12 Best Things to Do in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat For a Perfect Weekend Getaway in the French Riviera

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12 Best Things to Do in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

From stunning beaches to a charming villa, this is what to do in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

1. Visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Whether you visit Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on a day trip or spend a few days, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a must-visit.

I like to call it a Barbie Dreamhouse… but on the French Riviera. And honestly, with it being most famous for its wealthy woman occupant and it having a pink facade, that seems fitting.

Beatrice de Rothschild, already wealthy thanks to her family, married Maurice Ephrussi. The marriage wasn’t a happy one, and when his gambling debts threatened her fortune, they divorced. 

Shortly after, her father passed, leaving her with quite a fortune. So what did she do? She ended up building a Venetian-style villa with a pink facade and stunning gardens! 

And now, you can visit those gardens and the house to get a feel of what it was like to be an heiress with arguably the best property in France. Oh, and from the villa, you can see both sides of the peninsula.

I even made a TikTok about it here:

@worldwidehoneymoon Want to visit the REAL LIFE Barbie Dreamhouse? #villaephrussiderothschild #ephrussiderothschild #saintjeancapferrat #nicedaytrip #frenchriviera #frenchrivieralife #cotedazur #provencealpescotedazur #cotedazurfrenchriviera #southoffrance #suddelafrance #CapCut ♬ Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album) – Dua Lipa

In all seriousness, this is a great place to enjoy the views, perhaps grab lunch at their tearoom, and learn more about this fascinating woman. 

Hours: Open daily from 10 am-6 pm. However, in July-August, they are open from 10 am-7 pm and from early November until the end of January, they are open from 10 am-6 pm on weekends and 10 am-4:30 pm during the week. The tea room is open daily from 12-3 pm for lunch and 3-5:30 pm for tea.

Admission: €18 for adults, €12 for children 7-17 years old and students 18-25 years old with an ID, and free for children under 7 and journalists.

2. Explore the Port

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is both a peninsula but also a small town on the peninsula. And the town itself is actually really cute. 

And honestly, what I love about this town is that it is way more laid back than Saint-Tropez. Don’t get me wrong, this is one of the best high-end places to visit in France, but it just feels more laid back and less busy than Saint-Tropez.

So even the port area feels laid back. There are cute restaurants, beautiful sculptures like the Banc Balaena and Grand Venus Bleue, a gallery, and cute shops. There is even a Seashell Museum (that’s sadly closed at the moment) too!

It’s fun to just wander around and take in a beautiful view, especially as the sun is setting or rising.

And even next to the port is Plage Cros Dei Pin, a fun beach area to hang out in town. 

3. Enjoy One of the Best Beaches in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: Plage Paloma

This is probably the most popular beach to visit in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Sadly, I didn’t get here on my visit, as I enjoyed Plage de la Fosse so much that I hung out there the rest of the day. Next time I need to come here too!

This place is a stretch of pebble beach with views of the Mediterranean and clear water-perfect for a dip in between sunbathing or reading under an umbrella.

It’s tucked away in Plage Paloma Cove, so water here is calm. 

Oh and for those who love Emily in Paris, a lot of “Saint-Tropez” scenes were actually filmed on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, including the beach where they visited Laurent G. This was filmed on Plage Paloma!

4. Plage des Fossettes

Located about 5 minutes from Plage Paloma is Plage des Fossettes. 

This small pebble beach is another gorgeous and serene place to take in the views and go for a swim. There is also a stone reinforced wall that adds to the character here.

This was the first beach I visited here and enjoyed it!

5. Plage de la Fosse

This ended up being my favorite beach in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. It’s a little bigger than Plage des Fossettes and Plage Paloma, and I loved the tucked away cove that almost felt enclosed thanks to the pieces of land on either side almost meeting in the middle.

But I love this area for its reefs/sea grass, and it is a stunning and relaxing beach. 

The best part is that these three beaches are really close together, meaning you can spend a day just beach hopping if you want to!

But the main point of these beaches is to relax. That is honestly the main point of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Just relax and take in some gorgeous seaside views. 

I also love that the beaches in Cap Ferrat feel more remote simply because they don’t have tons of hotels and high rises behind it like in larger beach cities and towns like Cannes, Nice, etc.

