Cote d'Azur: Where to stay and explore

Nice (spent two weeks there last time)
Antibes
Cap Ferat
Those are our three favorite places on the Côte d’azur
We also enjoyed staying in Ramateulle ( a little west of St-Tropez) too. Beautiful SAND beaches below the town, not rocks or pebbles.

If you base somewhere near Nice/VilleFranche-sur-Mer, the rest: Cannes/Antibes/Eze (&La Turbie)/Cap Ferrat/Monaco/Menton are all within easy reach, even by public transit. Given you interest in the outdoors, you may wish to explore the foothills as well, but having just been to Chamonix it may be skippable except for close-in villages like St. Paul de Vence. You might instead like a boat trip like the Ferry to the Lerins Islands or the day trip boat. Tourist traffic should be down from mid Sept onward.

If you do want to add a stop, you might try the Calanques and Cassis. That is significantly different than what you might see further to the east.

One note about beaches -- some beach clubs start shutting down from mid to late September, in the smaller locations (the beaches are open, but the services may close in some areas).

Another note about Chamonix -- the weather can be highly variable so you'll need to stay flexible. Will you have car? On inclement days you can make day trips to Annecy or the north side of the lake (there is a ferry from Evian to Lausanne and Montreaux that gives a beautiful perspective, with a connection at a Chateau on the lake).

I have a place in Nice but used to live in Lausanne for a couple of years.

Thank you both so much for taking the time and your advice!

I’ve added Ramateulle to my list of options (sand beaches yay!), the only disqualifying factor may be the bit longer drive there from Chamonix, a bit over an hour longer than to Cassis, on an already long travel day.

After more research and your suggestions, we are now thinking of these 2 options.

Option 1.
Drive Chamonix to Cassis (5:30 hours)
Stay 2 nights in Cassis
Drive to Nice (2:00 hours), return car, stay 5 nights.
Fly home.

Option 2.
Chamonix to Nice (5:30 hours), return car.
Stay in Nice for 7 nights.
Fly home.

I see pros and cons to both choices. I love the idea of a second location along the coast. But also can recognize the additional travel time to add it. Even with adding Cassis, it doesn’t feel like a rushed itinerary to me (2 ngihts Geneva/4 nights Chamonix/2 nights Cassis/5 nights Nice). Sometimes after 4 nights in a location I feel like moving on, but also know that seeing a place gets easier once you have the lay of the land.

At first I wasn’t sure of having that much time in Nice (either 5 or 7 nights), but after more reading/research, I can see how much there is to see/do in that area, with easy public transport both east and west.

Would love to hear any thoughts you may have! Thank you!

Thanks Gooster so much for your suggestions (you have been able to live in some really spectacular places!) on Chamonix, we we’ll have a car there. Fingers crossed for no rain days, but now we’ve got something to do if it does happen.

Two nights in Cassis is one full day plus a little time the day before and after. That gives you time to hike the Calanques, hike in the opposite direction to the top of Cap Canaille, wander the streets, take a boat ride, and have a few meals. Sounds like a good plan.

On the Côte, look up La Turbie and the Roman Trophy of the Alps. If you can get yourself up to La Turbie, well above Monaco, the sight/ site is spectacular and the hiking is good

the only reason I see to stay 2 nights in Cassis is IF you are going to hike otherwise a day trip over is plenty. Not a lot to do there I'd rather add that time to Nice. We have stayed in both Nice and Antibes. I love them both. I can recommend a great food tour in Nice if that interests you. The Hop on/Hop off bus is a great way to get a feel for the Nice/Villefranche area. If you like wine Bandol is a nice gem and I'd rathe spend the day tasting there then going to Cassis. If you chose that check which wineries require an appointment and which are open to the public. I can also make a coupe recommendations there.