Villefranche Trip to Nice Sightseeing Excursion

Description

• Air-conditioned and licensed round-trip transportation from outside your Villefranche cruise ship tender pier!
  
• See the city of Colline du Chateau!
  
• Enjoy a drive along the Promenade des Anglais!
  
• See incredible architecture in various styles!
  
• Drive through the exclusive Cimiez neighborhood!
  
• Explore during your free time in the Old Town!
  
• Escape the cruise ship shore excursion crowds and enjoy the unique sights of Villefranche and the surrounding area!

See the beautiful city of Nice on this half-day guided excursion with some free time to explore on your own.

After meeting your driver/guide on the tender pier shoreside, you will depart Villefranche in your exclusive group with a maximum of eight guests. Your destination is the city of Nice, approximately 20 minutes away along the coast. Enjoy the views as your guide gives you information about the day.

Colline du Chateau will be your first stop. This is the former site of a 12th-century chateau razed by Louis XIV in a fit of anger. Now it's a city park with waterfalls and at 300ft up the hill, it has stunning views overlooking both new and old Nice. There are many photo ops on this excursion!

The area now known as Nice, Nissa la Belle was first inhabited by Greeks around 350 BC, who named it after Nike, the goddess of victory. The English upper class began to winter in the area due to the mild Mediterranean climate. In the mid to late 1800s, artists the likes of Renoir, Chagall, and Matisse, came here to paint due to the light. As you drive along the Promenade des Anglais (Walkway of the English) that parallels the sea, you can almost imagine the English promenading in their Victorian finery.

Continuing along the seafront, you will pass the Belle Epoque Hotel Negresco, built in 1920 to attract Europe's elite. Further, along the coast, you will see a Russian Orthodox Church, built in 1912 for a Czar's wife who occasionally wintered here.

Avenue de Verdun, with its parks and gardens down its middle, will show you more of the beautiful architecture and the Place Massena, the city's main square as you drive along. Driving away from the sea, you will find the hilly Cimiez neighborhood, where the upper class built their homes. The Excelsior Regina Palace was built here in the 1800s just so Queen Victoria would have a place to stay during her visits. Nearby is the 17th-century Villa des Arenes, now home to the Musee Matisse (Matisse Museum).

Vieille Ville, the Old Town, is next as no visit to Nice would be complete without seeing it. Here, you will have approximately 40 minutes of free time to wander along its narrow pedestrian streets lined with shops selling Provencal wares. Be enticed by the aroma of the cafes selling fresh pastries or stroll through the fresh food and flower market along Cours Saleya (the market is closed on Mondays). See the colorful vegetables, ripe olives, and fresh seafood. Try socca, the local Provencal chickpea pancake served warm from pushcarts.

At the end of your adventure in Nice, you will meet your driver for the trip back to Villefranche and your cruise ship tender pier, approximately 20 minutes away.

What is included?

• Air-conditioned and licensed round-trip transportation from outside your Villefranche cruise ship tender pier
  
• See the city from Colline du Chateau
  
• Enjoy a drive along the Promenade des Anglais
  
• See incredible architecture in various styles
  
• Drive through the exclusive Cimiez neighborhood
  
• Explore during your free time in the Old Town

Excursion Notes

• Excursion prices shown are quoted in US dollars.
  
• As you may be visiting a religious or memorial site, shoulders and knees must be covered on men and women.
  
• We suggest you have cash (Euros) on hand for refreshments, excursion staff gratuities, shopping, etc.
• Sensible, rubber-soled walking shoes are highly recommended along with sun protection.
  
• Please pay attention to the restrictions and requirements for this excursion, no refund will be granted if the requirements are not met.

Where we meet

For this Villefranche Trip to Nice Excursion, you will meet your local excursion guide on the tender pier shoreside in Villefranche. All necessary details will be printed on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket. Please allow enough time to tender ashore for your departure.

Excursion Restrictions

• This excursion is not wheelchair accessible.
• Guests must be able to step in and out of the van.
• Guests must be able to walk on paved, gravel, and cobblestone surfaces, some on inclines.
• There are steps required to enter several of the sites as well as steep curbs in some areas.

Excursion FAQ

Cancellation

• Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
• Your ship skips/misses the port.
• Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
• A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
  
• Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
• Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.