6. Go Snorkeling!

Did I pack my own snorkel and went snorkeling here? Yes. Probably the biggest reason I loved Plage de la Fosse is that it has some good snorkeling. 

While it isn’t as great as perhaps Corsica, it was still a lot of fun to swim and see what fish I could find! 

7. Rent a Boat

If this is a special occasion, or you just want to be a little bougie, then why not rent a boat for the day?

Check Nautal.com to find boats (with a captain if you don’t have the proper license to boat in Europe) so you can enjoy a boat day while in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

8. Hike the Coastal Path of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

The Sentier du Littoral is a hiking path along the coast of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. While you could hike as little or as much as you’d like, you could do this hike that is about 7.8 miles (12.6 km) and is a good 3-4 hours to complete.

The trail is fairly flat with only about 685 feet (209 m) in elevation gain in 7.8 miles, but you’ll be met with stunning views of the coast, beaches, and even the old lighthouse. You could also make a side trip to go visit the Chapelle Saint Hospice on the way. 

And you could probably make this into a full day hike with stops at beaches along the way!

Just be sure to pack plenty of snacks and water! I love my hiking backpack and water bladder, and, of course, you’ll want to bring plenty of sunscreen.

9. Enjoy All the Seafood

You’re on a strip of land surrounded on 3 sides by the Mediterranean. So this is, of course, a perfect place for seafood!

A great place for dinner has to be along the port. I enjoyed Diva Restaurant with amazing views of the mountains and water and delectable octopus and sea bream.

Other spots to check out include Le Quai 28, Equinoxe, and Restaurant Le Pirate. Just be sure to make reservations in advance!

10. Stay at a Luxurious Hotel

Want to feel like a million bucks? Or honestly have the money to splurge? Then you can easily find a place to stay on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat! Don’t worry if you don’t-I’ll share where I stayed here and another affordable option below. 

But if this is a special occasion, celebrating an engagement or honeymoon, etc., then splurging on a 5-star resort is just the thing to do here!

And what better place than at the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat?

This Four Seasons Hotel not only posed as the hotel in Saint-Tropez on Emily in Paris, but it is rumored to be the next filming location for The White Lotus season 4!

So if you’re a bit of a TV fan, this is also an iconic hotel!

Okay, aside from that, this 5-star hotel also has a spa, a luxurious pool club with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and, of course, epic fine dining and drink experiences.

Book it here!

Another great option is also the Hotel Royal-Riviera. 

This place, located next to Beaulieu-sur-Mer (literally at the top of the peninsula), is next to the beach and has a spa, a pool and beach club, many restaurants and even a couple of bars, and both rooms and suites for your stay.

Book it here!

11. Take a Day Trip

A lot of places are closely connected along the French Riviera, and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is no exception. 

However, it is worth noting that Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat does NOT have a train station. But you could easily take a bus from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to Beaulieu-sur-Mer and then a train to many places along the coast.

Or, if you’re like me and rented a car, you can go wherever! 

Here are some day trip ideas from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat:

• Nice (Obvious, but a good one! Most people tend to stay in Nice and take a day trip here, but why not do the reverse?)
• Eze (I love that you can see great views of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat from the top of Eze. Just note that you’ll have to hike or take a bus up to the top of Eze from the train station if you want to visit Eze Village.)
• Beaulieu-sur-Mer (Just enjoy the views and beach here. You can take a bus here.)
• Villefranche-sur-Mer (Another fabulous beach town you can take a bus to.)
• Monaco (Visit another country!)
• Menton (Enjoy this town close to the Italian border.)
• Antibes (Visit this iconic beachside city.)
• Cannes (For glitz, glamor, and shopping, head here.)

12. Relax!

This is honestly so key. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat isn’t a place to run around all day sightseeing. It’s a place where people go to relax. Set up camp on a beach and nap under an umbrella.

Sip wine along the port with friends. Go for a leisurely stroll along the coast. Take in a sunset. This isn’t the place to check off sight after sight. It is meant to be savored. So relax and enjoy the tranquility of a beachside escape in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat!

Where to Stay in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (For Those of Us Not Willing to Spend Thousands of $$$ a Night)

While I mentioned you could spend a small fortune per night on a luxury 5-star hotel and resort, that doesn’t mean you have to! 

