10 Top Indoor Activities on the French Riviera

There are times when you need to find an activity or something to do indoors, as a family or for a group of children, even on the Côte d’Azur.  Our climate is famed for its 300 days of sun a year but that still leaves another 65 or 66 when it could be wet.  And when it rains in the South of France it really rains! You need to get out of the house/hotel or holiday rental and do something, but what?   Here’s a list of 10 top indoor activities on the French Riviera for just those occasions.

Read on to see what I’ve picked as 10 fun things to do indoors on the French Riviera, all tested by my boys or trusted friends.  I’ve chosen a selection of activities to cater for all ages, from toddler to adult. For more information such as addresses and opening hours click on the links.

Top indoor activities on the French Riviera

Classical Arts Museum, Mougins

The Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins (MACM) is an excellent award-winning museum, showcasing art from Ancient Egypt, Greece and the Romans.  The beautifully displayed pieces are juxtaposed with modern and contemporary art by artists as diverse as Salvador Dali, Calder, Picasso, Chagall and Damien Hirst (amongst others).  The collection, including sculpture, vases, coins, mosaics and jewellery, along with the world’s biggest private collection of armour and a beautiful sarcophagus is housed on four small floors.  There are interactive touch screens and all descriptions are in English as well as French.  A lift makes it fully accessible.

Its small size and inspired displays meant my kids very much enjoyed their visit despite their initial misgivings and any child into the Romans and Gladiators will love the armoury. Visiting MACM on a rainy afternoon really is one of my top indoor activities on the French Riviera especially if combined with a delicious hot chocolate at Le Petit Fouet café just up the road in the main square.  Read my full review here.

Royal Kids, Antibes 

A soft-play area with the unusual addition of a disco and small football pitch.  Royal Kids is suitable from tiny to 12, with an area dedicated to under 4s.  Socks are obligatory and if you forget them you will be charged 3€ a pair to enter.  Food brought from outside is not allowed but there is a snack bar on site. This is one of the funnest indoor activities on the French Riviera for your tiny tots.

Nautipolis Aquatic Centre, Sophia Antipolis

Nautipolis is the largest indoor swimming and fitness complex in the central area of the Côte d’Azur and surrounds.  You’ll find a slide, fountains, massage jets and a small outdoor pool with current. There’s a lane pool for serious swimmers and a shallow baby pool too.  During school holidays there are often fun activities with inflatables to climb on, ropes to swing off etc.

There are also aqua gym classes for more serious sport (and a fitness centre, sauna etc not open to children). The changing rooms (men and women mixed, you choose your own private cubicle and locker which makes going with children and only one parent easy) are (usually) clean.  There’s a restaurant next door and a snack bar inside the pool area open during school holidays.

As with all public pools in France all males (even young boys) must wear tight fitting trunks “speedo style” not board shorts and you won’t be allowed in without.  There is a reasonably well-stocked shop if you forget! Definitely one of the top sporting indoor activities on the French Riviera for the whole family.

Escape Game, Nice, Antibes, Cannes, St Laurent du Var

Escape games are good for the brain, kind of like fun mental workouts, where you are locked in a room with a group (between 2-6, ideally 4 or 5) of friends/colleagues/family and have to find your way out using clues to solve puzzles.  Teamwork, problem-solving and initiative are all put to the test.  There is a time limit of an hour and don’t worry, if you are a little claustrophobic you aren’t actually locked in, you’re free to leave at any point.

There are many different themes for the rooms in this area including Sherlock Holmes, Cold War Bunker, Dream, Space, Egyptian Relics, Mental Asylum, Zombie Lab, Bank Robbery and more.  These games suit from about 13/14 up but younger children are welcome in family groups.  They just might not find it as fun.

