Explore the French Riviera: Best Day Trips from Nice
- sydneychapman5
- May 4, 2025
- 7 min read
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During my time studying abroad in the South of France, I had the opportunity to explore Nice, France, and many of its neighboring towns. One of the best things about staying in Nice is how well-connected the city is by train. If you're planning day trips near Nice, you'll find plenty of beautiful spots just 15–45 minutes away, perfect for those wanting to explore more of the Mediterranean coast without the hassle of a car.
In this post, I’ll share some of my favorite Nice, France day trip ideas, including well-known destinations like Monaco and Cannes, charming villages like Èze, and beautiful beaches. I’ll cover how to get to each spot, how long it takes, what it costs, and what to do when you arrive.
Monaco
Starting with arguably the most popular destination near Nice, Monaco is only 25 minutes away via the train. Many people are likely familiar with Monaco because of its annual Formula One race, where drivers speed through the streets of the city. Most people likely also associate Monaco with wealth. The country is a unique tax haven, where many wealthy people have chosen to live, making it unlike any city I've visited before.
While Monaco is definitely the rich's playground, with supercars on every corner, don't let that scare you away if you're travelling on a budget. Despite its reputation for wealth, visiting Monaco on a budget actually is very doable. Train tickets from Nice cost €5.90, and there are plenty of free or low-cost things to do once you're there.
Speaking of things to do, Monaco has a lot of cool attractions. Feel free to check out my post Things to do in Monaco for a more in-depth description of each activity. Some of my favourite activities include:
Walk around the marina and admire the yachts
Visit the Monte Carlo Casino
Check out the Prince's car collection
Make the journey up to the Prince's Palace
Stop by the iconic Formula One hairpin turn
Cannes
Just a 30-minute train ride away, Cannes is another solid addition to your list of day trips near Nice.
In my opinion, Cannes is Nice's more luxurious sister city. While I really loved this city, I would say that it's one of those places where you'll have a much better time if you have a bit more money to spend, as I think many of the best activities require dishing out a bit of cash. One thing that sets Cannes apart, in my opinion, is its beaches. While Nice's beaches are characterized by large pebbly rocks, Cannes is one of the few cities in the area where you can find sandy beaches. The main beach in Cannes has many beach clubs, so this is a great way to spend a summer day in the city.
In addition to the beach clubs, there's a great variety of activities to do depending on your interests. Some of my favourites include:
Lounge at Plage du Midi (Midi Beach)
Shop along La Croisette
Take a photo at the red carpet entrance
Visit the local market
Admire the historic Ritz Carlton Hotel
Antibes
Antibes is nestled between Nice and Cannes, just 20 minutes from Nice via the train. This city was one of my favorites in the area. If you want a town with lots of locally owned shops and a slower pace, Antibes is for you. I will say that Antibes is a bit on the smaller side, so this town could easily be grouped with another city nearby (such as Cannes) into a single day trip.
If you're wondering what to do in Antibes, France, some of my favorite activities include:
Explore the Provencal Market
Visit Musée Picasso
Stroll the port and admire mega-yachts
Wander through Old Town shops
Discover Le Fort Carré
Relax at one of Antibes' beaches
Check out my post Things to do in Antibes, France for more detailed descriptions of each activity!
Eze
This stunning hilltop village is one of my favorite hidden gems. Because it's on top of the mountain, it's not on the main train line. While Eze does have a stop on the train line, it's at the bottom of the hill, meaning you will have to either take a bus from the stop to the top of the hill or hike an hour to the top. Luckily, there are other ways to get there. The #82 and #112 buses can take you from Nice to Eze in 30-45 minutes. There's also the option to take a private transfer to the village.
While a bit more difficult to get to than the other cities on this list, it's worth the hassle. The view from the village over the Mediterranean Sea is stunning. The centerpiece of many of the most famous photos of the village is its botanical garden, which hosts a variety of tropical plants. While there are some stunning views from the top, there's not much to do here besides the gardens, some shops, and a couple of restaurants, so it's more of a half-day trip.
Menton
Menton is a stunning town right on the French-Italian border. The train from Menton, France to Nice, France takes about 40 minutes and costs €7.40 one way. You’ll notice Italian influence everywhere, from architecture to food. Similar to Sorrento in Italy, Menton is famous for its lemons, with the town even hosting a lemon festival every February called Fete Du Citron. Make sure to take advantage of the town's unique blend of cultures by trying some Italian delicacies (such as pizza, pasta, and limoncello).
Aside from stuffing your guts with Italian food, there are a lot of other great things to do in the town, some of my favorites include:
The Val Rahmeh Botanical Garden
Les Halles Market
The Basilica of St. Michael and its dramatic staircase
Sablettes Beach
The scenic port
Mala Plage
While it's not a town, I wanted to include Mala Beach on this list because it was one of my favourite days I spent in the South of France. To get to Mala Beach in Cap d’Ail, take the train from Nice to the Cap d’Ail stop (20 mins, €5.30). From there, take the stairs down to the Sentier du Bord de Mer walking trail and follow it for about 10 minutes until you reach the cove.
The beach is stunning, with calm, warm waters. The walk is really beautiful too, as you have many opportunities to look over the sea, taking in the boats on the water and houses on the cliff. Once you get to the beach, there are two beach clubs, but be warned, these are very very expensive (like we're talking 7 euro for a can of Coca Cola). I personally opted to pack some snacks and drinks and set up on the public section of the beach. For a summer's day in July, this area was definitely busy, but not overly crowded, and I really enjoyed my time!
Villefrance-sur-Mer
If you're looking for a quick, but relaxing trip from Nice, consider Villefrance-sur-Mer. Only seven minutes from Nice via the train, you'll find a slower pace in this small town. It's known for having one of the nicest public beaches on the coast, Plage des Marinieres, where you'll find calm, bright blue waters and sand much finer than that of Nice's beach.
Grab some takeout lunch at Le Petite Port Snack Glaces and enjoy a relaxing day soaking up the sun.
St. Tropez
This trip is definitely the furthest from Nice on this list. There are a few ways to get there. The first option is by rental car/taxi. This method can take 2.5-3 hours, and potentially longer during peak summer months, like July and August, when traffic is heavy. Another option is to take the train. The train can take you from Nice to the Saint-Raphäel-Valescure train stop in about an hour, and tickets start at 15 euro one way. From there though, you need to take another form of transport, such as a ferry or bus, the rest of the way. The second leg of the journey takes between 45 minutes to an hour and a half. The last option is to take a ferry all the way from Nice to St. Tropez. This takes about 2.5 hours, with ferries leaving once a day from Nice at 9am, and then from St. Tropez at 4:30pm. Tickets cost 80 euro round trip for an adult. You can find more detailed information about ferries here.
Once your arrive in the town, there are many activities to choose from. For the beach lovers, check out Pampelonne beach, a five-kilometer beach just outside of town. If you're a history buff, take a tour of the Citadel of Saint Tropez. If you're looking to expand your wardrobe or pick up some souvenirs, the town is known for its amazing shopping. For the foodies, be sure to try some rosé wine, as the area is famous for it.
From hilltop villages and beach towns to famous destinations and hidden gems, there’s no shortage of amazing day trips near Nice, France. Whether you want to explore Menton, Antibes, or Èze, or spend a luxurious day in Monaco or Saint-Tropez, the French Riviera has something for every traveler.
Let me know in the comments: Which spot are you adding to your travel list?
Accommodation
If you're planning on making Nice your home base for your South of France vacation, you'll need somewhere to stay. Below are my top picks!
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