Cote d'Azur
The original Riviera, where the luxury villa market was born.
Price Range
£3,000 - £10,000
per night
Best Months
May, June, September
Best For
Couples, Groups, Entertaining
Properties
3 listed
The Cote d'Azur wrote the rules for luxury villa rentals, and every Mediterranean destination since has been borrowing from the playbook. From Cap Ferrat to Saint-Tropez, this is where European old money first discovered that a private villa beats a Grand Hotel.
The market here is mature and stratified. Cap Ferrat and Cap d'Antibes represent the absolute peak - GBP 25,000-100,000+/week for waterfront estates with private jetties, staff quarters, and security. Mougins and the hills above Cannes offer more space and privacy at GBP 8,000-20,000/week. The Saint-Tropez peninsula delivers the social scene with the address cachet to match.
What you're paying for, beyond the properties themselves, is proximity to everything. Nice Airport is 20 minutes from Cap Ferrat. Monaco is next door. The restaurant density per square kilometre is unmatched in Europe. Yacht charter, helicopter transfers, and private beach clubs operate as seamlessly as ordering a taxi. The infrastructure is invisible, which is how the very wealthy prefer it.
Cote d'Azur
Highlights
Cap Ferrat and Cap d'Antibes: the pinnacle of Mediterranean luxury
Nice Airport proximity - villa within 20 minutes of landing
Monaco, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez all accessible
Unmatched dining density including multiple 3-star Michelin restaurants
Mature luxury services infrastructure: yachts, helicopters, private beaches
Getting There
Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) is the gateway, with direct flights from London (1h 55min), most European capitals, and seasonal long-haul services. The airport handles significant private aviation traffic. Transfers to Cap Ferrat take 20 minutes, Cannes 35 minutes, Saint-Tropez 90 minutes (or 20 minutes by helicopter). The TGV serves Nice and Cannes from Paris in 5.5 hours.
Insider Tip
Avoid the last two weeks of July and the first two of August entirely. Prices peak, traffic on the coastal roads becomes genuinely unpleasant, and the social scene shifts from established wealth to influencers. Late June and early September are when regular visitors return.
Cote d'Azur
Available properties
3 luxury villas from £3,000/night
Villa Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
A Belle Epoque villa on the Cap Ferrat peninsula with direct access to Paloma Beach.
Bastide de Mougins
A Provencal bastide in the hills above Mougins with views to the Esterel mountains.
Villa Ramatuelle
A contemporary estate between Ramatuelle and Pampelonne, ten minutes from Club 55.
Vetted Agents
Cote d'Azur specialists
Agents who know the local market, have inspected properties, and provide concierge-level service.
FAQ
Cote d'Azur villa rental FAQs
What is the most prestigious area on the Cote d'Azur for a villa rental?
Cap Ferrat remains the undisputed peak of the Riviera market. Waterfront properties here command GBP 40,000-100,000+/week and attract heads of state, tech founders, and established European families. Cap d'Antibes is a close second with slightly more space. The Saint-Tropez peninsula offers social cachet at somewhat lower (GBP 15,000-40,000/week) rates.
Is the Cote d'Azur good value compared to other luxury villa destinations?
No, and it doesn't pretend to be. The Riviera is the most expensive villa rental market in Europe. A property that would cost GBP 8,000/week in Tuscany or Mallorca will run GBP 15,000-20,000 here. You're paying for location, infrastructure, and the concentration of luxury services. If value matters more than address, look at Sardinia or the Balearics.
Can I charter a yacht from my Cote d'Azur villa?
Yes, and the Riviera makes this easier than anywhere else in the Mediterranean. Day charters from Antibes or Cannes marina start at around EUR 3,000-5,000 for a crewed motor yacht. Weekly charters range from EUR 20,000 to well into six figures. Your villa agent or concierge can arrange everything including provisioning.