Luxury Villa Rentals on the French Riviera: Why Cap Ferrat Stands Apart
Entrance opening on an attractive first reception room enhanced with a covered terrace opening on the heated swimming pool.
20 min
from Nice Airport
30 min
from Monaco
8 beds
across two villas
4,200 m²
private estate
The French Riviera
A Coastline of Distinct Addresses
Saint-Tropez draws the summer crowd. Cannes carries the film festival glitter. Antibes has its old port.
But for guests who have explored the Riviera thoroughly, Cap Ferrat — the protected peninsula midway between Nice and Monaco — occupies a different category entirely. It is not a resort town. It has no casino, no boulevard of restaurants, no festival crowds.
What it has is one of the most spectacular natural settings in Europe, an established tradition of discretion among its residents, and a small number of extraordinary private estates available for rental.
Location comparison
The French Riviera's Most Exclusive Addresses — Compared
For guests considering a luxury villa rental on the French Riviera, the choice of location matters as much as the villa itself. Here is how the Riviera’s main destinations compare across the criteria that matter most to privacy-focused guests.
| Location | Privacy | Nice Airport | Monaco | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap Ferrat ★ | ●●● Maximum | 20 min | 30 min | Protected peninsula, one road in and out, year-round population under 2,000. No public beach clubs. |
| Cannes | ●●○ Moderate | 30 min | 50 min | Cosmopolitan, film festival, La Croisette beach scene. Coastal paths pass close to most estates. |
| Saint-Tropez | ●●○ Moderate | 90 min+ | 2 hrs+ | Social, party-focused, heavy peak-season traffic on the peninsula road. Best for guests wanting the ST scene. |
| Cap d’Antibes | ●●○ Good | 20 min | 50 min | Quieter than Cannes, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc area. Some genuine seclusion. Longer drive to Monaco. |
| Villefranche-sur-Mer | ●●○ Good | 15 min | 25 min | Deep natural harbour, excellent for superyacht guests. Smaller villa rental stock than Cap Ferrat. |
The estate
A Private Estate on Cap Ferrat, French Riviera
Villa Aulivie occupies a commanding position on the heights of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat — above the bay, below the ridge, with an unobstructed 360° view of the Mediterranean taking in both the bay of Cap Ferrat to the east and the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer to the west.
The estate unites two fully independent villas — Villa Ephrussi and Villa Aulivie — within a single private domain of 4,200 m². Together they sleep 16 guests across 8 bedrooms, with two heated swimming pools, three kitchens including a professional kitchen, and parking for 12 cars.
Location Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes | Guests Up to 16 |
Bedrooms 8 across two villas | Pools 2 heated |
Nearest Beach Paloma Beach, 5 min | Rental Period Min. 1 week, May–Oct |
Nice to Monaco corridor
Between Nice and Monaco: The Heart of the Riviera
The 30-kilometre stretch of coastline between Nice and Monaco contains the greatest concentration of prestigious private estates in Europe. Along this corridor lie Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Èze-sur-Mer, Cap d’Ail, and Monaco itself. Cap Ferrat, positioned at the centre, is within reach of everything — yet returns you each evening to a property that feels genuinely removed from the world.
Nice Airport
NCE · 0 min
Villefranche
15 min
Cap Ferrat ★
20 min
Beaulieu
25 min
Èze-sur-Mer
28 min
Monaco
30 min
Included services
What Is Included in Every Rental
Villa manager
Dedicated manager available 8 hours daily throughout your stay.
Daily housekeeping
6 hours daily cleaning of both villas and all common areas.
Pool maintenance
Both heated pools maintained and serviced throughout your stay.
Utilities & WiFi
All utility bills included. High-speed WiFi and CCTV throughout the estate.
Linen service
Bed linen changed twice weekly as standard across both villas.
Concierge
Dedicated concierge for restaurant reservations, transfers, and all requests.
Frequently asked questions
French Riviera Villa Rental — Questions
For guests prioritising privacy and ease of access, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is consistently the most exclusive address on the Riviera. Its protected peninsula geography, proximity to Nice Airport and Monaco, and year-round population of under 2,000 make it the preferred choice for UHNW guests and extended family stays.
Approximately 20 minutes by car. Private helicopter transfer can be arranged in approximately 8 minutes. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) operates direct routes from most European capitals and connects to long-haul services via Paris and London.
Yes. Villa Aulivie includes a dedicated villa manager and daily housekeeping as standard in every rental. Private chef, butler, chauffeur, and concierge services are available as additional services. The estate is fully managed throughout your stay.
Cap Ferrat offers significantly more privacy — a protected peninsula with one road in and out, 20 minutes from a major international airport, and 30 minutes from Monaco. Saint-Tropez is more social and party-focused, with heavier summer traffic and approximately 90 minutes from Nice Airport in peak season. Guests who value discretion and ease of access consistently prefer Cap Ferrat.
Villa Aulivie is available for a minimum of one week. Peak season (July and August) books earliest — early enquiry is recommended for those dates. Shoulder season (May, June, September, October) offers more flexibility on arrival days and duration.
Yes. Villa Ephrussi (main villa, 4 bedrooms, 8 guests) and Villa Aulivie (guest villa, 4 bedrooms, 8 guests) can each be rented independently, or the entire estate can be taken as one. Both share the gardens and pool terrace when rented together. Please enquire for individual villa availability and rates.
Availability 2025 · 2026
Enquire About French Riviera Villa Availability
Villa Aulivie accepts a limited number of bookings each season.
Our team responds within 24 hours.