All about Menton

Menton is a colorful palette of holiday pleasures

The beaches, cafes, restaurants, the many beautiful gardens, the pastel-colored facades in the warm evening sun, the varied nightlife and the annual Lemon Festival draw thousands of visitors to this beautiful city all year round.

Great weather all year round

Menton is close to the Italian border and is surrounded by mountains on three sides. This creates the mildest climate on the Mediterranean coast, where the subtropical microclimate of the coastal town makes it possible – as one of the few places in France – to grow lemons.

The average daytime temperature stays on the warm side of 10 degrees even in January and the sun shines almost every day. A walk along the seafront is therefore always a pleasure.

In summer, the 25-degree heat should be complemented by a dip along the coast, where both private and public beaches offer plenty of opportunities for a cooling swim in the salty Mediterranean.

Beaches for all needs

Most of the beaches, both public and private, are located at the western end of Menton towards the Cap Martin headland. The beaches consist of a mixture of gravel and sand, so bathing shoes or sandals are recommended.

Private beaches offer sun loungers and other beach equipment for a fee, as well as access to showers and toilets, bars and restaurants. There are also great opportunities to try different water sports such as windsurfing and paddleboarding.

Lemon Festival in February

Fête du Citron is the highlight of the year in Menton. That’s why a quarter of a million people visit the city in the last two weeks of February to take part in the great lemon festival.

The festival is a cornucopia of parades with meter-high giant figures made from thousands of lemons and accompanied by dancers, light shows, fireworks and dozens of concerts of all genres: rock, pop and opera.

A cornucopia of cultural experiences

But there is also plenty to do throughout the year in Menton, famous for its many beautiful and unique gardens. The subtropical climate offers unique opportunities to showcase world-class botany.

This is the place to seek shade when the midday heat becomes too overwhelming after spending the morning visiting the old town, Vieux Menton, or some of the many beautiful old buildings such as Villa Maria Serena, Museum Bastion Jean Cocteau, Basilica Saint-Michel or Chapel Penitents Noire.

The Russian church with its eye-catching onion domes is also worth a visit, and it’s hard to run out of attractive places to visit in Menton. Don’t forget to enjoy the magnificent views of Menton before heading back down the stairs to the beach.

The hinterland of Menton also has a lot to offer

Finally, the city is also a great starting point for visiting the charming little mountain villages in the border region with Italy, once the cafés, museums and shops in the narrow streets have been visited. Hiking and golf courses are plentiful, and in winter even ski resorts can be reached within a reasonable time, so there is indeed entertainment for everyone in Menton and the hinterland of the Alpes Maritimes all year round.

By Mikael Mortensen / 2023