Nice Carnival and the Menton Lemon Festival

19 - 25 February 2023

6 days from £995pp

Join us for 6 days as we travel to Nice to stay at the wonderful 4-star Hotel Palace Diano Marina resort & hotel. You’ll get to experience the magnificent Nice Carnival Flower Parade & the famous Menton Lemon Festival (The Fete du Citron).

Attend the Nice Carnival Flower parade – full of flower covered floats and locally produced flowers.
Experience a parade of entertainers, fan fairs & drums at Menton Lemon Festival
Stay at the Hotel Palace - Diano Marina 4-star hotel, located on the seafront of Riviera Dei Fiori, near the old town (Vieille Ville)
Explore nearby landmarks such as the mediaeval village of Cervo

Join us on the French Riviera for a fiesta of fruit and flowers as we visit two of the region’s most vibrant events. Nice Flower Parade is an integral part of the City’s Carnival – the only one of its kind in the world. Join the crowd amidst floral showers of gladioli, mimosa, gerberas, lilies, daisies, roses and carnations as spectacular floats and characters line the promenade. Just along the coast, the elegant town of Menton hosts its unique Lemon Festival where you can admire the incredible sculptures made from all the citrus fruits imaginable.

Book your place today and enjoy a burst of zest, colour and Carnival atmosphere in 2023!

Day 1: London - Diano Marina
We journey aboard Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Paris and then join the TGV connection to Nice. From here we are transferred by coach to the pretty coastal resort of Diano Marina, just over the border on the Italian Riviera of Flowers, where we check into our hotel. A light snack will be provided on arrival.
Day 2: Diano Marina
Today is free for you to spend at leisure in our beautiful resort, surrounded by hills and coast. You can relax in our hotel and enjoy the facilities, head to the sandy beach or venture into the old town to browse the shops and sample local delicacies. We include a delicious lunch at the hotel today with the remainder of the day free to relax further. Dinner is served tonight in the hotel’s restaurant.
Day 3: Nice Carnival Flower Parade
After breakfast our coach travels to the city of Nice for the Flower Parade*, a fabulous event made up of flower covered floats, with costumed characters who throw thousands of flowers into the enthusiastic crowd. This art promotes the breath-taking quality and variety of Riviera flowers – a staggering 90% of the flowers used are produced locally. The parade route follows the seafront along the Promenade des Anglais, between the Théâtre de Verdure and the Hotel Negresco and takes around 90 minutes – be sure to stay until the end when the floats are plucked of their floral decorations. We return to the hotel where dinner is served this evening.
Day 4: Menton Lemon Festival
Today our coach takes us to the coastal town of Menton, where the Lemon Festival will be in full swing. You’ll see a colourful explosion of tangerines, oranges and lemons together with entertainers, fanfares and drums too! This is a unique event that attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year. Enjoy the zest-flavoured Golden parades, ad-mire the exhibition of citrus patterns in the Jardin Bioves. There is also a Crafts fair and the Festival of Orchids with unforgettable scents to explore.
Day 5: Diano Marina
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel this morning.

You have a free day to relax in the hotel or explore the local area. There’s an 11th century castle which leaves traces of the town’s ancient past. If you want to explore further afield the nearby mediaeval village of Cervo, with its combination of cobbled alleys, terraces, arches and rooftops, is a delightful place to spend some time. Tonight, we gather for our final evening meal together to round off our holiday.
Day 6: Diano Marina - London
This morning we check out of our hotel and retrace our route to Paris, where we join Eurostar for our return to

London.

Travel by Eurostar

Step aboard Eurostar at London St Pancras for a fast and comfortable journey to mainland Europe. You can even upgrade your reserved seat to Standard Premier – speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information. On arrival in Paris, Lille or Brussels, you will then join connecting services for your onward journey.

For those travelling from further afield, you can also book overnight accommodation in London, before and after your holiday. Speak to our Holiday Advisors for more information.

Overview

This lovely four-star family-run hotel is perfectly located overlooking the sandy beach in Diano Marina, and close to the old town and seaside promenade. Certified as eco-friendly, this small hotel has just 48 bedrooms and is lovingly looked after by its owners and friendly, welcoming staff. Enjoy stunning sea views form its restaurant and terraces accompanied by good food and wine.

Room Facilities & Amenities

Balcony
32 in satellite TV
Telephone
Mini bar (payable)
Safe deposit box
Free Wi-Fi
Full bathroom with toiletries & hairdryer (mix of walk in showers and bath tubs with shower attachments)
Air conditioning / central heating