Glittering Cannes is the archetypal Mediterranean resort city discovered by wealthy English nobles who came to the sunny south of France to escape their drafty old castles during the dreary British winters. Cannes’ high-flying lifestyle has attracted notables and has been notorious ever since. The stars flock to celebrate the Cannes Film Festival at the colossal Palais des Festivals every year.

Portofino is a fishing village on the Italian Riveria coastline. Its pastel-colored houses, luxury boutiques, and seafood restaurants surround its Piazzetta, a small cobbled square overlooking the harbor, lined with superyachts. A short walk takes you to the Church of St. George, a church with a cool, plain interior dramatically situated on the narrow neck of the Portofino headland. As a lookout point and probably as a site of religious significance, the spot goes back thousands of years.

One of the most beautiful beaches in Corsica. The water is crystal clear, calm, and warm, but the beach's main attraction is that it is never crowded.

It's amazing to find a Mediterranean city that looks like it stepped right out of the travel diary of a 19th-century Grand Tour. Bastia's gracious Italianate buildings were created to house the administrative offices of the capital of Haute Corse.

Sant'Amanza is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the Island of Corsica. Located on its southernmost tip, it is surrounded by limestone cliffs, granite rocks, and scrub, with sands lapped by crystal-clear azure waters. It is a popular location for water sports, including kite surfing.

Bonifacio's almost land-locked harbor is one of the most dramatic, protected harbors. It is a bustling port with excellent seafood restaurants and a modern marina. The ancient citadel town is perched high atop a seemingly impenetrable cliff.

Ajaccio has a justified reputation as a very stylish city. Napoleon Bonaparte was born here in 1769, and as you would expect, the city has many sites related to him, from his childhood home to seafront statues, museums, and street names. Its immediate surroundings are a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, trekkers, and climbers. It provides a whole range of outdoor activities that you can enjoy by yourself or with professionals.

It is said that the most spectacular way to approach the exquisite harbor of St. Tropez is by sea. St. Tropez is a people-watchers paradise so that you can explore her famous beaches, bistros, and bars. The appropriately named Tahiti Plage is where topless sun tanning started, and whether you prefer to take it off or take it all in, there's always plenty to see in St. Tropez.


 

Disembark after breakfast and continue your independent trip back home.