Escaping the Eurozone: Weekend Getaways from the South of France

Living in the South of France offers incredible access to weekend getaways. While the convenience of the Eurozone allows us to travel across borders smoothly, exploring European destinations that have retained their distinct currencies can offer unique cultural perspectives. Despite the expansion of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), several European Union (EU) member states and nearby neighbors continue to use their own national currencies (European Central Bank, 2023).

If you are planning a quick Friday-to-Sunday escape from the French Riviera, preparing your travel wallet is straightforward. Before heading to the airport or hopping onto a train, you can swap your Euros for local cash at one of the five convenient Globex physical locations across the region—situated in Antibes, Beausoleil, Menton, Nice Ville, and Nice Riquier (Globex, n.d.).

Top Non-Euro Weekend Destinations

 

1. Prague, Czechia I Currency: Czech Koruna (CZK)

Prague is easily reachable via direct flights from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. The Czech Republic has chosen to delay its adoption of the Euro, maintaining its monetary sovereignty via the Czech Koruna (Myant, 2017). Walking through the historic Old Town feels like stepping into a fairy tale, and your travel expenses will generally stretch much further here than on the Riviera.

 

2. Budapest, Hungary I Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF)

Another fantastic city break from Nice is Budapest. Renowned for its thermal baths and spectacular architecture along the Danube, Hungary continues to utilize the Hungarian Forint. Research indicates that maintaining national currencies allows Central European economies a degree of independent exchange rate flexibility during regional economic shifts (Sinn, 2014).

 

 

3. Zurich or Geneva, Switzerland I Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)

If you prefer a scenic train ride directly from the South of France or a short flight, Switzerland is right on our doorstep. As a non-EU nation, Switzerland relies on the Swiss Franc, a global safe-haven currency (Baltensperger & Kugler, 2017). It is a premium destination for world-class dining, lake views, and mountain air.

 

 

4. Copenhagen, Denmark I Currency: Danish Krone (DKK)

A quick flight north from Nice takes you to Copenhagen, the epitome of Scandinavian style. Denmark holds a unique legal “opt-out” status from the Eurozone under the Maastricht Treaty, choosing to peg the Danish Krone closely to the Euro through the ERM II mechanism instead (Marcussen, 2005). This gives travelers price stability while still preserving the local charm of handling colorful Krone banknotes along the iconic Nyhavn canal.

 

5. Krakow, Poland I Currency: Polish Zloty (PLN)

Poland is another prime Central European destination that can be reached easily for a long weekend. While Poland is legally bound by its EU accession treaty to eventually adopt the Euro, public and political consensus has historically favored retaining the Polish Zloty (Sodupe & Benito, 2019). Visiting Krakow’s historic Rynek Główny (Main Market Square) allows you to maximize your budget, as the Zloty offers excellent purchasing power for dining and accommodation compared to the South of France.

 

6. Bucharest, Romania I Currency: Romanian Leu (RON)

For a weekend trip filled with rich architectural history, Bucharest (“The Paris of the East”) is an emerging favorite. Romania’s path toward Euro integration has faced structural delays, meaning the country relies entirely on the Romanian Leu (National Bank of Romania, 2024). From the massive Palace of the Parliament to the trendy cafes of the Old Town, cash is highly appreciated for small daily purchases like local pastries and museum entries.


Getting Your Currency Sorted

While digital payments are common across Europe, economic studies emphasize that carrying local physical currency remains vital for small vendors, public transport tokens, and tipping norms in Central Europe (Eurostat, 2022).

You can simply visit a local Riviera Globex branch before you depart. The five branches provide fast over-the-counter currency transactions:

Beausoleil: Located right next to Monaco on Boulevard de la République.

Address: 13 Boulevard de la République, 06240 Beausoleil

 

Antibes: Conveniently situated on Avenue Robert Soleau near the train station.

Address: 22 Avenue Robert Soleau, 06600 Antibes

 

Menton: Perfect for those near the Italian border on Avenue Boyer.

Address: 12 Avenue Boyer, 06500 Menton

 

Nice Centre & Nice Riquier: Two key hubs serving the city center of Nice.

Address Nice Centre: 31 Rue d’Angleterre, 06000 Nice

Address Nice Niquier: 22 Boulevard Pierre Sola, 06300 Nice

 

Exchanging your money locally before you step on the plane ensures peace of mind, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the destination the moment you arrive.

Globex in the center of Antibes

Globex in the heart of Menton.

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References

Baltensperger, E., & Kugler, P. (2017). The historical origins of the safe haven status of the Swiss franc. Swiss National Bank Working Papers, No. 2017-02.

European Central Bank. (2023). Our money: Which countries use the euro? Retrieved from https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/intro/html/index.en.html

Eurostat. (2022). Consumer habits and cash usage in the European Union. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Globex. (n.d.). Branches – Globex. Retrieved from https://globexfrance.com/branches/

Myant, M. (2017). Why the Czech Republic is not in the euro area. European Economic and Political Studies, 4(2), 115-132.

Sinn, H. W. (2014). The Euro Trap: On bursting bubbles, budgets, and beliefs. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.