Group Travel Tour Operator and DMC for the South of France and Italy
Nice Carnival and Menton Lemon Festival 2026
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Nice Carnival Display on a float, France
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Corso des fruits d'or - Fete du Citron® by www.tourisme-menton.fr
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Float at the Menton Lemon Festival, France
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Monte Carlo, Monaco © Monaco Press Centre Photos
BOOK NOW FOR 2026!
Every year, for two weeks in late February/early March, the south of France comes alive with two festivals, the Nice Carnival and the Menton Lemon Festival. Head to Diano Marina on Italy’s sun-soaked section of the Italian Riviera , your base for this tour. This offers the best of Italian hospitality while you enjoy the delights of these two special festivals.
Nice is a fabulous city rich in glorious architecture and superb restaurants. Boasting an enticing old town and wonderful markets, it’s a pleasure to explore. Unsurprisingly, it has become the unofficial capital of the enchanting Côte d’Azur. Each winter, this gem enjoys a burst of colour and life with the arrival of the Nice Carnival when colourful flower parades, float processions and firework displays flood the city.
Lying on the border of Italy and France, the coastal Commune of Menton hosts a celebration of citrus each year. 200,000 people pour into Menton over 15 days to witness craft fairs, garden exhibitions and parades as the town becomes a sea of yellow. Lemons and other citrus fruits are used to create incredible structures. See them parade through the town accompanied by masked and painted faces, costumes, head-dresses, bands and acrobats. More than just an accompaniment to your G&T: it’s lemons, but not as you know them.
The Côte d’Azur is scattered with gems of all manner, not least the unique principality of Monaco, playground of the rich and famous. Monte Carlo, its focal point is undoubtedly striking with its yacht-laden marinas and lavish casinos. However, for a glimpse of Monaco’s understated charm, head to the pretty old town and the beautiful Prince’s Palace. This entire area boasts impressive villas and spectacular gardens overlooking the sea. Pretty little towns dot this beautiful coast, like Cervo, a village rising from the seas with a steep climb up the hillside.
Dates
February & March 2026
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1
Depart the UK
Travel to Dover and take the ferry across to Calais, continue south through France stopping overnight en route. Dinner will be at the hotel this evening.
Day 2
Travel to Diano Marina
Continue after breakfast through France and Switzerland and into Italy and the resort of Diano Marina for the next 5 nights.After check in there may be time to explore the hotel and resort before dinner this evening.
Day 3
At leisure in Diano Marina (drivers rest day)
Relax and enjoy the facilities of your hotel and resort. Take a stroll among the characterful streets and along the sandy beachfront and palm-lined promenade. Alternatively, walk up to the nearby ancient hill top village of Cervo. Cervo’s roots date back the Roman times and its 16th century walls, which overlook the sea, protect its medieval streets, churches and houses.
Enjoy dinner together in the hotel this evening.
Day 4
Nice Carnival (Saturday)
This morning, travel to Nice where there’s time to explore the Old Town, and take a stroll along the famous Promenade des Anglais. Nice itself is a great place to shop, dine and watch the world go by from a picturesque café.
In the afternoon, it’s time to take your seats for the Corso Carnavalesque, the carnival parade. Dozens of brightly coloured and decorated floats, all created by local people, follow a circular route around the city centre accompanied by musicians and dancers. On each float, costumed models throw flowers to an enthusiastic crowd. This ‘Battle of the Flowers’ is an elegant show with around 3000 stems per float ranging from roses to carnations to gerberas. This is a truly unique and memorable spectacle.
Head back to the hotel in time for dinner.
Day 5
Menton Lemon Festival (Sunday)
Join in all the fun of the ‘La Fête du Citron’ with a visit to Menton for the Lemon Festival. Each year, the people of Mention try very hard to outdo each other with their lemon-inspired creations that require more than 145 tonnes of citrus fruit. The festival has a different theme each year, so the designs are always new and innovative. Visit these giant sculptures in the Biovès Gardens, which becomes a sea of orange and yellow, with some creations exceeding heights of 10 metres! Then take your seat and enjoy the procession of citrus fruit-decorated floats, marching bands and drum majorettes before returning to the hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 6
Monaco and Monte Carlo
Visit the glamorous Monaco today, playground of the rich and famous. Explore Monaco’s Old Town, filled with stunning gardens, a remarkable cathedral and a palace where you may witness the changing of the palace guards. If you’re interested in car racing, why not visit the amazing Grand Prix Circuit? Enjoy some free time at the Casino Square or ‘Golden Square’ with prestigious shops, amazing restaurants and luxury cars. (Guided tours can be arranged)
Return to the hotel for a final Ligurian themed dinner.
Day 7
Depart Italy
Sadly, its time to leave retracing our steps back through Switzerland and into France where we shall have a final overnight stop. Dinner is included at the hotel.
Day 8
Return to the UK
Depart after breakfast and continue north to Calais and take the ferry across to the UK, and home.
Featured hotel – Inspected by Greatdays Staff in October 2023
Hotel Piccolo, Diano Marina ***
Nestled on the Capo Berta slope, the Piccolo Hotel enjoys a quiet location in Diano Marina, on the Riviera di Ponente. There is a new swimming pool and a sea-view terrace. A sandy beach is close to the Piccolo Hotel.
| Dates | Half Twin | Single Supplement |
| February/March 2026 | From £625.00 per person | Price on request |
Actual carnival dates for 2026 yet to be confirmed
