Villefranche region - DIY

[loubct]

We will be tendering in Villefranche for 12 hours in September. After a few busy 'tour' days in Italy we want slower paced day but still want to enjoy what the area has as best as possible. From reading various posts I believe our plan is to spend a few hours wandering about Villefranche, take the bus to Nice, and then over Eze and back to Villefranche. We expect to spend a couple of hours in each town walking around enjoying the sites and grabbing lunch.

 

I see that Bus # 100 will get us from Villefranche to Nice. This same bus will also take you back to Eze. In addition a transfer to Bus # 83 will bring us to Eze Village.

 

Questions:

 

1) Which bus will get us back to Villefranche

2) Is this itinerary doable with little stress

3) Any source for timetables for the buses required

 

Thx in advance

[moyaroo]

Going from Nice to Eze bord la mer you will pass through Villefranche and vice versa. the route goes along the low road by the sea.

[Hlitner]

This thread is a little confusing so lets try for some sanity. Taking the bus from Villefranche to Nice and than a bus from Nice to Eze (village) works fine. Keep in mind that the Nice bus station (Gare Routiere) is very close to the old town neighborhood which works great for exploring that part of Nice. Getting from Eze to Villefranche is a bit more difficult. If you like to hike you might even want to consider hiking from Eze all the way down the mountain (there is a marked trail) to the train station at Eze/Bord sur Mer where you can take either the train or bus back to Villefranche. The alternative is to catch the local bus that runs from just outside the Eze entrance directly to the Eze/Bord sur Mer train station....but this bus does not run as often as some would like. When you arrive at Eze you might want to check that local bus schedule (its posted at the bus stop) and plan accordingly.

 

Hank

[loubct]

This thread is a little confusing so lets try for some sanity. Taking the bus from Villefranche to Nice and than a bus from Nice to Eze (village) works fine. Keep in mind that the Nice bus station (Gare Routiere) is very close to the old town neighborhood which works great for exploring that part of Nice. Getting from Eze to Villefranche is a bit more difficult. If you like to hike you might even want to consider hiking from Eze all the way down the mountain (there is a marked trail) to the train station at Eze/Bord sur Mer where you can take either the train or bus back to Villefranche. The alternative is to catch the local bus that runs from just outside the Eze entrance directly to the Eze/Bord sur Mer train station....but this bus does not run as often as some would like. When you arrive at Eze you might want to check that local bus schedule (its posted at the bus stop) and plan accordingly.

 

Hank

 

Hank

 

So would you agree with our plans up to getting to Eze. If so, I'll research our options on how to get back from Villefranche from Eze.

[Susan-M]

 

 

I see that Bus # 100 will get us from Villefranche to Nice. This same bus will also take you back to Eze. In addition a transfer to Bus # 83 will bring us to Eze Village.

From Nice to Eze Village, it would be quicker to take #112 or #82, since it's a direct run. Taking #100 would mean going to Eze Bord de Mer and then #83 up to Eze Village.

 

 

1) Which bus will get us back to Villefranche

From Eze, take #83 down to Eze bord du Mer and then either bus #100 back or the train to Villefranche. Some buses (#83, #82, #112) don't run that frequently, so it's a good idea to have copies of the bus schedules and plan your itinerary around them. #100 runs every 15-20 minutes.

 

2) Is this itinerary doable with little stress

In the amount of time that you have, yes ... but I would probably leave wandering in Villefranche for the end of the day so that you don't have to worry about getting back there in time for departure.

 

3) Any source for timetables for the buses required

I've posted two sources in other threads here ... have a look at a couple of other threads on this topic on the first page of this forum and you'll see my links as well as a google map on how to get from the port in Villefranche to the bus stop.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

p.s. To save you some searching time, here's a link to schedules ... just click on the route number that you want: http://www.lignedazur.com/horaires_ligne/index.asp?rub_code=6

 

And a simplified schedule: http://www.eze-riviera.com/emotions/deplacement/ang/bus.htm

 

Villefranche interactive Map:http://www.villefranche-sur-mer.fr/pages/plan/planville.html

 

Google map - port to bus stop: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Villefranche+sur+Mer:+Port+de+la+Santé&daddr=Tourist+Office-Jardin+François+Binon&hl=en&geocode=FTrbmgIdCpVvACGNAOV5JhARUw%3BFRPXmgIdjYFvACG_7vsfRaz2rw&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=43.70317,7.30988&sspn=0.004778,0.006598&ie=UTF8&z=17 (we went a slightly different route - from the port, towards the Citadel and then up to the bus stop).

