7 Day Trips from Nice, France

Colorful beachside towns and charming stone villages perched on mountaintops, the South of France is the perfect blend of luxurious relaxation and exploration! Fortunately, many seaside gems are just a short distance from one another, making them ideal for day trips. No need to keep checking in and out of hotels — Nice makes a fantastic base for your adventures. So, we’ve put together a list of 7 amazing places, in no particular order, to visit using Nice as the perfect (but so much more than that) base!

1. Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer is a picturesque coastal town offering colorful Mediterranean buildings, beautiful beaches, and stunning views of the coast. The charming old town is a maze of narrow streets, perfect for a strolling around and popping in and out of shops. We wandered the town for a couple hours in the first part of the day, then spent the afternoon on the beach. To get there from Nice, it’s just a 7-15 min train ride or a 20ish minute Uber ride (around $20-30 for us). Tip: The train is faster and cheaper, but the return train can get overly crowded at least in peak season.

2. Èze

Èze is a hilltop village renowned for its breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and its enchanting medieval streets. Wander through its narrow, cobblestone alleys, and don’t miss the views from the exotic gardens at the top of the hill. We recommend grabing lunch (Michelin starred) or a drink from Château Eza to relax with unparalleled views. To get there from Nice, it’s typically less than a 30-minute drive (~$30 Uber). Be sure to put your navigation to Èze Village. Note the train drops you off at the bottom of the mountain (i.e., far from Èze Village), so this is one to take an Uber to. There is also a bus option, but we loved the ease of an Uber!

3. Monaco

Known for its luxury and glamour, including the famous Monte-Carlo Casino and the opulent Prince’s Palace, Monaco is a great addition to any trip to the South of France. The city-state’s picturesque harbor is filled with stunning yachts and chic restaurants, offering a taste of high-end living. To get there from Nice, it’s around a 30-minute drive/Uber or train. It’s also only a 15 minute drive from Èze (we saw both in the same day). But just beware you’ll likely have to take the train back to Nice because Ubers are not allowed to come back into Monaco to pick you up and bring you back! Tips: You’ll need your passport for the Monte-Carlo Casino. We stayed for dinner, and highly recommend GAIA for an upscale option.

4. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a stunning peninsula known for its luxurious villas and pristine coastline. The downtown area is much smaller than others with fewer restaurant options, but it was one of my favorite places, mostly due to the views. The scenic coastal path offers breathtaking views, and we loved visiting the elegant Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.

We recommend planning to relax here, and suggest booking a bed at Paloma Beach, one of the most beautiful beach clubs in South of France. To treat yourself, we absolutely LOVED booking this private boat experience, which allowed us to take in the incredible views from the water, and it was complete with lunch, snacks, drinks, and an option to swim in some of the clearest, blue waters we’ve ever seen! Note: we make a small commission if you book using our link at no extra cost to you, but we genuinely highly recommend! To get to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the public transport is a little more complicated than other places, but it was just a 30-ish minute drive (~$30 Uber for us).

5. Menton

Nicknamed “the pearl of France,” Menton offers charming colorful buildings, narrow streets and walkways, and overall a picturesque coastal setting. And it’s right on the border to Italy, with many Italian influences. We were also surprised to see that it felt like less tourists made it to Menton, despite its beauty. To get there from Nice, we recommend taking the train, which takes about 40 minutes. Tip: Menton is also known for its lemons, and if you drink alcohol, we loved getting a Limoncello spritz there!

6. Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a beautifully preserved medieval village renowned for its art galleries and charming stone streets. The village’s elevated position offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the Mediterranean. This is the only town on this list that is not directly on the water, but Saint-Paul-de-Vence easily became one of our favorite places, and in my opinion, is a must-see in the area. The small size of the town also makes it easy to tack on another town in the same day, or just truly relax. To get to Saint-Paul-de-Vence from Nice, it’s about a 40 minute drive (~$40 Uber).

7. Antibes

Antibes is a vibrant seaside town known for its stunning beaches, a picturesque old town (including the Picasso Museum), and charming markets. Check out Billionaire’s Bay and Cap D’Antibes for a true feel of the luxury of South of France. To get there from Nice, it’s about a 20-minute train or 30-minute drive (~$30 Uber).

And Don’t Forget About Nice!

Last but not least, Nice is so much more than just a base to see other towns. Plan to spend at least a day to two just exploring Nice. The old town has charming, narrow streets, and the Promenade des Anglais offers a walkway (and great running / biking path) along miles of the rocky beach, with beach clubs all along the way. An absolute must: dinner at Le Plongeoir (see far right / last picture above). The setting alone is reason enough, and the food was also amazing! Be sure to try the local zucchini blossom!

Again, there are so many lovely places along the South of France that you really can’t go wrong! And we’ve already decided we need a return trip to keep exploring, including for places like Cannes, St. Tropez, and the vineyards of Provence! We hope to get back soon!

-Kasey