Whether you fancy a beach day, exploring pretty little medieval villages, or seeing how the other half live along the French Riviera, this guide has you covered!

One great thing about choosing the French city of Nice as a destination is that it allows you to easily blend several quintessentially French and Mediterranean travel experiences together in one place.

You can choose to emphasise the cultural, foodie, pretty old town, beach, history, artistic, active, decadent, and then switch it up entirely the next without much effort. Indeed, we think it’s perfectly possible for one set of visitors to have a very different set of plans or itinerary to another, but both leave with a very positive impression.

The other great thing about Nice is that it’s a fantastic base from which you can easily explore more of the French Riviera and beyond on independent or group day trips. The trains along the coast are regular, reliable, and affordable, whilst several destinations are so close together that you can meaningfully visit several in a single day (and nobody in your group has to skimp on the wine at lunch!)

Whether it’s the glamour of Monaco, the beaches of Villefranche Sur Mer, the lemons of Menton or the fragrances of Grasse, all are within easy reach in less than an hour.

In this guide, we’ve shared the very best day trips from Nice along with advice on how to do them independently with public transport or rental car, as well as suggestions for highly-rated day trip tours. So, whether you’re combining a few places on a single excursion or using Nice as a base to slowly explore the Riviera and beyond, you’ll find somewhere perfect for your travel style.

These are the best day trips from Nice, France.

The Lemon Town of Menton

Famed for its sunshine and microclimate, Menton is the last stop before France turns into Italy.

A painted old town of pinks, oranges and every shade of lemon yellow that rises up from the bay, it has a menu borrowed from Italy and an unpretentious air of quiet authenticity that can feel lacking elsewhere along the Riviera.

The fact that it’s got several decent beaches as well makes it pretty much perfect.

Sometimes referred to as the ‘Pearl of France’ - even though it only became French in 1860 - it has sun for the vast majority of the year and grew famous in the 19th and 20th centuries due to the many English aristocrats and artists drawn in by the rumoured restorative properties of its weather and fresh air on all manner of respiratory illnesses.

Visit Menton Independently | It is super easy to visit Menton from Nice independently! Simply hop on the regular train service that connects various popular destinations along the Riviera. From Nice-Ville station, the journey time is less than 40 minutes and costs just €4.10 each way

You can check departure times here - note that the station you want is Menton, not ‘Menton Garavan’ which is the next one along.

Take a Tour to Menton | As Menton is so accessible by train, there aren’t a huge number of tours from Nice - with the exception of this one popular full-day option which takes you over to a market across the border in Italy, Menton and then finishes up with the famous Monaco view from La Turbie.

If the idea of nipping across to Italy one a day trip from Nice has tickled your fancy, take a look at this super highly-rated tour along the Italian Riviera for a little slice of la dolce vita on your French holiday!

Plan / A Curated Guide To Menton

Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer is undeniably one of the most beautiful destinations on the French Riviera.

Situated just a stone's throw away from Nice, this idyllic medieval seaside town nestled in a scooped out deepwater bay captures the essence of this corner of Europe.

With its colourful clustered town tumbling down the hill toward the sea, it brought back fond memories of nearby Cinque Terre in Italy, but underpinned by that unmistakable ambience of wealth and exclusivity which permeates parts of the Cote d'Azur.

Visit Villefranche-sur-Mer Independently | Given Villefranche’s proximity to Nice, there’s several super easy ways to reach the village. You can take the train (which handily terminates in the centre of the village and costs €4.20 for a return ticket), jump on the number 80 bus (find timetables and stops on the Lignes d’Azur website), walk the one hour coastal trail or hire a bike and cycle between the two destinations.

We recommend heading over to our guide to Villefranche-sur-Mer for full details on how to visit independently, and some inspiration to plan your own day trip from Nice.

Take a Tour to Villefranche-sur-Mer | There are a few tours from Nice which focus on or include Villefranche as a destination, and our picks include:

This popular and highly rated e-bike tour takes you all the way to Fort du Mont Alban
If you’d like to experience the French Riviera by boat, consider this two-hour tour which has excellent reviews, is well-priced and travels from Nice to Monaco, Eze, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and the bay of Villefranche-Sur-Mer (plus includes time for swimming).
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to maximise your time in the water, this tour speedboats you out to Villefranche Bay for lots of snorkelling in the crystal clear waters.

Plan / The Best Things To Do In Villefranche-sur-Mer

The Scents Of Grasse

The wonderfully pretty French town of Grasse, just north of Cannes and an easy drive from Nice, is an incredibly popular day-trip destination for those holidaying in the south of France. The reason?

It makes things smell divine.

Unofficially regarded as the perfume capital of the world and the birthplace of many a fragrance, Grasse offers an opportunity for visitors to challenge and develop one of the most underrated of our senses and to, quite literally, wake up and smell the roses.

Visit Grasse Independently | Trains run hourly from Nice to Grasse, with a journey time of just over an hour and a single ticket costing €9.60 per person.

Alternatively, you can take the Nice Grasse bus service (the #500) departing from the Albert 1er / Verdun bus station. Travel time is around 90 minutes, and tickets cost €1.50 each way (unfortunately the time table is difficult to source online).

