7 Best French Riviera Day Trips from Nice

Nice is not only one of the largest and most beautiful cities in France, but it is also the gateway to the dazzling French Riviera, known to locals as the Côte d'Azur (Blue Coast).

Famous throughout the world for its connection to some of the country's greatest artists, any trip to this idyllic city should include an excursion beyond its borders amongthe activities to do in Nice. The aim is to immerse travellers in the French Riviera and its wonderful landscapes.

The full-day excursion to explore the French Riviera from Nice is one of the favourite options for tourists and one that I recommend to all my travelling friends who are visiting Nice for the first time.

Unlike the half-day tour from Nice, this alternative allows you to extend your itinerary and include more destinations to visit during the tour. You can enjoy panoramic views at Cap Ferrat, visit the Fragonard perfume factory or the Principality of Monaco.

Keep in mind that your final travel plan will depend largely on the company you decide to hire, however, all local companies in Nice offer several of the following destinations in their travel plans: Eze, Monaco, Antibes, Saint-Paul-de Vence and beautiful Cannes.

If you are looking for tours to discover Cannes from Nice, this type of excursion is one of the best options available. Local companies offer amenities such as direct pick-up from your hotel in Nice and professional guides in several languages.

Useful information:

• Price: Group excursions are available from £70 per participant; private excursions
• Duration: Depending on the company you choose, this tour can take around 9 or 10 hours to complete.
• Transportation: This tour is conducted in a shared minibus or by car if you book a private tour.

If you want to explore the French Riviera on an express trip, this excursion is ideal for you. Recommended for travellers who are spending three days in Nice and want to make the most of every second. This excursion allows you to spend half a day discovering the most outstanding cities of the Côte d'Azur.

Regarding the itinerary, please bear in mind that, depending on the company you book with, some aspects may be modified. However, a good percentage of local tour operators depart from Nice heading east to make stops in Éze and Monaco, where you can visit the Prince's Palace.

The excursion is usually offered at two times: morning and afternoon. In addition, most local companies include direct pick-up from your hotel among their services. Due to its popularity, this excursion is offered in several languages, including Spanish, English, French, German, Italian and Russian.

Visiting Eze and Monaco from Nice is considered by many travellers to be one of the best adventures to experience during a short holiday, so you can also find companies offering full-day itineraries for a few extra euros.

Useful information:

• Price: The price for this experience is around £35 per person.
• Duration: You should reserve about 5 hours of your itinerary for this experience.
• Transport: Minibus shared with other travellers.

This is an alternative that allows visitors to explore the French Riviera from Nice and enjoy magnificent views of the coast aboard a luxurious sightseeing cruise.

It is highly recommended for all travellers exploring the city for the first time and looking to enjoy its landscapes from different angles.

Tourists and locals consider this tour one of the best activities to do in Nice during the summer; due to its short duration and high demand, it can easily be included in any itinerary of a few days in Nice.

Certain details of the experience vary greatly depending on the company, but in most cases, a guide in different languages (mainly English and French) is provided. The cheaper options do not include any refreshments during the trip.

The itinerary may vary from one company to another, but most include the route from Nice to the Citadel to see the old villages on the hillsides, the famous Promenade des Anglais and many other tourist and historical sites.

Useful information:

• Price: Around £26 per traveller.
• Duration: The tour along the Mediterranean coast takes approximately 1 hour to complete. You should be at the meeting point 15-20 minutes before departure to board the boat.
• Means of transport: The excursion takes place on board a private cruise ship.

If you are a traveller looking for immersive experiences and want to enjoy your destination to the fullest, Nice offers a variety of excursion options that take travellers to specific destinations within the vast French Riviera.

One of the most interesting options is the opportunity to discover Saint Tropez and Port Grimaud on a cruise departing from the port of Nice.

Although certain aspects may vary depending on the company organising the experience, most tour operators in Nice organise this trip in a format lasting approximately 10 hours.

Exploring Saint-Tropez from Nice is one of the most recommended adventures if you are spending several days in the city. In addition, the long-duration excursion format is ideal as it gives travellers free time to explore Saint Tropez, admire its colourful houses, and sit down to enjoy an aperitif in one of its many elegant cafés.

After spending time in Saint Tropez, you will continue on to Port Grimaud, a picturesque little coastal town known as the Little Venice of France.

Useful information:

• Price: Around €125 per participant; usually in small groups of less than 10 participants. Many local companies offer travellers direct pick-up from their hotel in Nice.
• Duration: The adventure takes around 10 hours to complete, so I recommend setting aside a full day for this experience.
• Transportation: You will travel by private car to Sainte-Maxime and then by boat to Saint Tropez.

