Excellence Luxury Villas · Alpes-Maritimes
Luxury Villa Rentals in The Alpes-Maritimes
Villas from the harbour at Villefranche to the perfume hills of Grasse and the high villages behind them
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The Riviera's coast, and the hills that make it
The Alpes-Maritimes is the corner of France where the Alps run down to the Mediterranean. It holds most of the Côte d'Azur, from the red rocks of Théoule to the lemon groves of Menton, with Nice, Cannes and Antibes in between. Drive inland for an hour and you are among stone villages, flower fields and, further north in the Mercantour, peaks of over 3,000 metres.
Our collection here runs to 130+ villas. On the coast there are harbour-view houses around Villefranche-sur-Mer and family villas with pools in Mougins, Antibes and Vallauris. Inland you will find stone houses in Cabris, Châteauneuf and Opio, and quieter retreats up in the hills around Coursegoules. The largest have 11 bedrooms.
Below we cover the coast, the hinterland and which months suit each.
The Alpes-Maritimes at a glance
- Villas
- 130+ across the Alpes-Maritimes, with up to 11 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,100 to £11,500 a week, from around £1,800
- Best areas
- Villefranche-sur-Mer, Mougins and Antibes on the coast; Grasse, Cabris and Saint-Paul-de-Vence inland
- Best time
- June and September for the sea; spring and autumn for the hill villages and walking
- Airport
- Nice Côte d'Azur, within about an hour of most villas
Browse all 130+ villas in the Alpes-Maritimes
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Rent Maison Falaise France5 bedrooms
Villa La Rade France6 bedrooms
Villa Le Cap | 7-Bedroom Villa in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat Villefranche-s7 bedrooms
Chateau De La Victoire France7 bedrooms
A deep harbour, with a cape on either side
Villefranche-sur-Mer sits on one of the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, with ochre houses stacked above the water. Down by the quay is the little Chapelle Saint-Pierre, painted by Jean Cocteau, and behind it runs the Rue Obscure, a vaulted medieval street. Nice's old town and markets are a few minutes away by train.
Across the bay is Cap Ferrat and the gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. At the western end of the département, Théoule-sur-Mer looks out over the red porphyry cliffs of the Esterel. It is the place for rocky coves and snorkelling, and it feels a long way from the Croisette.
Browse villas in Villefranche-sur-Mer
Pines, pools and a great deal of Picasso
The hills between Cannes and Antibes are classic family villa country: shaded gardens and private pools, with the beaches a short drive away. Mougins has a long reputation for good restaurants, and Picasso spent his last years there.
He left his mark all along this stretch. In Antibes, the Château Grimaldi houses the Musée Picasso, right above the sea. Vallauris, where he worked at the potteries, still has its ceramic workshops and his War and Peace chapel. Biot is known for its bubbled glass, which you can watch being blown, and for the Musée National Fernand Léger just below the village.
Browse villas in Mougins
Perfume, stone villages and long views
Grasse has been the capital of perfume for centuries. In 2018, UNESCO added the perfume skills of the Pays de Grasse to its list of intangible cultural heritage. You can visit the old houses of Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard, and the Musée International de la Parfumerie, or book a workshop to blend a scent of your own.
Just to the west, Cabris sits on its ridge looking over the Lac de Saint-Cassien towards the sea. Saint-Paul-de-Vence has its ramparts and the Fondation Maeght. Higher up, Coursegoules sits at around 1,000 metres on the edge of the Préalpes d'Azur, where the evenings stay cool in August.
Browse villas in Grasse
Socca, the May rose and a late swim
Eat as the Niçois do: socca, a chickpea pancake hot from the oven, then pissaladière with onions and anchovies, and a proper salade niçoise, which comes without boiled potatoes. February brings the Nice Carnival and the Lemon Festival in Menton. In May the rose harvest begins around Grasse and Cannes hosts its film festival. On the first weekend of August, Grasse holds the Fête du Jasmin, when floats and petals fill the streets.
For swimming, June and September are the best months, and the sea often stays warm into October. Our concierge can book restaurant tables, perfume workshops, boat days and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in the Alpes-Maritimes
Villa Le Trefle France5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £19,745 a week
Villa Liliane France6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £19,634 a week
Villa Bleuet France6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £18,361 a week
Villa Luisa France6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £17,455 a week
Villa La Rosee France6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £17,210 a week
Villa Artistique France5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £16,523 a week
Villa Cosmopolite France5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £16,125 a week
Villa Cherubin France4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £16,125 a weekWhy book your Alpes-Maritimes villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
In the Alpes-Maritimes the beach and the mountains are less than an hour apart, so we can tell you which villas let you walk to the sea and which give it up for quiet and a view. With 130+ properties in the Alpes-Maritimes, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Restaurant tables in Mougins and Nice, perfume workshops in Grasse, boat days from Villefranche, a private chef, car hire and transfers from Nice airport. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in the Alpes-Maritimes?
If you want the sea, go for Villefranche-sur-Mer, which has a harbour and quick trains to Nice. Mougins, Antibes and Biot suit families who want a pool and the beaches nearby. Inland, Grasse, Cabris and Saint-Paul-de-Vence offer views, quiet and village life.
When is the best time to visit the Alpes-Maritimes?
June and September are best for the beach. The sea is warm and the roads are calmer than in July and August. Spring and autumn suit the hill villages and walking, and February has the Nice Carnival and Menton's Lemon Festival.
Is the Alpes-Maritimes the same as the French Riviera?
Not quite. The Alpes-Maritimes covers most of the Riviera, from Théoule-sur-Mer to Menton, as well as a large mountainous hinterland. The Riviera is usually taken to include Saint-Tropez and Ramatuelle as well, and those are in the neighbouring Var.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in the Alpes-Maritimes?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in the Alpes-Maritimes cost?
Across our 130+ villas in the Alpes-Maritimes, weekly rates typically range from £3,100 to £11,500, with the most affordable from around £1,800 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
Which airport is closest?
Nice Côte d'Azur airport serves the whole département. Most of our villas, on the coast and in the hills behind Grasse, are within about an hour's drive. Our concierge can arrange private transfers.
Are there villas in the Alpes-Maritimes for large groups?
Yes. Our Alpes-Maritimes collection includes properties with up to 11 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in the Alpes-Maritimes
From the harbour at Villefranche to the hills above Grasse, 130+ villas our team knows well