Shopping With Teenagers on the French Riviera

The French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur, is a popular tourist destination for families with teenagers. Finding engaging activities for teens can be a challenge, so shopping with teenagers on the French Riviera could be an excellent solution. With its diverse range of stores, including high-end designer boutiques, local markets, and trendy streetwear shops, the French Riviera offers a unique and exciting shopping experience for everyone.

In this blog post, I’ll explore some of the best places to go shopping with teenagers on the French Riviera and share tips on how to make the most of your shopping experience. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to bond with your teens! Take the opportunity to connect and create lasting memories while indulging in some retail therapy in the fashionable shopping spots of the French Riviera.

Shopping with Teenagers on the French Riviera in Nice

Nice is a vibrant city that offers a plethora of shopping opportunities for teenagers. One of the best places to start is Avenue Jean Médecin, the main shopping street in Nice, which boasts a wide variety of shops, including well-known high street brands such as Zara, H&M and the super popular French cosmetics store Sephora. You’ll also find a large FNAC selling books, music and electronics, always a favourite with teenagers.

About halfway up Avenue Jean Médecin is Nice Etoile, a small mall featuring a range of shops, including popular teen clothing brands such as Hollister, Etam and French brand Jennyfer, as well as a variety of other fashion, beauty, and lifestyle stores.

The Old Town of Nice is also a fun place to shop for unique souvenirs, local handicrafts and independent labels.

With so many options available, shopping in Nice is an experience that teenagers won’t soon forget.

How to get to Nice Etoile / Ave Jean Médecin

Address: 30 Avenue Jean Médecin, 06000 Nice

By car: Park in any of the Nice centre underground car parks but the most convenient is under Nice Etoile itself where there is 1 hour free parking with over 50€ shopping (must get ticket validated at the mall reception on Level 0 or at the car park reception P3 Charité). The car park entries are located on Boulevard Dubouchage, Rue Lamartine, Rue Paul Déroulède (not Ave Jean Médecin)

By tram: Line 1 runs the length of Avenue Jean Médecin, Line 2 stops at Jean Médecin

By train: Nice-Ville station is located at the top end of Avenue Jean Médecin, 10 mins walk to Nice Etoile

By bus: 5, 8, 38 *Watch out! These lines are in the process of changing number! Check the Lignes d’Azur website for up to date info*

Nice Etoile website

Window Shopping with Teenagers in Cannes

Cannes is a glamorous and stylish city that offers a fantastic shopping experience for teenagers. One of the best places to start, possibly just to look and dream, is La Croisette, Cannes’ famous seafront promenade. It is lined with almost every high-end designer store you can imagine – Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada, Armani (with a café)… to name just a few. There’s no damage done to the credit card just looking!

For more affordable options, head to Rue d’Antibes, one of the main shopping streets in Cannes, which features a variety of trendy shops and boutiques including many well-known international brand names and Instagram favourite La Durée Macarons. More than 3 km long and home to over 800 stores, there’s sure to be something that catches a demanding teenager’s eye.

Shopping in Cannes, even if it’s only window shopping, is a fantastic way to experience the city’s glamour and sophistication and a great place to make lasting memories.

How to get to Cannes

By car: Park in any of the Cannes centre underground car parks, where there are some deals available: 1st hour free + 2 hours free once a week Monday-Friday and 3 hours free Saturday, 3 hours free Sunday

By train: Cannes station + 5 min walk to rue d’Antibes

By bus: Numerous buses depending on where you are coming from check the Ligne d’Azur website or Cannes Tourist Office website

Shopping with Teens at Polygone Riviera

Polygone Riviera is a state-of-the-art outdoor shopping center located in Cagnes sur Mer that offers a unique and exciting shopping experience for teenagers. The mall features over 100 boutiques, including popular teen clothing brands like Pull & Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius, Uniqlo, Superdry, H&M and Primark.

Polygone Riviera also boasts an excellent choice of beauty, homeware and lifestyle stores. In addition to shopping, Polygone Riviera offers a variety of entertainment options, such as a 10 screen Multiplex cinema (including an ICE screen) which shows films in their original language (look for VOST in the listing). There is a rope climbing trail (seen in photo above), an art trail with sculptures by internationally well-known artists (Gormley for example below) and an outdoor sports centre making it an excellent destination for a day out with teenagers.

Of course the mall also features a variety of dining options, including fast-food restaurants and trendy cafés, making it the perfect place to refuel after a busy day of shopping. With its extensive selection of stores and entertainment options, Polygone Riviera Mall is a must-visit destination for teenagers who love to shop and have fun.

How to get to Polygone Riviera

Address: 119 Av. des Alpes, 06800 Cagnes sur Mer

By car: Motorway A8, coming from Nice exit 48 Cagnes sur Mer, direction Vence. Coming from Cannes exit 47 Cagnes sur Mer, direction Vence. 2 hours free parking

By train: Cagnes sur Mer station + 25 mins walk or Bus 9 to the mall or Vélo Bleu 6 mins

By bus: Shopping mall stop: 9, 21 Tunnel stop: (coming from Roquefort les Pins/Grasse) 500 *Watch out! These lines are in the process of changing number! Check the Lignes d’Azur website for up to date info*

Polygone Riviera website

Cap 3000 Shopping with Teenagers on the French Riviera

Cap 3000 Mall is a massive shopping complex located in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, just a short distance from Nice airport, that offers an extensive range of shopping opportunities for teenagers. Voted “Best Shopping Mall in the World” in 2022 (you can’t beat that!) it features over 300 stores, including the French Riviera’s only Apple Store and the largest pharmacy in Europe for all those sought-after French beauty products.

