Nice, Saint-Paul de Vence & Cannes Day Tour from Villefranche

Three Riviera towns, one coastal drive, a guide who knows them

A privately guided shore excursion from Villefranche-sur-Mer for cruise passengers, this eight-hour tour covers Nice's Old Town and flower market, the artist village of Saint-Paul de Vence, and Cannes' designer shops and beaches. A professional driver provides onboard commentary in English and French, and transport is by air-conditioned luxury minivan. The tour runs daily except Mondays when Nice's flower market is closed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nice, Saint-Paul, and Cannes

• Visit Nice Old Town and flower market
• Drive along Promenade des Anglais
• Explore Saint-Paul de Vence art galleries
• Walk alleys frequented by famous artists
• Stroll Cannes and see Palais des Festivités
• Window-shop on Boulevard de la Croisette
• Walk along Cannes white sandy beaches

The experience

The tour leaves Villefranche and heads to Nice, where you walk the Old Town, stop at the flower market of Cours Saleya, and drive the Promenade des Anglais: the seafront boulevard that defines the city. From there the route climbs inland to Saint-Paul de Vence, a medieval walled village built on a hilltop where Picasso, Renoir, Folon and Chagall all worked. You walk the narrow alleyways, browse the art galleries, and get a sense of why the place drew artists for decades. The driver provides context throughout, so you're not just moving between stops. You're learning what you're looking at.

The final leg heads back toward the coast to Cannes, where you stroll the Boulevard de la Croisette, see the Palais des Festivités (home to the Film Festival), and have time to walk the white sand beaches or window-shop the designer boutiques. The whole day moves at a pace that lets you actually spend time in each place instead of just photographing it from a bus window. The minivan holds a small group, and the air conditioning matters on a Riviera summer day.

Pickup is included from your ship in Villefranche, and the tour is guaranteed to run in English and French. Other languages are available on request. The eight-hour timeframe is built around cruise schedules, so you're back in time for the ship to depart. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available, and foldable wheelchairs and strollers are accepted. Just note that some sites require accompaniment for wheelchair users.

What’s included

• Professional driver and guide with onboard commentary.
• transport in an air-conditioned luxury Mercedes minivan.
• pickup from your ship in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
• tour narration in English and French (other languages available on request).
• wheelchair-accessible vehicle option.
• foldable wheelchairs and strollers accepted.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessible

Operated by Tour Azur

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a walking pace through three towns with uneven medieval streets in Saint-Paul de Vence, so it suits cruise passengers who are comfortable on their feet for a full day. The fixed eight-hour schedule is built around ship departure times, which is what makes a three-town itinerary possible in a single port call.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What is the flower market in Nice actually like, and when is it open?

Cours Saleya is Nice's main flower and produce market, a daily fixture in the Old Town with stalls of cut flowers, plants and local goods. It's closed Mondays, so the tour does not operate on that day. The stop is part of the morning in Nice before the drive inland to Saint-Paul de Vence.

How much walking is involved in Saint-Paul de Vence?

Saint-Paul de Vence is a medieval village built on a hilltop, so the tour includes walking the narrow alleyways to explore the art galleries and the village itself. The pace is leisurely (you're not hiking), but it is walking on uneven, sloped terrain typical of an old European village.

Is there time to actually spend in Cannes, or is it just a drive-by?

You have time to stroll around Cannes, walk the Boulevard de la Croisette, see the Palais des Festivités, and visit the beaches or shops. It's not a rushed stop. The eight-hour tour is structured to give you real time at each of the three towns.

Does the tour include lunch or drinks?

Food and drink are not included in the tour price. You'll have time to eat at a café or restaurant in one of the towns if you choose, but you'll need to budget for that separately and factor it into your pace through the day.