There are a lot of people who believe that the French Riviera is overrated, but in my personal opinion – the Côte d'Azur region and the day trips you can take from Nice are some of the most wonderful vacation places that Europe has to offer.

View of the coastline from Jardin Exotique d’Èze; June 2025

How Many Coastal Villages Can I Visit as a Day Trip from Nice?

There are several villages and cities you could visit for the day from Nice, such as:

Cannes
Antibes
Saint-Tropez
Èze Village
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Cap-d'Ail
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Menton
Monte Carlo in Monaco

Exploring the Old Town in Villefranche-sur-Mer; June 2025

How Many Days Should I Stay in the French Riviera?

Honestly, you could spend a full week in the French Riviera, or the Côte d'Azur region, and still have things to do and see – as you could explore Cannes and Antibes, Monaco, Menton, Èze Village, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Tropez, and more.

However, if you’re only interested in places like Nice and Monte Carlo in Monaco, then 2 full days will be enough to see everything both cities have to offer calmly.

Where Should I Stay in the French Riviera?

My advice for where you stay in the French Riviera, or the Côte d'Azur region, will depend on what you want out of your vacation in the South of France.

Nice for Day Trips or High Paced Travelers: If you want to see all of the different cities and villages, I would suggest Nice as it is the most interconnected of all the cities with easy and frequent public transportation. Furthermore, Nice is the largest city in the Côte d'Azur region, making it better for big city lovers who want easy access, history, and fun events.
Luxury in Monaco: If you want a luxurious vacation – I would opt for Monte Carlo, as it’s quiet, clean, and will guaranteed be pristine beyond your wildest dreams. There isn’t much to do in Monte Carlo, except to enjoy its opulent environment – making it perfect for people seeking a high-end vacation.
Beach Goers & Low-Stress Vacations: If you just want some time on the beach, long lunches, and wandering old towns – I would suggest staying in a place like Villefranche-sur-Mer or near one of the popular beaches such as Plage Mala or Plage Petite Afrique. These places will allow for a low-key, casual beach vacation – perfect for families or groups of friends looking to rent out an AirBnB.

The table below will compare and contrast the pros and cons of staying in one of the smaller coastal villages in the Côte d'Azur region:

🌊 Choosing Between Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze Village, and Cap d’Ail
Village	Vibe	Best For	Things to Know
⛵ Villefranche-sur-Mer	Colorful old town by the sea with Monte Carlo–style hillside views	Everyone — solo travelers, couples, families, and friend groups	Feels like a blend of Nice and Monaco, super photogenic and well connected
⛰️ Èze Village	Hilltop medieval village with dramatic coastal views	View seekers, photographers, fans of Santorini/Cliffs of Moher/Edinburgh	Not directly on the water, harder to get to, but incredibly rewarding
🏖️ Cap d’Ail	Quiet beachy escape with Cinque Terre–style views	Relaxed travelers who want a lazy beach day near Nice	Head straight to Plage Mala — limited activities, but perfect for unwinding

View of the water and rocky coastline in Cap d’Ail; June 2025

Since there are so many trips to take for the day from Nice, I’m going to provide a comprehensive guide on all of the various coastal villages and towns you could visit from Nice for the day – breaking down the cost, distance from Nice, how much time you should spend in each coastal village, and if I think each of these places is worth seeing.

This list will be provided in order of the coastal villages closest and then furthest away from Nice.

Best Coastal Villages to Visit As a Day Trip from Nice

Villefranche-sur-Mer

Honestly, this is my favorite coastal village in the French Riviera – as it’s postcard picture perfect, colorful, cute, and is the perfect mix of the best of Nice and Monte Carlo.

Time Away by Train From Nice: 3 minutes

Distance Away From Nice: 3.5 kilometers or 2.1 miles

How Much Time Should You Spend At Villefranche-sur-Mer?

If you’re trying to see all of the coastal villages between Nice and Monte Carlo in a single day, you can keep your stop at Villefranche-sur-Mer short – as in 30 minutes to one hour.

However, if you want to really enjoy all that Villefranche-sur-Mer has to offer – it’s best as a half-day trip for lunch, a swim, and a walk through its colorful old town.

Is Villefranche-sur-Mer Expensive?

Eating out in Villefranche-sur-Mer is more expensive than eating out in Nice, but the price differences aren’t an outrageous difference – such as to purchase a bottle of water or an ice cream cone.

