What to do in Villafranche and Toulon

[cari110]

My husband and I are traveling in June on the Voyager with my two daughters, 18 and 20, and their boyfriends...We begin in Barcelona with two nights and days for sightseeing...then the cruise...we will do the three Italian ports with a tour company (Romeinlimo), but are undecided about the two France ports...the teens/young adults don't want to do "tours" all 5 days...also thought it would be cheaper to do France on our own...I read that we can walk to a bus in Villafranche and take it to Nice...is it easy to do? I thought we could do that and leisurely shop, eat, etc. and not do too much historical stuff...and then I am thinking of renting a car in Toulon and driving to Cassis...Is it easy to find your way from Toulon to Cassis? Do you think Nice and Cassis are good places to visit for young adults who are not interested in too much historical stuff? Thanks for any advice/help!

[texancruzer]

My husband and I are traveling in June on the Voyager with my two daughters, 18 and 20, and their boyfriends...We begin in Barcelona with two nights and days for sightseeing...then the cruise...we will do the three Italian ports with a tour company (Romeinlimo), but are undecided about the two France ports...the teens/young adults don't want to do "tours" all 5 days...also thought it would be cheaper to do France on our own...I read that we can walk to a bus in Villafranche and take it to Nice...is it easy to do? I thought we could do that and leisurely shop, eat, etc. and not do too much historical stuff...and then I am thinking of renting a car in Toulon and driving to Cassis...Is it easy to find your way from Toulon to Cassis? Do you think Nice and Cassis are good places to visit for young adults who are not interested in too much historical stuff? Thanks for any advice/help!

 

Hmmmm I think that Monaco/Monte Carlo (a short distance the "other" way from Nice) would be a better fit for the younger crowd you have traveling with you. While Nice is pretty with the Promenade de Anglais (sp?) Monte Carlo has shopping the two girls will LOVE! The "rock" with the palace, Jacques Cousteau Oceanagraphic Museum and other sites is pretty cool too. Cafe de Paris is right outside the casino and sitting outside people watching is very fun ! The Bentleys, Jaguars, Rolls Royces etc pull up and leave all the time. - Another option is to head to Eze. A mountaintop village carved out of rock.......just really neat. Fragonard perfume factory there, great eateries for lunch, awesome views of the coast etc.....

 

We actually did a ships tour at this port - tendered into Villefranche then to Nice, then Eze and finally Monaco/Monte Carlo. Not one bit of history in the whole day. Just a very interesting and varied day.

 

In Toulon, we took a 1/2 day tour to Aix-en-Provence. Very cool town. Very french - very provencial...... got back to the ship early afternoon and relaxed. This was our last port before disembarking in Barcelona and we were tired ! so worked out well.

[amwosu]

If you chose to do as texancruzer suggests and go to Monaco I've already done some preplanning that might help you as well.

(Villefranche Port) Monte Carlo 6 miles or Nice 3 miles

From the tender pier in Villafranche walk down street (keep the water on your right) to steps (on your left) leading to the tiny train station above the beach (follow the crowd from ship). Take train towards Monte Carlo- to your right as you look inland from the water. (16 min train ride to Monaco) Another option is to take #1 bus to Monaco (approx 30 min).

Monaco The Grimaldi family, of Genoese descent, has ruled Monaco as an independent nation since 1297, with a few 19th-century interruptions. A tax haven, playground of the ultrarich and their yachts, jet-setting gamblers, and home of the Grand Prix Monaco.

-In Monte Carlo grab a taxi up to Monaco Ville (Old Town) the rocky promontory overlooking the 1 sq mi. principality where the Palace, the Oceanographic Museum, the Cathedral and most of the State buildings are located. Fantastic 360º views of Fontvieille, the Port, Monte Carlo and beyond.

-Cheaper than a taxi is to take the lift (elevator) from the Port to the Oceanographic Museum

Walk to the end of the old port and around the Rock, by the sea, to the Quai des Pêcheurs car park. At the back of the car park is a lift to the top, and then an escalator which comes out right at the Oceanographic Museum

Le Musée Océanographique started in 1910 by Prince Albert the 1st but long associated with Jacques Cousteau, director for 30+ yrs 9.30am- 7pm, April- Sept, and until 7.30pm July & Aug Closes on the day of the Grand Prix

Tourist Train Departure near Musee Oceanographique. Commentary in English, Italian, German and French. Passes Monaco Port, Monte Carlo and its Palaces, the Casino and gardens & returning to Old Town with its City Hall and the magnificent Prince’s Palace. 30 min. Runs daily in Summer: 10:00AM to 5:00

St. Nicholas Cathedral near Oceanographic Museum built in 1875 on the site of a medieval church. The Cathedral contains the tombs of the Monaco royal family, including Princess Grace and Prince Rainier. Admission to the cathedral is normally free.

