Although closer to the seafront, there are plenty of places to spend the night. You can rent accommodation here for the weekend or sit in a restaurant while cruising on the Signature Sailing Charter.
All roads to Villefranche-sur-Mer go through Nice, whose airport is about 15 km from the resort. For this reason, the most convenient and scenic way to reach this picturesque resort is by catamaran if travelling as a family or as a couple.
Book in advance for the Signature Sailing Charter catamaran to depart from Nice or Monaco port in the morning or afternoon. You can enjoy lunch, sunbathing, a sailing masterclass or even a bit of water fun on board the catamaran from 6 to 18 in the evening. And all these extras are available for free in March, April, May or June with special offers. Click on the link to find out more.
This small seaside town has a delightfully authentic local atmosphere. Unlike towns such as St Paul de Vence and Eze, it is first and foremost a city of locals and only secondarily a tourist destination.
With its colourful buildings, seaside restaurants and wonderful location between Nice and Monaco the quiet and charming Villefranche-sur-Mer is not to be missed. Perhaps that's why rock'n'roll royalty such as Kate Richards and Tina Turner own villas here.
The locals call themselves Villefrancheuse, and they are mostly of Italian descent. The city is home to around 5,000 residents and the solidarity of the locals makes it a more genuine community compared to the rest of the French Riviera.
Villefranche-sur-Mer sights
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small resort town not far from Nice, on the coast of the bay of the same name stretching up the slope. The upper streets of the city offer spectacular views of the bay, beaches and rooftops. When vacationing on the Côte d'Azur, you can't miss the opportunity to visit this paradisiacal destination.
Despite the city's compact size there is plenty to see and do. Not only the museums of this cosy place, but also the streets and monuments of the old town hold a rich history.
At the heart of this charming place is the Baroque Church of St Michel. It's worth popping inside to refresh yourself after the heat of the sun to see unique works of art, as well as an ancient organ.
The old St Peter's Chapel, whose walls are decorated with frescoes, is a must-see. Among the artists is Jean Cocteau himself, the famous writer and director who once lived in this charming place (a bust in his memory is in the city harbour).
Parallel to the seafront is the quaint Rue d'Aubscure. Almost entirely shielded from light, it looks more like a tunnel. This medieval escape looks a little mystical, but it provides shelter from the heat and a good place to buy some cheese and wine.
Part of the town is elevated
Some streets turn into stairs, while others are serpentine. Locals who live on the slopes have amazing views right from their front yards.
This harbour town is usually overshadowed by its famous neighbours, but it's an ideal place for a relaxing evening and dinner by the marina while sailing on the Signature Sailing catamaran.
The beach here is also a good alternative to the crowded Nice and the pastel-coloured buildings are sure to pop up in your Instagram feed.
The hills of Villefranche serve as the city's boundary within the French Riviera. The brick and stucco houses of its Old Town are situated on the hills and adorn it with their colours. Along the road on the hillside, the rooftops of the houses across the bay offer picturesque views.
With its fabulous scenery, fine restaurants, historic sites and even the peculiarities of the local villages, this idyllic town retains an authentic Mediterranean atmosphere.
Beach holidays
Yet the main attraction is the quiet, pleasant beaches on the Mediterranean Sea: the central, gently sloping and sandy Marinières beach, the small Darse and Angers Gardien. There are never too many people here and the wonderfully clear waters and covering of sand or fine pebbles make Villefranche-sur-Mer's beaches ideal even for families with children.
Many tourists are attracted to the beach. The beach is not covered in sand but in very fine pebbles, but this is hardly noticeable. The descent into the water is gentle, but you find yourself in deep water quite quickly.
The water in the bay is very clean and clear, just like a tear from an offended Icelandic girl. Even at depth you can see the seabed and a lot of blue fish around. And you can hide from the heat here in the shade of the conifers. Because the bay of Villefranche is surrounded by hills, the sea remains calm even in windy conditions.
Many yachts and large cruise liners call at this point. No berths are available for the big ferries. That's why they anchor in the bay. The passengers are taken to the shore by motorboats or catamarans. On such days, all the seaside restaurants can be crowded with tourists.
Getting to Villefranche from Monaco or Cannes?
The Signature Sailing Charter offers boat trips to Villefranche-sur-Mer, not only from Nice, but also from Monaco and Cannes.
You can book a boat trip to Villefranche:
- It can be a 1-day itinerary around the resort town;
- A 2-day itinerary for a weekend or at a time of your choice with an overnight stay on a catamaran;
- You can also choose an itinerary of 3 or more days for a boat trip on the Côte d'Azur with a visit to Villefranche-sur-Mer for 1 day.
Signature Sailing Charter offer a full range of services to organise your holiday on the Côte d'Azur, Italy and Greece!
Book it now and travel later! Your sea cruise will be in complete comfort, accompanied by a crew of three: a captain, a chef and a stewardess.
Signature Concept for 8 guests with comfortable cabins;
Signature Vision for 10 guests with comfortable cabins.
Take advantage of our hot offer:
A boat trip to Villefranche-sur-Mer for 1, 2 or more days with a discount of 5 to 10%. Find out more at the link.
We wish you a fabulous holiday!
Monaco
Antibes
Cannes
Nice
Portofino
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Lerin Islands
Côte d'Azur
