Sights
Villefranche old village & Rue Obscure
Pastel houses, steep stepped lanes and a covered medieval street just above the tender quay.
- Villefranche is a tender-only stop: ships anchor or tie up to buoys in the bay and tenders land at the Gare Maritime in the Port de la Santé. Allow extra time for tender queues on the way back.
- A State order covering all Alpes-Maritimes ports and anchorages (9 December 2025) caps cruise calls: on average 2,000 passengers disembarking per call day, one ship of more than 1,300 passengers per anchorage per day, and at most 15 calls a month in July and August. Nice's mayor accepted this framework in April 2026.
- An earlier Nice city order (July 2025) that tried to ban larger ships was suspended by the administrative court within days, so the State order is the rule that applies.
- Only small ships use the port of Nice: the port allows ships up to 190 m long. Many of its calls are the start or end of a cruise.
- The Prince's Palace State Apartments in Monaco are closed for the season and reopen in spring 2027. The Musée Matisse is closed on Tuesdays.
Where ships dock
Tender landing: Gare Maritime, Port de la Santé, Villefranche
Tender port: the ship's boats bring you to the Gare Maritime on Quai de l'Amiral Courbet. The old village starts at the quay, and Villefranche station is about 5–10 minutes' walk away, with trains to Nice-Ville (about 10 minutes) and Monaco (about 15 minutes). Buses 100 (Nice–Monaco) and 81 (Cap Ferrat) stop nearby; taxis wait at the exit.
Tender portPort of Nice (Port Lympia), small ships alongsideSmall ships berth alongside in the port of Nice, which offers a free port shuttle and a welcome desk when you step off. Tram line 2 runs from the Port Lympia stop into the centre, or it is about 15 minutes on foot round Castle Hill to Vieux Nice and the Cours Saleya.
Ready-made days
Add your ship's times above to see what fits in your time ashore.
Sights
Citadelle Saint-Elme
A 16th-century fortress by the harbour that now houses the town hall, gardens and small art museums. The museums keep their own hours, so check locally.
Practical
Villefranche tourist office
Maps, bus and train advice, and opening hours for the Citadelle museums.
Practical
Villefranche-sur-Mer station
Regional trains to Nice-Ville (about 10 minutes) and Monaco (about 15 minutes). Buy tickets at the machines before boarding.
Beaches & parks
Plage des Marinières
A long pebble beach curving round the bay, a short walk from the tender quay past the station.
Sights
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
A pink Belle Époque villa with nine themed gardens on the Cap Ferrat isthmus. Usually open daily, with occasional closures for private events.
Boat & day trips
Monaco: the Rock & Prince's Palace
The old town on the Rock, with the palace square, the cathedral and views over the harbour. The palace State Apartments reopen in spring 2027.
Food & drink
Vieux Nice & Cours Saleya market
Old Nice's market street, with flowers and food stalls in the mornings and antiques on Mondays, surrounded by narrow lanes.
Food & drink
Socca in Vieux Nice
Try socca, Nice's thin chickpea pancake, baked in a wood oven and eaten hot with pepper.
Sights
Castle Hill, Nice
A park on the hill above the old town, with a waterfall and the classic view over the Baie des Anges. There is a free lift as well as steps.
Beaches & parks
Promenade des Anglais
Nice's long seafront promenade with its famous blue chairs and pebble beaches.
Boat & day trips
Èze village
A medieval village perched high above the sea, with an exotic garden at the very top. Reached by bus; check connections locally.
SightsClosed Tuesdays
Musée Matisse, Nice
Works spanning Matisse's whole career, in a red villa among olive groves and Roman ruins in Cimiez. Closed on Tuesdays.
Map
Your ship's times
Type your ship's arrival and departure times at the top of this page and everything here is marked for your day. Your times are on your cruise documents or in the cruise line's app.
Nice & Villefranche publishes its cruise calendar: see the port's schedule ↗
Sources we checked on 2026-10-21: leportdenice.com leportdenice.com leportdenice.com ports-villefranche.departement06.fr nicecotedazur.org tourmag.com premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr musee-matisse-nice.org