Menton in southern France sits on the border with Italy. (Supplied photo)
Mirazur sits right on the Italian border, and its chef, Mauro Colagreco, counts the market across the line in Ventimiglia among his sources of inspiration. For Canadians planning a long Mediterranean escape, that detail says plenty. The French Riviera and the Italian Riviera are one coastline with a border running through it, and a single trip can cover both.
What follows is a route that begins in Nice and ends in Liguria, with each side given room to show its own character. The French half brings glamour and some of the world’s most decorated kitchens, while Liguria moves at a slower pace. Getting between the two takes less effort than most people expect.
Getting From Canada to the Côte d’Azur
Nice is one of the nicest places to start, and Canadians now have more ways to reach it. Air Canada and Air Transat run seasonal nonstop flights from Montreal, and from June 16, 2027, Air Canada will add a twice-weekly nonstop from Toronto that operates until October 23. The local tourist office puts the flight time at about nine hours and 20 minutes.
Anyone who would rather skip the connection, or who is travelling with a larger group, can look at a top rated private jet charter arranged through a broker. It also makes an open-jaw route possible: land on the French side, leave from the Italian one and avoid a long backtrack on the final day. Private flights often use Cannes-Mandelieu, handles only business aviation, and Genoa’s airport also takes private traffic at the Italian end.
Private jet charters to Europe offer a dream way to travel for the luxury-minded passenger. (Supplied photo)
Starting on the French Side
Nice rewards a slow start. Colagreco, who has cooked on this coast since 2006, favours La Merenda there for traditional local cooking with real character, which makes it a good first dinner before the grander tables.
Monaco is a short hop east, and Le Louis XV, Alain Ducasse’s restaurant at the Hôtel de Paris, holds three Michelin stars. Its menu draws on the French and Italian Rivieras alike, a useful preview of the trip ahead.
Oyster in a pear sauce is indicative Mirazur’s Mediterranean flavours. (Vacay.ca file photo)
Menton, the last town before the border, is where the French chapter ends. Mirazur earned its first star in 2007, a year after opening, and now holds three, with biodynamic gardens of nearly 11 hectares (27 acres) feeding the menu. A hillside hotel of 11 suites is due to open beside the restaurant in 2027, which gives the next wave of visitors a reason to stay on rather than drive back to Nice.
Crossing the Border Without Losing a Day
The crossing is easier than it looks on a map. Ventimiglia is about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Nice, roughly a half-hour drive, and a direct regional train links Nice-Ville with the border town in under an hour.
Going farther is less direct, since there is no through train between Nice and Genoa. Travellers change at Ventimiglia onto an Italian Intercity service, which brings the total to about three-and-a-half hours. By car, Genoa is roughly 190 kilometres (120 miles) and a little over two hours away, a pace that suits anyone who wants to stop along the way. A hired driver turns the same stretch into a relaxed afternoon.
Liguria, the Slower Coast
Italy begins gently. Just over the line at La Mortola, the Hanbury Gardens, which Colagreco ranks among the most beautiful botanical gardens in the Mediterranean, make a calm first stop. Ventimiglia’s market, which draws the chef whenever his schedule allows, deserves a morning of its own.
Farther east, Sanremo has Paolo e Barbara among the 12 one-star restaurants Michelin lists across Liguria, and the road keeps following the water toward Genoa.
Portofino is where to slow down, and maybe even linger. Cracco Portofino won a Michelin star in the 2026 guide, and its 29-year-old chef, Mattia Pecis, took the Young Chef award the same night. The restaurant sits in front of the mooring for large yachts.
