Menton
Menton is a small town on the French Riviera, right on the Italian border, known for its lemon gardens and pastel old town.
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Menton sits on the French Riviera in the Alpes-Maritimes department, a few kilometers from the Italian border at Ventimiglia. The town grew up around citrus, and lemon trees are still grown in terraced gardens on the slopes above the sea. The old town climbs from the harbor in pastel houses, steep lanes and the baroque Basilica Saint-Michel.
Go to Menton for a slower stay than Nice, with garden walks, a pebble beach and day trips into Italy. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking. The town holds its Lemon Festival in February, when displays are built from citrus fruit. Trains run along the coast from Nice, so you can stay here for a few days or visit for the day.
Menton in five
- Stay for the lemons in FebruaryThe Fête du Citron fills the town with floats and fruit sculptures in the second half of February. Dates vary by year, so check the town's official page and book rooms early.
- Visit the gardens in the morningSeveral botanical gardens climb the hill above the bay and are at their best before the heat. Opening hours and prices change by season, so check each garden's own site before you walk up.
- Use the coast train, not the carTrains link Menton to Nice, Monaco and Ventimiglia in a few minutes to under an hour. Parking in town is tight in summer, and the old-town streets are steep.France by train and car
- Cross to Ventimiglia for the marketThe Italian town is about 10 minutes away by train. Bring your passport or ID card, as border checks can be reinstated, and note that you are leaving France.Schengen 90/180 rule
- Choose Nice for a first Riviera tripNice has more flights, more rooms and more to do. Pick Menton as a quiet base or a half-day from Nice, not as the main Riviera stop.Nice travel guide
Things to do in Menton
See all attractions in Menton
Need to know
- Airport
- Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE), then train about 25–35 min
- Getting there
- Coast train from Nice about 25–35 min; Monaco about 10 min
- Getting around
- Walking; a short bus to the upper gardens
- Best base
- Near the old town or the Garavan quarter
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with a garden walk and Ventimiglia
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Mild, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryClear7 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Lemon FestivalFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lemon Festival
- MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Mild, springMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Spring, flowersAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, flowers
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, gardensMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, gardens
- JunePartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°Warm, beachJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, beach
- JulyClear5 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh27°Low22°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, busy
- AugustClear6 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low23°Hot, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°Warm, swimSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, swim
- OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh20°Low16°Mild, quietOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 133 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- NovemberClear9 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Cool, rainNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- DecemberClear8 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cool, quietDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Menton, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Feb Fête du Citron · Mar Fête du Citron
Right now in Menton
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 58%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Menton
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°9°0%Monday: Clear. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue18°10°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed15°10°23%Wednesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Thu15°14°58%Thursday: Rain. High 15°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 58%.
- Fri14°12°60%Friday: Rain. High 14°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 60%.
- Sat14°10°19%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 19%.
- Sun14°12°39%Sunday: Rain. High 14°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 39%.
Updated 06:42 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarFête du CitronMenton
- Feb–MarNice CarnivalNice, a day trip
- JulNice Jazz FestivalNice, a day trip
- JulJazz à JuanAntibes, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Monacoabout 10 min by trainA tiny state with a palace, a casino and a harbor. Check entry rules for the palace.Read the guide
- Niceabout 25–35 min by trainA bigger city with a seafront promenade and a market-lined old town.Read the guide
- Ventimigliaabout 10 min by trainThe Italian border town, with a large weekly market and Ligurian food.Read the guide
- Èzeabout 40–50 min by train and busA cliff-top village with a cactus garden and sea views.Read the guide
Before you go to Menton
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Rules for Menton, checked
- Many nationalities can enter France without a visa for short stays. The 90-day limit applies across the whole Schengen area within any 180-day period. Check your status on the official France-Visas site.Source
- Italy is part of the Schengen area, and Ventimiglia is a short bus or train ride away. Carry your passport or ID, since border checks can happen.
- Service is included in French restaurant bills by law, so a tip is optional. Leaving a few euros for good service is common.
- Dial 112 from any phone for police, fire or an ambulance. For a medical emergency that needs a doctor sent out, dial 15 for SAMU.
Plan around Menton
Regions, cities and entry rules
Read the guideNice travel guideThe main Riviera base, 25 min away
Read the guideÈze travel guideA hilltop village on the same coast
Read the guideProvence and the Côte d'AzurHow the coast links to inland Provence
Read the guideEES border checksWhat changed at Schengen borders in 2026
Read the guideMenton FAQ
Is Menton worth visiting?
Yes for a calm day or two: lemon gardens, a pebble beach and a quiet old town. It is not a place for nightlife, and the hills are steep, so allow for the climbs.
How far is Menton from Nice?
About 25–35 minutes by coast train, with frequent departures. The bus takes longer but costs less. Check the timetable for evenings, when services thin out.
When is the Menton Lemon Festival?
In the second half of February, with parades and fruit-covered displays. The exact dates change each year, so confirm them on the town's official page before you book.
Is Menton a good base for the Riviera?
Good for a quiet stay, but Nice has more flights, trains and restaurants. Staying in Menton makes sense if you want Italy and Monaco close and prefer a smaller town.
Do you need a passport to go from Menton to Italy?
Carry a passport or ID card. Schengen countries can reinstate border checks at short notice, and non-EU visitors keep counting their days across the whole zone.