12 Top Things to Do in Villefranche-sur-Mer (From a France Expert)
Looking for the best things to do in Villefranche-sur-Mer? Read on for my top recommendations!
Of all the places I visited on my most recent trip to the French Riviera (I’ve been three times and seriously, it’s one of the best regions in France), Villefranche-sur-Mer was the place, more than anywhere else, that just took my breath away.
This tiny little village sits right on the sea (that is what “sur-mer” means, after all), and is just a quick 10-minute drive from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer, or just 2 train stations away from the main Nice station.
And while it’s essentially just on the outskirts of the bustling city of Nice, Villefranche manages to retain its laidback, low-key, lazy vibes. The cherry on top is that the village is extremely colorful, with bright hues splashed over almost all of the buildings in town.
In short, Villefranche is an idyllic French Riviera town to visit and an extremely easy day trip from Nice. Here are the best things to do in Villefranche.
12 Amazing Things to Do in Villefranche-sur-Mer
1. Explore the Colorful Streets
The best part of Villefranche, in my opinion, are the beautiful, cobblestoned, colorful streets, lined with plants and small trees. The buildings are generally painted in warm Mediterranean hues – deep reds, golds, tans, peaches, and the occasional pink, and often have green shutters and white trim.
Rue Volti, pictured above, was my personal favorite street, and Rue de May, below, was a particularly vibrant staircase street.
While those two streets probably were my favorite spots, really, the whole Old Town is just so pretty, and the good news is that it is small enough that you can easily walk through the whole thing in less than 45 minutes.
Because Villefranche is built onto a hill, the streets that are perpendicular to the coastline will almost always be staircases, so be prepared for some light climbing (it’s really not too bad).
2. Rue Obscure
In direct contrast to the pastel, postcard-perfect streets of the village is Rue Obscure, a medieval military leftover from the 1200’s.
Originally, Rue Obscure was a military thoroughfare, built to let soldiers easily move through the city, but as military operations died out in Villefranche and the city expanded, buildings were just built over the passageway and it became essentially an underground tunnel through the city.
A relic from a bygone era, this is a cool spot to walk through and shouldn’t be missed in Villefranche. At 130 m (430 ft), it’s decently long, but is clean, safe, and well enough lit.
3. Chapelle St Pierre
Chapelle St. Pierre’s exterior totally fits in with the rest of Villefranche – painted in orange, tan, and cream, with decorations reminiscent of the sea adorning the walls.
Inside, however, is a totally different story. The very small chapel’s walls and ceilings are covered in frescos by Jean Cocteau, renowned French artist, poet, and screenwriter.
Originally built in the 1500’s, the chapel had deteriorated significantly and was in dilapidated condition when Cocteau came in, renovated the chapel, and filled the interior with his art.
Paintings of Jesus and St Peter’s life, as well as scenes of local, Rivera life fill the walls and ceilings. Most of the chapel has minimal color, and the drawings are done with chalk and fixed with a mixture based in paraffin.
No pictures are allowed inside, but I did pick up a couple of postcards so you could get an idea of what the chapel looks like:
- Hours: 9:30am-12:30pm, and from 2:15pm-6pm, Closed Mon-Tues, and from mid-November to mid-December.
- Cost: 4 euro
4. Eglise Saint-Michel
The Eglise St. Michel is the main church in town and sits on a charming yet tiny little square. The facade is absolutely lovely in its pink, tan, and white color scheme, which certainly fits with the overall vibe of the theme of the town.
Inside is large, with soaring ceilings, and more pink and golden paint. Entrance is free for the church.
5. The Citadel
The old fortified citadel, constructed in 1557, is still in excellent condition today and is a whole complex of buildings, small gardens, and open plazas. Plus, you get to cross a drawbridge-like gate to enter!
The City Hall (in French, City Hall is Hotel de Ville) is housed in the buildings in the citadel, but the whole area is open to visitors, and also houses a theater and 3 museums. There are a lot of cute little corners and courtyards to discover and explore, and sometimes art installations are out right in the courtyard.
6. Walk the Chemin de Ronde Pathway to the Port
This walkway takes you on a stone pathway underneath and along the citadel, right along the sea. You’ll then curve and enter the Port Royal de la Darse, where colorful fishing boats, sailboats, speedboats, and some larger boats and yachts are anchored.
This natural harbor was fortified and developed in 1388 by the Dukes of Savoie.
The pathway continues around the edge of the marina and to a staircase that takes you up on the ramparts and harbor wall, and ends at the lighthouse at the end of the ramparts wall. This is a fantastic walk with great views that should not be missed.
7. Quai de l’Amiral Courbet
The Quai de l’Amiral Courbet is a beautiful walkway in front of the town and right along the water. The seaside is lined with restaurants, many of which have tables at the water’s (though there is still space on the quai to walk). Some boats and sailboats are docked right here.
I highly recommend coming here around sunset – the sunset lighting and evening vibes are amazing! If you want to enjoy a dinner along the quai, La Mère Germaine, Olivula, and Dry Restaurant and Cocktail Bar are some of the top-rated restaurants in this area.
