The Best New Hotels Along the French Riviera Start at Less Than $500

From its glitzy crowds and art deco architecture to its year-round sunshine and seemingly endless revelry, the French Riviera has an appeal that’s endured for well over a century. In 2023 the region—which hugs almost 100 miles of Mediterranean Sea coastline between Saint-Tropez and Menton—exceeded its pre-pandemic tourism records with 11.5 million visitors. And this year’s numbers are already pacing 16% higher based on spring season arrivals and confirmed summer air bookings.

Part of that growth can be explained by a robust events calendar: On July 21, Nice is hosting the final stage of the Tour de France in a unique shift from Paris’ Champs-Élysées. Days later, it will become the home for Olympic football, with matches held in its ultramodern stadium. Add music festivals across the Riviera, including Jazz à Juan, Nice Jazz Fest and Les Plages Electroniques in Cannes—plus a mix of new (and newly renovated) hotels—and there are even more reasons to visit.