Saint-Honorat Island Boat Trip: Abbey & Private Island Tour

A 5th-century abbey where Cistercian monks still live and work by hand.

This boat trip from Nice takes you to Saint-Honorat Island, a sacred sanctuary where Cistercian monks have lived since the 5th century. You have the full day to walk through pine forests, visit the abbey church, and see the iconic fortified monastery tower by the sea (currently undergoing restoration until late June 2026). Round-trip hotel transfer from Nice and boat passage are included; lunch at the island restaurant and wine tastings are available at your own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Saint-Honorat Island and Cannes

• Travel from Nice to Saint-Honorat Island
• Explore Abbey of Lérins and pine forests
• Visit church and view Fortified Monastery exterior
• Optional monks' guided walk (June-July)
• Enjoy lunch at La Tonnelle restaurant
• Visit island boutique and wine tasting
• Return ferry to Cannes
• Walk Palais des Festivals and Red Carpet
• Chauffeur pick-up at Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
• Return drive to Nice

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Nice hotel in a mini-van, then a boat crossing to the island where time has moved differently for sixteen centuries. Once you arrive, the island is yours to explore at your own pace—no fixed schedule, no group itinerary. The Abbey of Lérins sits at the heart of it, and you can walk through the pine forests, step into the beautiful church, and circle the exterior of the Fortified Monastery, the tower that rises by the water. During June and July, the resident monks sometimes offer spontaneous free guided walks if their spiritual schedule allows it, though this cannot be guaranteed.

The island's boutique stocks the monks' acclaimed "Vins de l'Abbaye," produced entirely by hand, and you can taste wines by the glass whenever you want. If you're hungry, La Tonnelle restaurant sits in a seaside setting and serves high-quality cuisine; the concierge can arrange a table on request, though meals and drinks are paid separately. After your time on the island, the ferry returns you to Cannes, where your driver picks you up at Hotel Barrière Le Majestic and drives you back to Nice.

The whole day runs about seven hours from pickup to return. You'll need moderate fitness for walking the island's paths, and if you want to swim, bring your own towel and suit. Infants travel free but must sit on an adult's lap during the boat crossing.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel transfer from Nice in a mini-van.
• boat passage to and from Saint-Honorat Island.
• full day access to the island to explore the abbey, church, and grounds at your own pace.
• the option to purchase or taste the monks' handmade wines at the island boutique.
• concierge assistance with restaurant reservations at La Tonnelle (meals and drinks paid separately).

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by HAPPY GUIDE FRANCE

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day on a sacred island without a fixed schedule or group pace—the hotel transfer handles the logistics, so you step off the boat and spend seven hours walking, resting, and sitting with the monks' work and the sea. The spontaneous guided walks in summer are a bonus if they happen, but the real draw is the freedom to move through sixteen centuries of spiritual life at your own rhythm.

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Top questions

What can I actually do on Saint-Honorat Island?

Saint-Honorat Island lets you walk through pine forests, visit the abbey church, and explore the grounds at your own pace. You can see the exterior of the Fortified Monastery, the iconic tower by the sea, and visit the island's boutique to buy or taste the monks' handmade wines. Swimming is possible if you bring your own towel and suit. During June and July, the resident monks occasionally offer free guided walks, though these depend on their daily spiritual schedule and cannot be guaranteed.

Is lunch included in the boat trip from Nice?

Lunch is not included, but the island's restaurant, La Tonnelle, is open and serves high-quality cuisine in a seaside setting. You can ask the concierge to reserve a table, and you pay for meals and drinks on the spot. Wine tastings by the glass are also available at your own pace.

How does the hotel transfer work from Nice?

Round-trip transfer is included: a mini-van picks you up from your Nice hotel, takes you to the boat, and after your return to Cannes, your driver meets you at Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes for the drive back to Nice. The whole day takes about seven hours.

What is the Fortified Monastery, and can I go inside?

The Fortified Monastery is the iconic tower by the sea that has stood on Saint-Honorat Island since the 5th century. You can see and photograph the exterior, but the living quarters of the monks are private and cannot be visited. The tower is currently undergoing restoration until late June 2026.

Do I need to be very fit to explore the island?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness to walk the island's paths through the pine forests and around the abbey grounds. The pace is entirely your own, and you can rest whenever you want.

Can I bring my children on this boat trip?

Yes, children are welcome. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the boat crossing. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them, and the hotel transfer accommodates families.