Nice, Antibes & St Paul de Vence Shore Excursion from Villefranche

This full day Villefranche shore trip is a good option for guests who have already visited Monaco and Monte Carlo, since it covers other highlights of the Riviera: Nice, Cap d'Antibes and Saint Paul de Vence. There is also free time for lunch at one of the stops.

After meeting your driver-guide at the pier in Villefranche, you travel along the old port of Nice and around Castle Hill before the longest beach on the French Riviera comes into view. Once in Nice, you drive down La Promenade des Anglais, the palm tree lined street that parallels the beach, before stopping in the Old Town. You have free time to walk through Cours Saleya, the flower market that dates back to 1861 and became the world's first wholesale flower market by 1897, shipping carnations across Europe (closed Mondays, when a flea market takes over the same square).

Leaving Nice, you continue along the coastline to Cap d'Antibes, considered the most exclusive area of the Cote d'Azur. You will see the private port of billionaires and walk past their massive luxury yachts. There is time to stroll the 16th century ramparts along the seafront, part of the fortification work overseen by the military engineer Vauban, who visited Antibes in 1679 and 1682 to reinforce its defenses. The town's history goes back much further still: it was founded as Antipolis by Greek colonists from Massalia (modern Marseille) around the 6th century BC, later becoming the Roman settlement of Civitas Antipolitana. The Chateau Grimaldi, which overlooks the town, once served as a painting studio for Picasso. Free time is available at one of the stops for lunch (not included).

Later in the day you visit the hilltop Provencal town of Saint Paul de Vence. Wander its cobblestone main street, medieval walls, and art galleries and boutiques, then stop by La Colombe d'Or, the inn that opened as a simple cafe in 1920 and became a hotel in 1930. During and after the Second World War, artists including Picasso, Matisse, Miro and Chagall are said to have traded paintings for room and board here, and the terrace and dining room still display original works by Miro, Matisse, Picasso, Braque, Chagall and Calder today.

At the end of this popular Villefranche shore excursion, you return to the port.

• During the Grand Prix Events there is a 50% supplement and it is not possible to visit Monaco or Monte Carlo from June 4-7, 2026. Please contact us if you are interested in a tour during this period.