Restaurants on the waterfront in Villefranche-sur-Mer; June 2025

General Tips and Advice For Villefranche-sur-Mer

Beach Gets Crowded: The main beach you’ll find when walking down the steps from the Villefranche-sur-Mer train station, yotherwise known as Plage des Marinieres, gets crowded easily due to its convenient location near the Old Town and waterfront restaurants. If you planning on setting up camp here for the day, I recommend coming early to secure a spot on the beach.
Old Town Villefranche-sur-Mer: I’ve seen a lot of Old Towns in Europe, but the one in Villefranche-sur-Mer is absolutely wonderful. It’s less crowded than the once in Nice, has lots of calm restaurants with live music playing, and little shops to peruse for the perfect French Riviera Souvenir.
Rue Obscure: Known as a hidden medieval street and almost tunnel like, Rue Obscure is a secret passageway in Villefranche-sur-Mer that was once used by the military. You’ll find it on your right as you begin walking up the steps to the Old Town if you’re coming from the beach.

Plage des Marinieres in Villefranche-sur-Mer; June 2025

Is It Worth Seeing Villefranche-sur-Mer?

Yes, Villefranche-sur-Mer is absolutely worth seeing – as its the epitome of what most envision when they think of the perfect vacation on the French Riviera. In fact, if you only have time to see one coastal village from Nice – I recommend you take a trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer for the day.

Wandering through the old town in Villefranche-sur-Mer; June 2025

Overall, Villefranche-sur-Mer is my favorite coastal village on the French Riviera – and the one I recommend for all people to visit: including couples, families, groups of friends, and solo travelers.

Èze Village

The most unique of all the coastal villages you can visit from Nice, Èze village is situated over 420 meters, or 1,400 feet, above sea level –offering sweeping views of the French Riviera’s coastline.

Time Away by Train From Nice: 7 minutes

Distance Away From Nice: 8 kilometers or 5 miles

How Much Time Should You Spend at Èze Village?

This is the coastal village in the French Riviera that will require the most time, anywhere from at least 1 to 3 hours depending on how fit you are to climb the steep hills in Èze Village. You’ll want to be sure you leave enough time to see Jardin Exotique d’Èze, which closes at 6:30PM every day.

In theory, you could also spend a half-day in Èze – but it’s not as nice as other coastal villages near Nice as it’s not situated near the way for an easy swim or beach day in between exploring.

Is Èze Village Expensive?

Once again, I didn’t find the price differences between Èze to be that different from Nice, but beware – I recommend bringing some cash to Èze.

As it’s a more remote village than the other coastal villages between Nice and Monte Carlo, I found that the small grocery store and many places for water bottles, coffee, or juices had a card minimum. Therefore, if you don’t want to be hassled into buying more – I would bring some cash to this village in the French Rivera.

General Tips and Advice For Èze Village

Beware of Steep Incline & Slippery Steps: Especially in the heat of the summer, be prepared for a miniature hike if you plan on going all the way to the top for Jardin Exotique d’Èze. It costs around €8 for a full price ticket and €6,50 for students, but it is a must-see while in Èze Village. There are places to fill up your water bottle for free, shaded areas, and Espaces Contemplatifs – or places for other writers and I to sit and think about life, if that’s also your vibe.
Motion Sickness During Ride Up to Èze: I took an Uber up to Èze Village and the bus ride down, as I wanted to be more time efficient on the way up – and then wanted to get the experience of the bus. I don’t normally get car sick, but I will say – the drive up to Èze Village could be nauseating for people sensitive to windy car drives. This is because there are numerous sharp and speedy turns when making your way up to Èze Village, and the locals are used to driving fast. If you want to be time efficient and don’t get car sick, opt for the Uber – but if you want to save money and are sensitive to windy rides, I would take the bus. However, it is important to note that even the bus driver was going incredibly fast – so hold on tight when taking the bus to Èze Village and back.
Uber or Bus: Remember, Èze village is located a 10 to 15 minute drive away from where you’ll be dropped of at the train station – meaning you’ll either need to pay a €2 bus ticket or €15 to €20 Uber to get up and back down to the train station in Èze. You could take a taxi, as Ubers often get busy and the buses in Èze do not run often, but be warned that you’ll be ripped off – especially if you don’t speak French.

Is It Worth Seeing Èze Village?

