Ah, Nice. The capital of the French Riviera has been close to my heart since I studied there when I was 18. It’s a great place to base yourself if you’re visiting the Cote d’Azur, and while you’re in town it’s easy to see the surrounding area. If you’re curious, today I bring you A Lady in London’s guide to the best day trips from Nice.
Day Trips from Nice
There are so many day trips from Nice that I could spend a lifetime writing about them. But there are some that stand out, whether for their hilltop scenery or beachfront beauty.
I’ve done all of the day trips on this list (some of them many times), so I can personally vouch for how enjoyable they are. I hope it helps you choose which ones are best for your travel style and interests.
How to Take a Day Trip from Nice
Most of these day trips can be done by train, as there’s a railway line that runs along the Cote d’Azur and connects Nice to places like Cannes, Monaco, and Antibes.
The hilltop villages can be accessed by bus (or car if you want to drive), so it’s easy to get to them as well.
If you want to see more than one place at a time, some of these trips can be combined. For example, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat are right next to each other and make an easy day trip from Nice.
Similarly, Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Tourrettes-sur-Loup are close together and can both be visited in a day from Nice.
1. Monaco
Monaco is one of the few surviving principalities in Europe. This diminutive country on the Mediterranean has a famous palace, tall buildings cascading down steep slopes to the waterfront, and a marina.
Historic streets and gardens surround the hilltop area around the palace, and down by the waterfront, glitzy Monte Carlo is home to one of the most famous casinos in the world.
Monaco is a great place to spend a day watching the changing of the guard, visiting the botanical gardens, seeing the casino, and taking in the scenery.
2. Antibes
Antibes is one of my favorite day trips from Nice. This seaside town on the Mediterranean has everything from beaches to shops and museums.
I particularly like the Picasso Museum in Antibes, which is set in the former the Chateau Grimaldi and has a great collection of the artist’s work.
Antibes is also home to 16th-century ramparts and a star-shaped fort with views over the marina. As if that’s not enough, the town has pretty streets and a market to explore.
3. Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is another of the best day trips from Nice. It’s a beautiful seaside village in a bay between the Cap Ferrat peninsula and the Cap de Nice.
The vibrant old town cascades down a hill, culminating in a waterfront packed with restaurants looking out on classic pointu boats floating on the water.
Villefranche-sur-Mer was once more of a sleepy fishing village than a travel destination, but now it attracts visitors who come to see its narrow streets, colorful buildings, and pretty beaches.
4. Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is one of my favorite day trips from Nice, not least because this walled medieval village has some of the prettiest streets in Provence.
Set atop a hill, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is known for art. There are modern and contemporary museums and galleries dotted throughout the village and surrounding area, and it’s a great place to indulge your inner culture lover.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence also has stunning views of the sea. If you can tear your eyes away from the paintings and sculptures, they’re worth taking in.
5. Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer is right on the Mediterranean. The town itself is small, but it packs a lot into a compact area. From beaches to squares, markets to museums, Beaulieu-sur-Mer has a lot to do on a day trip from Nice.
The town is particularly well-known for being home to Villa Kerylos. It was built by French archaeologist Theodore Reinach in the Ancient Greek style in the early 20th century.
Villa Kerylos has a great collection of artifacts, frescoes, art, furniture, and mosaics inside.
6. Cannes
Famous for its annual film festival, Cannes is one of the most glamorous places on the French Riviera. It’s one of the best day trips from Nice if you like big sandy beaches, good restaurants, luxury hotels, and shopping.
There’s a lot to see and do in Cannes, including the Allee des Etoiles. The town’s equivalent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you can see the handprints of celebrated movie stars all along it.
There’s also a waterfront promenade on the Boulevard de la Croisette. It’s a great place to take in the beaches and sea, not to mention get tempted to head in for a swim.
7. Tourrettes-sur-Loup
Tourrettes-sur-Loup is a medieval hilltop village near Saint-Paul-de-Vence. It’s a lot less crowded than some of the other places on my list, so it’s ideal for getting a local experience.
Surrounded by ramparts, Tourrettes-sur-Loup has pretty stone houses, art galleries, craft workshops, and cafes. 15th-century churches and narrow passageways are highlights, as are the views of the Mediterranean Sea in the distance.
8. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is another of my favorite day trips from Nice. It’s a picturesque port town on the northeastern edge of the Cap Ferrat peninsula.
Celebrities, royalty, and the jet set made this place famous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it continues to be a popular travel destination today.
With a beach and neighboring marina featuring shops and restaurants, it’s the ideal place to start discovering Cap Ferrat.
The peninsula is less touristy than many other places along the French Riviera, which makes it just the spot if you like getting away from the souvenir shops.
9. Eze Village
Eze Village is perched like an eagle’s nest on a high hill above the sea. Its proximity to the water means it has amazing views.
Fortified in the 14th century, Eze has a lot of beautiful medieval streets to explore. There are also churches, gardens, fountains, art galleries, shops, and restaurants around the village.
Eze is particularly famous for the Jardin Botanique d’Eze, which contains an impressive collection of succulents as well as old castle ruins and panoramas across the Mediterranean.
10. Grasse
Known for its perfume, Grasse is nestled in the hills of Provence and is one of the best day trips from Nice if you like all things olfactory.
The town is home to the Musee International de la Parfumerie, which gives a nod to the fact that Grasse has been a perfume capital since the 17th century.
In addition to the museum, Grasse has three perfume factories: Fragonard, Molinard, and Galimard. All of them give tours, so this is a great day trip if you want to learn more about perfume.
11. Ventimiglia
Just across the border in Italy’s Liguria, Ventimiglia is an under-the-radar European gem. It’s worth visiting to explore its beautiful old town, eat fresh seafood, and take in sweeping Mediterranean views.
Ventimiglia is best known for being home to a famous market that attracts locals and visitors from all over.
The Friday market on the boardwalk by the waterfront features stalls selling fresh produce, flowers, clothing, furniture, and local Italian goods.
But my favorite thing about Ventimiglia is the old town. The historic buildings, narrow streets, and colorful houses are enchanting.
Best Day Trips from Nice
I hope you’ve found this list inspiring and that it’s helped you figure out which day trips from Nice are best for you.
There are so many places to choose from, and each one has unique features. If you get a chance to visit, I hope you like them as much as I do.
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