Taking a day trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer from Nice is an absolute must-do on your trip through the French Riviera! The towns are so close together, but truly unique. Villefranche-sur-Mer is not huge, and while you could easily lean into the town and spend a full day here, you really could visit in just a few hours. I got up bright and early and spent about 2-3 hours here wandering around. Villefranche-sur-Mer is such a jewel of the French Riviera and is not to be missed!
Getting to Villefranche-sur-Mer
Going on a day trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer from Nice is incredibly quick and easy. The SNCF is the name of the trains that operate throughout the French Riviera and are very user-friendly. You’ll start your journey at the Nice-Ville train station in the heart of Nice. When you arrive, go up to any of the self-service SNCF ticket machines to buy your ticket. The machines are offered in a variety of languages, so no need to stress if you do not speak French. Simply work through the steps on the machine and then check the electronic board listing the departures and platform numbers. Going on a day trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer from Nice, you’re going to want to get on the train heading toward Ventimiglia.
The ride to Villefranche-sur-Mer is very quick, only two stops from the main train station in Nice. Don’t spend time getting too comfortable on the train, because only a short 6 minutes later, you’ll arrive!
The Beach
When you arrive in Villefranche-sur-Mer from Nice, simply exit the train and follow signs for the plage (beach). It will take you through a short tunnel under the tracks and let you out here, right at the entrance to the beach! The beach in Villefranche-sur-Mer was probably my favorite on my trip throughout the French Riviera! The water here was every shade of blue, and it was so picturesque to be able to lounge and take in views of the town. Like most beaches on the French Riviera, it’s rocky so definitely plan on bringing water shoes. Even though I was visiting in mid-March and it was too cold to go into the water, it was still pleasant enough to sit out and catch some rays! If you’re visiting in the summer, definitely plan on some beach time here (in my honor!).
If you want a birds-eye view of the beach, you can walk up the roads to a viewpoint, located here. It’s a bit of an uphill walk, but you’ll be rewarded with some killer views of the entire bay, the town, and the train chugging below!
The Waterfront
After some beach time, make your way into town by strolling along the waterfront. The street is lined with tons of picture-perfect restaurants, cafes, and shops. As you follow the road along the bend, you’ll then get really great photo-ops back of the beach and the surrounding hills. One of the most iconic restaurants in Villefranche-sur-Mer is Mayssa Beach. They have a huge outdoor patio to sit out and enjoy views of the harbor, beach, town, and mountains.
The Town of Villefranche-sur-Mer
As beautiful as the waterfront is, you’re not going to want to miss taking some time to explore “inland”. Duck into any of the side streets and make your way into town for some exploration. I loved how all of the buildings here were shades of yellow, orange, and red. The town isn’t huge and easy to navigate on foot. Simply start wandering through the stone streets, up and down beautiful staircases, and enjoy the view. When I visited in the morning, the town was still waking up so I felt like I had the whole neighborhood to myself!
Some of my favorite viewpoints in town were the famous Welcome Hotel, the Église Saint-Michel de Villefranche-sur-Mer, and the Place du Conseil. There are also a few places in town where the roads turn into short tunnels through other buildings, which make for both a cool experience and ultimate photo op! You can find a few of these on Rue Obscure, Rue du Poliu, and Rue Baron de Brès.
Water Views
On the edge of town were some of my favorite places to take in views of the Bay of Villefranche! At the Place du Counseil, continue along the Rue du Polieu as if you were walking in the direction back towards the train station. The road will turn into a wide pedestrian walkway with sweeping views. This was probably one of my favorite places in town, and where I took some time for a quick (shame-free) photo shoot. Because I visited in the morning, I had a ton of privacy and time to take time to get just the right shot. Just down the road there is a small staircase that will lead you back down to the road, which is also incredibly beautiful and another great photo-spot. It’s where the photo at the top of this page was taken!
Returning to Nice
When it’s time to head back to Nice, simply make your way back to the train station by entering at the same place as before (here, near the beach). Each train station has their own ticket machines so you can just show up and buy one whenever you’re ready. The train costs only €2,50 and is the same quick ride back. Only about 5-7 minutes, and two stops right back into the heart of Nice. It couldn’t be easier!
Read More: How to Spend One Day in Nice, France
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