What to Do in Menton: Everything you Need to See!
Menton, France is such a beautiful city that I think you could just sit and stare are the buildings and the turquoise waters and not tire of it. BUT, just in case you would like to do more 🙂, here are some great options for what to do in Menton!
- Summary of What to Do in Menton (With a Map)
- Climb to the Cimetière du Vieux Château
- Walk the Streets of Old Town Menton
- Enjoy Plage des Sablettes
- Walk the Walls to Phare de Menton (lighthouse)
- Take in Menton at the Viewpoint (Vue Panoramique de Menton)
- Walk to Port de Menton Garavan
- Get Professional Photos Taken
- Visit the Menton Market (Marches des Halles)
- Shop for all the Lemon Products: Liqueur, Lemoncello and more!
- La Ferme des Citron (The Lemon Farm!)
- Jardin Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton)
- Stroll Down Promenade de Soleil
- Visit A Beach on the South Side of Menton
- Try Your Luck at Casino Barrière Menton
- Visit Hotel de Ville
- How Much Time Do you Need in Menton?
- Guided Tour to Menton From Nice
- What to Do in Menton Final Thoughts
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Summary of What to Do in Menton (With a Map)
Menton is has two different “sections” including what is known as the “old town” and the newer portion of town. There are things you are going to want to do and see in BOTH, so don’t spend ALL of your time in the old town and miss out on the rest of Menton.
Whether you are taking a day trip to Menton or opting to say a night or two, here are great options on what to do in Menton,
Climb to the Cimetière du Vieux Château
Climbing to the cemetery that sits above Menton is a must-do! Built high above Menton where an old castle once sat, it boasts some of the BEST VIEWS of the city, the italian border and Cap Martin!
Take some time appreciating the cemetery and then step out to the Point de vue du Port lookout/observation deck.
- The observation deck is a better spot to opt to take photos (seems more respectful than posing in a cemetery). Plus the views are just as good, if not better due to less obstruction.
Walk the Streets of Old Town Menton
Though you shouldn’t spend your entire time in old town, you DEFINITELY need to set aside some time to just wander the streets of the old town. It is truly one of the most beautiful and colorful old towns I’ve ever seen!
What to do in Menton historic center:
Basilique Saint-Michel Archange de Menton
The basilica of Saint-Michael-Archange is a baroque-style cathedral built in the 1600’s and located in a beautiful square in the historic, old town of Menton.
It is home to a beautiful organ and a bell tower that stands prominent on its right. This bell tower is a iconic landmark of Menton!
Rue de Bréa
There are several beautiful streets that you’ll come across while meandering through the old town, but one of the most beautiful is that of Rue de Bréa.
The street encompasses the colors and architecture that Menton is known for!
Escaliers (THE Stairs)
A trip to Menton is complete without seeing the beautiful staircase of Menton. The bright orange color of the stairs along with the zig-zag pattern make for such a unique and incredible display; a photographers dream!
Be sure to view the stairs from above (near the basilica) and below to get a full appreciation of the architecture and the views you can get from here!
Enjoy Plage des Sablettes
Sitting in front of the iconic historic town of Menton is Plage des Sablettes (Sablettes Beach). This beach is home to incredibly BLUE water and plenty of space to bask in the sun. The beach is a pebbly beach, however, to be sure to bring water shoes if you plan to swim!
You will find showers here to rinse of the salt water and sand and few loungers on the boardwalk. However, seating is limited so be sure to bring a towel or something to sit on while enjoying the beach!
Walk the Walls to Phare de Menton (lighthouse)
You can get a good view of the harbor from the oceanfront street as well as from Plage de Sablettes. However, some of the best views are from the wall jutting out from the south side of the harbor. At the end of the wall is the Phare de Menton (lighthouse). You can’t climb up the lighthouse, but the wall is still worth walking.
- To get to the wall, climb the stairs by Musée Jean Cocteau – Le Bastion.
Take in Menton at the Viewpoint (Vue Panoramique de Menton)
From the wall, you may notice people hanging around on a jetty in the center of the harbor. This is what is considered the Vue Panoramique de Menton (or, literally, the panoramic view of Menton).
This view will get you a little more close and personal to the boats parked in the harbor.
P.S. In this harbor (unlike Antibes, Monaco, etc) you will find mostly fishing boats, sail boats and smaller boats rather than giant yachts.
**This picture shows two places you can get a view of Menton from closer to the water. The “panoramic viewpoint. of Menton” is the furthest concrete jetty, just to the right of the white boat pictured below. Another is the one where you see the lady taking the photo, located just after you descend the steps of the walls.**
Walk to Port de Menton Garavan
If you come into Menton from the Menton Garavan Station you will automatically walk down this boardwalk. However, if you train to the “traditional” Menton train station, be sure to make your way to the Port de Menton Garavan!
