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Commune in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Photo: Tom Corser, CC BY-SA 2.0 uk via Wikimedia Commons
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small beach resort and residential town (population 5,000 in 2017) on the French Riviera. The deep water harbour is home to Mediterranean cruise boats, whose tenders routinely disgorge several thousand passengers on organised trips to nearby Eze Village and Monaco. It sports excellent restaurants and a coarse sandy beach much favoured over Nice's stony bay. Convenient harbour car parking attracts visitors from Monaco and along the Riviera. The Citadelle st Elme dates back to antiquity and the town offers easy access to the millionaires peninsula of St Jean Cap Ferrat.
Great atmosphere, friendly service and a good position. Good children's menu. A family of two adults and four children can eat well for about €100.
A great little lunch place on the main street in the center of town. Salads, fantastic omelettes, and cheap prices. Between €5 and €10.
Probably the best value in town and very friendly. Slightly unglamorous position but bags of charm.
Perched on the rocks between the infinite blue sea and sky, L’Apogée de Villefranche, is an exceptional contemporary villa rental, for your luxury voyage on the Côte d'Azur.
Clean, mid-priced hotel with garden, city, and seaside views. Enjoy the hotel's private garden terrace and quaint features.
Legendary haunt of Jean Cocteau and as good as it sounds.
The residence is built on terraces which face the bay, in the heart of a garden of palm trees and flower beds with a variety of Mediterranean plants.The beach is a short walk away, with no roads to cross. Services and shops can be found 2 km away. There are easy links with Nice, Menton, Monaco and Ventimiglia by the RCA bus line or train. A public beach of pebbles is accessible on foot by steps, 300 m away, with no roads to cross
Lovely hotel with very helpful owners. About 20 min walk uphill from water with lovely views, great breakfast and 2 min from major bus-stop to surrounding towns. Close to shops. Light, clean rooms. Worth upgrading to the sea view room €100 per night.
The route by car from the Basse Corniche down to the old town and waterfront is very tricky in the high season due to the narrow streets and heavy traffic, coaches etc.
Read in the guideThe town is best seen on foot. It is a relatively easy bicycle ride from Nice--there and on to Cap Ferrat and back to Nice should only take 5 hours max.Stick to the lower road
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Nice, Alpes-Maritimes · International · NCE
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