NICE-suggestions for must see's at the end of a tour day

[Travel To Be Free]

We've been to the South of France, however, will have family with us on our upcoming cruise that haven't.  We will tender into Villefranche and will hire transport for the day.  We'll spend 2 hours in Monte Carlo and 3 hours in Eze.  Then I'm trying to plan our "Nice" portion of our day.  

 

I'm considering doing just a "driving tour" with a few stops for photo-ops.  Would like to go down the Promenade des Anglaise-along the sea, turn at Le Negresco, go past Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice (Russian Dome), then what would be a few highlights to drive by?  (I realize this cuts out the pedestrian portion of the Old City.)  

 

Just wondering what the Top Highlights might be and how long I would need to schedule for this portion?

 

[marazul]

I am reposting my reply here to add some comments about time.

 

You do not need three hours in Eze.  One hour is sufficient unless you plan to stay for lunch at La Chëvre d'Or. 😉  That would give you plenty of time to walk in Old Nice.  That is a must if you want your family to see the most iconic photo-ops in Nice. It should take one hour.  There is underground parking right off the Quai des Etats-Unis just a few steps from the Old Town.  Afterwards you can continue the drive along the Promenade. 

 

As for driving around Nice, before arriving at the Promenade des Anglais, you drive around the very scenic old port. It is also possible to drive up to the Chäteau, the promontory between the port and old Nice for eyepopping views of the Riviera.  You could also go up to Cimiez to the Matisse Museum and the Roman Arena; drive alongside the Paillon to see the Tête Carrëe (Square Head - headquarters of the Public Libraries) and other buildings such as the Theater, etc.  This additional driving time should not take more than an hour, but traffic can be pretty bad.  Prioritize the Old Port and Chäteau and then the Promenade des Anglais and Cathedral. The drive along the Paillon and Cimiez would be last and the most prone for traffic.  Your driver will advise you when it is time to turn back and return to Villefranche.

Edited February 11 by marazul

[Travel To Be Free]

We're going to have lunch in Eze on the edge overlooking the Mediterranean...  that's why we'll be there 3 hours.  (Not La Chevre d'Or, but one similar...  name escapes me at the moment.)

 

So still considering just an hour in Nice with most sites being "driven by," even though I realize it's not ideal.  I'm pulling from your suggestion and altering a little.  Will prioritize the Old Port (include Monument of the Dead) and the Promenade des Anglais.  Will skip the Chateau Hill and Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice.  Then I am considering the following:  Le Negresco, Fontaine du Soleil, Place Massena and Place Central.  Is there anything else in this general area that is of significance that can be seen from a vehicle?   Your help is greatly appreciated.  

 

Edited February 12 by Travel To Be Free
Correcting spacing

[Hlitner]

Having been to Nice many times (we often stay in that city) our favorite local pastime is to simply enjoy the outdoor Flower Market.  This is primarily a morning to early afternoon activity and the market is a real fun place to simply browse the various stalls/tables where you find lots of flowers/plants, food items, and various collectables.  There are also plenty of cafes/restaurants in the area where one can stop to enjoy a morning cappuccino, bloody mary, etc

 

Driving around Nice (whether it be in my own rental car or a tour vehicle) holds little interest.  Even the famous Promanade d'Anglais (we usually stay in one of the hotels on this street) is made for walking.  Knowing Nice as well as we do we still could not suggest a worthwhiole driving route within the city.  One can certainly drive along the Promenade and say, "look at the sea" but not sure that is the best use of one's time :).  As to the Negresco (we had one of our best dinners, ever, in its Chantecler dining room) one can certainly admire the facade but others would find it worthwhile to take a peak inside at the lobby.  

 

As to Eze Village, an hour to 1 1/2 hours is more than enough (for us) unless we decide to have lunch :).  Personally, we prefer to visit St Paul de Vence (worthy of even more time) and the nearby Maeght Fondation art museum.  Both of these popular tourist destinations have suffered from too many junk/tourist shops taking over for what used to be a lot of art and arty shops.  The towns, themselves, are worthwhile but shopping less so.  St Paul de Vence still does have some excellent art galleries, but over the years too many have been taken over by shops selling the typical tourist junk.  I know that one person's junk is another's treasure, but refrigerator magnets made in china and mass produced poster does not hold our interest.

 

Hank

[marazul]

14 hours ago, Travel To Be Free said:

We're going to have lunch in Eze on the edge overlooking the Mediterranean...  that's why we'll be there 3 hours.  (Not La Chevre d'Or, but one similar...  name escapes me at the moment.)

