Villefranche-Things to do near ship?

[ahornb]

Is there much to do within walking distance of the ship at the port of Villefranche (ie. shopping, cafe/restaurants, fancy yachts to look at)?

[tahoemw]

I was on the Voyager and we were tendered to the port; there are a lot of shops and cafes as soon as you get out of the port area; and also they have brochures with maps and coupons for the perfume factory;

[ahornb]

I was on the Voyager and we were tendered to the port; there are a lot of shops and cafes as soon as you get out of the port area; and also they have brochures with maps and coupons for the perfume factory;

 

Thanks!

[moyaroo]

Walking distance from the tender pier cafes and a small church which was decorated by Jean Cocteau a most unusual choice of church design.

[ahornb]

Walking distance from the tender pier cafes and a small church which was decorated by Jean Cocteau a most unusual choice of church design.

 

Thanks!

[rsquare]

If you're there on a Sunday, there is a flea market right next to the Welcome hotel.

[TLCOhio]

On June 8, Wednesday, 10 am to 8 pm, we are scheduled to be tendered in Villefranche. We have previously visited Eze, Nice, Monaco and Cannes. For our group of four, we are probably going to do a car here, seeing smaller villages, nearby country areas. Which places would folks suggest and rank highly?

 

We are seeking more of the country beauty, history, architectural interest, etc. Some have suggested Saint-Paul, maybe visit the Fondation Maeght, for Modern Art, continue from there to Vence, to Gorge-du-Loup for a visit to a bonbon factory, and drive up through the gorge to medieval Gourdon (the view is even more spectacular there, then from St. Paul), stop in Grasse, etc. Reactions and other options to consider?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 26,450 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Hlitner]

On June 8, Wednesday, 10 am to 8 pm, we are scheduled to be tendered in Villefranche. We have previously visited Eze, Nice, Monaco and Cannes. For our group of four, we are probably going to do a car here, seeing smaller villages, nearby country areas. Which places would folks suggest and rank highly?

 

We are seeking more of the country beauty, history, architectural interest, etc. Some have suggested Saint-Paul, maybe visit the Fondation Maeght, for Modern Art, continue from there to Vence, to Gorge-du-Loup for a visit to a bonbon factory, and drive up through the gorge to medieval Gourdon (the view is even more spectacular there, then from St. Paul), stop in Grasse, etc. Reactions and other options to consider?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

We usually rent a car when in France (be it on a cruise or an extended vacation) and its the best way to really see this country. As to ranking options our number #1 place would easily be St Paul de Vence. One nice thing about going to St Paul is that there is a large indoor parking garage just outside the main entrance to the walled city. You might want to couple a visit to St Paul de Vence with some time in Antibes since these two cities are total opposites in many ways.

 

Hank

[TLCOhio]

We usually rent a car when in France (be it on a cruise or an extended vacation) and its the best way to really see this country. As to ranking options our number #1 place would easily be St Paul de Vence. One nice thing about going to St Paul is that there is a large indoor parking garage just outside the main entrance to the walled city. You might want to couple a visit to St Paul de Vence with some time in Antibes since these two cities are total opposites in many ways. Hank

 

THANKS, Hank, for the excellent feed-back! Keep the great ideas rolling in. Have copied and save in my computer file your suggestions. Agree that a car gives you excellent flexibility to visit different places on your own and avoid some of the "bus tour" crowds and delays. With a car, you can stop and do what you want, getting key pictures, etc.

 

Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 26,550 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[vadell]

When we were in Villefranche we visited the Rothschild villa and then walked around town. The villa was not overly large but the grounds were lovely, we took a bus there as we were not actually sure of distance but walked back, it was one of our favourite cruise stops. We actually liked the fact that we were tendered it meant we had a lovely view from the balcony when we woke in the morning and we were able to take some very nice photos of our ship from the villa.

[TLCOhio]

When we were in Villefranche we visited the Rothschild villa and then walked around town. The villa was not overly large but the grounds were lovely, we took a bus there as we were not actually sure of distance but walked back, it was one of our favourite cruise stops. We actually liked the fact that we were tendered it meant we had a lovely view from the balcony when we woke in the morning and we were able to take some very nice photos of our ship from the villa.

 

THANKS for these great points and details. Very helpful and interesting. I found this website

http://www.villa-ephrussi.com/en/ephrussi/

that had lots of great visuals and added details on this villa and its magical gardens. Will be adding this to the list.

 

Like the idea for the photo shots that can be had from the ship docked in the harbor.

 

Keep the great ideas rolling. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 26,900 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[carolinaski]

We are looking for a beach near Villefranche. We want to take the train to Nice and have a beach day. Any suggestions and any recommendations on stops/ bus v train?

[Hlitner]

We are looking for a beach near Villefranche. We want to take the train to Nice and have a beach day. Any suggestions and any recommendations on stops/ bus v train?

