10 Best Things to Do in Menton

The Val Rahmeh-Menton Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton) is an exotic collection of over 1,500 types of tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean plants. From a simple house garden, Val Rahmeh has emerged as a leading research center on botanical life. It notably preserves endangered species like the Toromiro flowering tree, which has disappeared from Easter Island.

Spanning 1.5 hectares, this botanical garden houses species that are used for food and medicine. It even has a special section for spices, herbs, and condiments. A beautiful lily pond takes center stage, with floating lily pads complementing the garden’s view of the blue sea. You can even take an inexpensive audio tour to enhance your Rahmeh experience.

Couples and friends often visit Les Sablettes Beach to close the day with a bottle of wine or simply marvel at the colorful buildings of old Menton in the distance. While windsurfing and jet-skiing are not allowed in the calm and shallow waters of the pebbled beach, the romantic waterside view makes up for it.

More than a place for swimming and sunbathing, the manicured beach also makes for a great meal setting. Les Sablettes Beach is also a restaurant offering a wide selection of wines, along with an array of Italian, French, and Mediterranean cuisine. While the restaurant mostly serves seafood, it's also vegetarian-friendly. Its vibrant atmosphere, live Spanish-themed music, and moderate costs make Les Sablettes a worthwhile visit.                

Located at the center of Menton, the Regional Museum of Prehistory (Musée de Préhistoire Régionale) showcases the evolution of humans in the region. Beginning with prehistoric times, the timeline is divided into themes and stages, each accompanied by life-sized dioramas. While the texts are mostly in French with a bit of Italian, you can still enjoy the beautifully reconstructed relics from prehistoric Menton.

Most of the pieces in the museum were discoveries from the excavation of Alpes-Maritimes and caves around Nice. Its most notable features include pieces from the Neolithic era, items from a shipwreck, and a tremendous display of 9 standing stones (menhir). The museum also has an audio-visual room where guests can select the video to watch.

Cemetery of the Old Château is a picturesque graveyard high up on the hills of St Michael’s Basilica. It's the final resting place of many personalities, including rugby creator William Webb Ellis, whose statue marks the entrance to the cemetery. Flowers and urns embellish most of the graves, which come in different forms and sizes.

Most people prefer to get here on foot to explore the winding yet charming alleys, but driving is also possible. Finding the place may be a bit tricky at first, though the sight of intricate headstones makes the steep hike worth it. Along with crumbling old graves and high monuments, the hilltop offers a panoramic view of the old town and the Mediterranean Sea.

Promenade du Soleil stretches for 2 km along a string of cafés and restaurants. One side of the promenade has the sea and a long gray pebbled beach, while the other side showcases the Alps and Nice. Unlike Nice, though, the promenade is hardly loaded with tourists. The wide space makes for a nice stroll, especially with the vibrant coastline complementing the colorful architecture.

Enjoy an astounding view of Monaco and Monte Carlo at the top of the hill as the seafront below shimmers with lively bars and restaurants. The beach also has all the facilities you need to spend a fun afternoon. There are public seats all over the promenade, in case you get tired from your walk.

The Old Town of Mention, easily accessible via train headed to Monte Carlo, occupies an entire hill within the city center. At its foot are cafés and pre-dinner drinking spots while charming pastel-colored buildings dot the hilltop. Despite the steep cobbled steps and dark alleyways, the vibrant establishments make this town picture-perfect.

The Old Town of Mention is a popular venue for the Menton Music Festival in August. Tourists flock year-round to its cemetery and historical churches, particularly that of Saint-Michel. Old Town’s hauntingly beautiful churches will keep you mesmerized for hours, while its scenic view of the city is well worth the hike.

Part of Mention's town hall, the Salles de Mariages is lined from floor to ceiling with a mural by Jean Cocteau. Fans of Dadaism and Surrealism will fall in love with the symbolistic frescoes. From the metal lamps to the red velvet chairs and floor carpets, this marriage hall simply embodies Cocteau. It’s a great location to witness a French wedding (or get married yourself).

While the marriage hall isn't generally open to the public, guides are helpful and will give paying visitors a tour. The staff can also provide a taped version of the tour in English to introduce guests to the famous mural. However, the live French presentation contains all the juicy gossip.

Les Jardins Biovès is widely known for citrus sculptures dotting Menton’s main boulevard. The garden serves as the main grounds for Menton’s Citrus Festival every February. At this event, participants create statues that are made entirely of lemons or oranges. Every year yields unique artworks with changing themes.

For the rest of the year, Biovès simply offers a colorful floral display and several art installations, some are available for purchase. There are also plenty of shaded spaces to keep you cool during sunny days.

Marché des Halles de Menton, located near the waterfront in Old Menton, offers fresh produce and traditional French food. Expect a variety of fish, cheese, meat, and eggs. Fresh vegetables often come from the vendors' gardens. There’s also a deli and a wine shop.

The building itself is an old and beautiful structure with a history to match. While a small establishment, Marché des Halles's yellow interior is a prominent sight among locals. You can also find an array of bars and restaurants next to the marketplace.

Maison Herbin is a confiture shop that sells a variety of different-flavored jams, which you can sample and mix. Notable flavors include raspberry-strawberry-basil, violets, and bitter orange. While not the cheapest jams in the market, the quality of the product is so good that you can never go wrong.

Best of all, this confiture shop makes its jams on-site and with real fruits, too. Maison Herbin houses a jam factory that allows you to see how the confiture du jour is prepared. The tour of the factory is a mouth-watering experience.