Grasse climbs the first foothills of the Prealps, facing the sea glimpsed beyond Cannes. The perfume capital since its glove-makers began scenting their leather, it has kept its steep lanes, 17th- and 18th-century townhouses and, all around, hills dotted with bastides.
Deciding where to stay in Grasse means choosing between town, where you can manage without a car, and the hills, where you’ll find a pool and a view. We’ve selected each of the places in this guide one by one; all our picks are listed on our page of places to stay in Grasse.
Which neighbourhood to choose in Grasse
The municipality is large and very hilly: between two addresses, the elevation difference matters as much as the distance.
- The old town: the cathedral, Place aux Aires, perfumeries and museums, in a maze of pedestrian streets and steep lanes.
- The boulevards around the centre: Cours Honoré-Cresp and Boulevard du Jeu-de-Ballon, from which you can walk uphill to the old town.
- The residential hills: villas and bastides with gardens, pools and often the sea on the horizon; a car is essential.
- The hamlets: Plascassier, Magagnosc or Plan-de-Grasse, among former flower fields and suburban homes, for those seeking the countryside.
For a car-free weekend, stay in town; for a week in summer, a house with a pool in the hills quickly makes sense, with the coast only around 20 kilometres away.
In town, on Grasse’s terraces
Three guesthouses in town, where the terrace matters as much as the location.
Un palmier à sa fenêtre
Just one room, but a generous 40 m², with a terrace overlooking the garden and town: this house is all about intimacy. It’s on Boulevard Victor-Hugo, not far from the perfume museums. Book early, as there’s no other room.
Skylark Bed & Breakfast
Three rooms in the house and a separate cottage, for those who prefer to have their own entrance. The terrace looks out towards both the sea and the mountains, which sums up Grasse rather well. On Rue des Carrières, there’s free public parking.
les petites terrasses
On Avenue Frédéric-Mistral, this guesthouse has an outdoor pool, a garden and air-conditioned rooms—welcome when summer heats up the façades. Some rooms open onto a patio, while others look out towards the sea in the distance: specify your preference when booking.
Houses with pools around town
Further from the centre, the houses offer more space. The following three have a pool, garden and free private parking, useful outside the old town.
Bastide Saint-Honorat Boutique Guest house
Five suites facing the sea, a saltwater pool and a Mediterranean garden: on Chemin des Acacias, this bastide has the feel of a small boutique hotel. With just five suites, it retains the atmosphere of a private home, ideal for a stay for two.
Maison Casasand Maison d'hôtes de charme
Rated four stars, this guesthouse on Boulevard d’Estramousse combines a pool, a garden and air-conditioned rooms. Its studio with kitchenette and terrace suits longer stays, or anyone who likes to have a simple dinner after a day at the beach.
La Colombière
An outdoor pool, garden, terrace and air-conditioned rooms, plus family studios with kitchens: this is the most family-friendly place in this guide. It’s on Boulevard du Président-Kennedy; couples looking for a more intimate stay may prefer a smaller house.
What to see in Grasse
Start your visit in the old town, designated a Town of Art and History, where the tourist office is on Rue de l’Oratoire. Walk up to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-du-Puy, dating from the 13th century, which holds three paintings by Rubens and The Washing of the Feet by Fragonard, a local son, then head back down to Place aux Aires and its market.
The International Perfume Museum, on Boulevard du Jeu-de-Ballon, tells the story of perfume across five continents; it’s open every day except the first Monday of certain months. Three perfume houses—Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard—open their workshops to the public.
Villa Fort France, built in 1930, unfolds across terraced gardens. In Mouans-Sartoux, the MIP Gardens showcase the plants used in perfumery, from centifolia roses to jasmine. Since 2018, the perfume-making skills of the Pays de Grasse have been listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
Nearby
- Mougins: a hilltop village on the road to Cannes (our places to stay in Mougins).
- Gourdon and the Loup Gorges: a village perched on the edge of a cliff, reached by winding roads.
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Vence: ramparts, galleries and Matisse’s Rosary Chapel (our places to stay in Vence).
When to visit Grasse
Grasse’s calendar follows the flowers. Every May, ExpoRose fills the streets, squares and fountains of the centre with cut roses over a long weekend; it’s also the season for picking centifolia roses. In early August, the Jasmine Festival brings the old town to life for three days, with a flower parade and street performances.
Book early for both events. Spring and autumn are best for exploring a hilly town; summer is hot, making a pool especially welcome, while mild winter weather is ideal for museums.
Getting there and getting around
Grasse railway station is served by TER trains running down to Cannes and the coast. It’s below the centre; urban buses from the station run uphill to the old town. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is around 35 minutes away by road, and coaches connect it with Grasse bus station.
Once there, explore the old town on foot: its lanes are narrow and often pedestrianised. For the hills, hamlets and hinterland, a car is still essential. Find more stops on our Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur page.
Grasse is included in our guide to where to stay in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. For comparison, read our guides to where to stay in Cannes, on the coast below, where to stay in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, another village in the hinterland, and where to stay in Menton, near Italy.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to questions you may have when planning a stay in Grasse.
Which is the best neighbourhood to stay in Grasse?
For a first stay without a car, choose the town itself: the old town and the surrounding boulevards put the cathedral, museums and perfumeries within a few minutes’ walk, despite the hills. The residential hills suit those looking for a pool, garden and sea view, with a car. Hamlets such as Plascassier and Magagnosc are for those who enjoy the countryside.
Can you stay in Grasse without a car?
Yes, as long as you stay in town. The station has TER trains to Cannes and the coast, and urban buses run uphill from the station to the centre. Coaches also connect the airport at Nice Côte d’Azur with the bus station. The old town is best explored on foot, with comfortable shoes. For a house in the hills or the hilltop villages, a car is almost essential.
How long do you need to visit Grasse?
One day is enough for the old town, the cathedral and the International Perfume Museum, but two or three nights let you enjoy the town at a more relaxed pace. Set aside half a day for a perfume house and another for the MIP Gardens in Mouans-Sartoux. With a week, Grasse makes a good base for Mougins, Vence, the Loup Gorges and the beaches of Cannes.
When can you see the fragrant flowers in Grasse?
May is the month of the centifolia rose, picked in the fields of the Pays de Grasse, and of ExpoRose, which fills the streets and fountains of the centre with cut roses every year over a long weekend. In early August, the Jasmine Festival brings the old town to life for three days, with a flower parade. For the rest of the year, the MIP Gardens and Villa Fort France showcase the plants used in perfumery.
Is Grasse suitable for families?
Yes, especially if you stay in a house with a pool and parking. In this guide, one bed and breakfast offers family studios with kitchens, while a four-star guesthouse has a studio with a kitchenette, practical for a longer stay. The steep streets of the old town are difficult to navigate with a pushchair, so consider bringing a baby carrier instead. Check the conditions at each property before booking.
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