 

So still considering just an hour in Nice with most sites being "driven by," even though I realize it's not ideal.  I'm pulling from your suggestion and altering a little.  Will prioritize the Old Port (include Monument of the Dead) and the Promenade des Anglais.  Will skip the Chateau Hill and Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice.  Then I am considering the following:  Le Negresco, Fontaine du Soleil, Place Massena and Place Central.  Is there anything else in this general area that is of significance that can be seen from a vehicle?   Your help is greatly appreciated.  

 

Yes, continue on the Blvd. Jean Jaures past the Place Massena up to the Tête Carrée.  Turn left on Rue Barla and return on the other side of the Paillon on Av. Félix Faure.  By the way, the Paillon is a river (torrent, actually) that comes through the center of Nice.  It is paved over in the area between the two parallel avenues you will be following.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Square+Ηead/@43.6985134,7.2742693,16.5z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x12cddab083f4b905:0xb36c90b511289f55!8m2!3d43.7027768!4d7.2791114!16s%2Fg%2F1216x1jc?hl=en&entry=ttu 

 

I am trying to facilitate the things you want to do, but I would encourage you to reconsider your plans for a better experience. Consider that Monte Carlo is a much better place for a drive-through than Nice because it is much more compact, and Nice is more about enjoying the Old Town.

 

I would start by going to Nice first, getting out and spending an hour at the Flower Market and some side streets.  The drive there already takes you around the Old Port.  After walking, it is easy to drive the short distance to the Negresco, then turn around back to the Old Port along the Promenade des Anglais.  Then get on the Moyenne Corniche for the ride to Eze.  This is a spectacular drive. After lunch, drive to Monte Carlo.  Do your drive around or whatever you had planned.  Then return to Villefranche along the sea by the Basse Corniche.  This plan gets you to Eze at about the same time as your original plan.  It also avoids the traffic between Nice and Villefranche in the late afternoon. Most of all, it  maximizes the views, photo ops and places of interest.

[Travel To Be Free]

On the Monaco portion, we will request to be dropped off at the top of the rock to view the palace, go into The Monaco Cathedral for 10 minutes or so and then to a good overlook.  About how much time should we allot for the Top of the Rock?    

 

Everyone is giving such great information to help me plan....  Thank you!

[marazul]

22 minutes ago, Travel To Be Free said:

On the Monaco portion, we will request to be dropped off at the top of the rock to view the palace, go into The Monaco Cathedral for 10 minutes or so and then to a good overlook.  About how much time should we allot for the Top of the Rock?    

 

Everyone is giving such great information to help me plan....  Thank you!

If all you want to do is take a look inside the cathedral, you can be back at the car in half an hour.

 

How long are you in port?

[Travel To Be Free]

8-7.  But we're tendering in, so probably not in until 9.  We may just spend 2 hours in Monte Carlo, 3 hours in Eze with 1.5 hours being at a nice lunch and view.  Then Nice for 1.50 hours.  Assuming it's about 1.25 hours travel between the different cities, Villafranche, Monaco, Eze, Nice and Villefranche.  

[marazul]

13 hours ago, Travel To Be Free said:

8-7.  But we're tendering in, so probably not in until 9.  We may just spend 2 hours in Monte Carlo, 3 hours in Eze with 1.5 hours being at a nice lunch and view.  Then Nice for 1.50 hours.  Assuming it's about 1.25 hours travel between the different cities, Villafranche, Monaco, Eze, Nice and Villefranche.  

I still think you are doing it in the wrong order.  It should be Nice-Eze-Monaco.  The traffic between Villefranche and Nice at 9 am will be a lot easier than later on. (I have been in many traffic jams there.) You can easily visit Nice and be in Eze around 11. The traffic coming back to Nice and then to Villefranche in the afternoon can be really bad and it will take you more than time than you think. You will have to take the autoroute back to Nice and then go to Villefranche instead of taking the more scenic and shorter Basse Corniche to Villefranche. The flow of sightseeing opportunities is also better that way, especially driving the whole length of the Moyenne Corniche between Nice and Eze. There are things to do in Nice available only in the morning while the Monaco sites are available all day. 

 

Google maps has a nice feature where you can enter the month and day of the week when you are going and the time for each segment of your trip.  if you haven't done it why don't you give it a try with different times for each segment? 

 

But it is your trip and what you imagine would work out for you best.  Maybe you will get lucky with the traffic.  You could also ask your driver for their opinion on order of the itinerary. 

[Travel To Be Free]

I have written to a few tour/transport companies.  In my request I asked if they have the 06 license to take us to the top of the rock.  However, I mistakenly asked to be dropped off in front of the palace, which I now understand no one can do.  Do you know if the 06 licenses are allowed to drive any longer to the top of the rock?  

 

A few have stated that Regulations have changed.  Now even vehicles with 06 license plates are not permitted access in front of the palace.   Only Monaco cars have access. They have to park in the underground parking next to the oceanographic museum.   It is an approximate 5 minute walk to the palace.   (One company with 06 said they had to put in a request, however, not to worry.)

