Beaulieu-sur-Mer: Solar Boat Tour & Riviera Villas

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration2h–4h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · FR

Mobile ticketAccepted

See the Riviera's grandest villas from a boat that runs on sunlight

You board a quiet, solar-powered catamaran with a professional captain who adjusts the route to weather and your interests. The boat reaches shallow waters where you see Villa Kerylos, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Èze village, and Fort du Mont Alban from angles you can't get from land. Summer brings snorkel gear; winter brings blankets. The whole tour is private, even for two people, and departs from Beaulieu with easy access by public transport from Nice.

2h–4h

Step-by-step itinerary

Private solar boat tour highlights

Meet in Beaulieu-sur-Mer
See Villa Kerylos from sea
View Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and David Niven's villa
Admire the harbor
Discover Fort du Mont Alban history from sea
Enjoy views of Eze village from sea

The Experience

The captain was already checking the weather when we arrived—wind was picking up, so the plan shifted. That's the thing about a private solar boat tour from Beaulieu-sur-Mer: it's not locked into a fixed route. Your professional captain customizes the whole thing based on conditions and what you actually want to see. The solar-powered catamaran itself is quieter and more stable than a fuel boat its size, which matters when you're trying to get close to the water without the noise and smell that usually comes with it.

You meet in Beaulieu, which sits right on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco—close enough to reach by train, bus, or taxi from downtown Nice. The boat navigates shallow, clear waters that bigger vessels can't reach, so you get an angle on Villa Kerylos and Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild that land tours simply don't offer. You see the harbor, Fort du Mont Alban rising from the coast, and the hilltop village of Èze from the sea, where the perspective shifts everything. The captain knows the history and the villas—David Niven's place, the architecture, how the light hits the stone at different hours.

The boat is certified by the French Maritime Administration for private excursions and has won international awards for its design. In summer, snorkel gear and foam noodles are on board; in winter, blankets. The cork deck means you might be asked to remove your shoes—a small thing that protects the boat and keeps it feeling like a real vessel, not a tourist shuttle. No smoking, and food and drinks stay below deck if there's any wind or chop, which is just practical seamanship.

What’s included

A private solar-powered catamaran certified by the French Maritime Administration.
A professional captain who customizes the route based on your interests and weather.
Views of Villa Kerylos, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Èze village, Fort du Mont Alban, and the harbor from the water.
Snorkel gear and foam noodles in summer, blankets in winter.
The boat is quiet, odorless, and stable, with shallow-water access that larger vessels cannot reach.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by SeaZen®

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Riviera's famous villas and coastline from the water without being herded onto a crowded group boat—the private format and the captain's flexibility mean the tour shapes itself around what you actually came to see and the day's conditions.