My teen, 16 years old at the time, said it was the best thing he’d done in years and has since gone on to do many more.  When booking check whether French is required as there are some where there’s no need to speak/read French, the written clues are in English too, and others where it’s necessary. Click through to the rooms my boys have escaped from and can highly recommend: Crazy Rooms St Laurent du Var, Curious World Cannes and Planet Experiences Antibes.  *Update April 2018: These games are now one of the most popular indoor activities on the French Riviera and can be found in most sizable towns.  (Photos aren’t allowed inside.)

Ice Skating, Nice

Patinoire Jean Bouin is an Olympic size ice rink open all year.  Gloves and trousers are obligatory, skates can be rented on site.  The rink is located in a sports complex with a pool and gym as well, and a very convenient car park.  Events such as birthday parties can be catered for and on Sunday mornings there’s a free skating workshop.  There are evening skating parties with music and themed sessions at certain times of the year, for Halloween, Christmas etc. Definitely one of the more unexpected indoor activities on the French Riviera to try out!

National Sports Museum, Nice

Le Musée National du Sport is located in the Allianz Football Stadium along the Var valley in outer Nice.  This modern, interactive museum is divided into 4 sections: individual sports, team sports, one on one and the final section is dedicated to pushing the limits to extremes with crazy stuff like mountaineering, sailing solo around the world and motor racing as well as the amazing achievements in parasports.

It claims to house one of the most important collections of sporting memorabilia in the world but the place isn’t big; I’d say it’s just about the right size for both sport fanatics and ordinary folk like me.  There are several games and machines to try out, such as fencing, an F1 simulator and a giant table football which my gang really enjoyed.  Most notices are in English as well as French.  I’ve written a full review of the museum here.

Salto Trampoline Arena, Mougins

Salto is the oldest trampoline park on the Riviera.  There’s an area for little ones, dodgeball, slackline, and lots and lots of trampolines on the floor and wall to bounce off.  You need to have some form of ID (driving license will do) to leave at the front desk to note your time of arrival.  When you leave your time is calculated and you pay accordingly.  Anti-slip socks are obligatory and available to buy for 2€ if you don’t have your own.  Snacks are available and birthday parties can be organised.  It is highly recommended you book at busy times.

Urban Football, Villeneuve-Loubet

Urban Football isn’t so urban in its wooded setting in Villeneuve-Loubet, but what it offers is 2 covered football pitches (and several outdoor ones) that you can hire for a game or birthday party. They run clinics and (non-residential) holiday camps “stages” during the school holidays especially for children, but this place is available for all ages throughout the year.  There is a pleasant restaurant/bar overlooking the pitches.  To play you need to be in a group of 10 or join the league, reservation is obligatory.

Cineum, Cannes

The first thing that strikes you as you arrive at Cineum cinema complex in Cannes is the stylish building designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti. Inside, however, it is a little disappointing, with dark lighting and a certain lack of attention to detail in the customer experience. But the movie experience is great, and what you’ve come for after all. There are a number of different screen options, with the IMAX being its biggest drawcard. The Cineum complex also houses a restaurant and exhibition spaces making it possible to spend longer than just the movie time in this unusual cinema. To watch a film in English check that the screening is in VOST. Read more about how to find films in English.

Vesubia Mountain Park, St Martin Vésubie

My last choice is a little further inland, not really “Riviera” but well worth the effort of getting there even in good weather.  Vesubia Mountain Park located in the lovely mountain village of St Martin Vésubie is a relatively new adventure sports centre housing an enormous climbing area (the photo only shows a very small part of it), a swimming pool and, most impressively, an indoor canyoning and caving circuit.  A day out here can be combined with a visit to Alpha Parc wolf sanctuary.  St Martin Vésubie is about 90 mins from Lou Messugo and only an hour from Nice airport.

All of these indoor activities on the French Riviera are within 30 minutes of Lou Messugo gite, some are only 10 minutes away (except Vesubia see above). Don’t forget I’ve written about plenty of other ideas for things to do on the Côte d’Azur, for toddlers, children, young teenagers and rainy days and I always love to get further suggestions, so please let me know if you’ve got any in the comments below.

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