If you have your own vehicle or a rental car, navigating your way in and around Grasse is quite simple - we recommend parking in the secure multi-storey underground carpark close on Cours Honoré Cresp - here on Google Maps. In Europe, we suggest looking + booking via RentalCars or AutoEurope.

Take a Tour to Grasse | This tour is particularly highly rated and includes Gourdon, Cite des Violettes and the medieval village of Saint Paul de Vence the pearl of Provence, alongside lots of time in Grasse.

Plan / Our Favourite Things To Do in Grasse

The Glitz Of Monaco

This tiny principality is a short drive from Nice and perfect for a day trip. With a reputation for the rich, famous, and glamorous, there is still plenty to pack into a day trip for the rest of us!

Explore the old town’s cobblestone streets, stroll past the frescos of the state apartments of the Royal Family of Monaco and time your visit around the changing of the guard each morning at 11.55am. You can also visit the Palais and see Prince Albert’s vintage car collection.

If you prefer more time outdoors, consider a stop in Monaco's gardens, including the Princess Grace Rose Garden.

End the day trip with a stop at Monte Carlo Casino and Opera House. The building is stunning inside and out, but if you want to go inside note that you must bring ID and men must wear a jacket and tie.

Visit Monaco Independently | There are a couple of ways to get to Monaco from Nice, but the most pleasant is by ferry. Journey time is around 45 minutes and it offers a beautiful way to see the French Riviera coastline - buy your tickets here.

Alternatively opt for the train, which takes around 25 minutes.

You can theoretically also drive there but given there are such scenic public transport alternatives, we wouldn’t recommend it.

Take a Tour to Monaco | If you’d like to combine your visit to Monte Carlo with a handful of other popular destinations on the French Riviera, this is a great option for a small-group tour

It takes in the views of Nice from Mount Baron, then heads across to the medieval village of Eze and a tour of a French perfumery, before taking you to Monaco and Monte Carlo - find out more here.

Ancient Antibes

Built by the Ancient Greeks, Antibes is one of the more ancient towns along the French Riviera.

It’s home to the first museum dedicated to Pablo Picasso, who lived here for about 20 years and donated a number of worked displayed within Château Grimaldi, the 14th-century home of the Monaco Royal Family.

The town also has one of the most impressive marinas on the Riviera, whilst 16th century Fort Carré fortress-turned-prison is one of its main tourist attractions.

Visit Antibes Independently | Another easy location to access by train from Nice, with journeys taking less than 30 minutes. The last train is just before 10pm so there is plenty of time to explore if you set off later in the morning too!

Take a Tour to Antibes | This is another great option to included on a multi-town day trip along the coast.

If you only have a single day to explore the Riviera, then consider this epic full-day tour that visits Eze, Monaco, and Saint-Paul-De-Vence. You can book the tour as a group or private, with the latter giving you a more personalised experience.

The Village of Eze

Home to just 2,000 people, this tiny medieval village is one of the most picturesque places in the area, and remains largely unspoilt by modern influences. If you haven’t visited the south of France before, being ever so slightly inland, Eze is a lovely alternative to the glitzy coastal towns mentioned elsewhere as Nice day trips.

Be sure to visit the 18th-century Notre Dame de l’Assomption (maps) and take in the views from the hill, and get lost in Eze’s Jardin Exotique (maps) which provides stunning views across the coastline.

Another traditional and famous place to visit in Eze is the Fragonard Parfum Factory and Musee, where they have been producing perfume using traditional techniques for 100 years - it makes for the perfect souvenir from your trip to France! If you’re not visiting their fragrance workshop in Grasse, we highly recommend taking the time here.

Visit Eze Independently | It is entirely possible to get to Eze by train however be aware that the train station is on the coastline and the walk up the hill can be quite a trek (and not ideal if you have limited mobility).

Alternatively, there is a bus direct from Nice to Eze village (bus number 82) which allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

If you have a car, it’s an easy 30-minute drive to reach the village but do be aware that given the size of Eze, parking can be quite tricky.

Take a Tour to Eze | If you prefer to take a guided tour, then you can combine a Nice day trip to Eze with one or two other places on the Riviera.

This popular full-day tour is great as you have a nice amount of time in Eze to explore before heading to Monaco and Monte Carlo. This highly-rated small group tour offers a similar experience, and includes a tour of the perfume factory.

The Glamour of Saint Tropez

You may know Saint Tropez as a luxurious destination on the French Riviera, however it was a sleepy fishing town until artists such as Henri Matisse and the stars of old Hollywood arrived.

Now Saint Tropez is a hub of luxury shopping, designer beach clubs and opulent yachts of the rich and famous. Whilst a beach club may not be high on your list of things to do on a day trip from Nice, if you are going to do it in style, then this is the place to go!

Aside from that, you can stroll the pretty streets and shuttered Provence houses, climb to the Citadel for views across the Mediterranean, and visit the little museum to learn about the pre-Hollywood history of the town.

