Essential family guide to a vacation on the French Riviera with kids: fun things to do in Cote d’Azur with kids between sea, sun, history and nature.
The French Riviera or Cote d’Azur, the Azure Coast, is a lovely area of France to visit with kids.
Located on the southern coast of France, along the sparkling blue Mediterranean, Cote d’Azur is the South of France as you imagine it: pretty beaches, stunning blue waters, glamorous people, amazing food.
Maybe surprisingly, the French Riviera is also one of the best places to visit in France with kids!
Packed with family things to do and kid-friendly beaches, Cote d’Azur is perfect for a beach family vacation.
This is our guide to the best things to do in Cote d’Azur with kids so you can enjoy the French Riviera with kids in tow!
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Table of Contents
11 fun things to do in Cote d’Azur with kids
Visit Nice with kids
Nice is one of the most famous localities on the Cote d’Azur and a lovely place to visit with kids.
We first came here on a day trip with our toddlers while vacationing in nearby Liguria and we quickly discovered there is a family-friendly side to this glamorous town.
In Niece with kids, you can visit the pretty town center, historical and easy to discover on foot.
You can let the kids play in the cute city playgrounds and the wonderful water fountains on Promenade du Paillon; you can go rollerblading on the famous Promenade des Anglais and you can of course go to the beach (bring water shoes as part of the beach here is pebbles!).
Kids are sure to love a visit to Confiserie Florian sweet shop and factory, which is basically candy heaven, or they can learn how to make perfume in the amazing at Molinard, where you can make your very own perfume.
If your kids have a taste for the finer things, they will be wowed by the amazing Hotel Negresco and its stunning elegance, a Nice institution!
Something fun: when the kids are tired, you can explore the city by hopping on the fun tourist train, ‘Le Petit Train’, one of the best ways to explore Nice with a toddler!
Top Tip! If you come to Nice for a day sightseeing, I highly recommend you bring a baby carrier and/or a compact stroller that you can easily close to go to restaurants and cafes. Space is limited and not all pavements here are stroller friendly.
Nice is well connected to the area and Italy by train and is an excellent base for families who want to explore the area.
Find family hotels and family-friendly hotels in Nice here.
Enjoy Antibes with kids
Antibes is the most popular Cote d’Azur destination for families with kids.
Antibes old town is a vision of Mediterranean beauty.
The historical port is beautiful and a fun place for kids to admire the luxury yacht coming in and out of the city.
Fort Carre, overlooking the sea, is cool for kids to see and the Musee Picasso is a must-see.
Located inside the Grimaldi castle, kids will love the art, accessible and interesting for children thanks to its colors and unique perspective on representing life, and the castle, with its beautiful outdoor terraces and turrets.
Top tip! If your kids are school age or older, they may love joining a drawing tour of the museum led by a local artist – find it here. While not a tour for kids as such, it is an easy one for the whole family to enjoy!
If you are staying in a rental property, Antibes has a lovely Provencal market perfect to get local fresh produce and prepare dinner or make a picnic to enjoy in one of Antibes’ many family-friendly gardens.
Antibes also has wonderful family beaches, easy to reach from the city, and it is also an area from where boats take the sea for day trips on the water.
Need to know: Antibes is known as a family destination also for the presence of the Marine Park Marineland, water park theme park with dolphin shows etc.
If you are thinking of attending a show here, I recommend you first read why we don’t recommend going to dolphin shows here, so you can make an informed decision.
Find family hotels and family friendly rentals in Antibes here.
Enjoy the French Riviera family-friendly beaches
Cote d’Azur has stunning beaches and, if you come here in summer, time on the sand will be a large part of your day!
There are many family-friendly beaches on the French Riviera, some sandy and some with pebbles, suitable for kids of all ages.
Some of the best kid-friendly beaches on the Cote d’Azur are in the area of Jean le Pins, Antibes beach, Base nature beach in Frejus and Plage de Agay, again in Frejus.
Go caving at the Vallee du Loup
There is much more to the Cote d’Azure with kids than going to the beach and if you have adventurous, active kids, they will have a blast with the opportunities for outdoor fun in the area.
School-age kids may love the opportunity to join a caving expedition at the Vallee du Lups, where a guide leads you down to a cave system with impressive rock formations!
The tour is open to children age 6 and up and makes for a wonderful day out – complete with caving gear, sure to pique the attention of the kids!