Naturally, you’ll find most of the famous international teen clothing brands like Zara, H&M and Abercrombie and Fitch, but also plenty of French brands too, such as the original and quirky lifestyle store Nature et Découvertes, great for unusual gifts. Iconic department store Galéries Lafyette and supermarket Monoprix are both located within the shopping centre.

Cap 3000 Mall also boasts 50 restaurants and cafes, many of which are located on the beachfront, offering a wide variety of food choices, including international favourites Five Guys and Starbucks.

As well as its diverse range of boutiques it is the location of the mall, right on the seafront that makes it a fantastic destination for a day out with teenagers. You can combine shopping with time on the beach: it’s possible to rent a SUP from Boardriders or enjoy a game of beach volleyball on the public court.

Cap 3000 Mall is a must-visit destination for teenagers looking for a fun and exciting shopping experience on the French Riviera.

How to get to Cap 3000

Address: Avenue Eugène Donadeï, 06700 Saint-Laurent-Du-Var

By car: Motorway A8, exit 49 Saint-Laurent-du-Var.  3 hours free parking

By train: Saint-Laurent-Du-Var station. When you arrive at the station, cross the footbridge and the mall is less than 5 minutes walk

By bus: Shopping mall stop: 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59, C58, 94, 200, 217, 232, 706, 707 Footbridge stop: 59, 94, 200, 400, 500 Railway station stop: 10, 42, 51, 52, 53, 59, 94 *Watch out! All these lines are in the process of changing number! Check the Lignes d’Azur website for up to date info*

Cap 3000 website

Market Shopping on the French Riviera

Outdoor markets are popular for shopping with teenagers on the French Riviera. One of the best markets to visit is the Friday market in Valbonne. The market offers a wide range of stalls selling everything from fresh produce to clothing and souvenirs, making it a fantastic destination for teenagers looking for unique and one-of-a-kind items.

Another good market on the French Riviera that will appeal to teens is to be found at Place du Général de Gaulle in Antibes. It takes place every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning and is predominantly clothes stalls.

Visiting an outdoor market on the French Riviera is not just about shopping, it’s also an opportunity to soak up the local culture and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of these bustling markets.

How to get to Valbonne

The best way to get to Valbonne is by car, using public transport is not a practical solution. The market spreads throughout the centre of the village. Park for free in Parking Pré des Arts. Despite this space being huge it gets very full in high season, so arrive early!

How to get to Antibes

Park in any of the Antibes centre car parks from where it is a short walk to the market. Place Gen de Gaulle is a 5 min walk from Antibes train station. There are also buses depending on where you are coming from. Check the Lignes d’Azur website for info.

Tips on how to get the most out of shopping with teenagers on the French Riviera

Opening Hours

You may have heard that shops in France aren’t open as long as they are elsewhere in the world, and rarely on Sundays. Well, fear not, these places to go shopping with teenagers on the French Riviera are pretty much all open on Sundays and many public holidays and they do not close at lunch! Shops tend to open at 10 am and close at 8 pm, with Sunday 11 am – 7 pm. (Nice Etoile closes earlier during the week at 7.30 pm). Restaurants in the malls stay open later. Obviously the markets are different as they only operate on certain days of the week and only in the mornings.

However notable exceptions are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and 1st May when everything is closed.

You can check exact times on the shopping centres’ websites or individual shops’ Google business listings.

VAT Tax-Free Shopping on the French Riviera

Non EU residents can enjoy tax-free shopping on the French Riviera. To participate in this scheme visitors who reside outside the European Union (EU) should look for stores displaying the “Tax-Free Shopping” logo. When making a purchase, you should request a tax refund form from the retailer and provide your passport as proof of non-EU residency.

The refund form should be completed and stamped by customs officials upon departure from France. The refund can be claimed either in cash at the airport or through a credit card refund service. To qualify for tax-free shopping you have to spend over 100.01€, you must be over 16 years old and some goods may not be eligible for a tax refund. Find out full details here.

Les Soldes – Sales Shopping on the Riviera

If you’re planning on going shopping with teenagers on the French Riviera, it’s worth knowing that there are two main sales periods in France. The winter sales usually start on the second Wednesday of January, while the summer sales begin on the last Wednesday of June. Both periods last for 4 weeks. Check the exact dates here.

Note that the start and finish dates of these sales are fixed by law, and all sellers must adhere to them. At other times of the year shops can have occasional promotions but not “soldes”. Whether hunting for designer pieces or vintage finds, these sales can be a great opportunity for teenagers to snag a bargain and Frenchify their wardrobes.

Related Reading

Top 10 Things to do With Older Kids on the Côte d’Azur

What to do in Paris With Teenagers

Fun Mountain Activities for Families Near Nice

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