If you’re feeling inspired by the opulence, visit Dior Des Lices (maps), a gorgeous cafe attached to the Dior boutique which offers beautifully plated dishes in a pretty courtyard setting surrounded by vines and flowers.

Visit Saint Tropez Independently | Unfortunately there isn’t a direct train line between Nice and Saint Tropez but you can take the train to St Raphael Valescure and then a taxi from there to Saint Tropez.

The loveliest way to get to Saint Tropez from Nice would be by boat. Not only is it a delightful way to travel, but you also get to enjoy the views looking back on Cannes, Antibes and smaller towns nestled on the cliffs - a mini non-tour of the French Riviera! Book your return ticket from Nice to Saint Tropez by boat here.

Take a Tour to Saint Tropez | If you’d prefer to visit Saint Tropez with a tour, this excellent option stops at the small seaside town of Sainte-Maxime before taking the boat to Saint Tropez where you can enjoy free time and explore independently. On the way back there are picturesque stops at Port Grimaud and at the Massif de l'Esterel mountain range.

The Verdon Gorge

As the deepest gorge in France and one of the most stunning parts of Provence, the ‘Grand Canyon Europe’ is a worthy contender for your consideration as a day trip from Nice - especially if you prefer the outdoors to wandering towns and cities.

Parts of the lake have white rapids powered by the towering waterfall at Sillans-la-Cascade and, due to the limestone rock of the Gorges du Verdon, the waters run a beautiful turquoise colour. There are a few places you can rent kayaks around the lake and the gorge, or you can just lay down your towel and enjoy swimming in the clear water.

Also, don’t miss that famous viewpoint from the Pont du Galetas!

There are also a few picturesque villages around the gorge that are worth stopping at for lunch and a stroll.

Visit Gorges du Verdon Independently | Whilst it is possible to reach the Verdon Gorge by public transport, it would take a huge amount of time so just isn't worth it. Instead, this is one of the places on our list of best day trips from Nice that you will definitely be better driving to.

The pretty drive from Nice to Verdon Gorge takes around two hours, and you’ll find plenty of parking near Pont du Galetas (maps). From here you can take a boat into the gorge.

As mentioned, we suggest looking + booking via RentalCars or AutoEurope.

If it’s your first time hiring, we also suggest checking out our car rental tips guide.

Take a Tour to Gorges du Verdon | Alternatively, combine a trip to the gorge with a visit to the famous lavender fields of Provence and pretty towns inland with this super popular tour. Travel from Nice to Castellane, a lovely village at the entrance of Verdon Gorge, where there is time to explore the ancient streets before heading into the gorge for a swim. You then stop at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and if you time your trip in early summer you will be at the perfect time for the famous lavender fields at their best.

Alternatively, consider this small-group tour to the Gorge from Nice

Cannes Beyond Cinema

The town of Cannes is more than just the place where annual film festival takes place.

Start your day trip in Le Suquet, exploring the ancient Roman streets and pastel-coloured buildings of the old town, before enjoying with lunch with a view from one of several family-run restaurants. If you have a head for heights, you can climb the bell tower at Notre-Dame d'Espérance for the best panoramas in town.

Later in the day, people watch on La Croisette, the huge avenue packed with luxury hotels and designer boutiques that spans the length of Cannes’ seafront, before watching the sunset at Le Vieux Port.

Visit Cannes Independently | Hop on the train at Nice and arrive in Cannes within 30 minutes, where you can easily get around and explore on foot.

Take a Tour to Cannes | This French Riviera in One Day tour ends the day in Cannes so you can enjoy that sunset at the port after a busy day visiting Monaco, Eze and Saint-Paul-De-Vence.

Saint Paul de Vence

Once a hub of impressionist artists who contributed to the restoration of many parts of this hilltop village, Saint Paul de Vence is now a wonderful quirky medieval place to spend a day.

Stop by for lunch at La Colombe d’Or, a boutique hotel restaurant in the heart of the village (maps). The family-run hotel once welcomed artists and exchanged art for free rooms, and now it is like dining in an art gallery, and the food is typically delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

As you stroll the tiny streets stop by Fontaine de Saint-Paul-de-Vence (maps), a central square fountain built in 1615. It is also a hub for festivals in the town.

For stunning views of the Riviera, head up to the Cimetière de Saint-Paul-de-Vence, where from between the trees you can see the Mediterranean sparkle; it’s the perfect place to rest and enjoy the views. It’s also the burial place of painter Marc Chagall.

Visit Saint Paul de Vence Independently | Getting to Sant Paul de Vence is a little trickier by public transport than most places, but not entirely impossible if you take the day for the trip. Start by taking the train from Nice to Cagnes-sur-Mer (25 minutes), and then jump on the 3-minute bus to Sant Paul de Vence from there.

Alternatively, the journey is around 45 minutes from Nice by car.

Take a Tour to Saint Paul de Vence | Combine a tour to Saint Paul de Vence and a few other medieval villages in the area with this highly-rated tour. You stop in Grasse before heading on to Gourdon and Tourrettes-sur-Loup, finishing the day at Sant Paul de Vence.