Palais Princier (Monaco Palace) Open daily 9:30AM-6:30 PM May-September

Official residence of Prince Albert II. Original fortress built in 1215 and added onto for centuries into one of the most luxurious residences in the world. http://www.palais.mc/monaco/x-net/internet-palais-princier/english/museums-et-culture/the-state-apartments/the-state-apartments.370.html

Monaco Yacht Harbor home of conspicuous consumption and frequent home to many of the largest 100 yachts in the world. Atlantis II, Longest yacht in the harbour whose home berth is Port Hercule. Rarely leaves the port & visible from space on the Google map. One of the largest private yachts in the world, despite her age, once owned by Stavros Niarchos, the Greek tycoon. Lady Moura, The yacht that catches most visitors' attention & can be seen much of the year, although her home berth is in Spain. True prototype of the megayacht. She was the first to hide away tenders and external fittings to create a sleek exterior. Pelorus and Ecstasea Most stylistically stunning yachts may well be the yachts of Russian oil tycoon Roman Abramovich. Look for them during the Grand Prix and visits by his fotaball teams CSKA Moskow or Chelsea. Sokar owned by Mohammed al-Fayed, where the courting couple Dodi and Di met. Churchill discussed Yalta with Eisenhower on SS Delphine. Pacha III is Princess Caroline's beautiful antique yacht. Athena was the world's largest private sailing yacht in 2005 and owned by Netscape and Silicon Graphics co-founder Jim Clark.

Grand Casino Monegasques are not allowed to gamble in their own casinos, and passports are checked to enforce this law. There are very strict dress codes in the Grand Casino. Men need to wear coat and tie, and tennis shoes are a no no.

Train back from Monaco to Villefrance.

Villefranche delightful small town with lovely small beach. To reach the historic district in Villefranche walk up stairs a few steps to the right when you have exited the tender wharf. Two hours to explore here is plenty. From Villefranche you can walk to the Rothschild Mansion and gardens and hang out watching yachts at Cap Ferrat

Beaulieu-sur-Mer (the next train station to the south of Villefranche) is also a quaint village that is even more sophisticated than Villefranche and well worth the effort to get there. One can walk along the beach in Villefranche and follow the stairway across the isthmus to Beaulieu-Sur-Mar's village, parks and beaches.

[Cruise Junky]

^^ Wow! Nice planning :)

 

If I were that age, I'd definitely be more interested in Monaco

[texancruzer]

Amwosu: very nice planning ! One bit of info tho.....we found the casino to be a bit more tolerant during the day with the dress code. Many of those (men and woment) on our tour went in and they had on slacks, shirts and coat jackets (not suit type but it was late Nov. and cool outside) Not a tie in the bunch either ;)

 

Also - there was a fee to go in (don't know the amt) but our tour guide had "freebies". Everyone said it wasnt what they thought it was - dark and alot said they did not recognize most of the table games. Not sure if anyone actually gambled.

 

Just fyi :D

[amwosu]

Thanks for letting me know the dress code in the casino is a bit more relaxed during the day. We aren't gamblers but its nice to know we may be able to pop in to check it out without getting glammed up.

[numbersix]

We stopped in Toulon, as a last minute change as there were protests going on at the port in Marseilles in May of 2008 (Fishermen, protesting over high fuel costs at the time). On the advice of the TI in the terminal, we rented a car and explored the coast, stopping in Sanary-sur-Mer, Bandol, and lunch and afternoon in Cassis. Bandol we found to be just so-so, but we loved Sanary and Cassis--both very French, and very picturesque. Lots of fun restaurants on the harbour in Cassis. Driving in France is fun, with good signage. Driving in the city (like Toulon) is more of a challenge, but a good map and common sense will get you back.

 

Kevin

[Schplinky]

could you take the train to Sanary?

[Cruise Junky]

could you take the train to Sanary?

 

Yes, it looks to be about an 8 minute trip. I put dates for February which the train runs anywhere from 90 minute - 30 minute intervals. Probably more frequent in the Summer Months.

 

Not finally going to book Europe are you? ;)

[Schplinky]

Yes, it looks to be about an 8 minute trip. I put dates for February which the train runs anywhere from 90 minute - 30 minute intervals. Probably more frequent in the Summer Months.

 

Not finally going to book Europe are you? ;)

 

We're booked but we're not sure we're going. It's complicated.

[Cruise Junky]

It's complicated.

 

Too funny! Good luck