Nice and beyond
Nice is the fifth largest city in France. It's a beautiful city, and there is a lot to see and do there.
Nice is only about 10 minutes away from Villefranche by train. The train costs about $7 one way. The stop is called Nice-Ville. The train station is a 15-minute walk to Place Massena, the Old Town, and the promenade along the water (Promenade des Anglais). Walk straight down the wide, main street from the train station, Avenue Jean Medecin. Just put in walking directions for Place Massena.
You can also Uber to Nice for about $20-25. You could put Cours Saleya (market), Place Massena (stores), or Ruhl Plage (beach) for your destination.
Nice has a great daily market on a pedestrian street called Cours Saleya.
There is also a Fragonard store on Cours Saleya. Fragonard is the "iconic" south of France perfume maker, but they sell soaps and lotions and bags as well. One of my fave stores.
There is an even better evening craft market in Cours Saleya.
Cours Saleya runs parallel with the main promenade (Promenade des Anglais) that runs along the beach.
Place Massena (below) with its statue of Apollo and the Fountain of the Sun is surrounded by cafes and shops.
From the Place, one direction takes you into Old Nice, another direction takes you to some good shopping streets, a third direction takes you to the beach, and Avenue Jean Medecin leads to the train station.
The Promenade des Anglais is the path that runs above the beach. It's always full of walkers, runners, bikes and roller blades, and you can sit in one of the iconic "chaise bleu" (blue chairs) and watch the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
There are many beach clubs along the Promenade. Beach Clubs that we've used and can recommend:
- Ruhl Plage
- Le Temps d'Un Été
- Opera
- Beau Rivage
- Le Galet
They have dancing on Wednesday nights in the square in front of the Palais de Justice. It's just a couple of blocks over from Cours Saleya. Put in walking directions for Palais de Justice.
There's also dancing on the beach at Opera Beach Club after 8 pm.
Some of our favorite restaurants in Nice: (Google for directions)
- Casa Leya, Cours Saleya
- La Pizza Cresci, Cours Saleya
- La Favola Italian, Cours Saleya
- Latitude, the rooftop bar or Elaio, the restaurant at Le Meridien hotel, Promenade des Anglais
- The restaurant at Castel Beach Club
- Cose Cosi Italian, 10 rue St-Gaetan
- Le Maquis, 14 rue de l'Abbaye
Nearby Towns
Eze
- Eze is a "village perché," a perched village built high up on a mountain where people have lived since the 2nd century BC. Expect to walk up lots of hills and steps, but the views are spectacular and there are some fun shops. Uber is the easiest way to get there.
Other nearby towns that we love:
- St-Paul-de-Vence (artist town)
- Cannes (famous film festival)
- Grasse (perfume town)
- Biot (glass making)
- Mougins
- Gourdon
Antibes
- A beautiful coastal town with its Medieval ramparts, an Old Town full of galleries, shops, and restaurants, a beach, and a port. Antibes is also home to the Musée Picasso.
Menton
Menton is the last town on the French Riviera before you cross over into Italy. About a half hour train ride from Villefranche, Menton is known for its yearly lemon festival, its quaint Old Town, beaches, and a cemetery with a view from on high.
Further day trips: (about 2-3 hours via train)
- Arles (Van Gogh)
- Cassis
- St-Tropez
- Nimes
- Les Baux
- St-Agnes