Lemon Festival in Menton: dates, tickets and how to get there from Nice

Updated on 24 September 2026

The Lemon Festival® is one of the most photogenic events in the south of France: floats, gardens and facades covered with lemons and oranges for two weeks in February. It takes place in Menton, right next to the Italian border, and is easy to reach from Nice. Here are the 2027 dates, prices and the best way to get there.

Lemon Festival 2027 dates

The 93rd edition runs from Saturday 13 to Sunday 28 February 2027: a good two weeks of festivities built around three highlights.

• Golden Fruit parade: Sundays 14, 21 and 28 February 2027, 2.30-4.00 pm, along the Promenade du Soleil;
• Night parade: Thursdays 18 and 25 February 2027, from 9 pm, same route but illuminated floats;
• Citrus sculpture exhibition: daily in the Bioves gardens throughout the festival;
• Gardens of Light: the same gardens after dark.

Full programme and times: official Lemon Festival website (French).

Exhibitions and parades: what you will see

• The Bioves gardens: home of the festival since 1936, filled with monumental citrus structures. Some sets use close to fifteen tonnes of fruit;
• The parades: floats pulled along the Promenade du Soleil, with brass bands and folk groups;
• The orchid show and winter garden, at the Palais de l'Europe;
• The craft market, also at the Palais de l'Europe.

Tickets and 2027 prices

Booking in advance is strongly recommended: grandstand seats sell out fast on parade days. Prices published by the organiser for 2027:

• Parade, grandstand seat: €30 adult, €25 group, €15 reduced (6-12);
• Parade, standing area: €16 adult, €15 group, €8 reduced, free for under-6s;
• Gardens of Light: €16 adult, €14 group, €8 reduced;
• Orchid show and winter garden: €5 adult, €3 group, €2 reduced;
• Thursday evening package (night parade grandstand seat + exhibition): €37 adult, €30 group, €18 for children aged 6-12.

For the citrus sculpture exhibition, the official website announces free entry in the Bioves gardens, while its ticketing page sells an « exhibition » ticket at €12 for adults (including the orchid show and winter garden). When in doubt, check the ticketing page before you go: the information is indicative and may change.

Tickets online via the official ticketing page, or at the tourist office (Palais de l'Europe, 8 avenue Boyer), open daily during the festival 9 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm, until 9 pm on Gardens of Light and night parade evenings.

Getting from Nice to Menton

• Train, the easiest option: TER and ZOU! trains link Nice-Ville to Menton in 35-40 minutes (around 60 departures a day, fares from €8). Menton station is 200 metres from the Bioves gardens and the parade route. More tips in our Nice station and train guide;
• Bus: Zou! line 600 leaves from Nice's port district and reaches Menton in about an hour along the coast. Line 80 runs via the motorway (about 75 minutes);
• Car: A8 motorway, exit 59. On parade Sundays the city opens free car parks with shuttles: P1 (motorway exit, shuttle to the bus station) and P3 (Val d'Anaud stadium). Arrive in Menton before 11 am to use the free signed car park near exit 59. On Thursday nights, P2 (Rondelli stadium) opens from 5 pm. P6 (Garavan port) is free 10 am-9 pm on the three parade Sundays, 25 minutes on foot.

Our tips for enjoying the festival

• Book online before you leave, especially for Sunday parade grandstand seats;
• Arrive early: before 11 am on Sundays, before 6 pm on Thursdays, as the organiser advises;
• Get in on time: no entry is possible 15 minutes after a parade starts;
• Leave dogs at home: they are not allowed along the parade route or in the Palais de l'Europe;
• Pair day and evening: the gardens by day, then a parade or the Gardens of Light at night;
• Plan the trip back: late trains run frequently, but the station is very busy on parade evenings.

After the Lemon Festival: the Riviera

Menton deserves more than a day: gardens, old town and seafront. Our guides to extend the trip:

• Menton from Nice: sightseeing, gardens and train;
• Monaco and Monte-Carlo from Nice;
• Calendar of major Riviera events;
• Day trips from Nice;
• Things to do in Nice.

Frequently asked questions