Private driver to Menton and the Italian border

Menton chauffeur: local notes and planning

A private driver to Menton, the pearl of France

Menton is the last town on the French Riviera before the Italian border, and its microclimate makes it the warmest and sunniest corner of the coast. Pastel houses climb the hillside above a long seafront, lemon trees grow in terraced gardens and the old town rises to a cemetery with views over the bay. It is a place of gardens, museums and slow lunches, and it is only a short ride from Monaco. This page explains how we serve Menton and the border area, what to see, and how to book.

Getting to Menton from Nice, Monaco and Cannes

Menton is about 35 kilometres from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, a drive of around 40 minutes in normal traffic, and about 10 kilometres from Monaco, a ride of roughly 15 minutes. From Cannes, count about an hour and ten minutes. The A8 motorway is the quickest route, and the Corniche roads offer a scenic alternative if you have time.

The Lemon Festival

Each year, from mid-February into early March, Menton celebrates its lemons with the Fête du Citron. Giant sculptures built from thousands of citrus fruits fill the Biovès Gardens, and illuminated floats and parades pass through the town. The festival is one of the busiest events of the winter season, with roads closed and parking scarce.

The lemons and local gastronomy

The lemons of Menton have a protected designation, and they appear in jams, liqueurs, pastries and savoury dishes throughout the town. Local restaurants combine French and Italian influences, with fresh fish, ravioli and vegetables from the hills. A relaxed lunch in the old town or on the seafront is a highlight of any visit.

Gardens: Serre de la Madone, Val Rahmeh and Maria Serena

Menton has some of the best gardens on the Riviera, thanks to its mild climate. The Serre de la Madone, created by the horticulturist Lawrence Johnston, is a large garden in the hills with rare plants from around the world. The Val Rahmeh garden shows tropical and subtropical species near the sea, and the Maria Serena garden grows exotic plants beside the Italian border.

Museums and Jean Cocteau

The Cocteau Museum, a modern building on the seafront, presents the work of the artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, who loved Menton and left his mark on the town. Nearby, the wedding hall at the town hall, which Cocteau decorated, can be visited. The Palais Carnolès, an old princely residence, houses a museum of fine arts in a garden full of citrus trees.

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