Bike tours in Nice are considered among the best tours in the city by the many adventurous tourists who visit the area. Some local tour operators also offer bike tours of the Riviera as a way to explore beyond the borders of Nice.

The companies provide travellers with all the necessary equipment for the experience, as well as an expert guide who leads the group along the route and points out places of interest. You will depart from Nice to discover the seaside town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, famous for its picturesque landscapes and colourful architecture.

Although you will not have the opportunity to go as far or visit as many towns as other options discussed in this article, the main advantage of this experience is the opportunity to fully absorb and enjoy the characteristic landscapes of the French Riviera.

Useful information:

• Price: Around €55 per traveller; the tour is conducted in small groups of approximately 8 participants to ensure personalised service.
• Duration: You should set aside around 4 hours of your itinerary for this experience.
• Means of transport: This tour is almost always offered on electric bikes to cover longer distances in shorter periods of time.

If there is one spot on the French Riviera that is definitely worth spending a day exploring, it is Monaco. Famous worldwide for its splendid viewpoints and luxury experiences, it is a tourist destination that perfectly complements a holiday in Nice.

Many local companies and tour operators offer this type of excursion, as visiting Monaco and Èze from Nice is a highly sought-after travel experience, not only by tourists but also by locals looking for getaways to nearby destinations.

Please note that the specific details of the experience may vary depending on the company you book with; the excursion is offered in several languages and includes private transport, a guide and hotel pick-up.

Most companies include several of the following activities in their itinerary: Discover the Old Town of Le Rocher with its breathtaking views of the sea and the port; explore the Prince's Palace and wait for the midday changing of the guard; visit the Notre-Dame-Immaculee Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and the Monte Carlo Casino.

Useful information:

• Price: Available from £75 per traveller.
• Duration: You should allow approximately 7 to 8 hours for this experience.
• Transport: A private minivan is usually used, as the tour is organised in small groups.

Another excursion option offered by some tour operators in Nice is the possibility of taking a private tour to Monaco to enjoy the atmosphere and nightlife of this beautiful city.

This is the perfect option if you want to enjoy the glamour of Monaco at night and be back at your hotel in Nice the same evening. It is also a great night-time alternative for those who are spending several days in the city, for example 7 days in Nice or more, and are looking for alternative plans for the evening.

Although I recommend checking the specific details of the experience with the company you hire, most of them include some of the following activities: driving through the mountain village of Eze to enjoy panoramic views of the Riviera and the Mediterranean Sea; in Monaco, enjoy the Monte Carlo Casino, the Hotel Paris and the famous Monaco Race Circuit.

Useful information:

• Price: This is a private tour and costs approximately £450.
• Duration: The entire tour takes around 4 hours to complete.
• Transportation: The tour is conducted in a private vehicle with a driver included.

Here are some simple but effective tips to help you organise your trip to the Riviera.

Summer is not the best option

Without a doubt, summer in France is an excellent time to visit cities such as Paris, but it is important to remember that July and August are when the locals take their holidays and head to the beach.

This means higher prices and crowded hotels and attractions, especially in popular areas such as Nice. If you can wait until September to April, you will find better prices and fewer visitors.

Sandy beaches are not common...

Both in Nice and the rest of the French Riviera, sandy beaches are few and far between; you will mostly find pebble beaches, which the locals call galets. Pack water shoes for yourself and the whole family so you can walk along the coast, enjoy the sea and avoid sore feet.

If you want to enjoy sandy beaches, you will find alternatives in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

The French Riviera is a gastronomic paradise

When it comes to dining options, the French Riviera offers everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to rustic fare. Make the most of your trip to enjoy the world of flavours offered by the different towns along the Riviera. You won't regret it!

Visiting the French Riviera on an organised tour is one of the best decisions you can make. This alternative offers numerous advantages, such as saving time and effort looking for transport options and, in many cases, the opportunity to be accompanied by an expert guide.

As you probably know, the French Riviera is an area in the south of France made up of several impressive cities, which means you can look forward to an exciting adventure with lots of activities and interesting places to visit.

How do you decide which places, attractions, monuments or museums to prioritise? Tour operators structure itineraries according to your travel plans, allowing you to enjoy the best that the Côte d'Azur has to offer.

Complement your trip to the Riviera with other unique excursions, such as a visit to the Verdon Gorge and a tour to discover Provence from Nice, and you will fall completely in love with the South of France.