The port is a typically boat harbor. However, I really loved the view of Menton you can get from this side of Menton.
Get Professional Photos Taken
Have you seen the photos of this place? It is incredibly beautiful and picturesque. If you are looking for a place to get some new photos to hang on the wall, THIS IS YOUR PLACE!
If you aren’t a professional photographer, don’t sweat it. You can hire one and get your BEST souvenir to take home!
Book a Professional Photographer!
Visit the Menton Market (Marches des Halles)
If you are a market fan, you will love Menton’s market! It has loads of local meats, fruits, and fresh produce and is a great place to grab lunch or a snack!
Just outside the market you will also find a square with a lot of seating to enjoy your lunch. The square is between Rue des Merins and Rue Saint-Michel; you will also find the Menton Carousel here! A great place for sitting down for lunch!
Shop for all the Lemon Products: Liqueur, Lemoncello and more!
Piggy-backing on local delicacies, lemon liqueur and lemoncello are a popular drink choice in the Lemon capital of France!
Au Pays du Citron offers loads of different lemon liquer options as well as jams, spreads, soaps, candles, perfumes and more for purchase.
Menton Cote Citron is another option that offers a lot of different lemon liquers, drinks as well as honeys and jams to purchase.
And, most restaurants will have a lemoncello on the menu as well!
La Ferme des Citron (The Lemon Farm!)
After all, Menton is known for its lemons and citrus, so why not visit a Lemon Farm! La Ferme Des Citron is owned by Au Pays du Citron and a highly rated activity to do in Menton!
Spend a day touring the lemon farm, tasting lemon drinks and getting allll of your lemon-fill!
- Hours: 10am to 5pm
- Price: 39 euros adults, 25 euros for kids age 4-10
- Tour length: About 1 hour
- Lunch provided on tour
- Meeting point for shuttle: 66 Avenue des Alliés in Menton
- Click here for more info on the Lemon Farm
Jardin Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton)
If you are a botanical garden, Menton has a great one full of exotic plants, ponds and more. The garden is located just above Menton on the Port Garavan side
- Most of the flowers and foliage consist of subtropical and tropical species.
- To get to the garden you can either drive or take about a 20 minute walk from the city center.
- The garden is open 10am to 5pm during off season, and open until 6pm during peak season (April 1- October 31).
- Price: 8 euros
Take a Guided Tour of La Ferme des Citron, Old Town and an option visit to the Botanical Garden and a sunset cruise! ⬇️
Stroll Down Promenade de Soleil
From the Musée Jean Cocteau – Le Bastion, continue down the ocean front walk of Promenade de Soleil.
This will take you along the oceanfront side of what is considered the “newer” portion of Menton.
Visit A Beach on the South Side of Menton
What to do in Menton, beach edition.
The beach below old town Menton may get the most traffic, but it certainly isn’t the only one. Down Promenade de Soleil you will pass by several other beach options including Plages:
- Fossan
- Marché
- Casino
- Borrigo
Try Your Luck at Casino Barrière Menton
On your walk down Promenade de Soleil you will eventually come to Casino Barrière Menton.
If you are the gambling type, you can play live cards, slot machines, roulette and more at the Casino Barriére Menton.
Visit Hotel de Ville
Hotel de Ville is actually Menton’s city hall and it is a beautiful one! The colors and architechure match Menton’s charm and it is worth passing by.
Hotel de Ville is also next to a beautiful church, Menton Reformed Church that has pastel pink colors that compliment the city hall and Menton in general
How Much Time Do you Need in Menton?
Menton is not a very big city and is quite walkable. Due to this, many people opt to do a day trip to Menton from Nice rather than staying in the city. Though I do think you can see A LOT of Menton in one day, I suggest staying at least one night in Menton!
Hôtel Gabriel Menton
We stay in Hotel Narev which has recently been renovated and is now Hôtel Gabriel Menton. It has a great location just behind the old town and the staff was so friendly! And, now it is even cuter!
Guided Tour to Menton From Nice
Want to visit Menton but don’t want to do it on your own? You can take guided tours to Menton from Nice, however, most tours will include other stops rather than just Menton.
Below is a guided tour from Nice that includes a stop in Italy, Menton and La Turbie (a mountain town that overlooks Monaco from above). The tour itself (guide and transportation) have high rates, but the value for money has been rated low.
What to Do in Menton Final Thoughts
Most of what to do in Menton consists of sightseeing, but for good reason. Of all the places in the French Riviera, it is probably the most picturesque! So enjoy the beaches, the colorful buildings, the lemons and the sunny weather!
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