Porquerolles

8 Best Places to Visit in the French Riviera

"The trio of Porquerolles, Port-Cros, and Le Levant are dubbed Îles d’Or, or Golden Islands. They're about two hours from Saint-Tropez and scattered off the coast of Hyères, but they have more in common with the Caribbean than their celeb-frequented neighbors. Croissant-shaped Porquerolles is the largest of the three and the most accessible, since it has a few studios and small hotels. A sailboat is the best way to get here — and the best place to sleep, too. Coastal loop trails cut through Aleppo pines on the car-free island, where you can hike or bike to beaches like Plage Notre Dame, which has a reputation of being one of the most beautiful in Europe." - Lane Nieset Lane Nieset Lane Nieset is a travel writer from Miami who has lived in France for the past decade. From Paris, she covers a mix of lifestyle, wine, food, and design for publications including Food & Wine, Condé N