Before the French Riviera became de rigeur for summer holidays – it was in fact primarily considered a ‘winter resort.’ Even in mid-winter, the French Riviera gets around 8 hours of sunshine a day. It’s not warm enough to swim in the sea (unless you’re fairly hardy), with average daily temperatures of 9-13 degrees centigrade, but it rarely snows and all that sunshine means you have plenty of time for sightseeing. With less crowds you can enjoy the ambiance of hilltop villages and visit cities that in summer months are thronging with tourists – like Saint-Tropez and Cannes, discover superb museums and get a table in even the most popular restaurants. Plus it’s a chance to enjoy the French Riviera’s winter events. Discover the winter sunshine delights on the French Riviera…
Mimosa season – French Riviera
The mimosa season! From the end of January the French Riviera glows a dazzling golden yellow as the mimosa trees burst into bloom. Imported by British visitors in the early 20th century from Australia where it’s known as wattle, mimosa trees have spread throughout the south of France. From January to March their delicious scent fills the air, heralding the arrival of spring, and several events take place to celebrate the mimosa. One not to miss is the Mimosa Festival at Mandelieu-La Napoule – 5 days of colourful floral parades, exhibitions and markets. Details: mandelieu-tourisme.com
Nice – a great place for a carnival
It’s warm enough during the day in winter to not wear a coat, and Nice’s year-round buzz is irresistible. The city achieved UNESCO-listed status as the “Winter resort city of the Riviera”, reflecting its popularity as a winter destination between the end of the 18th century and the end of the 19th century which led to its development architecturally and culturally. In February a grand carnival takes place in the heart of the town – it’s a feel good event with dancing, upbeat music, a ton of colorful confetti, parades and much more. Read more about the Nice Carnival
You can find details of the carnival here: nicecarnaval.com
Menton Lemon Festival
What sort of recipe calls for 145,000 kgs of oranges and lemons? Where can you see an animal, castle or a train made of fruit? The colourful and flamboyant Menton Lemon festival on the French Riviera sees a week long refreshing and fruity festival feature giant figures made from lemons and oranges. It all started when the winter crowds of the 19th century came to a halt in the early 20th century and to lure them back, a hotel owner devised a plan to create a citrus fruit exhibition in 1928. It’s now a major event in the south of France – and a fabulous winter tonic!
Menton Fete de Citron: 11-26 February 2023. You can find details here: fete-du-citron.com
More French riviera delights
Hidden gems of the French Riviera
What to see and do in Cannes
Discover the charms of Nice
What to see on a day trip from Nice to Monaco
By Janine Marsh, Editor of The Good Life France, and author of several books about France.
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