The Instagram Influence

7 Nov

I can’t remember exactly when I first came across the Lemon Festival in Menton, but I know it was on Instagram; bright yellow lemons, blue skies, and a caption that said La Fête du Citron. I also spotted one crucial detail: it always landed around my birthday and, as someone who makes it a rule to be travelling on their birthday, that was all the excuse I needed. The idea sat in a saved folder for years until earlier this year, when I finally booked the trip for my partner and me. It turns out, the Instagram influence is real, and sometimes, it leads you somewhere wonderful.

La Fête du Citron

If you’re thinking about visiting Menton for La Fête du Citron, book early, it’s a major event and the seated tickets for the parade sell out fast. I didn’t hang about and managed to get us in but standing only.

The lemons are everywhere, from incredible sculptures in the park to themed shop windows. One artist had painted vivid, “out of this world” space scenes in citrus shades across the town, the creativity and colour are on another level, and of course, the limoncello lives up to the hype.

The atmosphere was joyful and relaxed, that perfect blend of Riviera charm and small-town warmth. We wandered through the old streets, stopped for gelato, and watched as locals and tourists alike snapped photos under canopies of lemon trees. It was every bit as Instagrammable as the grid promised, but better in real life: louder, warmer, more human.

A Day Trip Across the Border: Sanremo, Italy

One of the best parts of Menton is how close it sits to the Italian border so we took a short train ride to Sanremo for the day, the weather was glorious, especially for February. We strolled the promenade, explored local markets, and soaked up the mix of faded glamour and seaside ease.

It’s a place full of vintage style, with echoes of old Riviera elegance, it’s easy to imagine how lively it must be in summer with all the beach clubs, cafés, and restaurants buzzing. Visiting in the quieter season had its own kind of magic; calm, sunlit, and full of small discoveries.

A Stop in Monaco: Glamour Before the Lemons

Before arriving in Menton, we spent a night in Monaco to see a bit of the glitz; the casino, the Formula One circuit, and the harbour packed with superyachts. It’s impressive, no doubt, but it feels like every spare millimetre is being built on, the newness and noise of it all somewhat overshadow the history and charm of the old town.

By contrast, Menton’s old town felt timeless - pastel houses, terracotta roofs, and cobbled lanes tumbling towards the sea. It’s a place that balances beauty with authenticity, and after Monaco’s intensity, it was exactly what we needed.

Closing Musings

That trip reminded me why the Instagram influence doesn’t have to be a bad thing, sometimes, the places we save on a whim end up becoming real memories - sun, citrus, and all. The Lemon Festival in Menton was every bit as vibrant as the pictures promised, but it was the slower moments, a walk through the old town, a glass of limoncello in the sun, that made it unforgettable.

If you’re ever scrolling and stumble across a destination that sparks something, don’t just save it - go. My Instagram has so many saved destinations.

Follow @TravelChickFrom76 on Instagram for more real-world travel stories, honest reviews, and the occasional festival that looks even better beyond the filter.