The Côte d’Azur is undoubtedly one of those places where everything is simply beautiful. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular vacation destinations in France. It’s also worth checking out the smaller towns there, such as Villefranche-sur-Mer near Nice.
The perfect day trip from Nice
If you’re feeling a little fed up with Nice, you can spend a relaxing day trip here. Personally, Nice isn’t really my thing either. Somehow, it’s too much of a city, too much street noise, too much glitz, and too many pebbles for a brilliant azure Mediterranean Sea that really deserves a fine sandy beach. But Villefranche-sur-Mer is different.
Villefranche-sur-mer: From Nice by train
So whenever I’m in Nice on business, I always think: Just get out of there! Because paradise is just a stone’s throw away. If you’re traveling by car, you’re mobile anyway, but on the Côte d’Azur, it’s even better to take the train.
From the steam locomotive for tourists (that’s still on my to-do list, because it’s a real experience) to the regular regional express, you’ll find many options to travel by train. The TER (a regional express train) covers all the towns on the Côte d’Azur, including picturesque views of the mountains and the sea: get on, get off, enjoy.
Villefranche-sur-Mer is just about a five-minute drive from the Riquier train station and ten minutes from Nice’s main train station. There aren’t really any major sights in Villefranche-sur-Mer—and that’s exactly why I think it’s perfect.
Villefranche-sur-mer at the Côte d’Azur
A sleepy mountain village with winding old town streets, a few cafés and a small bay with the clearest sea water, so turquoise blue it hurts your eyes.
And these colors – house facades in the most beautiful shades, in addition blue sky, the sea, the palm trees… What more do you need?
By chance, I then bursted into the middle of a beginning village festival. Which added up to the laid-back french vibe all around.
In the end, I didn’t want to leave at all—and I would have loved to keep driving in the other direction.
Boat trip to Villefranche-sur-mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat from Nice
If you don’t feel like taking the train and are short on time, you can also visit Villefranche-sur-Mer by boat. There’s a one-hour boat ride from Nice where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the bays of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat!
Sightseeing boat from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer and back*
How to get to Villefranche-sur-Mer
You can reach Villefranche-sur-Mer from Nice by TER in five to ten minutes. From Nice Riquier, a one-way ticket costs Getting from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer is a breeze! You can hop on a TER train that gets you there in just five to ten minutes. If you’re starting from Nice Riquier, a one-way ticket is only 3 euros, and it’s easy to grab one directly from the ticket machine at the station. The Villefranche train station is perfectly located right by the water—so once you step off, you’ll be greeted by stunning views of the bay. For schedules, current prices, and the full route, just check out SNCF Connect.
