Villefranche-sur-Mer bay with a cruise ship at anchor off the old town and citadel

Villefranche Shore Excursions: Your Private Day from the Tender Dock

Villefranche-sur-Mer is the port where many of the larger ships calling at the Nice area drop anchor. You come ashore by tender, and your local French guide is waiting at the landing with our luxury 8-seater van. Every tour is fully customized: Eze, Monaco, Nice, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Beaulieu or the old town of Villefranche itself, in the order you choose. For cruise guests, we will always do what it takes to bring you back to your ship at least one hour before departure or the last tender.

What is included, what is not

Included:

  • A private vehicle for your group, up to 8 guests (more on request, with an extra vehicle).
  • A private local driver-guide.
  • Pickup and drop-off at the tender landing in Villefranche.
  • An itinerary shaped around your ship’s all-aboard time, with a safe margin: we bring you back at least one hour before departure or the last tender.

Not included:

  • Lunch (we are happy to suggest and book a restaurant for you).
  • Entry fees to sites.
  • Boat tickets.

Villefranche port at a glance

PortVillefranche-sur-Mer, between Nice and Monaco.
Dock or tenderTender. Ships anchor in the bay; passengers are brought by tender to the Port de la Santé, at the foot of the old town.
Where we meet youAt the tender landing, as you step ashore.
Getting backBack at the tender landing at least one hour before departure or the last tender.
Classic dayEze, Monaco and Monte-Carlo, with Villefranche or Nice on the way back.
Your guideA local French guide. Guides speak English, French, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic and Chinese.

Anchoring in Villefranche? Send us your date, your ship and your group size. We reply personally in under 24 hours.

Email us   WhatsApp us   Call +33 7 88 88 88 01

Where does your ship arrive in Villefranche?

Villefranche is a tender port. The bay is deep and sheltered, and ships are positioned at anchor with the help of a Nice port pilot. The ship’s tenders then carry passengers to the Port de la Santé, the small harbor beside the cruise terminal, a few steps from the old town and the Chapelle Saint-Pierre.

The crossing itself is short, usually 10 to 15 minutes. The waiting is what takes time. Guests on the ship’s own excursions are usually tendered first, and independent guests are given numbered tender tickets, so in the morning the queue can add 30 to 45 minutes, and the same again for the last tenders of the afternoon. We plan your day around this at both ends: your guide follows your ship’s timing, and the return is set so you are at the landing well before the last tender.

What can we see on a Villefranche shore excursion?

  • Eze: the medieval village perched about 430 meters above the sea, on the road between Nice and Monaco.
  • Monaco: the Prince’s Palace, the old town on the Rock, Port Hercule and Casino Square in Monte-Carlo.
  • Nice: the Old Town, the Cours Saleya market, Castle Hill and the Promenade des Anglais.
  • Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat: the peninsula across the bay, with the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens overlooking both Villefranche and Beaulieu.
  • Beaulieu-sur-Mer: the Villa Kerylos, a Greek-style villa built between 1902 and 1908, on the water’s edge.
  • Villefranche itself: the old town, the vaulted Rue Obscure, the Citadelle Saint-Elme and the Chapelle Saint-Pierre decorated by Jean Cocteau.

What is realistic in 6 to 8 hours ashore?

Your time ashore is shorter than your ship’s time in port, because of the tender at both ends. As a guide:

  • About 6 hours ashore: two main places done well. For example Eze and Monaco, or Nice and Cap Ferrat.
  • About 7 hours: the classic three. Eze, Monaco and Monte-Carlo, then the Basse Corniche back along the sea, with a short stop in Beaulieu or a walk in Villefranche if time allows.
  • About 8 hours: three places with time to linger, such as a long lunch, a visit inside the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, or the Nice Old Town on foot after Monaco.

Distances are short, but the coast roads between Nice and Monaco can be slow in season and on event days. We sequence the day to spend your hours in the places, not in traffic, and we keep the last part of the day close to Villefranche.

Villefranche shore excursion ideas

  • Eze, Monaco and Monte-Carlo. The day most of our Villefranche guests choose: the Middle Corniche to Eze, then the Rock and the Palace, and Monte-Carlo before the drive back along the sea.
  • Nice in depth. The Old Town and the market with your guide on foot, the view from Castle Hill, and the Promenade des Anglais.
  • Cap Ferrat and Beaulieu. The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, the Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu, and the coast of the peninsula, all within a few minutes of the tender dock.
  • Three countries in one day. For a long call: Monaco, then across the border into Italy, returning along the coast.
  • Villefranche on foot, then the hills. The old town and the Cocteau chapel first, then the perched villages behind the coast.

The secret spots of Villefranche

Most passengers walk from the tender to the nearest café and back. A few steps from the landing, the Rue Obscure runs under the houses of the old town like a covered stone tunnel, and the Citadelle Saint-Elme, built in the 16th century, has quiet courtyards above the water. Across the bay, the paths of Cap Ferrat and the gardens of the Rothschild villa look straight down on your ship at anchor. Your guide will show you where the views are and when the lanes are empty.

Staying in Villefranche?

This page is for cruise guests. If you are staying in a hotel or private villa in Villefranche, Cap Ferrat or Beaulieu, see our private tours of Nice and the French Riviera: we collect you at your door.

Why choose a private Villefranche shore excursion?

  • Local experts. Exclusively local French guides with more than 15 years of experience, never seasonal drivers from abroad.
  • Your party alone. Our luxury 8-seater van with Wi-Fi, water and air conditioning, or on foot as a walking tour. Another car is possible on request.
  • No wasted minutes. We follow your ship’s tender timing and adapt the day as it goes.
  • Proven. More than 300 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor.

Read why travelers choose Riviera Come True, and how a private excursion compares with a ship excursion.

Villefranche shore excursion FAQs

Is Villefranche-sur-Mer a tender port?

Yes. Cruise ships anchor in the bay of Villefranche and bring passengers ashore by tender to the Port de la Santé, beside the old town. Your guide meets you at the tender landing.

How long does the tender take in Villefranche?

The crossing is usually 10 to 15 minutes. Waiting for a tender can add 30 to 45 minutes at busy times, especially in the morning and for the last tenders. We build this into your plan.

Where will our guide meet us?

At the tender landing in Villefranche, as you step ashore. You do not need to find a meeting point in town.

Can we see Eze, Monaco and Nice in one day from Villefranche?

With about 7 to 8 hours ashore, Eze and Monaco fit comfortably, with a shorter stop in Nice or Villefranche on the way back. With less time, we suggest two places done well.

Will we be back before the last tender?

For cruise guests, we will always do what it takes to bring you back to your ship at least one hour before departure or the last tender. We have never made a guest miss their ship.

Is Cap Ferrat worth it on a shore day?

Yes, especially for a shorter call. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu are a few minutes from the tender dock, so the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, the Villa Kerylos and the coast of the peninsula take very little driving time.

Can the day be fully customized?

Yes. Every tour is fully customized. Tell us your interests, your pace and your ship’s times, and we design the day around them. We also adapt on the day.

Related tours and guides

Private shore excursions from every port

All ports at a glance: all French Riviera cruise ship excursions.

Plan your private day from Villefranche

Private shore excursions are by enquiry only. Send us your date, your ship and your group size at info@rivieracometrue.com, call or WhatsApp +33 7 88 88 88 01, or use our contact page. We reply personally in under 24 hours.

Photo: Bengt Nyman, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)