Menton seafront with pastel facades and lemon groves

Area

Where to stay in Menton

6 min readJuly 1, 2026

Menton — the Riviera's quiet, citrus-scented edge

Menton sits at the Riviera's easternmost edge, a few minutes from the Italian border and just past Monaco's density — a town of pastel facades, sheltered microclimate lemon groves, and a noticeably calmer pace than its glamorous neighbor. Its mid-February Lemon Festival is one of the coast's signature winter events, and its seafront hotels, led by the Hôtel Napoléon, offer Riviera access at a gentler price than Monaco next door.

Where to stay

Our French Riviera hotels for this trip

Hôtel Napoléon Menton — our seafront pick, a short train ride from Monaco's Casino district.

Menton

Hôtel Napoléon Menton

★★★★

4★ · Seafront

Members rate

✓ Up to 60% off public rates

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Best for

Budget-conscious travelers wanting Riviera access near Monaco
Winter and shoulder-season visitors (Lemon Festival is a January–February draw)
Couples wanting a calmer, more local seafront pace

Why stay here

A fraction of Monaco's price with the principality 20 minutes away by car or train.
The mildest microclimate on the French Riviera — citrus groves and year-round gardens.
The Lemon Festival gives Menton a genuine off-season draw most Riviera towns lack.

Why Menton over Monaco

Menton is a fraction of Monaco's price for a comparable seafront room, with the principality itself only 20 minutes away by car or coastal train. The town's sheltered microclimate — the mildest on the French Riviera — supports the citrus groves that give Menton its identity and its festival.

The Lemon Festival and the Old Town

Each January into February, Menton's Lemon Festival fills the seafront gardens with citrus sculptures and parade floats — one of the Riviera's most distinctive off-season draws. The Old Town's pastel stairways climb from the harbour to the Basilique Saint-Michel, with views back over the bay.

“Menton is the Riviera at half the price and twice the calm — with Monaco's Casino only 20 minutes up the coast.”

Getting to and around Menton

The coastal train connects Menton directly to Monaco (10 minutes) and Nice (35 minutes). The Italian border town of Ventimiglia is a short hop further east, popular for its Friday market. A car isn't necessary for a Menton-based stay, though one helps for exploring the hill villages behind the coast.

What's nearby

Monaco20 min by car/10 min by train
Old Town MentonWalking
Ventimiglia (Italy)15 min by car/train
Nice35 min by train

Getting around

The coastal train connects Menton to Monaco (10 min) and Nice (35 min) cheaply. Nice airport is about 45 min by car. A car helps for the hill villages behind the coast.

When to visit

January–February for the Lemon Festival. April–June and September–October for the mildest, most comfortable seafront weather; the microclimate keeps Menton pleasant even in shoulder season.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Menton Lemon Festival?

Mid-January into February each year — citrus sculptures and parade floats fill the seafront gardens.

How far is Menton from Monaco?

About 20 minutes by car or 10 minutes by coastal train.

Is Menton cheaper than Monaco?

Yes — meaningfully so, while remaining a short train ride from the Casino district.

Can I visit Italy from Menton?

Yes — Ventimiglia, just across the border, is about 15 minutes by car or train and popular for its Friday market.

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