Cap-d'Ail
Located near Nice and Italy, the seaside resort town of Cap d'Ail has much to offer tourists and visitors to the riviera. Cap d'Ail can be used as a stepping stone of sorts: many tourists choose to stay in this beautiful town while venturing to other surrounding towns during the day. While Cap d'Ail is the perfect location for this, it also has plenty to offer as a location in its own right.
Bay Beaches
As with most of the riviera cities, the major draw to Cap d'Ail is, of course, the beach. Cap d'Ail offers no fewer than six beaches, including Marquet beach, Mala beach, Pinede beach, Pointe des douaniers, Pissarelles beach and Pavillion bleu. These beaches offer great variety: the majority are located on calm bays that allow for children to play and parents to relax, but there are also beautiful views from atop cliffs that look out onto the beautiful blue Mediterranean. Mala beach is generally considered to be the favorite, and people journey from other surrounding towns just to bask in the Mediterranean sun on this beach, but be sure to visit a variety of beaches during your stay to get the full extent of what Cap d'Ail has to offer!
Belle Epoque Villas
Cap d'Ail is one of the most glamorous resort towns on the riviera: people who work in nearby Monaco often live in Cap d'Ail. As a result, the architecture here, especially that of the Belle Epoque villas that dot the town, is extraordinary. Make a point of taking a walk down the twisted roads of the town to see some of these homes that still stand: many are inhabited and therefore cannot be seen from the inside, but even seeing the outside and surrounding gardens is worthwhile.
Shopping on the Riviera
As with many riviera towns, the shopping in Cap d'Ail is fashionable and expensive, but if you're willing to spend a bit for the best, or even if you just like to window shop, this shopping district on the Basse Corniche is the place for you. Cap d'Ail offers all sorts of famous designers as well as small boutiques.
Sarrasin Tower
Don't miss the Sarrasin Tower, which overlooks the coast of Cap d'Ail. The name of the tower refers to the Moors, and the tower was an important strategic point for this area before the unifications of France and Italy. Today, much of the original building is in ruins, but a climb to the top allows not only for an interesting historical perspective of the area which is not available in many other towns around Cap d'Ail, but also for an exceptional view of the sea.