I would say it’s worth seeing Èze Village if you’re a fan of medieval style towns and coastal views like the ones in Santorini. However, this personally isn’t a coastal village in France I would return to – as it’s not the most convenient and lacks part of the color charm many of us know and love about the Côte d'Azur region.

inside Èze Village — Wandering around Èze Village; June 2025

Is It Worth Paying to See Jardin Exotique d’Èze?

Yes, it is absolutely worth paying for the ticket to enter Jardin Exotique d’Èze. In my opinion, this is the main attraction to see while in Èze and made the journey worthwhile.

Ultimately, Èze Village is perfect for people who love wandering around perfume shops, small art galleries, and exploring medieval villages – with Jardin Exotique d’Èze being the main highlight.

Cap D’Ail

Known for its hidden beach, known as Plage Mala – Cap D’Ail is close to Monaco and is a popular running route for locals.

Time Away by Train From Nice: 15 minutes

Distance Away From Nice: 10.6 kilometers or 6.5 miles

How Much Time Should You Spend at Cap D’Ail?

Honestly, similar to Villefranche-sur-Mer, if you don’t plan on spending the day here at the beach – you can keep this as a short 30 minute to one hour photo stop.

However, if you want to really enjoy the calm magic offered by Cap D’Ail – you could spend a full day at Plage Mala.

Is Cap D’Ail Expensive?

Yes, I found the prices for restaurants at Cap D’Ail to be more expensive in comparison to the other coastal villages between Nice and Monte Carlo – perhaps as it is closer to Monaco, which is more expensive than the rest of France, itself.

People swimming off the coast of Cap d’Ail teal water and rocky shore — People swimming off the coast of Cap d’Ail; June 2025

General Tips and Advice For Cap D’Ail

Narrow Walkway to Beach: It’s around a 15 minute walk from the Cap d’Ail train station to the beach. The sign when exiting the train station will tell you to go down the stairs “by tunnel” but it’s very easy to miss. It’ll look like a dead end, but peer to your left to see the very disguised tunnel. After that, you simply follow the coastline. However it is important to note that there are very steep and narrow steps on the walkway to Plage Mala – and there is no railing, meaning you could very easily drop your phone or camera over the cliff.
Private Boat Tours: Similar to what I did with a group in Cinque Terre, Cap d’Ail is the perfect place to rent a private boat and discover the coastline of Cap d’Ail.
Cap d'Ail Museum: As Cap D’ail is mostly known for Plage Mala, most people don’t know that there is actually a small museum called Villa the Camellias – where you can successful people who have made Cap d’Ail a part of their story, alongside a garden with views of the Mediterranean sea.

Approaching Plage Mala in Cap d’Ail; June 2025

Is It Worth Seeing Cap D’Ail?

Honestly, unless you are planning on spending the day at Plage Mala or on your way to Monte Calro – I am not sure that Cap d’Ail is worth a visit unless you spend the majority of your day at its secret beach.

In the end, I’m glad I made the trip out to Cap d’Ail – but it has much less to see and do in comparison to other coastal villages between Nice and Monte Carlo like Villefranche-sur-Mer and Èze.

Which Coastal Village From Nice Should I Visit?

Choosing the right coastal village to visit for the day from Nice depends on what you enjoy most during your vacation and when you travel.

Here’s what I would say as an elevator pitch to someone trying to decide which coastal village to visit from Nice:

Villefranche-sur-Mer: Choose this coastal village if you enjoy picturesque waterfront towns, colorful old towns like the one in Nice, and the rolling hills in Monte Carlo – as it’s essentially the perfect miniature combination of the two.
Èze Village: This is coastal village near Nice is best for people who like remote areas high above sea level with stunning coastal views. If you’re a fan of views in Santorini or the Cliffs of Moher, go here. Additionally, if you like places with medieval style architecture like Saint-Malo or Edinburgh – you’re bound to enjoy Èze.
Cap d’Ail: If you’re looking for a lazy beach day from Nice, Plage Mala at Cap d’Ail is the clear winner – and is perfect for people who enjoy chill, stress-free places and are attracted to scenic views like the ones found in Cinque Terre.

At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong when choosing one of these villages to visit from Nice – as they all offer something different and make the Côte d'Azur region more diverse than I initially thought it was before.

Want to see my adventures in these coastal villages near Nice in action? Watch my vlog below!

Looking to read more about France to plan your trip to the French Riviera?

Click here to read all about my travels in France, as I’m an American living in Paris with ample knowledge on my adoptive country!

Last updated: June 16, 2025

Best Villages to Visit as a Day Trip from Nice