Villefranche-sur-Mer quickly became one of my favorite cities in the world! This charming little fishing village is tucked between Nice and Monaco, with pastel buildings that spill down to the sparkling turquoise bay. It felt like heaven on earth! It ended up being one of my favorite stops on our trip. We loved it so much, we visited on 3 different days.
We initially only planned to spend one day here, but we loved it so much we rescheduled our ‘beach-club-day’ in Nice, to be a ‘beach-club-day’ in Villefranche sur Mer. We also spent the evening here after exploring Eze.
You can spend as much or as little time here as you want. But if you want to swim (especially if you have kids), we highly recommend Villefranche sur Mer! The water is a stunning clear-turquoise and the beach is more sand-like than Nice. We loved jumping off the rocks, paddleboarding, swimming, enjoying the various restaurants, eating alllllll the gelato & meandering the little narrow roads. We loved it so much we actually even began looking at real estate (anyone else do this when you fall in love with a new city?).
Itinerary
Villefranche-sur-Mer can easily be visited as a half-day trip, be we loved it so much we actually might make it our home base next time we visit the South of France. It’s the perfect place to slow down, grab a seaside lunch, enjoy gelato, and swim in the gorgeous water.
If you have the time, you can also spend a day at the beach club. We enjoyed lounging on the chairs, renting the paddleboard, floating in the ocean and dining at the restaurant. The online reviews for the beach club were mixed, but we honestly loved it and would go again in a heart beat!
Airport / Train Stations
✈ Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) – Only about 20–25 minutes away by car or taxi.
🚆 Villefranche-sur-Mer Train Station – Just a few stops from Nice Ville train station. The train ride is quick and scenic, hugging the coastline.
Transportation
- Train – The easiest and most scenic way to get there if you’re coming from Nice or Monaco.
- Bus – Buses run along the coast, but the train is faster and easier.
- Car – You can drive, but parking can be tricky during peak season, so train or taxi is usually less stressful.
- Walk – It’s a small city, so once you are here you can explore the entire place by foot.
Top Things to Do in Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Stroll the Old Town – The streets are narrow and colorful, with laundry hanging above and flowers cascading from balconies.
- Relax on Plage des Marinières – This is the town’s main beach, right along the bay, with calm waters perfect for swimming.
- Enjoy a Waterfront Lunch or Dinner – There are several great spots right along the water. Book ahead if you want a prime table with a view.
- Visit Rue Obscure – A fascinating 13th-century covered street that feels like stepping back in time.
- Explore the Citadel of St. Elmo – This 16th-century fortress offers amazing views of the bay and has a few free museums inside.
- Watch the Boats – Whether it’s yachts, fishing boats, or cruise tenders coming in, the harbor is always buzzing with activity.
- Gelato Stop – End your visit with a gelato as you watch the sunset — perfection. Caleb said the pistachio ice cream at Glacier Feracci was some of the best he has ever had.
Recommendations
- Bring a swimsuit and towel – Even if you only plan to dip your toes, the calm water is so inviting.
- Pair Villefranche with Eze or Monaco — It makes for a beautiful full-day Riviera itinerary.
Have you visited Villefranche sur Mer?
Or is it on your bucket list?