 

I had one company who indicated that they would be able to drop us off in front of the Cathedral instead of the palace.  

 

Do you happen to know if everyone does, in fact, have to park in the parking garage and take the elevator?  Do you know if this is actually a five minute walk and how long the parking takes.  I am trying to figure out how much extra time to allow for all this.

[marazul]

@Travel To Be Free

I am not sure about the regulations since we haven't been there in two years.  Having said that, we always drive ourselves and park in the garage.  Yes, it is a very short walk of about 5 minutes once you are on the top.  If they can drop you off in front of the Cathedral, it is about a 3 minute walk to the palace.

The parking is quick.  The driver can always drop you off by an elevator and you can call him when you are ready to go back down.

Did you check with https://www.friend-in-france.com/? 

[Travel To Be Free]

Great information!   I did send a note Saturday to Friend in France.  Waiting to hear back from them.  
 

Just wondering if only the 06 drivers can park in the parking garage.  A driver without an 06 gave me a much better quote but stated since regulations had changed we were getting the same benefit.  Wondering if this is correct.  

[marazul]

2 hours ago, Travel To Be Free said:

Great information!   I did send a note Saturday to Friend in France.  Waiting to hear back from them.  
 

Just wondering if only the 06 drivers can park in the parking garage.  A driver without an 06 gave me a much better quote but stated since regulations had changed we were getting the same benefit.  Wondering if this is correct.  

Anyone can park there. Go with a reputable agency and let them worry about those details.

[Travel To Be Free]

I just had a tour guide advise that at this time of the day (8-:30-8:45 a.m.) it can sometimes take up to 1.5 hours to get from Villefranche to Monaco.  None of the other companies I've contacted have mentioned this, however, it got me wondering if this correct?   It would definitely put us behind schedule, so I'm just checking to see if anyone has a realistic travel time estimate.  

[marazul]

It could take close to an hour easily. There can be a lot of traffic getting into MC.  

Just saying. Nice in the morning. About 15 minutes to get there. 

[Travel To Be Free]

We had decided not to go to Nice, but to Monte Carlo, then to Eze with a 12 Noon Lunch Reservation.    (If we change our mind again, which I'm not sure I want to do, do you know what is traffic like FROM Monte Carlo back into VilleFranche around 4:15 pm?)

 

All your insight is so appreciated!

[marazul]

2 hours ago, Travel To Be Free said:

We had decided not to go to Nice, but to Monte Carlo, then to Eze with a 12 Noon Lunch Reservation.    (If we change our mind again, which I'm not sure I want to do, do you know what is traffic like FROM Monte Carlo back into VilleFranche around 4:15 pm?)

 

All your insight is so appreciated!

About the same 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. A lot less than MC to Nice and then to Villefranche.  If you skip Nice, they can stop in Cap Ferrat and Beaulieu on the way back

 

Really, ask your driver.  Tell them you have to be in Eze by 11:30 and what else you want to see.  And ask for their advice on itinerary. They know the most efficient way to accomplish it all. I would even be prepared to let them decide on where to go first at the last moment depending on traffic. Normally, everything works just fine, but you never know if there may be a road closure or some traffic problem.  Leave it to the pros.  

 

 

Edited February 20 by marazul

[Travel To Be Free]

Great information!

 

We will arrive by transport from Villafranche via the Basse Corniche.  If we start at the (1) Casino Square for pictures and then went to the (2) top of the rock for the Cathedral, Palace and the old town, this would allow us to know how much time we could spend in the old town before having to get our transport to Eze (as we have lunch reservations at noon).   

 

Is this a good plan or is the Casino Square more on your way to Eze?  Just wanting to see what flow of travel is best:  Casino Square, Top of Rock, Eze  OR  Top of Rock, Casino Square, Eze?  Any insight is greatly appreciated.  

[marazul]

1 hour ago, Travel To Be Free said:

Great information!

 

We will arrive by transport from Villafranche via the Basse Corniche.  If we start at the (1) Casino Square for pictures and then went to the (2) top of the rock for the Cathedral, Palace and the old town, this would allow us to know how much time we could spend in the old town before having to get our transport to Eze (as we have lunch reservations at noon).   

 

Is this a good plan or is the Casino Square more on your way to Eze?  Just wanting to see what flow of travel is best:  Casino Square, Top of Rock, Eze  OR  Top of Rock, Casino Square, Eze?  Any insight is greatly appreciated.  

The first one.  You can plot it on google maps. 

I don't know how long you are hiring the car service for, but you should be done at Eze by 2:30 at the latest.  Decide where you want to allocate your before and after Eze time.