Welcome to Bormes-les-Mimosas, a picturesque Provençal town where the beauty of nature and the charm of history converge in perfect harmony.! One of the most beautiful towns on the French Riviera and often overlooked by travelers.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that means we have a real hidden gem here on our hands!
As you journey through this captivating destination, you’ll discover a place where vibrant mimosa blooms, azure waters glisten, and medieval streets transport you back in time.
Get ready to explore this one of a kind place and get lost in a maze of colorful streets lined with dazzling flowers.
Bormes-les-Mimosas: A Hidden Gem On The French Riviera
The historic village of Bormes-les-Mimosas is located on a steep hill, with at the top of it a castle and an endless amount of small streets winding their way down the hill.
Bormes is a “city in bloom” and won the 2003 Gold Medal awarded by the Entente Florale (a competition for European towns & villages). Its name also stems from the fact that the city is lined with mimosa trees.
And any walk around the village will guarantee views of blooming trees, vines, and all sorts of beautiful flowers.
How to reach Bormes-les-Mimosas
Bormes-les-Mimosas is located a little more inland on the Côte d’Azur but still offers spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea. It’s about halfway between Toulon and Saint Tropez but unlike the towns closer to Nice the public transportation here is pretty much non existent and very inconvenient.
I’m a big believer that the best way to travel is by having your own car cause of all the freedom it comes with. Especially if you want to stay in the region of Saint Tropez and use it as a base to explore other places in the area then this is the way to go!
If you’re traveling to France by plane you should opt to land in Nice where you can then pick up your rental car and in less than 2 hours you’ll find yourself in Bormes-les-Mimosas.
🚘 Renting a car? I recommend getting a car from SunnyCars as they work with local car rental companies. Free cancellation up to 1 hour before rental start and all insurance is included (so no surprises when you pick up your car). Book your rental car here.
PARKING – You can park your car for free at Parking Saint François.
The best time to visit Bormes-les-Mimosas
Since Bormes-les-Mimosas is especially known for its beautiful blooms it would be a damn shame to miss them. We visited at the end of July and to be honest we were a little on the late side.
One of the most prominent flowers here is the bougainvillea which usually blooms from the end of May until halfway July in the South of France. There were tons of walls which were still covered in these stunning pink flowers but a lot of them were also dried up and they had already lost their pink color.
So if I had the chance to replan my trip to Bormes-les-Mimosas I would go in June.
Where to stay in Bormes-les-Mimosas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Le Mirage – For a boho chic luxury stay on the French Riviera. Prices from €291/night
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Eden Rose Grand Hotel BW Premier Collection – A dream come through if you love a swimming pool with a view. Prices from €204/night
⭐️⭐️ Hotel Restaurant Bellevue – A more budget friendly option in the heart of Bormes-les-Mimosas. Prices from €67/night
Best restaurants in Bormes-les-Mimosas
Le Jardin – Gourmet cuisine in the heart of the medieval village of Bormes-les-Mimosas. Dine underneath the oleander trees and their menu changes with the seasons to offer you the best the region has to offer.
Mimosa – Delicious fine cuisine served with a view.
Best things to do in Bormes-les-Mimosas
1. Wander through the cobblestoned streets
The best thing to do in Bormes-les-Mimosas is without a doubt simply strolling through the streets. The old historic part of the town is pretty much a maze of narrow winding streets, one even more colorful than the other.
If you’ve parked your car at Parking Saint François you simply need to walk up to the church and then follow the road that leads into the town. This is pretty much the main road through the historic town and from here you can either walk up or down to the left or right and discover the most picturesque streets on the French Riviera.
2. Admire the view over the historic town from Boulevard de la République
After visiting the towns historic centre take a stroll down Boulevard de République to admire a panoramic view over Bormes-les-Mimosas.
3. Visit the Museum of Art and History
The building housing the museum is on itself very impressive. And the art collection it contains is mostly 19th and 20th century artists working in the region just as ‘modern art’ started to develop around the beginning of the 20th century.
Entrance – Free
Opening hours – Closed on Monday. Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 12pm and 3pm to 7pm
4. Explore the nearby town of Grimaud
Grimaud has a history dating back to the Gallo-Roman age and because of its strategic position the castle of Grimaud dominated the whole area until the 17th century. Actually, what is now known as the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, used to be the Gulf of Grimaud until the end of the 19th century.
The most beautiful part of Grimaud are its old streets where the houses are covered in plants and flowers.
After exploring the town you can hike up to the old castle of Grimaud.
💡 TIP – During the summer months there will also be a couple of events hosted here. For instance an open-air cinema that returns every year with showings of Moulin Rouge, The Greatest Showman, West Side Story and La La Land.
🚗 PARKING – Parking Chateau Grimaud is an easy to get to parking lot and can either take you straight up to the castle or if you walk around you’ll arrive in the heart of Grimaud. Grimaud is about 45 minutes driving from Bormes-les-Mimosas.
Charlotte Lint is the founder of Charlies Wanderings.
Charlotte has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice.
She is an expert on writing efficient travel guides and finding unique places to stay.
Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.
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