St. Tropez, yay or nay for Riviera drive

Nice, with a metro population of almost a million residents, is France's fifth largest city. While it has a few notable museums, Nice's beaches are rocky. If you will have a rental car, I would get out of Nice as quickly as possible and spend time in the smaller coastal towns such as
Villefranche-sur-Mer, Menton, St.Jean Cap Ferrat, Antibes ( you have included this) and Cassis. With a car you can also drive inland and cover a lot of the inland towns of Provence to see places such as Le Baux, Gordes, Lourmarin, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Vaison la Romaine among the many other gems.

I once spent 3 weeks driving along the coast, between Hyeres and Menton. I also used 3 bases out of which I explored the immediate area. It is quite easy to get around. Ether use the toll expressway to get somewhere quick, or the coast road, which is of course slower, but better for sightseeing, stopping off at towns etc. I don't think that traffic will be a big issue. I found it more or less the same everywhere. Perhaps during mid-morning heading to the St Tropez beaches it was busier than average, but not something to put off a visit if that's what you want to do.

Where you stay, and for how long, will depend on what you want to do from each base. I'd agree that somewhere in the area of Nice would be good for one base, but Nice itself is probably not the best choice.

Similar for Cannes. If you already plan on staying at Antibes, then I'd use it as a base for 3-4 days and visit Cannes as a day-trip. The coast between Cannes and Frejus is attractive -- red rock and blue sea. There are some small beaches accessible by footpath, an alternative to the main town beaches where it can be so full of people that you can't see the sand. Maybe in Sept it won't be so bad (I was there in July).

As far as St Tropez goes, I went there for a look. I was staying near Le Lavendou to visit the Porquerolle islands (snorkelling, hiking). Anyway, St Tropez: as a day trip it was interesting enough as a curiosity. Amazing, how such a 'nothing' place can have such a reputation. The rich people on their yachts, displaying themselves having breakfast in full view of the lower classes; the incredibly overcrowded beaches that are all out of town anyway.

No problem beginning September to visite St. Tropez as the upper high season is over in this time.

You can do it with your car and yes, there is only one main road to the village but this concern only the last six km. If you will do it without a car then take the train. From Nice, Antibes or Cannes go by the regional trains (called TER) to St. Raphael, take a ferry over to St. Tropez and back the same way.

The proposals from kenko for the part " Le Baux, Gordes, Lourmarin, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Vaison la Romaine" need more than one full day if you leave and go back to the French Riviera. To discover the near region or back land of the eastern part in the Provence try Roquebrune, Eze-Village, Haut de Cagnes, Biot, Valbonne, maybe a visite in a perfum factury in Grasse, Gourdon, St. Paul de Vence, Vence, Tourrettes s/Loup or go for a day up into the Alps - possible also with a little private train from Nice, by public bus or by car of course. Beuil, Valberg, Guillaumes and Entreveaux for excample are nice to see.

And as said before, Nice is the biggest city along the coast in that part of France. All other places are villages, more or less big.

I really do quite like Nice as a seaside city. I agree there are so many smaller towns / locations nearby that may make the journey more relaxed. That said I would not move from Nice to Cannes for just a change of scenary, it is just too close to be worth the hassle.

I am not fond of Nice or Cannes. If you have a car, stay in smaller places. Why are you fixated on big cities? I love Menton, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cagnes-Sur-Mer, St Paul de Vence.

I feel to much time for Nice and Cannes. I would also recommend St Paul de Vence when in Nice, there is a bus to take you there. If there is an interest maybe a half day to Monaco.
I spent a few hours in St. Tropez and had a nice lunch there.
If you can, rent a car and drive along the sea, there are many beautiful and picturesque cities and towns along the sea.

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