Villefranche-sur-Mer

You could spend your French Riviera afternoon sipping rose and dissecting yacht politics, or you could slip on an absurdly snug snorkel mask and plunge beneath the glassy surface of Villefranche Bay, a pocket-sized paradise sandwiched elegantly between Nice's glitzy promenades and Monaco's casino fever dreams. This sheltered stretch of Mediterranean, once a pirate haunt and later favored by jet-setting film royalty like Hitchcock and Cary Grant, is now best enjoyed floating facedown, surrounded by glittering shoals of sardines and cheeky sea bream flashing silver side-eyes. Arrive mid-morning when sunlight floods through turquoise waters with a cinematic flair, making even the most mundane marine life look Instagram-worthy. Plan ahead just a couple days-snorkeling gear rentals are abundant along the shore for about 15-20 euros-but you'll want to bring your own towel and sunscreen, lest you find yourself as grilled and crispy as the calamari lunch that awaits nearby. Even if chasing tiny fish around a tranquil bay doesn't thrill you, Villefranche snorkeling offers bragging rights-after all, how many travelers can casually recount their run-in with a judgmental octopus in Hitchcock's old stomping grounds?

Sure, the Cote d'Azur is flooded with waterfront establishments where trust-fund Instagrammers jostle elbows over overpriced rose, but sunset dining at La Mere Germaine is a whole other ballgame-it's like stepping into a vintage postcard, complete with the faint ghosts of Hemingway and Fitzgerald, drowning their genius in aperitifs. Perched perfectly on the Riviera waterfront, with views so cinematic you'd swear they'd hired a dedicated sun wrangler, La Mere Germaine has been seducing shameless romantics and devoted hungry souls since the Roaring Twenties. Book a table a week or two ahead, requesting one of the prime terrace spots-arriving an hour before sunset ensures you'll catch that golden hour lighting your bouillabaisse like a Caravaggio painting (and better yet, lets you casually observe the yacht-dwelling oligarchs drifting into view). Budget liberally-luxury dining here leans toward eyebrow-raising-but pack a scarf or jacket as the Mediterranean breeze can turn charmingly crisp once night falls. Why come here? Simple. Because life is short, sunsets are stunningly finite, and there's no better cocktail party anecdote than recalling the evening you elegantly emptied your wallet watching the Riviera sun take its nightly bow.

Nestled among the sun-dappled hills of Grasse-where perfume is treated less as a fragrance and more like alchemy mixed with a dash of sorcery-you have the chance to channel your inner Coco Chanel or mad scientist at a perfume creation workshop. This is Grasse, after all, the town where jasmine bushes practically elbow each other for square footage and where perfume-making has been practiced with almost religious devotion since Catherine de' Medici decided life smelled better here around the 16th century. Book at least a few days in advance, especially during peak (sweaty tourist) season, and opt for a morning session when your olfactory organs haven't yet been assaulted by the Mediterranean heat or too many espressos. Budget around €80 to €120, depending on how ambitious you feel, and don't forget your notebook-your masterpiece's secret recipe will make for great dinner-party banter later. Sure, your customized scent might come out less Chanel No. 5 and more Aromatic Disaster No. 3, but the bragging rights alone ("Oh, just donning my bespoke eau de moi") make the whole adventure deliciously worthwhile.

Perched precariously atop the medieval village of Èze, the Exotic Garden is less "garden" and more a whimsical experiment in gravity defiance-an eccentric blend of rare, spiky succulents still smugly claiming earth on a cliffside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Built on the ruins of a 12th-century castle, it offers panoramic views so absurdly perfect you'd suspect the Cote d'Azur tourist board had bribed Mother Nature herself. Arrive either obnoxiously early (think 9 a.m.) to dodge selfie-stick-wielding groups, or venture later in the afternoon when the fading sunlight bathes the plants in cinematic gold-just be prepared to elbow a few slack-jawed tourists out of your picture-perfect sunset shot. Budget around 7 euros for entry, carry water, comfortable shoes (those quaint medieval steps are heartlessly unforgiving), and perhaps sunglasses to disguise your envy of the outrageously comfortable lifestyles glimpsed from yacht-speckled waters below. Plan your visit at least a day ahead; spontaneous tourists are more likely to find parking in Monaco during Grand Prix weekend than here. Even if succulents and botanical curiosities are usually not your thing, it's worth the hike. Why? Because wandering among alien-like agaves while overlooking one of the most ridiculously enchanting coastlines in the world is the kind of brilliantly peculiar experience that makes you sound infinitely more worldly at dinner parties.