The French Riviera is not just sun loungers and rosé. It is dolphins and roller coasters, baboons and go-karts, flamingos and zip lines through pine forests. The region around Cannes, Nice, Antibes and Monaco is packed with extraordinary things to do with children — the kind of days that get talked about at dinner for the rest of the holiday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Whether you are staying in one of our villas in the hills above Grasse or heading down to the coast for the day, you are never far from an adventure. Water parks open from June, animal parks year-round, and the occasional museum so beautiful that even teenagers put their phones away. We have gathered our favourites here — tried, tested, and locally approved.
Because sometimes the best part of a holiday is watching a child see the Mediterranean for the first time — or a water slide.
Water Park
The biggest water park on the Riviera — a full day of slides, wave pools and lazy rivers for all ages. Open June to September.
Water Slides
Right next to Marineland, Aquasplash offers wild slides and gentler pools — perfect if you want to combine two parks in one day.
Marine Park
France's largest marine park — dolphins, orca shows, sharks and sea lions. An iconic family day out that has delighted children for decades.
Zoo
A beautiful open-air zoo with giraffes, hippos, white tigers and over 1,200 animals. Set in lush grounds — plan for a full afternoon.
Aquarium
Perched on a cliff above the sea, this legendary museum houses one of Europe's finest aquariums. Breathtaking for children and adults alike.
Nature & Animals
A magical botanical park with a giant greenhouse full of tropical butterflies, a small zoo, flamingos and exotic plants. Kids adore it.
Adventure
Forest adventure park just minutes from Grasse — zip lines, rope bridges and tree-to-tree courses for all ages from 3 to 99. Pure adrenaline.
Go-Karts
A serious karting track near Antibes with both indoor and outdoor circuits. Great for older kids and adults who think they're racing drivers.
Twenty years on the Côte d'Azur — and still finding things nobody thought to write down. Real stories, real places, zero filter.
Riviera Reality
You researched. You planned. You packed light. The Côte d'Azur has a different agenda entirely — and it will not be negotiating.
It gets better. →
Life on the Riviera
Vicky is an English Setter of considerable beauty and absolutely zero courage. Lilou has never met a stranger. Every outing is an event.
It gets better. →
Cannes Life
Champagne with George Lucas, Karl Lagerfeld at dawn, Pete Doherty in a state, ten festivals a year — and the restaurant that told Hollywood to wait.
It gets better. →
My Story
I came to France for a summer. I stayed for twenty years. I let destiny decide — destiny picked Cannes. Obviously.
It gets better. →