Take a boat tour to Sainte Marguerite Island
St Marguerite Island is a beautiful island in front of Canne, famous for its beautiful nature and for being a bit of an oasis of calm, just in front yet worlds away from the busy atmoshere of the busy coast.
Regular ferries serve the island and, once in Sainte Marguerite, you and the kids can explore the historical buildings, the island prison and enjoy the beach and the water.
Bring the kids’ goggles as this is one of the best snorkeling spots in Cote d’Azur for kids and adults alike! Find ferry crossing times and info here.
Have fun at Crazy Village des Fous
Village des Fous (lit. village of the crazy or Fools’ Village) is a very special place for kids.
A playpark like no others, here you have mazes, bouncing areas, climbing frames, treetop adventure courses, slides and water games that will keep the kids (and you) up and active all day!
A wonderful adventure and play park outside perfect for all ages. You can find info, prices and photos here.
Go on a tree adventure at Bois des Lutins
Bois des Lutines is a wonderful outdoor playpark perfect for active kids.
The star attraction in the park is the tree village, a treetop adventure course that leads you on top of suspended bridges and then down back to earth with fun slides, but you also have traditional games such as swings and tons of outdoor space and trees to play.
The park is perfect for a half-day of fun if you have active and adventurous kids. Find the official site here
Play at Ludipark
Ludiparc is another fun place in Cote d’Azur for kids.
This is an outdoor jump and trampoline park that is simply perfect to use up some energy while having a blast!
The park is in a lovely, green area, it has nice spaces for a picnic in the country and it is perfect for when you want a break from the sea and the sun or if you are in Cote d’Azur with kids in spring.
If you are looking for a safe play area for toddlers and older kids, this is the perfect place! Find info here
Spend the day at Base Nature Frejus
Base Nature Frejus is one of the best beaches in Cote d’Azur for families and a great place for a day out with the kids.
The area is an ex-naval base now turned public space and is pt perfect for outdoor activities and to get sporty.
Bring your own bikes or rollerblades and all your swimming gear: as well as cycle lanes and kids’ play areas, Base Nature Frejus has one of the best sandy beaches in Cote d’Azur for kids, sandy and safe!
Enjoy Eco Park, Mougin
Another lovely location for a fun day out with the kids in Cote d’Azur is Eco Parc in Mougin.
Here, kids find science exhibitions, workshops, touch and learn areas and can play and learn about animals, the human body and more.
With free access and a lovely green area to run around and play, this is one of the easiest places to enjoy in Cote D’Azur with kids!
Reserve des Montes d’Azur
The reserve des Montes d’Azur is a natural reserve about 1h by can inland from the coast and a wonderful place for you and the kids to immerse yourself in nature.
Here, you can get on a horse-drawn carriage and let your guide lead you across unspoiled countryside where you can spot deer, wild boars and bison!
The park has an area for picnic and a playground and is a fun way to enjoy a different side of the Cote d’Azur with kids
Best time to visit the cote d’Azur with kids
The best time to visit the Cote d’Azur with kids for the weather is spring and summer.
The summer is the busiest time in this area but it is also the moment when you can enjoy the family-friendly beaches of cote d’Azur at best and swim in warm waters.
Spring is a lovely time to be on the beach and build sandcastles and it is also perfect for excursions inland, before the hot summer temperatures hit.
Packing list for Cote d’Azur with kids
Cote d’Azur in summer is very hot and your packing list needs to spot all your essential for a beach vacation.
You can find our full beach vacation packing list for families here.
Make sure you also pack:
A baby carrier – not all areas are stroller friendly and it will come in handy for boat trips and sightseeing. I recommend you bring one suitable for babywearing in hot weather to avoid overheating for you and your baby – you can find our favourite summer baby carriers here.
A compact stroller – opt for one you can close and carry easily, so you don’t need to worry about space when eating in a café or traditional restaurants (like in Paris, space is at a premium here). You can find our recommended compact strollers for France here.
A portable high chair – we noticed not many places had available high chairs so having your own will immediately up the number of places you can consider for a meal out! Find our favorite portable high chairs here.
What to eat in Cote d’Azur with kids
Cote d’Azur is a foodie paradise and this applies to kids and adults alike!
Several local markets allow you to make homemade meals with lovely local produce and you want to eat out, you will find plenty of restaurants with seafood specialties, crepes, kids favorites such as Croque Monsieur and a lot of French and Italian-influenced dishes for the whole family.
If you want to get your kids to familiarize with French food before tasting the real thing, you can find our guide to kid-friendly French food here.
Cote d’Azur with kids – pin this!
