10 Fantastic Things to Do in the French Riviera for the Easter Holidays

The spring/Easter holidays are fast-approaching and that means another two weeks (plus) to entertain the kids! 
Here is a guide to some fabulous family-friendly activities to try out this holiday:

1. Go on a safari

Why not get away from the coast and go on a guided safari with the bisons in Thorenc. Monts d’Azur is a 700 hectare natural sanctuary for wildlife with the European bison roaming wild and free over the plains and forests alongside Przewalski horses, deer, chamois, wild boar, foxes, wolves, lynx and many other species. Take a 90 min guided walking (or wagon) safari or even lengthen your visit and stay overnight!

• Open: 10am – 5pm
• Walking safari: Adults €20, Children (under 12) €11
• Wagon safari: Adults €25, Children (under 12) €15
• For more information visit: Monts D'Azur

TOP TIP: Add on a hike up to Castelleras to see the ruined Roman remains - Castelleras Hike  AND/OR pay a visit to the lake in Thorenc which is perfect for a picnic lunch! 

 

2. Dive beneath our oceans in Monaco

Standing proudly for well over 100 years upon a clifftop in Monaco is the world- renowned Oceanographic Museum. It was founded in 1889 and showcases 6,000 animal species. Young and old will be dazzled by over 1,000 fish species in over 100 tanks ranging in size up to 450,000 litres – the monumental Shark Lagoon! Don’t miss the kids play area and spectacular views from the top floor. There are a series of Easter animations on offer as well.

• Open: 10 am – 7pm
• Entry: Adults €14, Children (4-12) €7
• For more information visit: Oceanographic Museum

3. Visit the wolves

Get up to the mountains and visit the wolf park at Saint Martin Vesubie. The Parc Alpha is great anytime of the year but they are hosting a swathe of Easter activities including a ‘Best Easter Egg’ competition and a big egg hunt on Easter Monday - 21^st April.  A little later, at the end of April / early May the wolves will also give birth to their cubs after a gestation period of about 60 days!

• Open: 10am-5pm,
• Entry(before 1^st May): Adults €10, Children (4-12) €8
• For more information visit: Alpha Parc

4.Take a boat ride out to the islands just off Cannes 

The Lerins islands are a haven of calm and tranquillity and a lovely change from the hustle and bustle of the coast.  There are two islands – the bigger one, Sainte Marguerite, has a Royal Fort where the Man in Iron Mask resided and a maritime museum as well as guided trails to discover the island.

The smaller of the two, Saint Honorat, is home to a monastery which is home to Cistercian monks who have inhabited the island since AD410. The monks divide their time between prayer and producing red and white wine (which is really rather good), honey, lavender oil and Lérina, a herbal liqueur. There is a monastic tower to discover on the south side of the island and a beautiful restaurant, La Tonnelle.

Boats for both depart from the Quai Laubeuf in Cannes (NB the Parking Laubeuf is closed until 30^th April 2019)

• Saint Honorat:  - Adult - €14.50, Child (4-8) - €5,50, Child (8-13) - €8.50
• For more information visit: Saint Honorat Boats
• Sainte Marguerite: - Adult - €15, Child (5-10) - €9.50
• For more information visit: Sainte Marguerite Boats

5. Channel the inner botanists in your family  - visit and then vote for the best gardens in the region

After a very successful first year in 2018 the garden festival returns (and will run every 2 years) throughout the Cote D’Azur from 30^th March – 28^th April 2019. This year’s theme will be ‘ Mediterranean Dreams’ and there will be numerous gardens taking part in the competition in Cannes, Grasse, Menton, Nice and Antibes. 

• Open: 9am – 7pm
• Entry: Free
• For more information visit: Festival des Jardins

 6.Cross the border and get on yer bike

If you head just over the border with Italy to San Remo you can have a fabulous day out renting bikes and cycling along the purpose built cycle path that was once the old railway line along the coast.

The ‘pista ciclable del ponente ligura’ offes 24km of flat cycle path giving your family a safe and entertaining way of enjoying the coastline. There are plenty of bike rental places and of course Italian restaurants for ice-cream and lunch stops!

• For more information visit:Cycle Path San Remo

 7. Get into the Easter spirit at Parc Phoenix

Parc Phoenix in Nice is offering lots of Easter activities throughout the holidays and over the Easter weekend at no additional cost to the regular entry fee.  

Activities include 

• ‘Calamity Jane’ show (11.30am and 3.30pm – 40 mins long), 
• botanical workshops, 
• make-up artists,  
• bouncy castles  
• chick-hatching area.

Under 6s will have a dedicated egg-hunting area  - they will then exchange their haul for chocolate eggs.

Children aged 6-12 years will have to follow animal-related clues which will lead them to their treasure which they will receive at the park entry.

NB Bikes/scooters etc are not permitted in the park.

• Open: 10 am – 7pm
• Entry: Adults €5, Children (Under 12s) Free (up to 3 per paying adult)
• For more information visit: Parc Phoenix

 8. Go underground on a treasure hunt

Visit one of the regions caves – the Grottes de Baumes Obscure in Saint Vallier de Thiey and discover the secrets of an enigmatic underground world.  From the 6^th April you can also take part in a special treasure hunt -  “The mystery of stone eggs ''  - available everyday from 10am – 4.20pm with departures every 30 minutes, no reservation necessary and great for age 5+. More information in an earlier blog here: Cave Blog

• Open: 10am – 5pm
• Entry including treasure hunt: Adults €12.50, Children (3-15) €9.50
• For more information visit: Baume Obscure 

9. Look to the stars at the Observatory of Nice

From the 6 – 13^th April 2019 the Observatory of Nice are hosting a ‘Week of Astronomy’. There will be lots of free activities including

• ·         Walking visits of the Observatory and site ( 2 hours and 2km distance)
• ·         Planetarium sessions in an inflatable dome
• ·         Workshops on how telescopes work
• ·         Evening planet / moon watching sessions
• ·         Projections on the 50^th Anniversary of the moon landings.

All the activities are free but reservation is necessary and some of the activities have a minimum age of 7/8 years. Please check the website for further details and booking: Astronomy Week

You can also contact: Thierry SCORDINO-HUGUENOT - Association Le Cosmophile
06 80 82 17 16  - contact@cosmophile.fr

 10. Hike up the hill and meet a rather magnificent lady

Take the family on an easy hike behind Theoule and discover the splendid statue of Notre Dame D’Afrique. This short hike is manageable by most fit and able families and you can combine it with lunch or a picnic on the beach in the wonderful seaside town of Theoule-sur-Mer.

• More details on both of these can be found in my earlier blogs:
•  Notre Dame D'Afrique Blog
• Theoule Sur Mer Blog

Accommodation:
Visiting the French Riviera and haven't booked your accommodation yet? Why not check out our wonderful, centrally-located, self catering, townhouses and apartments sleeping from 2 - 11 people. All our properties are air-conditioned and are located on pedestrian streets within 5 minutes walk of the beach. We are a small family-run company so we are on hand for anything you may need before, during or after your stay!
Chic Gites - Accommodation Cannes