8. Plage des Marinieres
La Plage des Marinieres is the closest beach to town, and is just a 5-10 minute walk from the edge of Villefranche. The beach is quite large and stretches along the entire curve of the coastline.
The first part of the beach (closest to town) is made up of small pebbles, but they are fine enough that you can walk on them without much discomfort. The beach quickly turns to fine sand, though, as you continue farther down.
This is a very popular beach during warm weather, and there is a small beach club, although most of the beach is public and free. With the view of Villefranche on one side and the view of Cap Ferrat on the other, it’s a gorgeous beach on the French Riviera to enjoy the sun and waves.
9. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is an incredible estate located on Cap Ferrat, a peninsula just across the bay from Villefranche. This gorgeous pink villa is surrounded by beautiful gardens and was built by Baroness Beatrice de Rothschild, a wealthy and stylish heiress in the early 1900’s who loved collecting art.
Her villa and the grounds were bequeathed to the Academie of Beaux-Arts just before her death. The villa itself is an adorable pink with embellished white trim. You can tour through the rooms of the house, and eat in the charming café found inside – which is highly recommended for the ambiance.
There are 9 garden areas throughout the grounds – my favorite was the Provencal garden, with its fountains, hedges, and villa views, but they are all lovely. Make sure you grab a map of the grounds so you can make sure to hit them all.
The grounds overlook the sea and the little bay of Villefranche, and you can see the village from several viewpoints along the gardens. I would plan for about 1.5-2 hours here to experience the house, grounds and garden.
The best way to get to Villa Ephrussi is via the #15 bus, and you can pay the driver directly. Make sure you validate your ticket on the little machines in the middle of the bus! You could also drive yourself, as there is a parking lot for visitors, or call an Uber.
10. Private Boat Cruise
One of the best things to do when visiting Villefranche is get out on the water – there are lots of little boats and large yachts sailing the waters of the French Riviera, enjoying the beautiful views of the coastline.
This private boat tour is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of time but still wants to enjoy some idyllic time on the sea. You’ll have an hour to wind around the little inlets and coves of Cap Ferrat, which are unbelievably gorgeous!
The boat you’ll go on is solar-powered and is thus very quiet, and you’ll be able to go out at sunset to enjoy those beautiful sunset views.
Or, if you have a little more time, there’s also a 2 hour private boat cruise option, which gives you more time to relax and also take a dip in the sea.
The boat leaves from Beaulieu-sur-Mer, which is just a few minute’s drive away (or one train stop) from Villefranche.
11. Hike the Sentier du Littoral on Cap Ferrat
I’ve mentioned Cap Ferrat a few times in this post – the beautiful peninsula just across the bay from Villefranche. Cap Ferrat is where Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is located and is in general a mecca for mansions and gorgeous estates.
Cap Ferrat also has several beautiful beaches and a coastal pathway that follows the perimeter of the entire peninsula. This coastal pathway (or sentier du littoral in French) is split into three sections, so you can easily just do one part of it if you just have an hour or two.
However, I had the great pleasure of hiking the entire pathway around Cap Ferrat the most recent time I was on the French Riviera and let me tell you, this is a big hidden gem in southern France. The views are absolutely spectacular!
The whole path, with short stops at some beaches and at the village on the cape, was a solid half-day excursion, but it was time well spent. If you’re up for an easy but long walk and have a half day+ to spare, I’d definitely consider it for your French Riviera itinerary.
12. Villa Kerylos
Villa Kerylos is the other main French Riviera villa that is open to visitors, and although not nearly as popular as Villa Ephrussi, it’s definitely worth a visit. Located in Beaulieu-sur-Mer (again, just a short drive or one train stop away from Villefranche), it’s a great add-on to your visit to Villefranche.
Villa Kerylos was built in the early 1900’s by a wealthy German archaeologist who was fascinated by Greek culture and architecture. The villa is based on the style of houses on the Greek island of Delos and the estate feels like you’re transported back to ancient Greece.
The architecture, style, mosaics, and even artwork, sculptures, and furniture, and fabrics are all reminiscent of a quintessential Greek villa. The grounds aren’t large, but they are right up along the sea.
- Hours: 10am-6pm from May-August, 10am-5pm all other months. The villa is open every day of the week
- Entrance Fee: 11,50 €
Map of Attractions in Villefranche
If you click on this map (or click on the star to the right of the title), the map should save to your Google Maps account. Then, when you’re in Villefranche, you can pull up this map on your phone and use it to help navigate around the city.
From your phone, open Google Maps, then click the Saved button at the bottom of the screen. Scroll all the way down and click on the Maps icon on the bottom right. You can see all your saved maps, select this map, and open it directly on your regular Google Maps. It’s super helpful for on-the-ground navigation!
What to Do in Villefranche-sur-Mer: The Wrap Up
Villefranche is a hidden gem near Nice that, after only being in the city for 30 minutes, shot to the top of my “must-visit” list.
I love this charming coastal village that has multiple interesting attractions, delicious restaurants, a beautiful Villefranche-Sur-Mer beach, and chilled out vibes – the perfect addition to your time on the French Riviera.
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