who love holidaying – we’re going to hold onto summer for a bit longer and make the Côte d’azur our new recommended place to visit.

September is one of the best times to visit the French Riviera; the peak season crowds have departed the blue waters and the Cannes Film Festival has long since finished, ensuring less papaprazzi crowding your steps as you make your way over the golden sands.

That’s not to say that you’ll be left with nothing to do (not that you’d find that too upsetting – there are few places as enjoyable to laze in!) as September is equally rich with leisure opportunities. We’ve added a few of our recommendations below but we’d love to hear yours too, so leave a comment below!

• The Voiles de St Tropez is a huge sailboat regatta, where many yachts make for much spectacle! An obvious highlight to the region’s already crowded social calendar, this annual event takes place in the bay around St Tropez at the end of September.

• With so many natural treasures on display, it takes something very special to stand out on the French Riviera. Well, as many visitors will attest, the Villa Ephrussi is one such place. The villa’s former resident, Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild, was a collector and curator of an incredible array of treasures from around the globe, and their final resting place is fittingly resplendent.

• La Croisette seafront in Cannes is basically French Riviera in a nutshell, combining glitz and glamour with stunning views of the Mediterranean sea. Grab a glace and take a stroll at sunset to see the jet-set come out to play.