Menton

Menton is a charming town directly bordering Italy that provides a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Monaco and Nice. It is known primarily for its annual Lemon Festival.

Menton is located beyond Monaco, right on the border with Italy. From Nice you can get there in half an hour by car (using the highway), or in the same time by train. A return train ticket costs €11. The cheapest way is to take the bus from Nice, number 100 (€1.50), but the trip takes up to 1.5 hours.

Important note: by April 2024, bus no. 100 was changed to bus no. 607 to Monaco and bus no. 608 from Monaco to Menton.

Menton is clearly divided into new and old cities. The Old Town occupies the entire hill in the center, with the Old Port being just next to it. You can reach both on foot using the seaside promenade – so just after leaving the train station, go to the beach and then turn left.

Menton, French Riviera

The Old Town in Menton

Perhaps the biggest attraction in Menton is its impressive old quarter. A dense network of very narrow streets and passages between tenement houses stretches across the entire slope and guarantees an unforgettable experience. Beyond every bend you will find stairs, narrow tunnels, and small entrance doors to apartments. The streets are even narrower here than in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Interesting fact: Menton once belonged to the principality of Monaco. These areas were given to France by virtue of the customs union in 1865.

Going uphill you reach the cemetery where you will find, among others, Polish, Russian, and English graves. On the way, you will pass the church of St. Michael the Archangel, built in the 17th century, whose tower dominates the entire city.

Menton, French Riviera

The Lemon Festival (Fête du Citron)

The city is famous around the world for its annual Lemon Festival (la Fête du Citron). The tradition of this event is associated with there being less tourist traffic during the winter months. So, to encourage tourists to arrive earlier than spring, the Lemon Festival has been organized in the city since the end of the 19th century.