 

A recommendation: Rick Steves guidebook, Provence and the French Riviera was a good source of info for our visit to this area (you might be able to pick up a copy at your local library.)

[Amber98]

From Nice to Eze Village, it would be quicker to take #112 or #82, since it's a direct run. Taking #100 would mean going to Eze Bord de Mer and then #83 up to Eze Village.

 

 

From Eze, take #83 down to Eze bord du Mer and then either bus #100 back or the train to Villefranche. Some buses (#83, #82, #112) don't run that frequently, so it's a good idea to have copies of the bus schedules and plan your itinerary around them. #100 runs every 15-20 minutes.

 

In the amount of time that you have, yes ... but I would probably leave wandering in Villefranche for the end of the day so that you don't have to worry about getting back there in time for departure.

 

 

I've posted two sources in other threads here ... have a look at a couple of other threads on this topic on the first page of this forum and you'll see my links as well as a google map on how to get from the port in Villefranche to the bus stop.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

p.s. To save you some searching time, here's a link to schedules ... just click on the route number that you want: http://www.lignedazur.com/horaires_ligne/index.asp?rub_code=6

 

And a simplified schedule: http://www.eze-riviera.com/emotions/deplacement/ang/bus.htm

 

Villefranche interactive Map:http://www.villefranche-sur-mer.fr/pages/plan/planville.html

 

Google map - port to bus stop: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Villefranche+sur+Mer:+Port+de+la+Santé&daddr=Tourist+Office-Jardin+François+Binon&hl=en&geocode=FTrbmgIdCpVvACGNAOV5JhARUw%3BFRPXmgIdjYFvACG_7vsfRaz2rw&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=43.70317,7.30988&sspn=0.004778,0.006598&ie=UTF8&z=17 (we went a slightly different route - from the port, towards the Citadel and then up to the bus stop).

 

A recommendation: Rick Steves guidebook, Provence and the French Riviera was a good source of info for our visit to this area (you might be able to pick up a copy at your local library.)

"If you like to hike you might even want to consider hiking from Eze all the way down the mountain (there is a marked trail) to the train station"

 

Do you know how long it would take to hike down the mountain or how far it is? This sounds fun but not if it was an all day hike!!

thanks!

Sheila

 

ps. I've quoted the wrong post - was wondering about the mountain hike (guess I need to post more here to get used to it!!)

[Hlitner]

Regarding the hike from the Village to the train station, as a general rule it takes about 45 min down to the station although that depends on how fast you hike.

 

Hank

[CTBob]

I haven't made up my mind about my itinerary when I am docked in Villafranche but this sounds like a lot of fun. I was just going to take the standard tour of Monte Carlo as I've never been there either. Do you think this is the better choice?

 

Bob

[Susan-M]

 

Do you know how long it would take to hike down the mountain or how far it is? This sounds fun but not if it was an all day hike!!

thanks!

Sheila

 

 

It's called the Nietzsche Trail ... I haven't hiked it, but did some research on it prior to our trip. A google search brings up a bit of info:

 

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=160150

http://laviesoleil.com/2008/06/exploring-and-experiencing-eze/

[loubct]

So its sounds like I can take either bus # 112 or 82 from Nice to Eze Village. Walk down the Nietzsche trail to Eze Bord de Mer. And then take bus # 100 back to Villefranche ?

[Hlitner]

So its sounds like I can take either bus # 112 or 82 from Nice to Eze Village. Walk down the Nietzsche trail to Eze Bord de Mer. And then take bus # 100 back to Villefranche ?

 

That would be correct! You also would have the option of taking the train from Eze Bord sur Mer back to Villefranche.

 

Hank

[Susan-M]

So its sounds like I can take either bus # 112 or 82 from Nice to Eze Village. Walk down the Nietzsche trail to Eze Bord de Mer. And then take bus # 100 back to Villefranche ?

 

If you do the trail, be sure to come back and tell us about it as there's very little info on it here.

 

Enjoy your cruise!:)

 

p.s. after posting the above, I did a search re the trail on the Med forum, and there are some posts on it ... here's two:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=16964594&postcount=1

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=14936156&postcount=1