Help with the French Riviera

[Cruising-along]

In mid-October our ship will be in Monte Carlo from 8 am to 10 pm.  We have a rental car for the day, and would love any suggestions how to spend our time.

We plan to go to Villefranche and Rothschild Villa.  We've been to Eze and Nice before, looking for some other ideas.  Also any markets along the way?  We love to pick up bread, cheese etc. at markets and picnic.  Unfortunately I see that the market in Villefranche is on days we won't be there.  

 

We'll have a nice long day, hoping to really make the most of it.  We're experienced at DIY and rental cars in France, but haven't spent much time in this area.  Thanks for any help!!

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, Cruising-along said:

In mid-October our ship will be in Monte Carlo from 8 am to 10 pm.  We have a rental car for the day, and would love any suggestions how to spend our time.

We plan to go to Villefranche and Rothschild Villa.  We've been to Eze and Nice before, looking for some other ideas.  Also any markets along the way?  We love to pick up bread, cheese etc. at markets and picnic.  Unfortunately I see that the market in Villefranche is on days we won't be there.  

 

We'll have a nice long day, hoping to really make the most of it.  We're experienced at DIY and rental cars in France, but haven't spent much time in this area.  Thanks for any help!!

We assume you have previously visited the Flower Market in Nice, but this is always a great place to spend a little time in the morning.  You might also want to consider driving over to St Paul de Vence and perhaps also visiting the nearby Maeght Foundation.

 

Hank

[marazul]

Ditto what Hank says.  Also, don't worry about not having markets to buy your picnic food.  The traîteurs (delis) will be open.  That will be an excellent experience and you will get good advice on your picnic goodies.  They will have, bread, cheese, wine, prepared foods, etc.

 

The Villa Rotschild is in St Jean-Cap Ferrat.  There are a number of seaside restaurants in the port of St Jean for lunch (also in Villefranche).  The Villa Kerylos is in Beaulieu-sur-Mer nearby and well worth visiting. You will drive past it on your way back to Monaco. 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Greek+Villa+Kerylos/@43.697096,7.3272068,15.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x477effa64ee03450!8m2!3d43.7031823!4d7.3338944

 

On such a long day you could stop at the Nice market first and go to Saint-Paul-de-Vence.  Then go to Villefranche, The Villa Rotschild, St Jean and the Villa Kerylos.

[Cruising-along]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

We assume you have previously visited the Flower Market in Nice, but this is always a great place to spend a little time in the morning.  You might also want to consider driving over to St Paul de Vence and perhaps also visiting the nearby Maeght Foundation.

 

Hank

Thank you!  No, we haven't been to the Flower Market in Nice.  I just looked it up, it looks fabulous! I have added these suggestions to my list, so excited 🙂  

42 minutes ago, marazul said:

Ditto what Hank says.  Also, don't worry about not having markets to buy your picnic food.  The traîteurs (delis) will be open.  That will be an excellent experience and you will get good advice on your picnic goodies.  They will have, bread, cheese, wine, prepared foods, etc.

 

The Villa Rotschild is in St Jean-Cap Ferrat.  There are a number of seaside restaurants in the port of St Jean for lunch (also in Villefranche).  The Villa Kerylos is in Beaulieu-sur-Mer nearby and well worth visiting. You will drive past it on your way back to Monaco. 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Greek+Villa+Kerylos/@43.697096,7.3272068,15.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x477effa64ee03450!8m2!3d43.7031823!4d7.3338944

 

On such a long day you could stop at the Nice market first and go to Saint-Paul-de-Vence.  Then go to Villefranche, The Villa Rotschild, St Jean and the Villa Kerylos.

Thank you so much.  I like your plan. I know what you mean about picnic food, usually we do end up stopping at a deli and have had wonderful picnics.  We usually "wing it" and start looking when we're hungry, we haven't starved yet 😉  

It's so nice to know that we can do all this, love those longer port days!

[marazul]

In that case, don't miss the Flower Market as your first stop.  Don't fail to have "socca" as your first true niçois snack.  Thérèse's socca stand is at the center of the market right in front of the church. 

 

For lunch at a restaurant, have a salade niçoise or the "plat du jour" accompanied by a pichet of rosé wine.  At a stand or a deli, have a "pan bagnat," basically, a salade niçoise in a round roll.  

 

And you will never starve in France. 😉

Edited April 14, 2019 by marazul