French Riviera: Top 3 Charming Hilltop Villages

Perched high above the sea, Èze feels like a village carved from a dream. Wandering through its narrow, cobbled alleys, it’s easy to imagine you’re inside some centuries-old castle — each turn reveals a new little surprise: a flowering balcony, a hidden archway, or a quiet nook with views that stretch all the way to the Mediterranean. I still vividly remember going there for the first time in late spring, when the stone walls were covered in bursts of colour and the scent of flowers filled the air.

At the very top, the Exotic Garden is worth every step — it’s one of the most breathtaking views I’ve seen on the Côte d'Azur. If you can, go early before the village starts to fill up; the morning light and the quiet make it even more special. Even the hotels here seem to belong to the landscape, built right into the cliffs. It’s a place that lingers in your memory long after you’ve left.

I try to arrive early when I visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence — before the light turns too harsh and the quiet alleys fill with people. Around 8:30 or 9am, the village still feels like it belongs to you. The warm light spills across the terracotta rooftops and old stone walls, and there’s this golden hush that makes everything feel a little more magical. It’s one of those places that’s almost impossible to put into words—every corner is a painting waiting to happen.

You don’t really need a plan here. Just let yourself drift through the cobbled streets, past the flowering vines and open gallery doors. Art seems to be part of the place itself—Marc Chagall lived here for nearly two decades, and you can almost feel his palette in the soft blues and pinks that wash across the sky. Before leaving, I usually stop by the old fountain with a scoop of ice cream, sitting in the shade as the day slowly begins to unfold.

Close to Saint Tropez, tucked into the hills above the sea, Bormes-les-Mimosas is one of those villages that feels both lived-in and quietly magical. It's a place I always associate with colour — sunlight on terracotta roofs, creamy-toned limestone façades, and flowers spilling from every windowsill, doorway, and garden wall. In late spring and summer, bougainvilleas, hydrangeas, and roses turn the village into a kind of open-air garden, while in late winter, it’s the mimosas that steal the show, carpeting the hills in gold.

I love wandering through its steep, winding alleys, passing stone fountains and hidden corners where time seems to slow down. The view from the top of the village stretches all the way to the Îles d’Hyères, and on a clear day, the sea shimmers like glass. The little boutiques and galleries are full of Provençal charm — wicker baskets, ceramic pitchers, handwoven hats. It’s the kind of place where you find something special without even looking.