Perfect Day Trip from Nice: Walk to Villefranche-sur-Mer | French Riviera Insider Tips

Looking for a perfect day trip from Nice? ☀️🚶‍♀️ Join Anja & Aila for one of the most beautiful coastal walks on the French Riviera as they hike from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer, one of the prettiest seaside villages around – with dreamy beaches, colorful boats, and amazing food along the way. They’ll explore secret spots, visit a historic citadel, and reveal where the Rolling Stones hid out in the ‘70s and recorded 🎶. It’s the French Riviera at its best! 🌊🍷

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🎥 ========== Featured in This Video ========== 🎥

🌟 Destination: Villefranche-sur-Mer 🌟
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/wfJGg1MKrcpAJ7sT7

PLACES WE’RE SHOWING IN THIS VIDEO (chronological order):

Boulangerie Maritime (Bakery)
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/duxzThuLcXPkwBhk6
11 Rue Lascaris, 06300 Nice

🛳️ Boat trip to Villefranche 🛳️

Trans Côte d’Azur: “Promenade Côtière” (Coastal Cruise)

Coastal Cruise

Ferry runs daily (except on Monday), from mid-February to early November, departing in Nice at 11 AM and 3 PM.
1-hour trip: € 22.50 per adult (2025)
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/sqyBFS2jnLXsyyNJ6 (= ticket booth; ferry starts a few steps from here)

The following company also offers boat trips from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer (but we haven’t tried it yet!):

Villefranche Excursion

Coastal Path “Sentier du Littoral”, starting point in Nice:
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/24pjqosWfXQ1tg2R7

🍴 Restaurant 🍴
La Corderie
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/YgcXJ9tENdRU39i19
20 Quai de la Corderie, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer

VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER:

Citadel
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/k746CBomeYJaNU6Q7

Accueil – La Citadelle – VSM

Rue Obscure
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/DbLr42LbaAGinQ3a8

Beach “Plage Les Marinières”
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/63b21XMQkFjbDPuL9

Villa Nellcôte
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/XHyM31n2C7ZUS2ij7

b/w photos of the Rolling Stones: repros from book “La Villa” by Dominique Tarlé, courtesy of La Galerie de l’Instant, Nice

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📌 What’s in this video:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Breakfast at Nice Port
01:29 Coastal Walk to Villefranche-sur-Mer
05:55 Lunch Break, Riviera-Style
07:04 Exploring Villefranche’s Old Town
09:18 Beach & The Rolling Stones Villa
10:48 Train Ride Back