I certainly didn’t! I was solo traveling the South of France for 2 weeks with nobody to split bills with. I was also heading to Paris for the Olympics afterward. Your girl needed a place to 1) do some laundry, 2) cook some food and maybe save on dining out a bit, and 3) save a bit of money in general.

So what did I do? I booked this Airbnb. It was still pricy considering the location, but it certainly wasn’t nearly as expensive as many hotels in the area. Plus, it had views of the sea, a balcony with these views below (where I enjoyed a nice solo aperitif), a kitchen so I could make some meals while there, and a comfy bedroom. 

I’d 100% stay here again. Book it here!

However, another hotel option is the Boutique Hotel & Spa La Villa Cap Ferrat. This place has rooms with sea views, a pool, and even has some parking you can prebook ahead of time (which is hard to come by in Cap Ferrat!). Book it here!

Getting to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat & Getting Around

Now while getting to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat isn’t as easy as hopping off a train, it isn’t that bad. Most people visiting without a car will likely take the train from Nice to Beaulieu-sur-Mer. From there, it is about a 10 minute bus ride or so to the town of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. 

However, if you have a car (I recommend checking AutoEurope for car rentals!), it’s easy to get in and out of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. It’s maybe a 30 minute or so drive from Nice to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

While I was on my road trip, I ended up going to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat from Eze and then ended in Nice before taking the train to Paris. 

Once you’re in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, though, walking is likely the best way to get around. I’m not saying it is the fastest, but parking can be tricky here. The main town and beaches like Plage Paloma, Plage des Fossettes, and Plage de la Fosse are close enough where you could walk.

And honestly, unless you’re hiking or staying out at the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, you’re not heading out to that area much. And if you’re hiking, you’ll be walking anyway. 

Parking in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

I mentioned it above, but parking can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you’re here in the summertime and peak tourist season. 

And that was when I was here! I visited in July and parking wasn’t great to be honest. There are parking lots around the main town. However, I ended up just finding street parking after driving around.

I will say that it wasn’t free. Parking is free from October 1-April 30, but it is paid outside of that time. You can use the Flowbird App though to pay and track how much time you’ve got left and top up as needed.

Now if you’re staying at a hotel with parking, then you’re in luck there! But I was not as lucky as I stayed in an Airbnb.

When to Visit Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Summer (July and August) is the most popular time to visit Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and it isn’t difficult to see why! 

For starters, the weather is warm, making it perfect for a swim. The longer days are great for lingering over a glass of wine and catching an epic sunset. 

However…this is the most popular time to visit. So restaurants, hotels, etc., may be booked, meaning you’ll want to prepare well in advance. 

Also, prepare for beaches to be more crowded. 

However, in the winter, it clears out, it’s cool for hiking, etc., but it is obviously too cold for swimming and many places are closed up for the winter. 

So shoulder season is the best time to come, including late May, June, and September. Even into October it could be nice! 

Sometimes in September and perhaps in early October, it could be warm enough to swim! This obviously depends on the weather that year though.

Is Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Worth Visiting?

I think this may be obvious given my preference to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat over Saint-Tropez, but yes I loved this place! Although I still enjoyed Saint-Tropez too!

Is it a bougie spot on the French Riviera where many wealthy people like to visit? Sure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it as a non-wealthy person either. It has something for everyone! 

Whether you enjoy scenic hikes, snorkeling, lovely beaches, or just relaxing vibes, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a dreamy place to visit! 

While there are better, sandier beaches on the French Riviera like Juan-les-Pins and Cannes, I did enjoy how much more laid back and less congested this area is because it doesn’t have giant high rises along the beaches. 

So for a relaxing little getaway near Nice, this is the place! 

What do you think of the best things to do in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat? Would you visit? Let me know in the comments!

Want more South of France travel ideas? Check out these posts:

• Ultimate 7-Day South of France Road Trip
• 5-Day French Riviera Itinerary
• Best Things to Do in Cassis
• Best Things to Do in Grasse
• 1 Day in Avignon
• My Guide on the Lavender Fields in Provence
• How to Visit the Lavender Fields in Sault
• How to Visit the Lavender Fields in Valensole
• 5 Days in Provence Itinerary
• Best Things to Do in Gordes
• Top Things to Do in Saint-Remy-de-Provence
• Ochre Trail in Roussillon Guide
• Best Luberon Villages + 1 Day Itinerary

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