Villefranche-sur-Mer Day Trip from Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

One of the easiest day trips you’ll ever take is to the beautiful bay town of Villefranche-sur-Mer from Nice. Like many of the towns along the Cote d’Azur, Villefranche drapes over the cliffs all the way down to the calm 1-kilometer beach, which is in many ways, nicer than Nice.

The deep bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer is conveniently located just 10-20 minutes away from Nice by train or bus. You wouldn’t know it if you’re overlooking Nice Harbour from the Colline du Château park - that’s because Villefranche-sur-Mer is hidden by the peak of Mont Boron which juts out from the coast. It’s only when you arrive that you can see the colorful spread of buildings along the harbor and the long stretch of beach.

The easiest way to get to Villefranche-sur-Mer from Nice is by train. The train takes 10 to 13 minutes, depending on whether you board at Nice-Ville or Nice Riquier. It drops you off just a few steps up from the beach and less than 10 minutes from the heart of town. It costs just a few euro, making it one of the cheapest things to do in the French Riviera.

The bus, route 15, is only slightly cheaper but takes longer and can get quite crowded. Unlike the train, the tracks of which cut a direct path to the town, the bus goes up and around Mont Boron to get you to town and stops up to 20 times. There are several stops on the road far above the beach and town that you can get off at to access Villefranche-sur-Mer. If you want to see the bay from above, the bus is a good option, but it can be a bit of an uphill hike if you’re taking the bus back to Nice. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).