[Music] just a stones through from Nice VR might be the prettiest little town on the Kazur in this video we’ll show you how to spend the perfect day there with a few extra ideas you might not have thought of like a walk along a gorgeous coastal path to get there whether you’re coming by boat train bus car or on foot this is one trip you don’t want to miss if you’re staying in Nice anna and I are kicking off our day at the Port of Nice super easy to get to with tramline too and what better way to start a sunny morning than grabbing a quick breakfast right here so we finally get to show you the Bulimar team a spot we’ve been meaning to try for ages it’s just a few steps behind the port you’ll find the exact location linked in the description below and also at the end of this video we’ll show you a handy little map so you can follow our exact route so we each grab the coffee and a pastry but you could totally go for something hardier too there’s no seating inside but that’s no big deal with the kind of weather we get here in Nice it’s almost always perfect for sitting outdoors it was only a small breakfast because we’re going to have lunch in VR right time to hit the road on the way back to the port we’re passing this cool street art by local artist Moya and Ma’s Patisri which we already showed you in our video about the port district and seriously how gorgeous is Nie’s port it’s calm it’s quiet it’s basically a living postcard take your time strolling along the waterfront heading east past those colorful little wooden fishing boats called Guanu fun fact they named that because both ends of the boat come to a point [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] we’ve now reached the eastern tip of the port at Bulva Fron Pilat if you look across to the other side that’s where the small fairies leave for Khan Monaco Sanrope but also to VR so if you’d rather skip the walk and see our destination from the water you can hop on one of those boats though just so you know you don’t get off in VR we’re sticking to our plan and doing this one on foot and trust us it’s a gorgeous walk pretty soon you’ll pass the first little beach the iconic Leona restaurant and a few more tiny hidden beaches before hitting the actual coastal [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] path behind us is a really cool beach we’ve actually done a video about it already so finish watching this video and then watch Hidden Beaches a few minutes down the road at Jardan Felix Reno you’ll find the start of the Santel the path that takes you all the way to VR it’s super easy to spot just follow the yellow and red stripes painted along the way and after just a few steps you’re right down at sea level and that’s pretty much where you’ll stay for most of the hike as you circle around the big hill next to us muron it’s about a 6 km walk one way depending on where you start and should take around 2 hours at a relaxed [Music] pace after rounding captain you’ll spot palink ahead and not long after it’s time to leave sea level for a bit this coastal pass is a bit tricky don’t go this way it’s a dead end you have to watch out for this sign and then yes you have to face the steep stairs let’s go and that was just the first flight there’s more to come quick tip avoid doing this hike in July or August unless it’s for sunrise or sunset it’s not super difficult if you’re wearing proper shoes but this part definitely had us working up a sweat once you’re up at street level the famous Basarnish follow the road for about 800 [Music] m after we walked along the road several hundred meters we finally go down to sea level all right same procedure as before but this time we’re heading down the stairs while the path earlier was nicely paved this last stretch is a little [Music] trickier pretty soon we’re greeted by the stunning peninsula of Sanjon Capira marking the entrance to the famous Bay of Bil Fr and well something that feels totally out of place anna and I need to pick up the pace we’ve got a lunch reservation to [Music] catch before we actually reach town we arrive at the little port and that’s why we’ve booked a table at La Corduri several friends recommended this spot so let’s find out what it’s all about the terrace under that big plane tree is absolute heaven even though it’s right by the road luckily hardly any cars come through here quick look at the menu and we go for a refreshing glass of rosé and a fizzy strawberry apparatus and before we can even take a sip our foods are already here cheers to an amazing walk and everything this day still has in store for us lunch looks fantastic fish and chips local style for Anna grilled sardines with chickpea fries and for me homemade ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach so good time to get moving again but wait if you want to do the same walk as we did today we really recommend you to wear proper shoes like trainers not sandals like me today and now we’re finally getting closer to the village [Music] we actually wanted to keep following the path along the water but turns out it’s closed today no worries though all paths lead to VR’s Citadel so we’ll just loop around and head for the entrance from the other [Music] side this 16th century fortress the Sitadel Sant Elm still keeps watch over the bay and the best part is it’s completely free to visit built from 1554 onwards to stop future attacks from the sea it later served as a military base these days it’s home to the town hall museums exhibition spaces and even an open air theater that hosts movie nights in summer and when you step outside the old town stretches out below you a maze of little secrets quiet corners and just as photogenic as or S devos the main street in Vil Franch’s old town runs parallel to the waterfront and it’s packed with little restaurants cafes and boutiques selling clothes souvenirs and local bits and pieces [Music] one spot you have to check out is Ru Obscure literally dark street a hidden atmospheric passage between the shopping street and the seafront it feels like stepping straight back into medieval VR all the way to the 14th century from there it’s just a few more steps down to the waterfront down here it’s restaurant after restaurant with La Mer Jen being the most famous one grabbing lunch or dinner along the K absolute [Music] heaven and now we’re finally getting to one of the best bits of VR it’s beach pl de Marinier unlike the Pebbley Beach in Nice this one actually has kind of soft sand and calm clear waters it’s a local favorite too lots of people from Nice head here for a relaxed day by the [Music] sea all right let’s quickly buy our train tickets for the ride back to Nice before we squeeze in one last little surprise snf connect app going from to Nville €350 per person travel time about 7 to 8 minutes and there’s a train every 15 minutes or so during the day the train station is just behind the beach but before we go let’s walk over to the far end of the bay towards Capira that’s where you’ll find Villanut back in the early 70s the Rolling Stones moved into tanks exile here in VR and Keith Richards rented the villa behind the big gates they even recorded part of their legendary album Exile on Main Street right here and yep fans still swing by today just to sneak a look through the gate so we’ve seen plenty for one day time to head back to the beach after the station and catch our train home before we sign off here’s a little recap of where we went today have fun putting your own spin on it when you give it a go [Music] hope you enjoyed tagging along on our day trip if you did you know the drill give it a thumbs up drop us a comment if you like and don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already see you next week with more from the Riviera