 

Taking the train or bus (easier and cheaper) from Villefranche to Nice is very easy. However, you need to understand that beaches in this part of Europe are pretty awful by USA standards with most beaches having lots of pebbles or rocks. However, if you are happy to be on that kind of beach there is an OK beach right in Villefranche. There also is a large rocky beach in Nice. We are always amazed at the stretches of sand and rocks that the Europeans consider decent beaches. On our side of the Atlantic folks would not even bother with these rocky strips of sand. For us the best public beach in the region of Villefranche is all the way over in Cannes (a good hour by train).

 

Hank

[Can'tstopcruising]

We are looking for a beach near Villefranche. We want to take the train to Nice and have a beach day. Any suggestions and any recommendations on stops/ bus v train?

 

Cannes has a sandy beach. So does Juan les Pins, which is a little bit closer.

[holiday addict]

Some of the Atlantic Floridian beaches are pretty manky in my opinion, and I certainly dont think the beach in Nice ro Cannes are taht bad, having visited taht area several times.However they are in a big city so you cant expect that good.

[Eileen G]

Here is a picture of the beach in Villefrenche. It is a easy walk from where the tender lets you off. It is a mixture of sand and pebbles.

 

 

 

Here is a picture of the beach in Nice which is mostly rocks.

 

Both these pictures were taken on the same day at the begining of June. There are several places in Nice to rent beachchairs and umbrellas.

[carolinaski]

Thanks Eileen!

[marylizcat]

Taking the train or bus (easier and cheaper) from Villefranche to Nice is very easy. However, you need to understand that beaches in this part of Europe are pretty awful by USA standards with most beaches having lots of pebbles or rocks. However, if you are happy to be on that kind of beach there is an OK beach right in Villefranche. There also is a large rocky beach in Nice. We are always amazed at the stretches of sand and rocks that the Europeans consider decent beaches. On our side of the Atlantic folks would not even bother with these rocky strips of sand. For us the best public beach in the region of Villefranche is all the way over in Cannes (a good hour by train).

 

Hank

 

I think you need to understand that these sort of little pebbly beaches are not considered by Europeans to be 'decent beaches'! They are not places to go to to spend a week or more on a beach holiday. They just happen to be convenient either for locals or day visitors such as cruisers. There are plenty of wonderful large sandy beaches in the Med, but mostly they are not next to where cruise ships dock!

[Hlitner]

I think you need to understand that these sort of little pebbly beaches are not considered by Europeans to be 'decent beaches'! They are not places to go to to spend a week or more on a beach holiday. They just happen to be convenient either for locals or day visitors such as cruisers. There are plenty of wonderful large sandy beaches in the Med, but mostly they are not next to where cruise ships dock!

 

Really? You could sure fool me when we see folks paying big Euros to spend time on the rocky beaches around Nice, Antibes, etc. Sure, there are some wonderful beaches in the Med, but most of them are in the Greek Islands.....not on the mainland. This is why our English friends choose to fly to Rhodes or Mallorca. We do know of some exceptions such as the beaches in Biarritz or nearby San Sebastian, Sitges, etc etc but as a rule most of the mainland Med beaches (outside of Greece and Turkey) are underwhelming.

[jonj]

Is the bus going to Nice easy to find once off the tender and in Villefranche?

We were also thinking of just hiring a taxi to take us around upon arrival, are they readily available? Does anyone know what it should approximately cost?

 

TIA

[Eileen G]

Is the bus going to Nice easy to find once off the tender and in Villefranche?

We were also thinking of just hiring a taxi to take us around upon arrival, are they readily available? Does anyone know what it should approximately cost?

 

TIA

 

You have to wind your way up through the streets until you get to the main road that goes to Nice. You can take either the 100 bus or the 81 bus. The 81 bus is much less crowded.

[DVC Annie]

Here is a picture of the beach in Villefrenche. It is a easy walk from where the tender lets you off. It is a mixture of sand and pebbles.

 

 

 

Here is a picture of the beach in Nice which is mostly rocks.

 

Both these pictures were taken on the same day at the begining of June. There are several places in Nice to rent beachchairs and umbrellas.

 

 

We will be in Villefranche in August on a Disney cruise...also looking for some beach time...I had seen pictures of these beaches before where they were PACKED and I thought the one in Villefranche looked quite smallish...this picture looks like it stretches on pretty far... Any idea how long it really is??

 

Does anybody think it's worth schleping to Cannes to find a better (sandy) beach?? Is the best way to get to Cannes by train?? How long does it take and is it worth it???

 

We were thinking of trying to do some beach time in Villefranche then take the train to Nice for the afternoon... Not sure what the best plan is?!:rolleyes:

[Eileen G]

It is really best to go to the furthest place first when DYI. We went to Nice on the bus in the morning while the market was open and took our time. The bus drops you off right at old town while the train station is a quite a walk away. In the afternoon we went to the beach in Villefrench. Since we were within walking distance of the tenders we didn't need to worry about missing the ship. If you are there on a weekday it might not be too crowded.